Sniper Elite (also known as Sniper Elite: Berlin 1945) is a 2005 third-person tactical shooter stealth video game developed by Rebellion Developments and published in 2005 by MC2 France in Europe and by Namco Hometek in North America.
Plot[]
The game follows Karl Fairburne, a German-born American OSS (Office of Strategic Services) operative disguised as a German sniper. He is inserted into the Battle of Berlin in 1945 during the final days of World War II, with the critical objective of preventing German nuclear technology from falling into the hands of the invading Soviet forces. Fairburne was dispatched on his mission by General George S. Patton, commander of the American forces in Berlin. He has to assassinate several targets who are attempting to defect to the Soviet Union, such as real-life Nazi official Martin Bormann.
Karlshorst | April 16th, 1945[]
A German fuel dump near the Berlin suburb of Karlshorst has been overrun and is now being used as the main NKVD forward outpost. Unfortunately, at dusk a German Panzer Division heading to the front engaged a Russian Tank Brigade on the outskirts of the town. Be advised the remnants of this battle, including sporadic shelling, are still taking place. Your first goal is to rendezvous with our informant. He will provide you with intel on the fuel dump’s layout, as well as equipment to assist you. For this entire operation, you and all our other agents will use the code phrase Eagle Watch to identify each other.
Making his way through the chaotic streets of Karlshorst, Karl Fairburne meets with the informant inside a ruined house and receives the intel promised but learns that the commander of the fuel dump has unexpectedly left the facility and won’t be back for four more days. The informant then asks Fairburne to rescue a captured friend of his, who is being interrogated by the NKVD. Fairburne accomplishes this and leaves the injured man with the German Resistance.
Assassinate Bormann | April 17th–18th, 1945[]
Supply Raid[]
The Resistance need your help to hit two NKVD targets almost simultaneously. The first is an ammo dump which needs to be captured intact to provide them with some much-needed supplies. The second target is a small group of tanks that have been inflicting heavy losses on them over the last few days. Due to the targets’ proximity to each other, it will be necessary to hit the tank camp immediately after taking the ammo dump. That way, the crews won’t have time to react; should they do so, they will tip the odds heavily against success.
Fairburne flanks several pillboxes and eliminates the machine gunners inside, then provides covering fire for the German Resistance as they capture the ammo dump and take out the Soviet tanks. With both objectives accomplished, Fairburne receives orders to head over to the Reichstag.
The Reichstag[]
We have reliable information that Hitler’s personal secretary, Martin Bormann, has cut a deal with the NKVD to provide them with information on the Nazi nuclear research program in exchange for safe passage out of Germany. This defection cannot be allowed to happen you must eliminate Bormann. It has been confirmed that Bormann will be staying overnight at the Reichstag before meeting with the NKVD near the Brandenburg Gate at dawn. The Reichstag is far too strong an enemy position for you to attempt to attack Bormann there. If, however, you sabotage some of the vehicles at the camp, you should be able to create enough of a security scare to limit the size of his escort in the morning. Additionally, our informant will leave you the latest intel on Bormann’s activities at a dead drop in the vicinity of the Reichstag.
Fairburne’s arrival coincides with an attack on the Reichstag by an NKVD unit, keen on retrieving a shipment of heavy water they believe to be on site. Avoiding most of the fighting, he infiltrates the perimeter and destroys several German supply trucks. He then collects the piece of intel from beneath a statue, eliminates an anti-air gun crew, and exfiltrates the area towards the Brandenburg Gate.
Brandenburg Gate[]
Proceed to the vicinity of the Brandenburg Gate, where Bormann will be meeting his NKVD handler Vasily Kralovek. Kralovek is a senior intelligence officer, able to negotiate with the full authority of the Kremlin, and his involvement confirms that Bormann‘s intention to defect is genuine. This defection must be prevented at all costs. Get into position at the gate and eliminate Bormann. If the opportunity arises to take down Kralovek as well, do so.
Fairburne meets with a fellow OSS agent to confirm the location of his designated escape vehicle, and also obtains a Tokarev SVT-40 sniper rifle. Then, using a damaged drain to gain access to a wine cellar near the expected meeting place, he plants a TNT charge by an enemy half-track, which he later shoots from afar, taking out most of the support troops and killing both Bormann and Kralovek. His mission accomplished, Fairburne makes his way to the escape vehicle and exfiltrates the area.
Extract the Agent | April 19th, 1945[]
Missing Contact[]
A German Ministry of Science detachment is using the Schinkel’s Playhouse building in the Gendarmenmarkt Square as a temporary administrative HQ for part of their nuclear program. One of our agents has penetrated their operation and has vital first-hand information we urgently need. Unfortunately, the agent’s usual contact, who was arranging his extraction, has not reported in for three days, and must now be presumed captured or KIA. We need you to cross the enemy lines, infiltrate the square and assist in the agent’s escape. If possible, your first task will be to locate the missing contact as he will have more detailed knowledge of the situation with regard to formulating any escape plans.
From a vantage point atop a western section of the S-Bahn, Fairburne eliminates several NKVD units approaching the German-held Gendarmenmarkt Square, allowing a German Resistance team to reach the Schinkel’s Playhouse. However, one NKVD unit manages to slip past and entrenches itself in Wester Strasse; Fairburne engages the enemy and resupplies at a hidden weapons cache. He then checks the last known location of the double agent’s missing contact, where he finds a hidden note, informing him that the contact (the “courier”) has moved to an alternate rendezvous point further north.
Meet the Courier[]
The note left by the contact has given you a new location where he should be waiting for you. Move to the indicated position and conduct a thorough search of the area in case he has been forced to move again due to enemy activity. Be advised: German armour and commando units have been reported in this area.
Fairburne finds the agent's missing contact dead.
Fairburne rushes towards the location indicated in the contact’s note, only to find the contact dead. However, he also finds another note, describing a route of a German supply truck that could be used to infiltrate the target area and transport the agent out of there. He then proceeds towards the Playhouse.
Infiltrate the Square[]
Infiltrate from the Russian lines into the vicinity of the German-held Gendarmenmarkt Square. Be warned, this is a high security area you are entering. Any attempt at disguise will be ineffective: all enemy patrols will have orders to shoot on sight.
Avoiding enemy patrols, Fairburne meets with an OSS agent to obtain a situation report and receive updated orders. Fairburne is tasked with acquiring a senior security officer’s uniform and papers - the only chance the OSS have of getting a truck into the square and rescuing the OSS spy. With the agent’s help, Fairburne tracks down a senior security officer in the area, silently kills him, and takes his body back to the agent. Finally, Fairburne moves within striking distance of the Gendarmenmarkt Square.
The French Cathedral[]
Penetrate the German area patrols and gain entry to the Gendarmenmarkt Square, then take up a vantage point in the French Cathedral. Our agent will be watching for your mirror signal and will attempt his escape from the Playhouse once you are in position. This is a very high security area, and the odds are definitely against you on this one, so an Allied air attack has been arranged for 16:30 hours to aid your efforts.
The agent emerges just as his cover is blown.
Fairburne reaches the Gendarmenmarkt Square and takes up position in a partially destroyed tower of the French Cathedral. Using a mirror and a lamp, he signals the agent to emerge, just as the air strike commences. He then provides covering fire for the escaping agent, eliminating several of his pursuers. Once the agent boards the transport truck, Fairburne traverses the ruined buildings surrounding the square and proceeds towards his designated hideout.
Exfiltrate the Square[]
Exfiltrate to the hideout south of the Gendarmenmarkt Square as indicated on your map, making sure you are not tracked to this location. The hideout will have adequate ration for at least three days. Lie low there until one of our agents makes contact to issue further orders.
After picking up emergency supplies left by the German Resistance, Fairburne engages the pursuing troops. Using hit and run tactics along with booby traps, he manages to significantly reduce the size of the enemy force to minimize their ability to search the area thoroughly. He then proceeds to the designated hideout, where he remains undetected until the remaining search unit leaves.
Karlshorst Reprise | April 19th, 1945[]
The commander at the Fuel Dump is responsible for organising radio communications, vehicles and ordinance for the initial NKVD incursions into Berlin. If you can obtain the radio code book in his charge, eliminate him and destroy this facility, it will severely disrupt their plans. Be advised that for this operation, we can give you only minimal support; we have precious few OSS agents in Berlin and only limited help is available from what little survives of the German Resistance. Fortunately, the odds are not completely against us. Our latest information confirms that the NKVD is under orders to operate with relatively small numbers in secrecy and most importantly without the direct support of the Russian Forces. Our sources inform us the NKVD Commander is due to arrive shortly by train and that the radio code book is usually stored securely in his hut. Unfortunately, this is heavily guarded when he is not present, so the best opportunity will be when he removes it from its secure position just prior to using it.
The Fuel Dump Commander shortly after his arrival.
Outflanking two concealed enemy snipers, of whom he was warned beforehand by the German Resistance, Fairburne infiltrates the fuel dump without raising the alarm; he plants a timed bomb by the main fuel flow control valve, and then another one on the main pump control box. Around the same time, the NKVD commander arrives at the base by train and proceeds towards the communications room inside a concrete bunker, with Fairburne shadowing him closely. Once there, the commander retrieves the radio code book from a secure safe; Fairburne eliminates him quietly and begins making his way of the camp with the code book in hand. The moment he reaches the outskirts of the base perimeter, the detonation of the timed bombs triggers a chain reaction large enough to destroy the entire NKVD camp.
The Scientists | April 21st, 1945[]
Secure U-Bahn Station[]
The NKVD plan to ship several important, recently captured German nuclear scientists by train from Anhalter Station to Pankow, a position deep behind Russian lines where they will be beyond our reach. Your task is to delay their departure from Anhalter until an OSS team can arrive to extract them. The OSS team tasked with recovering the scientists is due to arrive at 0200 hours, via the Gleisdreieck U-Bahn Station. Eliminate the NKVD patrols in the vicinity to ensure the OSS team’s safe passage. Once you have secured the U-Bahn area, proceed towards Anhalter Station.
After securing the U-Bahn Station and its surrounding area, Fairburne checks an enemy radio post for intel, and learns that an NKVD unit is due to arrive in the town square. Realizing that the unit was tasked with reinforcing the security at Anhalter, he rushes to eliminate the transport convoy.
Prevent Reinforcement[]
The radio message transcript you found indicates additional NKVD troops are to be collected by truck, from the vicinity of Gleisdreieck, before proceeding to Anhalter Station. It is imperative that you destroy these reinforcements to prevent enemy numbers at Anhalter Station becoming large enough to overwhelm our OSS rescue team.
Fairburne eliminates a local NKVD officer in charge of the reinforcement operation and retrieves important files on the captured scientific personnel and their previous operations in Berlin. He then destroys the troop transport convoy when it stops to re-fuel and proceeds to Anhalter Station.
Anhalter Station[]
The success of this mission now depends on maintaining the element of surprise. It is critical that the NKVD already on site not be allowed to radio ahead and warn the unit bringing in the scientists. Be prepared to sabotage the train or tracks if necessary to prevent the NKVD leaving by rail with their captives. Remember that this measure should be used only as a last resort, since if the 0SS team are successful in recapturing the scientists, the fastest and safest way of getting them out of the area will be on the very same train. Be advised: additional 2-man NKVD units are patrolling the outer perimeter of the station, and any loud activity runs the risk of attracting them.
NKVD troops escorting the German scientists.
Fairburne quietly eliminates a group of NKVD special commandos guarding the station and sets up an ambush for the NKVD unit due to arrive with the scientists. The departure of the scientists is ultimately prevented, likely with both the train and the tracks remaining intact.
Raid on Nordsig | April 22nd, 1945[]
Via the U-Bahn[]
A secret German facility in Nordsig has become a priority target for the NKVD. While ostensibly a civilian factory, our information indicates that this location is used to store heavy water imported from Norway, and to redistribute it to a number of secret research labs. Dr. Max Lohmann, a key nuclear researcher, is known to be working at this location. We therefore need to recover the distribution information intact, deny the Soviets a viable source of heavy water and capture Dr. Lohmann alive. Given what is at stake, we cannot risk mounting a full raid unless you can infiltrate the facility and secure the situation beforehand. Unfortunately, Nordsig is so deep behind the German lines, your only chance of reaching the plant safely is to enter the U-Bahn rail network at Möckernbrücke Station and proceed on foot through the tunnels.
Fairburne gains access to the U-Bahn at Möckernbrücke and proceeds through the tunnel to Nordsig, avoiding several German patrols on the way.
Approach to Nordsig[]
You must now infiltrate into the heavy water plant’s perimeter. Be careful, this apparently non-militarised suburb is, in fact, guarded by crack SS troops. Learning the lay of the land could well prove useful for later, as you may need to exfiltrate via the same route.
After eliminating an enemy commander in the area in order the make the German Resistance support team’s approach easier, Fairburne crosses the park and reaches the vicinity of the Nordsig Heavy Water Plant.
Eliminate Guard Post[]
Once at the plant, recon the perimeter sentries carefully, then employ silent kills as required to gain entry to the main compound. We recommend that you grenade the guardhouse to help even the odds, before attempting to gain entry to the plant’s interior production area. Once you’re inside the production area, evading detection will be almost impossible, so we recommend abandoning any pretense of stealth and relying on aggressive close-quarter combat tactics instead. It is of the utmost importance you refrain from using explosives in or near the control room or the heavy water storage tanks, as it is important to preserve the heavy water and all scientific research intact.
Fairburne kills several German sentries guarding the perimeter of the heavy water plant and infiltrates the area. He then kills all the soldiers in and around the guardhouse, in order to prevent anyone from pursuing him into the confines of the facility, where he would otherwise be at a disadvantage.
Nordsig Heavy Water Plant[]
Dr. Lohmann is likely to be working in the control room area. Establish contact and persuade him to await collection by your OSS support team. Once you have done this, sabotage enough of the heavy water storage cylinders that only as much water is left as the OSS team can remove from the site. Your next goal will be to seek out Niklas Huber, the officer in charge of the facility. Huber has strong links to the Nazi party, but based on past evidence, he has no stomach for personal pain. We are confident that interrogating him will quickly give you access to the safe, which contains the shipping manifest we need. Once you have secured Dr. Lohmann and the shipping manifest, make use of the radio equipment on site to contact your OSS support team. Wait for them to move in and secure the plant before you exfiltrate.
Fairburne secures Dr. Lohmann.
Inside the facility, Fairburne uses timed bombs to blast his way through heavy steel doors protecting the control room and storage vats. He secures Dr. Lohmann, who agrees to cooperate with the OSS. Fairburne then proceeds to open the master emergency outlet valve on the heavy water tanks, ensuring that the supply does not get into the hands of the NKVD.
Fairburne holds Niklas Huber at gunpoint.
Lastly, he interrogates the German officer in charge of the facility to learn the location of the safe containing the shipping manifest and kills him after learning the combination required to open it. Documents in hand, he contacts the OSS team from the facility’s radio room, but before the team can move in to secure the facility and extract Dr. Lohmann, Fairburne is asked to provide them with covering fire from the roof.
Assist OSS Team[]
Head to the building’s roof and assist the OSS team, who are being pinned down. Exercise extreme caution. We have reliable information that, at the direct request of a senior NKVD officer, elite enemy snipers have now been brought into the area.
From a vantage point on the roof, Fairburne eliminates a Soviet tank that is holding back the OSS attack at the east gate of the facility, and then eliminates several rooftop snipers and an NKVD commando group on the ground. The OSS attack is ultimately successful: both Dr. Lohmann and the heavy water samples are safely exfiltrated from the facility.
Exfiltrate Nordsig[]
Move to the coordinates indicated but watch your step. We have had reports of enemy infantry and armor unit fragments passing through this area. Once you’re in position, lie low and await further orders.
Fairburne meets with an OSS contact.
On his way towards the extraction point, Fairburne meets with an OSS contact, who provides him with a new sniper rifle, a modified Mosin Nagant variant. He then eliminates three elite enemy snipers, thus assisting with the OSS team’s exfiltration from the area. Fairburne ultimately exfiltrates the area himself via the Nordsig U-Bahn station he originally arrived by.
Recover the V2 tech | April 25th, 1945[]
Cut Communications[]
The NKVD has hijacked a German convoy, which was carrying a small-scale prototype of a successor to the V2 rocket motor. The NKVD unit is now lying low in the Schloss, waiting for reinforcement and fuel to transport the prototype to Tempelhof Airport, for immediate airlift to Russia. A small OSS force is en route to intercept them, and we need you to assist them. The operation at the Schloss is being co-ordinated from an NKVD field HQ near Rummelsburg. A two-man OSS unit has managed to jam the HQ’s long-range comms. However, as a backup, the HQ has a number of motorcycle couriers, which they now intend to dispatch. We are sure these couriers will carry orders requesting other enemy units in the sector to assist the group at the Schloss. We need you to infiltrate the area and make sure none of these messengers get through.
Fairburne intercepts and eliminates a total of three motorcycle couriers before they can leave the immediate area. He then assassinates the commanding officer at the NKVD headquarters to further delay any reinforcement of the NKVD unit at the Schloss.
Destroy Ammo Dump[]
The ammo dump at Neukölln is being used to supply all the NKVD patrols operating in this vicinity. It is protected by a small, but heavily armed garrison. We estimate that its destruction will cripple all potential support in the area, which would render any large-scale reinforcement of the NKVD unit at the Schloss impossible until they can resupply from elsewhere.
After infiltrating the enemy garrison and destroying the radio transmitter, Fairburne proceeds to sabotage several transport trucks and two ammo depots to prevent the enemy from interfering with the OSS team’s operation at the Schloss. He then exfiltrates the area and heads northwards.
Disable Katyushas[]
Katyusha rocket batteries close to Kottbusser Tor are pinning down the German Resistance forces, which are tasked with supporting our OSS unit at the Schloss. Eliminate the Katyushas’ forward observers to give our forces a chance to move out. If the opportunity should present itself, knock out the launchers completely.
Fairburne meets with a German Resistance commander, who asks him to retrieve an injured recon pilot from behind enemy lines, which Fairburne accomplishes. He then helps the German Resistance eliminate the NKVD forces in the immediate area and disables a total of four Katuysha rocket batteries.
Holzmarkt Train Yard[]
If the OSS team at the Schloss are successful in recovering the prototype, they’ll need a clear way out. There is a suitable commercial train yard in Holzmarkt, not too far from the Schloss. Secure the area so that it can be used as part of the team’s escape route.
Fairburne eliminates all hostiles in the vicinity of the train yard and destroys two fuel tanks on rail cars stored there to further disrupt NKVD operations.
The Schloss[]
Further radio intercepts indicate that the NKVD convoy carrying the prototype is due to depart from the Schloss at 0100 hours to rendezvous with a support group. Your task is to assist the German Resistance already on-site. The overriding priority is to recover the prototype intact.
German Resistance searches the NKVD convoy.
Aided by a German Resistance team, Fairburne intercepts the NKVD convoy and eliminates the armed escort. The prototype tech is recovered intact.
Flak Tower | April 27th, 1945[]
This mission is only available in the Nintendo Wii version of Sniper Elite.
The destruction of the heavy water plant in Nordsig struck a severe blow to Germany’s atomic ambitions, but not a fatal one. Our focus now is to locate the missing Norwegian scientist being held hostage by the Germans; with his help, we should be able to discover the location of the secret German atomic facility. We have received word from the German Resistance that he will be taken to a flak tower on the northern outskirts of the city. Meet the German Resistance squad leader at a safe house near the tower and rescue the scientist before it’s too late. Furthermore, sources have confirmed that several divisions of toughened veterans from the Eastern Front have been shipped back to Berlin to prepare for the final defense of the city. Be careful, as these men are highly skilled and dedicated fighters.
After infiltrating the vicinity of the flak tower, Fairburne destroys a radio post to reduce the alertness of enemies in the area. He then rendezvouses with the German Resistance squad leader and provides covering fire for the squad as they ambush the German half-track carrying the scientist. The rescue is a success.
Escape from Berlin | April 28th, 1945[]
Extract the Pilot[]
With the German forces almost finished, a Soviet noose is rapidly closing on Berlin. Within 24 hours it will be impossible for the German Resistance to keep Dr. Lohmann hidden. You must now assist them with his immediate extraction from the city. We believe your best chance of escape is via Tempelhof Airport. Rendezvous with the German Resistance unit holding Dr. Lohmann at the indicated co-ordinates, then collect your pilot from the Schöneberg area on your way to the airport.
Thomas being escorted by the NVKD.
Fairburne and Thomas following the latter's rescue.
Fairburne intercepts the convoy and eliminates the commando unit guarding the pilot, Thomas. However, Thomas refuses to go unless his brother, Stephan, is also freed from captivity at an observatory. Fairburne begrudgingly complies, and while the rescue attempt is successful, Stephan refuses to leave Berlin. Fairburne heads back to Thomas and escorts him to a rendezvous with the German Resistance, who provide them with a transport truck.
Journey to Tempelhof[]
Your best chance of escape remains via Tempelhof Airport. Proceed towards the airport, avoiding main roads whenever possible. This is a high-risk strategy, but infiltrating the airport and stealing a plane is so unexpected, that it might just work.
The German Resistance convoy is attacked by two Soviet tanks. Fairburne disembarks from the truck and eliminates both tanks and the troops escorting them. The survivors of the attack then proceed towards Tempelhof Airport.
Tempelhof Airport[]
The airport is protected by a ring of anti-aircraft guns, which must be compromised before you can safely take off. Our aerial observations confirm that the AA guns are all controlled and co-ordinated from a single radar truck on the airfield. You will need to take out both radio operators almost simultaneously to create the required confusion, during which you can make your escape. The AA guns will struggle to target a small plane without radar assistance. The first step is to infiltrate the main hangar area and eliminate the sentries so that the rest of your team can locate and prepare a suitable small plane. We’ll be watching for you, good luck!
Fairburne shooting at NKVD troops during the escape.
At the airport, Fairburne orders Thomas and Dr. Lohmann to hide in an empty garage until he deals with the sentries; once that is done, Thomas begins looking for suitable aircraft. Using a timed bomb to destroy a fuel storage area, Fairburne creates a distraction for his assault on the control tower. Once at the top of the tower, he uses the vantage point to kill the NKVD personnel in and around the communications trailer, disrupting control of the AA guns. Meanwhile, Thomas locates a small airplane, regroups with Dr. Lohmann and begins the take-off. Despite enemy reinforcement rushing into the airfield to prevent them from leaving, Fairburne catches up to the moving plane and jumps inside the cabin at the last second.
Secret Mission[]
After completing the game, a bonus "Secret Mission" called Safehouse is available by going past Escape from Berlin on the mission selection screen.
In this mission, Fairburne meets a contact inside a Safehouse, holds off an enemy assault and then escapes.
Gameplay[]
Sniper Elite is a third-person shooter that involves stealth and first-person shooter game elements. In order to reinforce the stealth aspect, there is a camouflage index measured in percentage that displays the visibility of the player character Fairburne. Fairburne uses several World War II-era weapons, including sniper rifles, a silenced pistol, submachine guns, light machine guns, an anti-tank weapon, and hand grenades that can be also used to set up tripwire booby traps.
One of the main features of the game is the option of realistic ballistics, involving factors such as bullet drop, wind strength, and breathing when attempting a shot. Sniping gameplay is performed in first person scope view, whereas movement and use of all other weapons are in third person view. When the player successfully takes a particularly well-placed sniper shot (such as a head shot or a shot on a moving target), the view follows the path of the bullet in slow motion, while the camera rotates around the bullet.
Features include an ability to wound an enemy so that their comrades expose their position by coming to their rescue, detonating grenades and fuel tanks with well-aimed rifle fire, and timing shots so that loud noises such as thunder or artillery blasts mask the sound.
Characters[]
Targets[]
Weapons[]
Primary Weapons[]
Sniper Rifles[]
Secondary Weapons[]
Submachine Guns[]
Launchers[]
Machine Guns[]
Tertiary Weapons[]
Pistols[]
Other Equipment[]
Explosives[]
Reboot / sequel[]
Sniper Elite V2 serves as a reboot for Seventh and Eight Generation video game consoles.
Trivia[]
- This game, however, is more of a pilot game for an animation test and does not have anything to do with the main Sniper Elite games.