I decided to write a new review after I got a new laptop (Acer Nitro 5) which allows me to play the game with the highest settings. It's clear that the better visual details are not just eye candy but also improve the overall gameplay experience.
Also I now have played more than 100 hours of the game, so I felt I have new things to say about the game.

A disclaimer: I love the previous Sniper Elite 4 and I've played it a lot.

I was a bit annoyed in the beginning that Sniper Elite 5 changed a lot of things including most of the action keys for example. So you have to re-learn many things that you took for granted in SE4.
It took me quite a while to get used to SE5 because of these changes specifically.

Also, while the first mission is good, it's not a great mission to open the game with because it takes place at night and it adds an unnecessary level of difficulty when you're already struggling with so many new concepts in the game.
So if you find the first mission frustrating, don't lose hope ;)

It's clear they tried to make the game more grounded in reality, so for example you don't have an infinite number of satchel charges but instead you have to find each one in order to use it. Also you have to press a button to collect an item, not just bump into it. And you can't destroy every vehicle with a single shot except when they carry explosives. The enemies can activate alarms to call reinforcements which only makes sense. I like these changes.

It's also clear they put a lot of effort into improving the existing UI.
For example, I love the larger permanent crosshair in the middle of the screen and now I really miss it when I go back to play SE4.

I have to say, the more I play SE5, the more I like it.
It takes a while to get used to the new game mechanics and the new action keys but I like them better.

Some people complained there's far less sniping in this game and much more stealth. I don't think so. It may seem so at first but as I was replaying the missions again and again, I discovered many opportunities for sniping when you take the time and explore the environment.

So overall, despite some initial frustration, I grew really fond of this game over time and now I love it.

I decided to write a new review after I got a new laptop (Acer Nitro 5) which allows me to play the game with the highest settings. It's clear that the better visual details are not just eye candy but also improve the overall gameplay experience. Also I now have played more than 100 hours of the game, so I felt I have new things to say about the game. A disclaimer: I love the previous Sniper Elite 4 and I've played it a lot. I was a bit annoyed in the beginning that Sniper Elite 5 changed a lot of things including most of the action keys for example. So you have to re-learn many things that you took for granted in SE4. It took me quite a while to get used to SE5 because of these changes specifically. Also, while the first mission is good, it's not a great mission to open the game with because it takes place at night and it adds an unnecessary level of difficulty when you're already struggling with so many new concepts in the game. So if you find the first mission frustrating, don't lose hope ;) It's clear they tried to make the game more grounded in reality, so for example you don't have an infinite number of satchel charges but instead you have to find each one in order to use it. Also you have to press a button to collect an item, not just bump into it. And you can't destroy every vehicle with a single shot except when they carry explosives. The enemies can activate alarms to call reinforcements which only makes sense. I like these changes. It's also clear they put a lot of effort into improving the existing UI. For example, I love the larger permanent crosshair in the middle of the screen and now I really miss it when I go back to play SE4. I have to say, the more I play SE5, the more I like it. It takes a while to get used to the new game mechanics and the new action keys but I like them better. Some people complained there's far less sniping in this game and much more stealth. I don't think so. It may seem so at first but as I was replaying the missions again and again, I discovered many opportunities for sniping when you take the time and explore the environment. So overall, despite some initial frustration, I grew really fond of this game over time and now I love it.