Developer: Denki
Publisher: PQube
Platform: PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S
Tested on: Switch 2
Sniper Dan – Review
We didn’t expect to tackle another hidden object game so soon after Cat Me If You Can, but the universe works in mysterious ways. Developer Denki, whom you may know from the Autonauts series, decided to make their mark on the genre with Sniper Dan. We’re cautiously optimistic because Sniper Dan seems to be a game that wants to break away from the typical conventions of the genre. Should you scope out Sniper Dan, or is this one a miss rather than a hit?
Story
The titular Dan is a self-employed entrepreneur and odd-job man who is more than happy to assist his local community. He also owns a high-powered rifle. That’s pretty much everything you need to know, as Sniper Dan lacks a deep or overarching narrative. You just shoot things to fix them, whether it’s a blocked fountain, a peg leg that needs shortening, a chicken that needs to cross the road, or an overgrown beard that needs trimming. The tone of the game is unabashedly absurd, relying heavily on slapstick humour, silly scenarios and cartoonish consequences. Perhaps the most ridiculous thing about Sniper Dan is that, despite its protagonist toting a rifle, it’s actually a family-friendly and non-violent affair altogether.
Graphics
We’re going to be honest here and say that Sniper Dan’s aesthetic was the most off-putting thing about the game, at least initially. We understand the idea behind the brightly coloured and simple visuals but they make the game look cheap and dated. It’s as if the game was a forgotten piece of cheap, Wii-era shovelware. It’s a bit of a shame, because the visuals undersell Sniper Dan’s gameplay. Things did grow on us somewhat as we started to explore the game’s six distinct, densely packed environments, but their aesthetics never fully clicked. To Sniper Dan’s credit, the game’s visual simplicity translated to a smooth performance, and the minimalist designs meant that everything remains readable, despite the plethora of details and easter eggs that are hidden throughout the levels.
Sound
The overall vibe of Sniper Dan’s soundtrack is fitting for the game’s atmosphere. Music is cheerful and lighthearted, although we could’ve done with more variety here. The limited music selection inevitably starts to sound repetitive. Ambience and sound effects are varied, with gunfire effects in particular standing out. Not only are these surprisingly punchy, but they can be customised too, with unlockable sound effects including an all-important “pew pew” noise. Voice acting is notably absent.
Gameplay
Just like Cat Me If You Can though, Sniper Dan defies the conventions of hidden object games. Instead of the traditional point-and-click gameplay typically associated with the genre, Sniper Dan blends the familiar hidden object core with FPS elements, resulting in a unique and unusual gameplay experience. You’re presented with a checklist of things to do, though some of your tasks are cryptic. Taking a perch in your overwatch tower, you scan your surroundings through your scope and fire at specific targets to fix the town’s problems. Clearing an area leads into a boss battle, which uses the exact same mechanics as the base campaign, though these do add a bit more challenge. Completing tasks earns money, which you can use to buy cosmetics or upgrade your sniper gear, like increasing the zoom on your scope or improving reload speed. Apart from the expected upgrades and cosmetics, the so-called Magic Market offers additional modes and even separate mini-games for purchase.
When it comes to Sniper Dan’s main campaign, patience and precision, rather than speed, are the key to success. The game is fairly forgiving, especially in normal mode, where you are allowed to tackle your to-do list at your own pace, although you are still timed. However, shooting humans or animals is usually prohibited. If you accidentally shoot a living target, you’ll be hit with a financial penalty or even worse: immediate job failure. Even with this in mind, there is no real sense of urgency when it comes to your standard tasks. Things are a bit different when your phone rings, though, as this means there’s an emergency mission that requires your immediate attention. These short and snappy side objectives require fast action, whether it’s preventing robots from hurting the mayor or shooting obstacles out of the way for a biplane to make an emergency landing. Successfully completing these rewards you with bonus cash, although there is no real penalty for failing them. It simply means that you miss out on the extra currency.
In addition to shooting targets, you’ll be shooting photos as well once you purchase the camera and film add-ons from the in-game shop. This unlocks Photo Mode, a Pokémon Snap-like feature where you hunt for specific scenes to add to your album. Now, if we’re going to compare Sniper Dan to Pokémon Snap, it’s probably the right time to talk about controls, as these are quite frankly somewhat frustrating, especially by default. The game doesn’t support gyro aiming, and the sensitivity feels off in the Switch 1 version, even after adjusting the settings. Fortunately, we were able to get the Switch 2 version for free as a separate, standalone release (take note, Square Enix) because we had our review copy of the Switch 1 game sitting in our library. The Switch 2 version’s biggest boon is that it adds mouse controls, which were immensely more satisfying. If you’re going to get Sniper Dan, get it on PC or Switch 2.
Conclusion
Our first impressions of Sniper Dan weren’t stellar. Not only did the game look cheap, but the default Switch control scheme really worked against the entire concept of the game. Thankfully, we were able to move on to the Switch 2 version of the game for free, and this started Sniper Dan’s redemption arc. Mouse controls really made a difference here, and even the visuals grew on us, resulting in a game that we now feel is worth a shot (badum tsss).
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