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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Score: 100%
ESRB: Teen
Publisher: Ubisoft Entertainment
Developer: Ubisoft Entertainment
Media: DVD/1
Players: 1
Genre: Miscellaneous


Graphics & Sound:

Finding yourself still unconvinced about the power of the Xbox? Still think all those buzz words Bill and his crew were throwing around were just that, words? Then you obviously haven't played Splinter Cell yet.

Real-time shadows, realistic looking buildings, amazing lighting and particle effects - this game has it all. As gamers, its safe to say that we have been spoiled with some of the fantastic graphical feats some games have been able to pull off, however Splinter Cell takes all of these and takes them to places they've never been. To make things better, the graphics not only give you something pretty to look at, but also have a big role in the overall gameplay experience. Shadows not only give away the locations of enemies, but also tip them off to your location. Also, nearly everything in the environment can be manipulated in one way or another. You can climb on pipes, go hand over hand on the edges of buildings, and shoot out lights (which of course darkens the area). You also can't forget the night/heat vision goggles that are vital to your success.

Sound also plays a vital role in your mission. Nearly every terrain has a specific noise associated with it. Wood floors, gravel roads - nearly everything makes a noise and can give you away if you're not careful.


Gameplay:

In response to the growing use of sophisticated digital encryption to conceal potential threats of the national security of the US, the NSA has ushered forth a new dawn of intelligence-gathering techniques. Dubbed Third Echelon, this top-secret initiative marks the return of classic intelligence gathering techniques backed with cutting edge surveillance and combat technology. When intelligence critical to nation security cannot be obtained by traditional means, Third Echelon is granted clearance to conduct physical operations.

After the disappearance of Agent Alison Madison, an agent assigned to monitor the increasing 'chatter' from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, the CIA contacts the NSA. When the agent sent to retrieve her ends up missing seven days later, Third Echelon activates Splinter Cell Sam Fisher to locate the missing agents.

As a Splinter Cell, you must leave no trace of physical or political evidence. You have the right to spy, steal, destroy, and assassinate to ensure that national security is protected. 'Like a sliver of glass, a Splinter Cell is small, sharp, and nearly invisible'.

This is stealth espionage at its best. Over the course of the game's nine missions, you will have to use every device available in order complete your task and, more importantly, not get caught. One of the main devices you'll have to use is the stealth meter. The brighter the area you're in, the easier you are to see - which usually means you're dead.

Gadgets also play a big role in each of you missions. Mini fiber-optic cameras that allow you to see around corners and under doorways, lock picks, and night/heat vision goggles are all available and should be used whenever possible.


Difficulty:

If patience, caution, and creative thinking aren't among your best qualities, then Splinter Cell is not for you. This is by no means an easy game and should not be looked upon lightly, especially by Metal Gear veterans.

Splinter Cell is like chess in that you not only have to think about what you're doing now, but you have to plan out your next two or three moves while keeping tabs on everything that is going on in the environment. For example, in one of the earlier missions you'll come across a lit alleyway patrolled by guards. Running out into the light isn't a smart idea, so your best option is to shoot out the lights. This leads to a complication because shooting out a light is a rather noisy affair. As you survey your environment, you'll notice the two police officers 'interrogating' a civilian with a gun. Since the officer's gun isn't silenced, a well-timed shot of your gun at the same time as his could muffle the noise. The beauty of the game is that this isn't your only option since you could also shoot the light, alert the guard, and hide in the nearby bushes. There are alternative methods to accomplishing to every mission, adding an additional layer of suspense and difficulty to an already intense game.


Game Mechanics:

Considering the number of different moves the game gives you to do, you'd expect a very complicated control scheme. Thanks to an excellent tutorial mission, this is not the case. The Interaction button handles most of your actions such as opening doors, using computers, and talking to people. Perhaps one of the things that sets Splinter Cell apart for Metal Gear is the number of moves Sam can perform. Sam can grab people, repel down buildings, use a zip line, shimmy, and drop down on guards to knock them out. Sam can even do a Van Damme-style split and hang between two walls and use people as a human shield. If you can think about it, there's a good chance that you can do it.

As you can tell from the score, Splinter Cell is just that good. Some may find the difficulty level a bit of a problem, but the game is still accessible and has a high enough fun factor that players will still want to play. With ability to download new content via Xbox Live, Splinter Cell is, without question, one of the best games available on the Xbox and makes Xbox owners happy to own the system.


-Starscream, GameVortex Communications
AKA Ricky Tucker

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