Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition

🎮 Overview

• Title: Sniper Elite III: Ultimate Edition

• Platform: PlayStation 3 (also on PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC, Switch)

• Release Year: 2015 (Ultimate Edition, base game originally 2014)

• Developer: Rebellion Developments

• Publisher: 505 Games / Rebellion

• Genre: Tactical Third-Person Shooter / Stealth

• Series: Third main entry in the Sniper Elite franchise.

📖 Story

The game is set during World War II, but instead of Europe, it takes place in North Africa (1942–43) during the desert campaign:

• You play as Karl Fairburne, an American OSS sniper sent to stop the Axis forces from building a powerful new weapon.

• Missions span across deserts, canyons, towns, and military bases, blending fictional elements with real WWII history.

• The story unfolds through missions and brief cutscenes, with a heavy emphasis on Karl’s lone-wolf role behind enemy lines.

🕹 Gameplay

Sniper Elite III is all about patience, positioning, and precision:

• Open-Ended Missions:

  • Maps are large, open environments, letting you choose multiple paths and tactics.

  • You can go loud with gunfights or stay stealthy with silenced takedowns and traps.

• Sniping Mechanics:

  • Long-range shooting is the highlight.

  • Bullet physics simulate distance, gravity, and wind.

  • Holding your breath slows time for more accurate shots.

  • The game’s trademark X-Ray Kill Cam shows slow-motion internal damage when you land a perfect shot (bones shattering, organs rupturing).

• Stealth & Tactics:

  • Use cover, shadows, and sound masking (e.g., firing during noisy moments) to stay hidden.

  • Set traps like tripwires, mines, and dynamite for creative kills.

  • Enemies react to noises and investigate, so planning is crucial.

• Weapons & Gear:

  • Variety of WWII-era rifles, pistols, SMGs, explosives.

  • Each rifle can be customized with scopes and upgrades.

• Co-op & Multiplayer:

  • Full two-player online co-op campaign.

  • Extra co-op modes like Overwatch (sniper/spotter teamwork) and Survival.

  • Competitive online multiplayer with modes like Deathmatch and Distance King.

• Ultimate Edition Content:

  • Includes the base game plus all DLC missions, weapons, and skins.

  • Extra campaign missions like Hunt the Grey Wolf (assassinating Hitler) and Save Churchill.

🎨 Presentation

• Graphics (PS3): Good for the time, though less detailed than the PS4/Xbox One versions. Still features large desert landscapes, weather effects, and authentic WWII detail.

• Sound: Realistic weapon audio, tense orchestral score, and the unsettling crunch of X-Ray cam kills.

• Atmosphere: Mix of gritty war realism and over-the-top sniper action.

📝 Reception

• Praise:

  • Open-ended mission design with lots of freedom.

  • Addictive sniping mechanics and satisfying X-Ray kill cam.

  • Co-op play was a big hit.

  • Ultimate Edition packed tons of content.

• Criticism:

  • AI could be inconsistent (sometimes sharp, sometimes clueless).

  • Story and characters were thin.

  • Graphics on PS3 were weaker than on newer consoles.

✅ In short: Sniper Elite III: Ultimate Edition on PS3 is a tactical stealth-shooter set in WWII’s North African desert. With open-ended missions, realistic sniping, the iconic X-Ray kill cam, and tons of DLC included, it’s a great package for fans of patient, strategic gameplay.