Sniper Elite V2 Wii U Review

The Fast and the Führer‎-less.

→ May 31, 2013 Releasing for the Wii U more than a year after it arrived on rival platforms, you’d expect that this overly tardy port for Nintendo’s dual-screened console would at least be packing some shiny new features in order to justify the wait. And you’d be wrong. Sniper Elite V2 on the Wii U is a disappointingly cut-down version of what’s been available on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC since May of 2012. (Read our original Sniper Elite V2 review here.) Here, the online multiplayer modes are absent and the additional DLC content isn’t even an option. While the Nazi nut-shotting fun of the single-player game is still present and accounted for, Sniper Elite V2 is a substantially lesser package overall for Wii U fans, and that’s a real shame.

Aside from the obligatory shift of HUD and menu elements to the Gamepad screen, the Wii U version doesn’t feature much in the way of new gameplay elements to distinguish

itself. Having a second screen dedicated to your map and weapon switching is a plus - being able to see where your enemies are at a glance definitely helps you strategise on the fly while you work your way through each war-torn level - but it’s not really a game-changing addition; it’s just an added convenience. This convenience is counterbalanced by the fact you can only play the game with the Gamepad - it doesn’t support the Wii U Pro controller - and personally I don’t find shooters to be that comfortable to play with the Gamepad’s tacky triggers and spaced-out sticks. The only other Wii U-specific feature is the option of taking the entire game offscreen via the remote play function. This is certainly a welcome addition to any Wii U game, but I would have preferred if developer Rebellion had employed the second screen as an option for offline co-op. Instead, the co-op multiplayer modes present on other platforms have been completely stripped out with no explanation, which greatly reduces its potential lifespan.
That said, the eight-hour single-player campaign remains intact and features all of satisfyingly gratuitous slow-motion x-ray kills and advanced simulation settings (on higher difficulty levels) that make for a totally enjoyable and stealthy shooter, particularly at a time when the genre is so obsessed with modern warfare. It honestly makes for a nice change to return to WWII and take on Hitler’s goose-stepping goons once again.

Speaking of which, the infamous DLC mission that allowed you to snipe the Führer‎ in the family jewels isn’t going to be offered on the Wii U eShop. In fact none of the DLC that supported the game on other systems is going to be available for the Wii U release, and nor are they included on the disc. All told the absence of co-op and DLC options means that this belated port feels a bit too much like it’s a day late and a Reichsmark short.