Sniper Elite targets factory

Anyone who has taken out a target from 500 yards out in a 20 mile-per-hour crosswind knows that the simple point-and-shoot mechanic in today's shooters doesn't do the discipline justice. Namco's upcoming Sniper Elite, which went gold today, attempts to give gamers an idea of what it's really like behind the scope.

The game was developed by UK studio Rebellion, and it will be released for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC. Rebellion has experience in a variety of shooters, including Alien Versus Predator, Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, and Snood 2: On Vacation.

Sniper Elite takes place during World War II and follows an OSS (Office of Strategic Services, a precursor to the modern-day CIA) agent as he goes behind enemy lines in Germany. Armed with a sniper rifle, the player will attempt to thwart the development of atomic weapons by the Soviets.

Rather than just the "line it up and shoot it" gameplay found in most shooters, gamers in Sniper Elite will have to take note of several factors, including wind, heart rate, and gravitational pull. The game features 28 levels of dynamic mission-based single-player gameplay, as well as an online multiplayer mode that supports up to eight players.

Sniper Elite is rated M for Mature and will retail for $39.99. For more information, head over to GameSpot's previous coverage.