Lone cyborg against the covie horde, with sniper rifle to the fore!

(6:51) Level 5 ('Assault on the Control Room') on Normal. Concluding my recent focus on the twin bridges megabattle, here's a trio of solo sniping plays against 50 covies, using various plans. I'm using a modification of the set-up used in BCM90.

Released December 4th 2025, gameplay recorded December 1st-3rd 2025.

00:02 (Play 1 - Trough defence) In this set-up, one of the twelve Elites happens to be standing near some loose plasmas from earlier culling. Sending in a Banshee blast, I get those detonated to amusing effect, killing that Elite and also two unfortunate Grunts.

Once in the trough, I proceed with the sniping plus intermittent rocketing. That includes rocketing a few Grunts who were coming along a side platform. Things go well, and the battle ends with a nice Grunt launch.

Of all the battle plans used in the movie, this is the one I did the most plays for. Survival was by no means assured. You really have to keep the covies back when using this weapon combo. There were many times when I got overrun and things became desperate.

02:24 (Play 2 - Left side defence, backing off) This time I do a left side defence, backing off as needed to try and keep some distance from the covies, and particularly the Elites. In doing the modification work for this set-up, I'd taken some time to litter this side of the battlefield with upright Ghosts and Shades, thinking it might make for some fun. It certainly gave me some extra cover options.

Nice double-kill around 4:04. Through the scope, I'd noticed a foreground Grunt coming into view, so I delayed my shot until I could get him along with the distant Jackal I was focused on. Pity I didn't follow that with a second double-kill, for which there was certainly an opportunity, but in that case I didn't notice the foreground critter in time.

In the final phase there's a bit of peril with some Jackals closing in, and just as I step behind a stationary shield for cover, a plasma ball takes it down. Not helpful! But with only three Jackals left, I'm able to quickly finish them with only one more health bar lost.

04:40 (Play 3 - Left side defence, rock shoot) With this 'rock shoot' plan in mind, I'd made sure to get suitable rock geometry when creating my set-up modification. This particular rock design may actually be the best, if you're interested in dropping yourself off on top and trying to kill lots of covies before they can get past, like I'm doing here. A ridge provides fantastic cover and you'll see me making good use of it here, ducking back occasionally.

I end up killing 39 of the 50 covies, including all 12 Elites and all 11 Jackals, before dropping down to slaughter the grunty remnants. As a bonus, that denouement includes a very nice rocket which sends five Grunts flying. Actually, an earlier rocket killed five covies as well, namely around 5:21 when I saw a good concentration. Got four Grunts and a Jackal there.

Closing remarks Hopefully you enjoyed the variety here. If you liked the trough play, bear in mind that I've previously shown other solo plays there on Normal. See the movie list on my trough defence page. Likewise I've shown solo battling for left side defence before, namely a hard-fought triple play in BCM327.

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