Okay, so we all like a little first person shooter action more often than not, and most of first person shooters dabble in the sniper class more than a few times. Then there are the first person shooters that are totally addicted to the rush of a game-winning headshot. As a sniper-based FPS, I expected three things right out of the box. First, I expect a lot of epic, sweeping tropical vistas with huge amounts depth and detail. Second, I expect multiple, realistic calculation factors in creating a firing solution for every target. Third, I expect a solid plot line. Forward Observation Sniper Ops are considered pretty clandestine in the real world, so I expect a plausible reasoning behind the story. City Interactive took it to the next level when they created Sniper: Ghost Warrior. They delivered all of this, and much, much more.

First off, I must say this game is absolutely stunning in 1080p HD. The level of foliage density, and lighting effects are simply amazing. They really managed to pull off the intricately designed maps without suffering huge graphical glitches. I really only managed to spot two minor clipping issues.

The huge expansive outlooks really convey a sense of elevation and space. The sensory output of this game is very different from Call of Duty, or any other first person shooters. The sniper mode in COD can only be described as “campy”, when compared to Ghost Warrior. You FEEL like you are on that outcropping, panning a tropical outpost, and picking off bad guys from 1,200 meters. Headshots are rewarded with a bullet-flight camera view from barrel to target, which is awesome. Even with the option to cancel it, I watched it every time.

The controls are really tight, almost identical to other shooters as well, with the exception of weapon selection being done on the d-pad. However, this game goes above and beyond with the sniping physics. In easy mode, your windage and elevation are calculated by the game automatically, and denoted on your scope reticule by a small floating red dot. This dot moves and swirls around with your breathing, wind, elevation, distance to target, and movement of the target. Regular mode removes the red dot, and you must calculate your shots on the fly. This is all executed perfectly in Ghost Warrior, and I can’t say enough about how awesome it is. The sense of accomplishment you feel from a 1,200 meter headshot after accounting for all these factors is awesome. It’s truly a sensory experience.

The standard sniper controls are present. You steady the rifle by varying your stance from standing, crouched, or prone, and by holding your breath. There are multiple sniper weapons in the game, and they’re all very different in their application. Your kit also contains grenades, a grappling hook for those hard to reach spots, throwing knives for stealth attacks, and a silenced pistol for close quarters combat inside buildings. The health system is a step back into the old-school. You start will 100% and slowly lose health as you’re injured. Instead of the slow fade and regain of health in other modern shooters, you have to search for “first-aid kits”.

City Interactive really nailed the sniper feel of the game, without slowing down the gameplay. A true sniper experience would entail sitting in a bush motionless for several days, to eliminate a single target. Sniper: Ghost Warrior captures that essence, without the monotony of constant creeping and hiding.

It’s not ALL sniping though. There are a few levels where you are in an all-out assault with an M4, such as one level where your team must take control of a offshore drilling rig. Sniper: Ghost Warrior is a fantastic concept, and a bit of a leap in FPS gameplay. Run-and-gun styles of play will not succeed, but patience, stealth, and precision are rewarded. The game did have some slight inconsistencies with the enemy AI being sometimes very high alert, and other times extremely low.

If you are a sniper fanatic, or even just want a change of scenery while still keeping your skills in tip-top shape for nightly Call of Duty sessions, this game is very good.

[A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.]