Splinter Cell
One of the finest action games of the year is finally with us...
Splinter Cell differs from most titles in the regard that everything you like to stare at or listen to actually serves as part of the gameplay. Both the lighting and the shadows are tools; most of the lights require being shot out or turned off in order to create said shadows that Sam must hide in. On the bottom right of the screen is a visibility meter. If the meter’s needle is all the way left, it means you are covered in darkness and nearly invisible. Guards will walk right past you whistling and never even know you are there. Conversely, the needle hanging toward the middle or all the way right means you are lit up like Rockefeller Center, and will probably be shot on sight. This method remains true throughout the entire game and in every environment, whether it be indoors our out. In terms of sound, the less one hears Sam Fisher the better. Stepping across gravel will create a lot more noise than walking across thick carpet, and the speed at which Sam moves relates directly to the amount of noise made. The left analog stick controls Fisher’s movement, and the speed of said movement responds to how far the stick is moved in any direction. Crouching and advancing slowly is the key to not being noticed. Creeping up behind foes is also important in this title, as choking them and placing your pistol to their head tends to make them a bit more free with the gabbing, and can greatly assist Fisher in his mission objectives. This method is also essential to disabling guards and various personnel if you find yourself out of ammunition (the game’s emphasis is much more directed toward sneaking around and alternative methods rather than direct violence, and you will find yourself out of ammo often) in a well-lit area crawling with creeps. Grab ‘em from behind and knock ‘em out with one well placed blow to the head with the butt of your pistol. Yes, it’s lights out in this game in many different ways. If you have played MGS2, you will know how to play Splinter Cell. The intimacies of controlling Mr. Fisher will come to you in no time, as the control scheme is very tight and intuitive. Sam uses many gadgets to assist him in his objectives, from his nightvision/heatvision headset (the night-vision effect is something that has to be seen to be believed… it is like playing a game through an Oliver Stone “flash-cut” sequence) to his wire cameras, pistols, rifles, sticky cameras (cameras you mount on a wall that explode when personnel gets near), and anything else found along the way (even empty vodka bottles will save your life on more than one occasion). Above every thing else, Splinter Cell makes you think about every move you make. Although it can be said that the missions and story are linear, how you get through them is entirely up to you. One false move and you are dead ninety percent of the time, so, on occasion, the game will feel a bit “trial-and-error” like, but these quips are minor ones. Splinter Cell is a single player game only, but does have Xbox Live support in the way of downloadable content. Bonus levels are being offered soon, (nothing is available as of writing) and it is believed that several of them will be free of charge. Any gamer who enjoys the stealth/action genre and vicariously lives through the lives of covert assassins/operators will absolutely adore Splinter Cell. Do yourself a favour and pick it up without hesitation; you will have a grand time playing through what must be close to the real lives of these shadowy figures.
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Comments
There is so much quality to this game it surprises me somewhat that the levels are designed so linearly. You don't really get a feel of much choice in the route you take to infiltrate a building. The variety comes from the different ways you can deal with a given situation, but it would still have been better if there were a few more ways in and out of the buildings you target.
Spoiler at bottom of comment
Totally agree with Nick, but have to admit to missing the 'routes' a couple of times, which made the game even harder, especially as I must have missed a few precious save points.
One route I totally missed was on the Presidential Palace level, after running like girl out of the vault (well, I did only have three bullets left and I counted at least four of'em). I totally missed the door to the courtyard in the library and went up the elevator again. Weirdly though when I got to the top the two guards were juddering in different corners, so I knocked'em out. Then I went for the target who was standing in the dark between the two big open windows (it was the room that was indicating in the cut scene after all) and shot him.
Great I thought, but no tick on the goal list or slap on the back from Lambert.
Apart from being a weird glitch, what I loved about this game was how it forced you to use intuition - how you slapped yourself when you're realised the solution to what seemed like an impossible situation.
Sounds cool, but I'm going to wait for the GameCube version that comes out early 2003 along with the PS2 version.
Still No reason to buy a Xbox. :-/
This game is reason enough to buy an Xbox. Especialy as it's offered in a great bundle pack, at a great low, low price.
Oh, hi Bill. Thanks, that's the right amount.
From what i have played one the demo discs and what i ahve heard on Tech TV this will be a great game that will be a nice follow up to halo until halo 2 comes out.
So far they have one game I like for the Xbox..Athough it's not enough to justify the cost.. I stick to the PS2 and Gamecube.
Well I reckon there is more then one game for the box, but this is a game you will not see on any other console for a few years, untill the brilliant touches in its gameplay have been nicked by other developers.
Splinter Cell is coming out for PS2 and GameCube this March in the USA. I'm willing to wait a couple months then shell out money to buy another console that lacks games.
Wrong, It's comming to the PS2 in march
i think all the oeoples comments on this page sum up what the game is like. FANTASTIC!!
when i went looking for games such as splinter cell the owner of the store said forget this other one that i had in my hand- i thinnk it was conflict dessert storm. he said get splinter cell so i took his word for it and i like it so much i can barely take my eyes from the screen wondering what obstacles i have to combat next. Excellent game that i would recommend to anyone with th x box.