Back in 2021, whilst we were still locked inside our homes, Sniper Elite VR came out on the original PSVR, almost like a swan song to the peripheral itself. Despite the limitations imposed by the PS4’s hardware, it ended up being one of the best VR titles of all time by then, perfectly using the AIM controller to emulate a sniper rifle with a ludicrous degree of immersion. A sequel or follow-up of sorts was inevitable, but the problem is that we’re now past the age of the PSVR and its many accessories. Both the PSVR2 and Quest just use improved controllers with better camera handling and motion controls. This made me curious about Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior. Well, besides the fact it is a full-fledged standalone game, and not some kind of expansion. How would handling a rifle fare in this day and age in VR?

You’re still playing as the same Italian sniper telling his invisible grandchildren about his epic deeds during World War II. This is a straight-up continuation of the formula that worked well enough two years ago, but in a smaller scale. Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior screams “add-on”, though it’s being sold (quite cheaply, may I add) as a brand new title. With that being said, visuals are the pretty much the same, just with a lot more white due to the entire game being set during winter time. The sound effects, music, UI… it’s all the same thing. The kill cam is still hilariously visceral. What I really wanted to see was how the game would behave without the aid of a rifle-shaped controller.

In some regards, it feels as good, if not better, than using the AIM, mostly when it comes to moving your character and the camera, as well as using one-handed weapons, such as the pistol. That was the one disadvantage when using the AIM: it was great when wielding a big rifle, but super silly with smaller weapons. As a result, if you’re just willing to be a sneaky bastard with a pistol, Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior works wonders with the Quest’s controllers, even though this method of playing goes against the nature of the game as a whole.

Now, when it comes to actually wielding a sniper rifle, it does feel cumbersome. The lack of tactile feedback negatively affects the game’s level of immersion, but also its comfort settings. Holding the AIM controller and then looking at the game’s imaginary scope was super easy and intuitive. On the Quest, I never felt like I had an ideal way to properly look down at the same scope. It wasn’t unplayable, far from it, but that was the one obvious setback I was clearly aware it was going to happen.

I will say, I was impressed with how well the game ran, despite being stuck to the Quest 2’s hardware. I don’t know if that was a consequence of really good optimization or the fact the entire game is set during winter time, resulting a reduced amount of textures for grass and foliage. Now I don’t want to diminish the game for its artistic decision; it still looks pretty good for the hardware, with killcam shots still looking as visceral as ever… for VR standards, that is.

As a whole, I did enjoy my time with Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior, but I can’t stop thinking this was probably supposed to have been released as an expansion to its predecessor rather than a standalone title, due to its short duration, identical graphical style, and very specific winter-themed setting. Nevertheless, if you’ve liked the original Sniper Elite VR, this is more of the same, and that means more of what you already like. The lack of an AIM-like controller does impact on immersion a bit, but the game is still pretty enjoyable, even if it doesn’t exactly break any new ground in terms of immersion and gameplay in VR.

 

Graphics: 8.0 It still manages to look somewhat impressive for the Quest 2’s hardware, and it never even dares to suffer from framerate drops.	Gameplay: 7.5 Immersive to a degree, but dated in some areas. Going from the AIM peripherals to two smaller controllers makes the game easier to control in some regards, but it also makes sniping a bit more cumbersome.
Sound: 7.5 It follows the trend set by Sniper Elite VR. The music is serviceable, the sound effects are top notch, and the voice acting is just decent enough.	Fun Factor: 7.5 It’s still pretty fun, but it clearly feels like it was supposed to be a mere expansion for the original Sniper Elite VR. It’s a bit limited in scope. Still, having this on what’s essentially a portable is still impressive.
Final Verdict: 7.5

Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior is available now on Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest 3.

Reviewed on Meta Quest 2.

A copy of Sniper Elite VR: Winter Warrior was provided by the publisher.