Despite dated looks and gameplay, this WWII shooter hits most of its targets.

Tense sniper gameplay; Fabulous X-Ray Kill-Cam; Smart; unpredictable gameplay

Game world needs more interactivity; Patchy and often dated graphics; Miserly approach to checkpoints

Merge the X-ray fatalities of Mortal Kombat with the cover-based beats of any modern shooter, plus a little of Splinter Cell: Conviction's stealth mechanic whereby your last known position is superimposed on the game space, and you have a good idea of how Sniper Elite V2 plays.

X-ray bullet cam is fun; Focused design that offers a range of approaches; You get to blow up a tank with one bullet; Semi-realistic bullet physics (with hardcore option; Variety of kill situations

Limited enemy AI; Feels budget; No console deathmatch

Sniper Elite V2 (PC Version Reviews - Game Also Available on XBox 360 & PS3) I was belly crawling through Hell. Buildings all around me lay in ruin, some partially destroyed, some burning, and others fully collapsed inward. Smoke and burning embers moved with the occasional breeze.

A sniping game for true enthusiasts who can forgive its shortcomings

Tactical systems and satisfying ballistics marred by irritating levels and punishing sight-detection by the enemy.

Deep, slow breaths. It keeps the heart beat slow and steady- keeps the sight on the rifle still. The scope peers out into the darkness, the cross-hairs centered above the face of a distance enemy soldier. Finger on the trigger and at the ready, but not now, not now.

The original Sniper Elite was a shooter that was quite unlike any other at the time. While pretty much any game with a firearm features a sniper rifle, this game really made you work for your position and your shot.

Sniper Elite V2 includes moments of great gameplay, but it's let down by padding and systems that don't work quite as intended.

Sniping and the eye-opening presentation of its results is great, grisly fun; Setting up traps and ambushes and then putting them into effect from afar can be very satisfying

Stealth gameplay is poorly executed; Enemy AI needs to go back to school; Early campaign are annoyingly linear and confined

Sniper Elite V2 won't serve us well in any video game violence debate. "Honestly, games are wholesome and culturally important!" we'll cry as a slow-motion bullet rips through a Nazi's liver.

In a strange way, Sniper Elite V2 reminded me of high school. There was this one kid, let's call him David, who everyone knew wasn't the smartest in the room, but one day he came in with glasses. Fake, no prescription eyeglasses to try to fool people into forgetting about his reputation.