Sniper Killer – The Game That Let’s You Play as the Bad Guy

Halloween is fast approaching and so there is no better time to talk about a scary game. Though horror games can be enjoyed all year round, playing them in October is like opening presents on Christmas. It just feels natural. There have been plenty of terrifying horror games to choose from this October, with one of the standouts being the remake of Silent hill 2. When it comes to indie gaming though, there’s one game in particular that has been getting attention, Sniper Killer.

Sniper Killer is the latest game to be released by Black Eyed Priest and Henry Hoare. The two publishers have previously worked on Blood Wash and Nights At The Gates Of Hell. These games take on a classic visual and audio style, harboring back to the PS1 era of gaming. The combination of nostalgia and horror has become something they are known for in the indie game industry. Sniper Killer continues this motif but this time has a unique twist. This time around you play as the killer in question.

The Story of Sniper Killer

Black Eyed Priest love to tell dark and disturbing narratives with a hint of humor . Sniper Killer is no different in this regard. While the gimmick of Sniper Killer boils down to playing as the villain of the game, the story is a little more complicated. If anything there are two stories intertwined within the narrative. One part has you take on the role of the killer with a love for snipers. This mysterious figure is on a mission to clean up America from the inside, ridding the country of anyone who HQ deems to be a threat. Though this sounds noble, his victims more often than not are innocent people. 

The other side of the story has you step into the shoes of grizzled detective Commardy. Commardy works tirelessly to crack the case of the Sniper Killer. He searches various crime scenes for clues and goes against his sergeant’s advice to take a vacation. Despite coming up against obstacles on the job, Commardy stays focused on putting a stop to the killer, all the while leaning into the stereotypical 80s cop character trope.

The perspective from which you play the game jumps around a bit. Sometimes you play as the victims of the the killer, other times you play as the killer himself, and then other times you will play as the ‘hero’ of the story Detective Commardy. Without spoiling too much, there’s several hints throughout the game that the Sniper Killer is under the influence of something greater. 

The Gameplay

Gameplay is never the focal point for Black Eyed Priest. It’s merely just a tool to get the player from one scary set piece to the next. This time around it feels like the developers wanted to do something different for Sniper Killer. Commardy’s segments in the game follow with the gameplay typically found in Black Eyed Priest games. Most of the time the player looks for clues left by the killer while getting jumpscared by pop ups and sound cues. It’s with the Sniper Killer side of the game where things get more interesting.

With a name like Sniper Killer, it’s pretty obvious you’ll be using a sniper. When taking control of the Sniper Killer, the player is given orders from HQ to take out specific targets. Each level has a target the player must identify with the clues given to them by HQ. Though this is the main gimmick of the game, certain things are added here and there to keep it engaging. When shooting a target the camera will follow the bullet allowing you to soak in your masterfully crafted execution. Each level with the killer ups the ante, adding new obstacles and ways you must complete the mission. Though it doesn’t have the most intricate mechanics in gaming, it has enough to make playing as the villain the funnest part of the game.

The Horror of Sniper Killer

Though Sniper Killer isn’t as graphically advanced as other horror games on the market, it manages to hold its own when it comes to terrifying the player. The game has a masterfully crafted atmosphere, building up to key moments in the story then quickly hitting you with a disturbing visual or unexpected sound. Jumpscares tend to be a cheap scare tactic in gaming, but Sniper Killer builds up to them so well and feels like it would be scary even without them. The sound design is top tier. Excluding the often cheesy voice acting, the sound helps you get immersed in this twisted story. On top of this audio stingers help keep your heart rate up, never letting you get too comfortable.

As briefly mentioned before, Sniper Killer isn’t simply the story of a crazed killer. Throughout the game the player is given hints that more is going on underneath the straight forward thriller veil. While it’s never outwardly told to the player what is happening or what is truly going on, that arguably makes the game even scarier.  Fans of Bloodwash should also keep an eye out for a particularly creepy fellow who makes a couple of appearances in this game.

Sniper Killer is a must play

Sniper Killer is a must play this Halloween season. Black Eyed Priest and Henry Hoare have crafted a short but sweet story that any fan of horror based narratives should check out. Don’t let the simplicity of the game be a deterrent, Sniper Killer will shake you to the core.

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