"Authentic" Difficulty - Closer to "Unreal"

[Stargeezer]

Let me first say Sniper Elite is by far the best FPS on the planet, IMO. I've played SE and SE1 extensively, and have logged over 200 hrs on SE3, a great game. I competed all difficulties except Authentic - I'm giving it a try. Brutal is not the word, and it was designed to punish. No saves, limited ammo and health packs, and all of a sudden I'm "sticky" - sticking on pebbles, leaves, grass, etc. It also takes a lot of "2-shots" to bring anyone down. I shoot dead center, they flinch, and take the exact same 2nd shot to get the kill. This really messes you up trying to fire under noise cover.

You have to know each location by heart. You can only take a couple of hits, and there is no health meter. When your screen starts to turn red, you're toast with the next shot. I just tried to finish Gaberon (again and again). I played a bit over 3 hrs this run and got to the final Officer Objective, and only had to sneak and tap the tower guard, and one dude at the firepit below the tower, then an easy kill for the final Officer. I crawled along the shore grass up to where I could see the guard on the ground, and layed back in the weeds, watching to see if he might start on patrol. I watched him for @ 4 minutes, and suddenly he alerts and spots me. Ya... wtf. Oh yeah, you can't shoot through grass in this mode. I was firing blanks and he drilled me. Wah, wah, waaaaah.

For anyone who has completed the Authentic run, super gratz, dudes. If you love the game, it's worth a shot in this mode, but be prepared to maybe spend eternity there :) I thought Authentic would be limited ammo and straight deadly shooters for the enemy. It goes way beyond that. Still a kick-butt wild ride, but you may never complete that level, even with all the strategy and stealth you can muster. Ooo Rah and game on, warriors...

[SkacikPL]

SE is not an FPS, mmmkay?

[EagleWatch]

Originally posted by SkacikPL:

SE is not an FPS, mmmkay?

This.

[rico686]

My friend and I did it on authentic but the only thing that was very annoying, was the fact that you have to cope with numerous bugs in the game and (not to forget) the sudden ingame disconnection issues which requires you to start all over again.
Playing in Coop on authentic is much easier provided you play it 100% as a team, looking after each other and taking care of each other.
But I agree that the AI react and/or respond "unreal" but hey, it's a game :)

[Stargeezer]

Single player, which means it's FPS.. ya huh.

[Stargeezer]

"My friend and I did it on authentic but the only thing that was very annoying, was the fact that you have to cope with numerous bugs in the game and (not to forget) the sudden ingame disconnection issues which requires you to start all over again."

Rico - Point taken. I just had my 1st diconnection, 3/4 of the way thru Gaberon in stealth. Game should have an auto save for disconnects. I also agree that Coop is likely to be easier (if yer not playing with a moron). I'm dedicated Single Player, so like the Authentic prompt sez, you have to be a masochist or a warped Sniper purist. Guess I'm both - packing my bags to get-'er-done again.. By the way, on this last play I killed every soldier up to where the Tower is located by the truck compound. I tossed my Thompson for an MP40 as Thompson ammo is scary-limited. After searching all bodies (@ 23 kills, buildings and tents, I had a total of 12 MP40 rounds, and didn't fire it :) Totally insane, brother :)

[Wildbill75]

M8 i feel your pain on that setting , single player is a nightmare , i'm trying to finish 3 missions, but it is great for CO-OP , i have a team buddy who covers me back , we had 1 or 2 drops online , but thats gaming for you , i dont like Authentic and yet it push's you to the limit for your skill as a player .... stealth is the only way to start out and if it goes wrong , mine the areas and get ready for a shoot out ... love the game

[The Lone Ranger]

Oye,Stargeezer How about THIS for UNREAL (Authentic Difficulty)? I draw down using a G-43 on a fellow with a pith helmet,I fire DEAD ON to hit center/back of the Pith helmet to go through the head,via the back of his head and out his forehead. Instead the effect I see looks like I hit the Pith helmet with a BB gun. The second shot hit's about the same and FINALLY a third shot kills him ;he had trurned around and took the third round in the chest. I'm all for those jokes about the "Master Race" BUT SUPER bullet proof Pith Helmets??? BLOODY HELL!

[CloneTrooper(NL)]

play the authentic in stealthy, use Welrod or better HDM and only focus on the primary objectives. And play it in co-op

[Arctic]

Yea I was gonna say Authentic in co-op shouldn't be too horrible. I would do it with someone.

[Wildbill75]

Sorry i dont like the crap welrod, the HDM is the better gun to have for steath and some good melee attacks , i like to wipe the map out of enemy first . i'm stuck on 99% complete , just one more part from a dead body ... i was hoping authentic mode would give me that last part ...nope

[The Lone Ranger]

Oye wildbill75,I too was @99% for what seemed like forever,THEN instead of just killing that last sniper that had gotten up into the sniper tower,very near the end of the mission,I went up and looted him HE had the 15th part. The mission was: The Pont Du Fahs Airfield. Hope that helps lad.Cheers.

[Stargeezer]

All good strategy, bros - the last officer is a real problem with all the enemies (I found a few spawn, like the patroling guard near the center tower). I played twice into the last area where the last Officer is located. Both times a guard spotted me in heavy grass near the water. I'm heading back to take a wildbill75 approach - they all go down. It will take near forever, but good fun along the way with serious enemies. Oh yeah, last time I got a little loose with the 2nd Officer at the firepit between camps. I had to hightail it, and started getting hit from dudes way across the pond by the final tower, and they weren't missing a shot! Holy cats. Stealth and put 'em all down is the deal for me.. good for xp also to get my 2nd Capt star.

[Wildbill75]

hey lone ranger , i'll will try that mission again later , cheers for the info m8

[GreyNaide]

Originally posted by Stargeezer:

All good strategy, bros - the last officer is a real problem with all the enemies (I found a few spawn, like the patroling guard near the center tower). I played twice into the last area where the last Officer is located. Both times a guard spotted me in heavy grass near the water. I'm heading back to take a wildbill75 approach - they all go down. It will take near forever, but good fun along the way with serious enemies. Oh yeah, last time I got a little loose with the 2nd Officer at the firepit between camps. I had to hightail it, and started getting hit from dudes way across the pond by the final tower, and they weren't missing a shot! Holy cats. Stealth and put 'em all down is the deal for me.. good for xp also to get my 2nd Capt star.

A good strategy for u to try mate, is a combination of several things other players have suggested. What works really good for me is, kill everyone up to the end using as much stealth as possible but DO NOT SEARCH THE 3RD OFFICER, (the one by the lake), This will trigger the cutscene & spawn more soldiers at the end. Once you have reached this point, (the last building), & have left the 3rd officer un-searched, lay traps around the last building where the final officer appears including the immediate right-hand side where the truck pulls up carrying soldiers. Then, mine the road for the half-track that comes, & you are then free to go & search the 3rd officer. Once you do, the cutscene plays, the truck parks next to the building & blows up, the final officer dies in your traps, you search him which triggers the half-track, & it blows up on your mines. Map completed. Hope that helps, good luck! :)

[Stargeezer]

. [/quote]

A good strategy for u to try mate, is a combination of several things other players have suggested. What works really good for me is, kill everyone up to the end using as much stealth as possible but DO NOT SEARCH THE 3RD OFFICER, (the one by the lake), This will trigger the cutscene & spawn more soldiers at the end. Once you have reached this point, (the last building), & have left the 3rd officer un-searched, lay traps around the last building where the final officer appears including the immediate right-hand side where the truck pulls up carrying soldiers. Then, mine the road for the half-track that comes, & you are then free to go & search the 3rd officer. Once you do, the cutscene plays, the truck parks next to the building & blows up, the final officer dies in your traps, you search him which triggers the half-track, & it blows up on your mines. Map completed. Hope that helps, good luck! :) [/quote]

Awesome, mate - I always mined for the half-track, but excellent plan for the truck. I'll give it a try - I was almost there (again) but slid around a corner right into a dude. Can't aim when he's peppering you, and silent kill won't work from the front like on some levels. Good hunting!