Sniper Elite III Review Roundup

As a tactical, third-person shooter with an emphasis on sniping, Sniper Elite III is decidedly different from the industry's most popular shooters, like Call of Duty and Battlefield. But what, if anything, does that mean for the quality of the newly released shooter? We've rounded up a helping of reviews to help you decide if it's worth a look.

If you're in the market for a new shooter on the platform of your choice--it's available on PC and every current console that Nintendo doesn't have a hand in--it sounds as if you could do worse than Sniper Elite III. The game includes a campaign mode in addition to competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes, the latter of which lets you play through the entire campaign with another player.

Sniper Elite III recently made headlines with its new game when it revoked an unspecified number of Steam keys for the new shooter that were reportedly stolen. Those affected will be getting a piece of DLC for free.

A selection of reviews follow below. Look for GameSpot's soon; for more in the meantime, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Sniper Elite III
• Developer: Rebellion
• Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3
• Release Date: July 1
• Price: $49.99 (PC, Xbox One, PS4); $39.99 (Xbox 360, PS3)

Eurogamer -- 7/10

"The package as a whole is still very much a rough diamond, but it's a definite improvement over its predecessor. The gruesome kill-cam remains a deliciously wrong thrill and the unifying force that holds the game together, but it's doubtful that it would be enough to paper over the cracks in a fourth game without a major overhaul of the AI and physics code. Even with its flaws, though, Sniper Elite 3 is a solidly enjoyable mid-tier action game. It may not hit the bullseye, but it's getting closer with every shot." [Full review]

Edge -- 5/10

"Campaign missions are lengthy, packed full of optional objectives that smooth your progress, such as taking out searchlight operators or disabling vehicles. A leveling system doles out new kit for your customizable loadout, and there’s co-op and online multiplayer to contend with when Fairburne's mission is complete. But content is no substitute for quality, and while Sniper Elite III might have made for an engaging design document, it isn't much of a game." [Full review]

PC Gamer -- 70/100

"It's all very similar to Sniper Elite V2, but SE3 does everything a little better, and it does the campaign much better. I wish I could celebrate its classic stylings without any caveats, but as much as I personally enjoy it, I can't look past the bugs, the exploitable AI, and the annoying movement system. The multiplayer is good, but there are too few maps and modes, and I'm not optimistic about mod support. I'm sure there will be plenty of DLC, though." [Full review]

IGN -- 8.2/10

"Sniper Elite III's open level designs and objectives pack in more than enough variety and stealthy tension to counterbalance its thin story and shaky enemy intelligence, and experimenting with its explosive traps is almost as fun as popping skulls with a sniper rifle. The skeleton-shattering, long-distance kills are still its riveting centerpiece, of course, but even without the element of dumb fun they offer, Sniper Elite III would still be a smart, unexpectedly memorable experience." [Full review]

Game Informer -- 6.5/10

"I openly admit that I love gory kills and living the hero sniper fantasy, but Sniper Elite III only partially delivers on the latter. If you can't get enough of dramatic, transparent shots of enemies getting shredded by sniper fire, Sniper Elite III has you covered in spades. If you're interested in more motivation beyond the glory of the kill, look elsewhere." [Full review]

Official Xbox Magazine -- 6/10

"Glitchy level geometry and the gung-ho tone render it a touch too charmless to rank as one of the great B-games, but it competently delivers on its premise. With each level supporting multiple different approaches past its idiotic guards, and stuffed with collectibles you'll easily overlook amid the drab design, it could easily soak up those long days waiting for the next Xbox One release. You'll know that you could be doing better things with your time, but you probably won't mind." [Full review]

Rock, Paper, Shotgun

"I'd love to have seen Rebellion weave more WW2 history into their solo campaign, and put a bit more love and novelty into their online play modes. Other than that, mark me down as a satisfied customer. The prospect of a second campaign playthrough--this time in Authentic mode (no threat radar, aiming aids, or saves!)--is genuinely enticing as is the thought of spending further evenings online, crouched in shadows, waiting and watching…" [Full review]