|
It’s hard to say what’s sneakier: Sam Fisher, or the way that Splinter Cell came out of nowhere and blew away the competition in 2002. Regardless of what the correct answer is, one thing is for sure both kick a whole lot of ass.
This isn’t a game, it’s a Clancy. And Ubi Soft really holds to that. This is straight up espionage action, stealth redefined. No metal gears, no psychic anorexic villains, and best of all, no mullets. And don’t even try that sneak-by-in-a-box-trick. Cardboard never has held up very well against carbine bullets.
But Metal Gear Solid comparisons/jokes aside, Splinter Cell takes every aspect of nearly every gaming genre up to a whole new level. It’s much more than just an action/adventure game, much, much more.
The Xbox is a graphical workhorse. You probably knew that when you bought it. And as many games as there are that have taken advantage of that, very few games, if any, take advantage of the Xbox’s graphic capabilities in the way that Splinter Cell does. Splinter Cell doesn’t just look pretty, my friend, it actually uses the way things look to determine how the game plays out. It’s all about the lighting.
PC monitors, lamps, light bulbs, lanterns, fluorescent lights, and just about anything else that generates photons can be destroyed. Is that wall lamp making you uncomfortable? Worried that you’re just a wee bit too visible because of that street light? By all means, get rid of it. And then just sit back and watch with your night vision on. And that’s where the real beauty of Splinter Cell comes to light, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Don’t worry about perpetual twilight being an obstacle, because Sam is equipped with everything you’d expect a Clancy protagonist to have, and that’s the best in state of the art military hardware. From the get go you’ll have access to Night Vision Goggles, an optical wire, and, my personal favorite, a silenced 5.72 pistol. But Sam’s lethal abilities come not only from bullets and gear, but from the environment as well. Using the darkness, you can sneak up on an enemy, interrogate them, knock them unconscious, or throw a wine bottle to distract them. You can shoot them, shoot out the lights, shoot out a window, just about anything. Splinter Cell takes open-ended gameplay to a level previously not enjoyed by players unfamiliar with Deus Ex. There are always multiple ways to handle the situation, from sulking in the shadows to unloading with gas grenades, diversion cameras, sticky shockers, or even an airfoil round to stun that hard to approach target. The choice is yours, just make it quickly.
Splinter Cell uses sound to an art form. Every clink, clank, and musical score fits the gameplay perfectly to add incredible tension to moments. Just try imagining hiding in a tiny shadowed corner with two sub-machine gun toting guards three feet away, and you can’t kill either of them. Or how about being trapped in a library with five Georgian Elite Soldiers who all want you dead? Few games do as superb a job of creating a mood as Splinter Cell does. And we can’t mention the sound without mentioning one of Splinter Cell’s biggest perks, the incredible voice acting. Whenever Lambert keys in with advice or criticism, or whenever you here a patrol complaining about that intruder, you’ll smile with the satisfaction of knowing that you just irritated a terrorist.
As far as the controls go, it’s like Splinter Cell was designed from the ground up to work with the Controller S or Original Controller like a natural extension of your hand, much like Sam Fisher uses his F2000. Everything from moving to jumping to shooting is silky smooth and a natural transition from one to the other. Beginners will be able to pick up and play after the training level, but the gameplay leaves tons of room to learn new tricks of the trade no matter how many times you play through the game.
The story is what really captivated me throughout much of the game. It’s classic Clancy all the way, with the day after tomorrow storyline everyone’s come to know and love. With plot twists galore and plenty of exotic real life locations to explore, you’ll be sucked in from the beginning and never let go. The immersion factor is so good, throughout the first part of the game I actually thought I had a daughter named Sara. You’d better get used to introducing yourself to people by saying I am Sam Fisher, I do not exist. Tell me the keypad code to the hall way or I’ll kill you.
Splinter Cell is flawless. With such a perfect mix of action, stealth, beautiful graphics, and dynamic sound and music to boot, it would be impossible to ask for more, but you can. Ubi Soft has promised downloadable content to come in the form of all new levels to explore. All you’ll need is an Xbox Live account and you’ll have even more content to play in once you get bored with the standard levels.
Splinter Cell is truly a gem, one of those games that comes along once a while and redefines gaming. By far the best game of 2002, Splinter Cell is a must have buy for any Xbox owner, and a tribute to your game library. Long live Tom Clancy.
Pros:
- Extremely cool gear.
- Incredibly immersive gameplay, yet simple enough to pick up and play.
- Top notch graphics.
- Downloadable content to come!
Cons:
|
