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.