May 13^th, 2005 (2:06pm) - Namco has announced that it will be releasing a realistic World War II sniper simulation in Q4 2005, from UK developer Rebellion, called Sniper Elite. The game plunges players behind enemy lines on an undercover mission to divert Atomic weapon research from the advancing Soviet Army. Featuring authentic sniping mechanics and four offline and online game modes, Sniper Elite will be available on the PlayStation 2, Xbox and PC.

In Sniper Elite, players assume the role of an American sniper, disguised as a German soldier and dropped into war torn 1945 Berlin by the American OSS to gather intelligence on the top-secret German Atomic research. If his mission fails, control of the world’s Atomic technology will fall into the hands of Stalin and the Soviet Army, throwing the world’s political climate into chaos.

"With their unparalleled survival skills, composure in the face of danger, and ruthless precision, snipers have captivated the minds of action fans for years," said Garry Cole, Executive Vice President of Namco Hometek Inc. "Sniper Elite recreates the life of a World War II sniper in a hostile environment, evading enemy soldiers while seeking cover and waiting for an opportunity to take the perfect shot."

In the undercover mission, players will utilize their sniper training to gain access to key positions by taking out machine guns, armored vehicles, guard posts and sentries through stealth and pinpoint accuracy. Like a true sniper, players will have to follow their wits and instincts and utilize both first and third-person perspectives to negotiate through 28 open-ended levels in war-torn Berlin. In taking aim at enemy soldiers, players will need to consider gravity, wind speed, heart rate, breathing and posture to successfully hit their target in one of the most authentic sniping mechanics ever devised. Players can even take up the fight or go head-to-head with a friend in the cooperative or competitive offline play modes, or even engage in a game of worldwide cat-and-mouse with up to eight players online.