Jan 21, 2017 07:00 AM EST By Dan Camins, UniversityHerald Reporter

Predominantly being poked at for being over-the-top concerning its violent gameplay, "Sniper Elite 4" saw plenty of exploding rib cages and skulls. "Sniper Elite 4" is an increasingly smart stealth game and a proper evolution from its previous iterations. Hidden under blood and guts, the game is better looking that "Sniper Elite 3" but it is somewhat still tied with limitations of the last console generation.

"Sniper Elite 4" plays more like the open-ended stealth offered by "Far Cry," "Metal Gear V," or "Hitman," according to PC World. However, the game's stealth system is more simplistic than the previously mentioned titles. Additionally, its World War II setting and narrative is nothing no one has seen before.

"Sniper Elite 4" cautious play style on Xbox One

However, "Sniper Elite 4" plays like a proper sniping game.The player is not constrained to kill off all enemies before reaching an objective. The player can skirt around fortified positions and sneak up before shooting a single target is a legitimate tactic as taking down every Nazi in sight.

That alone sets it apart from "Sniper Elite 3" wherein maps are full of choke points wherein players are forced to engage enemies into a confrontation before they can move forward. The wide-open approach in "Sniper Elite 4" also allows players to take on objectives in any order.

"Sniper Elite 4" run 'n' gun play style on PC

Though the canonical culmination of a mission is to kill off the general, it is possible to finish the officer off ahead of the others depending on which route the player takes. This new possibility gives incentive for players to return to the game and try out other routes, according to The Sixth Axis.

In "Sniper Elite 4" the player's job is sniping, there is no need to sneak into an enemy base disguised as what "Hitman" requires. Once the player is in position, shoot the Nazi wherever the player wants him to be hit, and make a quick escape.

"Sniper Elite 4" by Rebellion is scheduled for release on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on Feb. 14, 2017.

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