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Splinter Cell has NOTHING on Metal Gear. | | Lan Di from Toronto says (5/Mar/2003): | There are many characteristics to a great game: an involving storyline, solid gameplay, good entertainment value, and it should always leave you with something to think about after it's all said and done. Games like Final Fantasy VII, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Shenmue 2 all fit the above. Splinter Cell does not. Let's discuss why.
First of all, Splinter Cell has a bad story, scratch that, it has a horrible story that doesn't move forward until you're three missions away from beating it. It's classic Tom Clancy trash, the world is about to enter World War 3 and for some reason the US government finds it appropriate to send in only one operative to take everyone on. Enter Sam Fisher. A man who has no character, and apparantly no brain. He does whatever his government tells him to do while given almost no information on what's going on; even when his daughter's life is supposedly on the line.
Never before has a game left me so detatched from the characters. Nothing is ever explained about them and when some of them die, you feel nothing. Some of this is due to the incredibly bad script, but it's mainly because of the cutscenes. In MGS2 we got cutscenes with dynamic special effects and hollywood-quality cinematography; suffice to say SC does not fare as well.
This is a shame because it's clear that SC can deliver graphically. The real-time shadows are really impressive as is alot of the texture work, but the character models and animation are no where near the quality of MGS2's protagonists. Even so, SC is one of the most graphically impressive titles in a while.
It's too bad the gameplay doesn't match the high-quality visuals. All you ever do in this game is wait. It's incredibly boring to just wait in the shadows for guards to finish their patrols until you can move. And when you do move, it's at a snail's pace because all the guards have hypersonic ears and will automatically pull their gun on an empty pop can that tipped over. And shooting these guys is out of the question most of the time. If I have so many damn freedoms, let me use them! Even when you do try to shoot at them, you miss half the time because although Sam is a highly trained elite commando, he can't cap a guy two feet in front of him.
I'm a big fan of the stealth action genre. I like Theif, MGS, and Deus Ex, but all SC is, is an exercise in tedium. There are a few new moves that Sam has, but it all feels too much like Metal Gear, only zero effort was put in.
The game's sound is decent. The music is crap but the sound effects are pretty nice in 5.1 surround. Everything makes a realistic sound, but it's nothing to write home about.
Overall I'd reccommend Metal Gear Solid 2 over SC any day. This game does not deserve ANY of the attention it gets, especially when a game like SHENMUE 2 was released the same time. Pick it up only if you've beaten MGS2, otherwise you're cheating yourself.
| A little help on the CIA level. | | Nathan from Ludlow, Mass. says (1/Jan/2003): | OK, I bought Splinter Cell the day after X-mas. I love it. I beat it twice, on normal and hard. This game is great, because it's the first of it's kind.
I will explain to you why this game is the best game ever. First, it is made in America, by Americans. Tom Clancy and all the people at Ubisoft are geniuses. The games they have made are more realistic then the Japanese developers. I'm not racist or anything, but how often do you see a vampire, a physic, a black chick with a massive laser gun, and a huge metal dinosaur all in the same game? That's right, I'm talking about MGS and MGS2. They were great, but they weren't realistic enough to be called a stealth game.
Splinter Cell on the other hand is realistic. You enter a room after using the optic cable to check it out. You find a guard twenty feet away. You can do so much right at that second, shoot him in the head( which always works for me ), shoot the lights, shock him, air-foil round him, ignore him all together, or you can sneak up on him and knock him out. Those facts alone make this game just plain nasty.
Alright, as for the CIA level. Don't kill anybody here, or the mission will end. In the begining if you want to skip a little bit, don't go into the air vents. Instead, you can go to the left of the front door. There should be a pipe. Climb it. Jump to the ledge, and enter the crawl space. You will find yourself in the large room right before the elevator access. You can eliminate most of these guards with basic sneaking and attacking. The guard on the phone in the elevator room can be knocked out when he's talking. You'll have to distract the other guard though. If you throw a can towards the entrance of the room, he'll probably leave. I'm not going to tell you about the whole mission, but I will tell you that if you go slow, and learn the guards' routes, it can be completed without alerting the guards at all. I did it on hard without a problem.
Now, I'm going to tell all the people that say there isn't enough ammo exactly why that is. Sam's gun is silenced, both guns are silenced actually. None of the terrorists' guns are silenced, except for some who have silenced pistols I think. Also, your gun is a last resort. You should not have to shoot all the time, and if you do shoot a lot, take very careful shots. Don't shoot street lights, I mean the ones on telephone poles, th big ones. Also, don't shoot the lights with cages around them, they won't break, so dont waste your time. One last thing, this game is based on stealth, so watch the alarms! Hide bodies like a magician, if there is a body on the ground, it should be completely hidden, or you will probably get caught. Use your head in this game, its all about brains over brawn.
| This Game is Awesome! | | Darren McInerney from Santa Cruz and Marin, California says (30/Nov/2002): | GRAPHICS: The shadows and lighting are amazing, very high-res throughout the entire game (very sharp). All player and Non-Playable Character (NPC) models are perfect. Muzzle flashes (the explosion/fire that comes out of the gun barrel) and explosion are realistic and are also actually 3D. No laziness in animation (ex. the clip/magazine comes out of the gun when Sam or a NPC reloads, wheels on cars spin, NPC's guns have shell casings). Only thing inperfect is jaginess which is still superb, and is in every game anyways.
GAMEPLAY: This is wheere SC really shines. Perfect attention to detail. Not another baby tested game like Counter-Strike (which is still an awesome game). Limitless (three pages) of moves. Far better than MGS. (ex. Rappeling down walls and shooting into windows like a hitman or asassin, just like in the movies. Climb any poles, ladders, that stuff vines grow on, fences etc. Grab ledges instead of just falling down. Sneak up on people, grab them, and either interogate them for info, knock them out with your 5-7 pistol, or use them as human shields. You can hug walls, peak around corners and shoot. You have night and thermal vision (heat detection) instead of just a flashlight. And you can also throw cans and bottles to distract guards. You can hide in shaddows and cast your own on you. Shoot out lights, use any computer. Your SC-20k is awesome. Bullpup Assault rifle with a multi-purpose launcher (like m203), silencer and scope, wich allows you to snipe, shoot out reconasaince cams, these diversion cameraws which whistle and then when a guard is near you can put them to sleep with gas. You have a laser mic, a camera you can put under doors, a camera jammer, gas grenades, stun thingys etc. You also have a lockpick) AND MUCH MORE. Only drawback is it is sometimes extremely frustratingly hard.
SOUND: Did they buy real-steel guns and record what sounds they make? I think so. Music is well-fiting to scenarios (suspensefull when a guard thinks he saw something, Fast paced when you are detected, and slow paced when you are stealth.) All sound effects are varried and perfect, no two guns make the same sound. No laziness in sound, car sounds, alarms, foot steps, explosions, creaky floors, reloading etc.
FUN FACTOR: 10/10
LIFESPAN: I finished Halo in 6 hours. I have been playing this for 36 and I'm not done yet. More levels downloadable with Xbox Live.
LAST COMMENTS: Control scheme is great, MGS with more realism and less cheesiness, and a better plot too. I DEFINETELY RECOMEND TO YOU HARDCORE GAMERS LIKE ME WHO WANT A LONGER GAME. ONLY ON XBOX AND PC = NOT PS2's BAD GRAPHICS, 5.1 SOUND IS AWESOME, HDTV IS TOO. Splinter Cell is something that has never been done before. Definetely stealth action re-defined.
| Sam and Steady Wins the Race | | Lewk Buttigieg from Sydney Australia says (5/May/2003): | To a beginners eyes, Splinter Cell is like a tasty treat that you cant get out of the wrapper. The graphics are beutiully in place and the scenery/environments are more than fitting. In a first glance the game looks to be something that spy fanatics have always dreamt of. Then comes the controls. These things take some mastering, with a million different combinations to all of the buttons on the gamepad. It takes a while but being patient is the name of the game. If you're patient with the controls then you will take control soon enough. This game rates very high with all things considered. Firstly are the pros. The character designs and movements. Interactions with objects in the game is amazing. The way Sam climbs up poles and ladders looks amazing stunning. What adds to this amazing feat is the fact that NO motion capture was used throughout the making of the game. All animations were key framed, thus making it unbelievable that Sam moves so realistically and fluent. The ambience and sound effects are brilliant. It all sets the atmosphere to just the right mood. With a subtle hint with the changing background music, you can get an idea of what is going on around you. If the music is calm, then you can relax, however it wont be long before the beat moves up a notch. The levels are long and interesting which is something gamers look for. Something to keep you interested and not be over too fast. The game gives you a real sense of being in the situation. It takes away the typical arcade event of just running with guns blazing, and replaces it with a paced slow and precise way of handling enemies. Definately a game for the patient and observative types. Now onto the cons. Length and replayability. The games length let it down a lot. While it was good that i finished it before i got sick of it, however i finnished it so quick that i didnt get enough of it and there was nothing left to satisfy. Left with a completed saved game in one player and no special modes at the end of the game. No two player game in sight or anything slightly extra, except for the interviews with Sam that were there in the beginning. For example, Metal Gear Solid. A game where i struggle to fault. Long game, strong story and replayability to the max. If there were a few things i would change about Splinter Cell to put in a possible sequel, it would be to add a two player game, whatever the situation. And/or add forks in the storyline, by giving you a choice that if you do something one time you have the chance to do it differently the next time you play, each with a different out come. Things like that really excelerate a games playability. I hope you enjoy Splinter Cell and much as I did.
| Stealthtastic. | | Neil Hughes from San Antonio, Texas says (6/Jan/2003): | This game is in no way a MGS clone. It really requires more strategy than just looking at your handy dandy radar. Not to mention that the enemies are actually rather alert. In MGS you can run behind them, cartwheel, practice kung-fu, and as long as you don't knock the wall, they don't notice. In Splinter Cell, you can't leave an audible footstep or they come a running, which makes it hard, and an integral part of the game to throw things as distractions. If you peeps have trouble with getting caught, then you need to throw more bottles. The darkness is also a very nice aspect, but I think they would notice the three glowing eyes. They should turn off when not in use, considering ATN made that technology possible in 1997, and the game is set in 2004. Unless Sam is using an ATN OH1, which doesn't have the smart tech, but does have the trinocular configuration. I doubt this though, for that model only comes in Gen 1. Since Gen 4 technology recently came out, I doubt Sam would be using technology from the 60's. Sorry, went ranting there. On to the review. If you think this is a Metal Gear Solid clone, play it more. NONE of it is alike. The controls are excellent. Having one button to interact with everything works perfectly. For those complaining that there isn't enough ammo, you're not really supposed to kill. I don't mind the Deus Ex style aiming reticle, but I don't find it weird that occasionally, you CAN miss from incredibly far away, probably by faults of the gun. Don't automatically assume that one year in the future mere handguns will be sniper quality. They've been around for a while and it hasn't happened yet. Unlike MGS, you have no radar to rely on, no handy Robo-Ninjas calling you tell you that they enjoy oral sex and that they know where the mines are. It is entirely up to your instincts. Take the part after the kitchen in the Defense place. It took me several tries to figure out where the second man was, but in the end, I managed to drop down to knock out one, and elbow the other. It may be hard for people hooked on Metal Gear to adjust to the controls, as shown in all of my friends and my brother. But the game is overall much more rewarding. I haven't beaten it yet, but it is much more overall rewarding. Sure, you can hold up a mook in MGS. But nothing feels better than dropping down from a split jump onto one soldier using the NVG in the dark, strangling his friend, and using him as a human shield while you shoot the last one, finishing by going back into a split jump before the camera moves back over to that side of the hall.
| Really good game, though it could use a few tweaks | | das_ghost77 from Ottawa, Canada says (19/Mar/2003): | When i bought this game, i was excepting amazing things. the game delivered, but theres still a few weak points. but first the good thing. the graphics will blow you away. you think HALO and Unreal Championship had good graphics? look again. this is the true power of Xbox graphics unleashed. The sound is really good. the music goes with the feel of the game; for example, the music really picks up when $h|t hits the fan, and so on. the sounds are great, and the voices are good. These parts of the game hand MGS2's ass to it. The story, it depends. if you are a Clancy fan, then the story is good. as far as general compiuter game stories go, its pretty good, but not supper amazing, clasic techno-thriller. the game requires much more tactical stealth oriented thinking than MGS2, so if you are a big fan of running through levels and blasting away with a machine gun, this might not be your game. you should rent it first. The game is reserved about handing out ammo to you. all you get on the first level are two clips for your silenced pistol which isnt super great as far as pistols go. if you are not a patient gamer, rent it first and try it out. if you get the pc version, the gamne gets easier becuase of the quickload and quicksave options, but the xbox owners arent that fortunate. THIS GAME IS HARD AND IT TAKES TIME AND PATIENCE. another thing is that the game doesnt have lean buttons, which oculd be a big bonus. sure you can look around corners with your back to the wall, but it stops there. opening the doors gets a bit tricky, since you always end up standing there and opening them right out, so theres always a chance that you might get unpleasently attacked. there are no multyple ways to open doors, and they should (hint hint, ubi soft) include this in a patch. besides these two things, i find absolutely nothing to complain about :). the last thing is that the levels dont let you explore that much, theres always a pre-determined path. sure you can go about different ways of going through that path, but theres very limited straying of the predermined route. this doesnt bother me that much, and this could change with further levels. asides from the things i just listed, this game is perfect (for its genre). however i suggest that you rent it first to see if you like it since it might not be your style.
however, from my point of view, this game is awesome. this is the kind of game that requires actual thinking, not just point and shoot. the real stealth action game
| Decent, but not great. | | Andrew Huffman from North Carolina, USA says (16/Jun/2004): | Splinter Cell is very much a stealth game and has some high points. Such as the graphics and dynamic lighting are excellent and it easy to see the developers spent a lot of time in the graphics. Also Sam's different abilities and gear he is given. Also I like the logical thinking you need to use in Splinter Cell in order to beat some missions.
However there are some flaws in this game which can lead to very frustrating situations.
1. Trial & Error - This is the ONLY way I’ve been able to beat a mission. You have repeat certain things over and over until you get them just right before you’re able to get to your next checkpoint. This can be extremely annoying with some level designs. The oil rig is the most apparent in this case. Sam is supposed to follow a technician but not make it apparent that you are there. The only way to follow him is to go across these webbed steel beams when a more logical way would have been to simply climb over the railing on the side.
2. The Cut Scenes - The problem with the cut scenes is they usually serve little purpose, simply pointing out the obvious sometimes. With the trial and error aspect of the game it can become extremely annoying when you are unable to skip the cut-scene.
3. Inconsistent Stealth Meter - Another thing I’ve noticed is that visually I could not see a thing, but on my ’stealth meter’ it shows that I am in the brightest light possible. This simply can not be. The opposite is also true--for example in the Embassy Level if you stand under a street lamp which illuminates the ground the stealth meter will be down to black. It is easy to see that the stealth meter is not very consistent to the lightning.
4. Confusing Level Design - In nearly every mission I have found myself in some way completely stuck. Unable to find a way to the next objective. You see a latter and believe that must be the course you take but instead it takes you no where. This can be incredibly annoying at times.
Overall this game is decent, but does suffer from some major flaws which create a repetitive and boring gameplay. People who like stealth genre games will enjoy this title, however I would suggest Metal Gear Solid for those who are not as much familiar with this kind of game style.
| superb game- Splinter cell | | Ben Marley from Harrison M.E. usa says (22/Mar/2003): | Well, Where do I start, I could begin by congratulating the makers of this game for creating a game which revolutionizes the word "stealth" in all games, and gives the user a new standard in which to grade other stealth games in the future, or, I could insult, and put down all those who openly hated and gave the game a low score. I'll start by complimenting the game. Splinter cell is by far the greatest game i've played in a while, its graphics are excellent, its story line, very well thought up, its levels inspire players to be cautious and to think as if it were reality as far as hiding bodies, crouching and making noise. In simple terms it makes players think, use their brains, which i think has been abandoned in many other games, either because the creators thought many people would'nt like it, or because they had to comprimise storyline for graphics. because of this, (and I am now approching my second topic)most likely many players have graded the game poorly on the grounds that it was,"to hard" because they had been exposed to games that that just gave the game away, and they were used to it. Also, since when was it manditory to buy a game, if you dont like it, SELL IT! and leave the reveiws to those who can grade it based upon one who can play the harder games not one who gets into fits of rage because the gaurds can hear realistically and the ammo amounts are fairly low,I say live with it or sell it, dont give it a bad reveiw because rite now you cant win the game. Beleive me, when I first bought the game and played it I could not get it right, the levels were to big, the gaurds could hear to realistically I could not do many manauvers and, plain and simple I sucked, and now that I have had the game won for over a month now I still play it constanly because of those same, and many other factors. However now that I have raved about the game here comes the reason I gave it a nine: no multiplayer option, I may be just ignorant for thinking after all that, that they could give a multiplayer option, but still, thats the reason. Thus ends my review. Oh, yeah, and they better make a second one!
| Good and the bad | | Richard Doyles from US of A says (9/Mar/2003): | In the world of stealth action gaming, shadows are your best friend and silence is king. Discretion is, and always have been, the trademark of a true professional. Splinter Cell has great graphics and even better gameplay that rips off Metal Gear in the most blatant way, but indeed that is why this game rocks and more. Sam Fisher has a vast arsenal of moves, it really takes sometime before everything becomes second nature and empowers the player immensely. I'm impressed the way the game subtly encourages gamers to use stealth and cunning to incapacitate enemies whenever possible rather than brute force. Oh and the save features are GREAT! One thing I notices though is that the graphics for the PC version are far more superior than the Xbox. Also the control physics are great for the Xbox, but the controls for PC version are very tight and almost faultless. On the other hand, this game has some of the lamest story I've seen in my life. Nothing unravels in a way to excite players to find out more, since most of the time you don't get to see any of the character's faces in an intimate fashion, whether they'll be villains or good guys. As a result I felt so detached from the storyline, I might as well play Quake III and frag my opponents while hiding in the shadows. It doesn't help the fact that I have no sympathy for the CIA causes; every intelligent Americans knows that the CIA is as crooked as Colombian druglords. Hmm maybe this game covertly recruit our young boys and girls into working for the government? Now that's what I call a good storyline! Oh, and it might help to change Sam Fisher's face as well - in my opinion he looked a bit too old to be kicking ass. You don't see any grey shades on Solid Snake's hairs. I really like this game and highly recommend it to those who loves quality stealth gaming like the superb Thief and Metal Gear Solid series, or something less subtle like Hitman 2.
| Brilliant but too easy, even on hard. | | Juan from London, United Kingdom says (13/Dec/2002): | This is a monster of a game, comes in a close second to halo. Game plot, and story line are well thought of and makes everything make sense. Great graphics, very realistic and flowing. Music is very good and helps you get involved into the game very nicely. I've seen other people's reviews and they keep complaining about alarms and running out of ammo, which i dont understand. First of all, the ammo, you are supposed to use stealth and suprise to kill, always make sure you go for head shots if you do have to shoot, remember, your gun is your last resort. Sometimes its the only way, but make sure you are always hidden when u shoot and do it from a distance preferably with the sniper vision and make sure it is a head shot, be patient, take your time, study your enemies patrol route and take them out when they are most vulnerable. You have other weapons u can use like diversion cameras, sticky shockers, airfoil rings, wall mines, fragment grenades etc. be creative. About the bodies, make sure when u take someone out to drag their body into the dark, then you should have no problem with the alarms. You might trigger the odd alarm but dont worry, if you have done everything correctly it will not interfear with your mission. It might be annoying sometimes but you have to do it, remember you are the best and only the best will do, you have to leave no traces, you are a ghost, no one should know you are there, go in do your business and get out. I was dissapointed with the ending though, but i guess it suits the game if there are going to be more missions to download. Also found the game a bit short, i was really getting into it and before i realised, i'd completed it. There were a few minor faults like not being able to shoot out all the lights, not being able to grab guards' weapons and a few other tiny things but all in all a GREAT game. Loved the light and dark concept.
| another one of the best games ever. | | Raziel LaVey from Independence, ky says (10/Sep/2003): | 2 games made this game possible.
1. thief.
2. metal gear solid
if it werent for thief, the whole idea of footsteps, the visibility gem, shooting out lights... all that, probably wouldnt be there, for thief was the first to bring you this. and of course metal gear one of the first tactical/espionage games out there.
put em together, you have one badass game. it shouldve REMAINED on xbox and pc because when i took the time to play it on ps2 i was pretty much insulted by how pathetic it paled in comparison to the other platforms.
anyway... back to splinter cell. as i read thru some of the reviews... yes a knife wouldve been great. as for further in the game, the chinese embassy you see guards with lights on their guns, and i guess after kicking enough georgian ass part of military uniform became night vision goggles, explaining why your not so invisible in shadows later in the game.
lambert offering hints during gameplay... genius idea. not being able to pick up enemy guns? i could care less. when you knock out guards they stay incapacitated until another guard wakes them, and that wont happen if you properly hide the bodies ;).
for those metal gear lovers, this game has everything metal gear was missing. being able to hide up in corridors, dropping down on unsuspecting victims (if the walls are close enough) human shields (the shield should have a health meter, thank you. when you aim at them they shoot YOU and SOMEHOW miss the shield!" not to mention walking around with a human shield in front of enemy soldiers is impossible to do without making the wrong move... since you cant side-step or walk backwards without aiming at other soldiers, thus "dropping your guard"...) not exactly as effective as dead to rights.
otherwise... the game is great. just play it, you might finding yourself writing a rave review when your done...
| Well Done | | atomic_fox from olympia, usa says (15/Apr/2003): | Okay, people really need to stop complaining about the "lack of ammo". By the time I got to the last level of the game (where most of the shooting is necessary) I still had more than 35 rounds for each gun. This leads me to believe that many of you have been playing Quake/Doom/etc. for far too long.
[1] You don't have to kill everyone. In fact, you can probably sneak by at least 35% of the guards in the game. [2] A well-placed frag grenade or gas from a distraction camera can take care 3 or 4 guards in a single instance. [3] Airfoil rings can be used on difficult guards to stun them; then tuck your rifle away, run up and cold-$#< remove me > at ! 'em in the face with an elbow. [4] Wall mines can be set to take care of guards with long patrol routes. [5] Sticky shockers will drop any guard in 1 shot. [6] Bottles and cans can be thrown to distract guards away from their posts/routes.
I mean geez... that seems like a lot of viable options to ammunition. If you run out of ammo in this game, you probably shouldn't even be playing it to begin with. Looking at Sam, he's got quite a bit of gear already. Weighing him down with half a dozen 5.56mm clips would just be adding to much bulk and too much weight -- considering he is an elite professional that only relies on small arms as a last means of objectivity. Go back to Quake if you can't handle it, or some other game that lets you run around with 18 different weapons and jump with a 30-foot vertical.
Anyways, I really liked this game although it seemed a bit short overall and linear in some places. If there is a sequel I'd like to see *HUGE* levels and some more special movements like rappelling (hardly used in SC), crawling, swimming and maybe some more interaction with the environment.
Other than that, I give Splinter Cell a '10' out of sheer enjoyment.
| Spliner cell is a must buy! | | Mitch Kelly from Verwood, England says (20/Jan/2003): | I have always been a fan of the stealth games like metal gear solid.Splinter cell is such a good game but there are some bad bits about it like how you can't hide yourself or enimies in lockers or being able to crawl. Splinter cell is one of the best games I have ever played on, I have never had a game with such detailed graphics. I think that splinter cell has got amzing graphics like the best on the game the lighting and shadows. The lighting and shadows are really good because you will have to stay in the shadows and out of the light if you don't want the enemy to see your shadow. The lighting is so good because the way if a light goes through a fence or the guards with a torch. The graphics on the the oil rig level are lush because the sea is so detailed. The detail on the people is the best I have ever seen on a game like the way they run for cover , hide behind boxes and the detail on their faces are unbelievable. The sound on splinter cell is amazing because ever thing sounds so good like the fire, running in water , how you have to creep over broken glass and if you are on a wooden floor it would creek. The life span of the game is quite good because it ha s 10 big levels, there are some frustrating bits though and you can do so much stuff on each level. You can do the levels two ways, the first is to do the level with stealth and the second is just go in an shoot everybody, I think stealth is better. The game is vrey fun because of all the gadgets you get and being able to raple on walls, holding people hostage and picking up bottles and knocking out guards. Splinter cells originality is good because you use weopons that already exist. Splinter cell is good value and who ever has an xbox but doesn't have this game, get it !!
| don't get ahead of yourselves, kiddies | | xMAGUSx from Edinburgh, Scotland says (6/Jan/2003): | okay, i've read your pre-pubescent ramblings. some of you even made some okay points. but come on! "best game ever"? "totally realistic"?
splinter cell is a mostly enjoyable, if sometimes highly frustrating, MGS clone, which (contrary to certain opinions on this site) has a few infuriating bugs.
first, the good points:
the graphics are excellent, in particular the lighting effects, including the night/heat vision modes. very impressive.
the animation is very good, although a little 'hammy'-i nearly wet myself the first time i saw sam's stealthy walk!
hiding in the dark is great-i love putting out the lights then battering the guards.
holding your breath then sniping a guard is very cool.
now, the bad points:
why doesn't sam start with the ammo/equipment required for the level? what thy can supply him with a bunch of cameras, but not a few hundred rounds of ammo? get real.
where stupid level design meets inconsistency of environment: on the oil rig, sam has to take a stupid route round some girders, when the ability to jump over the fence would be much more easy and realistic. it just doen't make sense!
if sam's so tough, why can't he knock out an alerted guard with one blow? why can't he grab their gun? why can't he use a dead man's gun? how come sometimes people can see you in the dark? why do people insist on keeping their offices etc. pitch black all the time? why is it that when sam walks on something narrow, his feet don't touch it? why doesn't sam walk down the stairs instead of gliding down them w/o his feet touching? why is the aiming reticule so HUGE?
anyway, stop getting wet dreams about this game, people. it's pretty good, but way way overrated. 10/10? you think this game is PERFECT? get a grip!
| In the words of Sam Fisher, | | David from Willmar, USA says (2/Jan/2003): | First person shooters are usually associated with blazing barrels and stormy entrances, but Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a one-of-a-kind game. Gamers take on the role of Sam Fisher, who must steal his way through his missions using not his firearms, but his cunning and wits. Thus, he must travel light, carrying only a few weapons and little ammo, which must be used carefully if Sam is to remain stealthy. Therefore the gameplay is somewhat slow at times, but exciting all the same. The thrill of incapacitating unwitting guards is exhilirating, and makes up for the lack of "Rambo" or "James Bond" scenarios. If the gamer truly needs his/her fix for all-out action, try the Kalinetic level, which equips Sam with the SC-20k, an all purpose firearm, as well as frag grenades. I found it to be a relief from stealth for a while, considering I was used to games like Perfect Dark and James Bond, which didn't require such a strenuous level of stealth. I haven't completed the game yet, but so far I find it quite amazing. The innovative light system is thrilling, if not always realistic. For example, there are scenarios in which I've hidden Sam in a shadow, but the guard was TWO FEET in front of me! How could a guard fail to notice someone at that distance? I think the graphics are great, especially during the movie quality cinemas. I moved from the N64 to the X-BOX, and there is no comparison. Gameplay is phenomenal. Sam has a range of skills to deploy, enough gadgets to get the job done, and a killer attitude mixed with an occasional whitty quip that makes him one of the coolest characters around. I have so much playing this game I even move around my house stealthily at night!
| Best Graphics, Yes. Best Game ever??? No. | | MilchKov from Houston, Texas says (27/Feb/2003): | This is a good game, anf although the graphics are awesome, graphics dont make the game, gameplay makes the game. Overall, gameplay is pretty good with only a couple of problems i've noticed so far.
1)First, which has already been said is the streamlining of missions. You have to do everything in the exact same order in the exact same place and it basically just turns into a game of try and fail once you figure it out.(ie. Go up elevator, explodes, die. go through roof of elevator, wall mine blows up, die. Go thruogh roof, disable mine, go out door, get shot, die. It really just turns into trial and error until you get it and move on to next savepoint.)
2)Opening doors. The animation for opening a door is always the same. This is not the bad part, the bad part is that when you open the door, you're standing right in the middle of the doorway and usually get blasted with the quickness. Opening stealth lets you see through, but you're still right there when the door opens. You need to be able to open a door from the side, not exposing yourself to who/whatever is inside.
3)Leaning. Almost all the other Clancy games had a lean button, why not this one?? You cant lean across all corridors with your back against the wall. This would be extremely helpful on certain parts, like doorways, killing Grinko, etc.
Overall this is a pretty good game, except for the flaws I pointed out. This would get onto my top 10-20 list for sure, but not the bestgame I ever played. Best Graphics, Yes. Best Game ever??? No.
| Oh, Jesus Christ on a freakin boat! | | Bill Fentiman from Australia says (28/Dec/2002): | Listen up everybody.... this guy here is the worst game critic ever.... First of all, the reason that Sam's night vision goggles glow is so that people have something to recognize him by, and any person who truly played this game to the max will notice that in the main menu there is a special features section that has an interview of one of the main game designers. In this interview the man says that the goggles are for people to recognize.... just like when people see batman's pointy ears they think Ah, it's Batman! Second, there bloody well is blood you freakin freak, and it stands out like a sore thumb! Third, Sam's pistol and SC-20K aren't meant to be too powerful, as if they are, they would make to big a sound and attract too much attention. Fourth, People don't SEE Sam through walls, they HEAR him. And as for the way bodies go through walls, this is merely a minor glitch that can easily be improved on in Splinter Cell 2 (Hopefully). And Fifth, Halo is is not better than Splinter Cell as Splinter Cell is not better than Halo. They are two completely different types of game and you just can't compare them. One game that you could compare Splinter Cell to, however, is Metal Gear Solid 2. My god.... Splinter Cell makes Metal Gear Solid 2 look as though it came from the Stone age.... not to mention that in MGS2, you can tell what your enemies are thinking, as when you attract too much attention, they have a bloody great question mark above their heads. Finally, SPLINTER CELL ROCKS, YOU CLAUD!!!!!
| Great but not Perfect! | | Ace from Q.C. , Philippines says (7/Jun/2003): | I like this game so much because the gameplay is very realistic. Even the graphics looks real. However, this game is not perfect. Here are the reasons: 1) The enemies can sometimes see you in the dark which is very frustrating because one way or the other you end up dead. 2) Sam Fisher's targeting accuracy is horrible. I know some people will say that it's more realistic because pistols aren't that accurate but c'mon, he is supposed to be the best in all aspects especially when it comes to weapons. He should have mastered all of his advanced weapons when he was still training to be an agent. Try shooting a light bulb. You are lucky if you can take it out with one shot but most often than not, you'll need 3 or more bullets because even if you target it dead center, you'll still miss it. 3) Sam looks old or is old which is not cool at all. Ever wonder how a gray-haired man can do all those fancy moves. I wish in SC2 you will control a younger agent and the plot is Sam gets captured and you are sent in to save his wrinkled butt. 4) You don't have your handy knife. This is a stealth game and what's stealthier than a knife? Nothing's sweeter in killing your enemies with their backs turned using your killer knife Tenchu style. And if that knife can be thrown to make an instant kill, i'm sure nobody will complain anymore about lack of bullets. Well that's all i can think of. I finished the game and i really enjoyed it. It's tough but it's fun. I definitely recommend it to all.
| More Sam Fisher Please..... | | A gamer from Spokane, USA says (1/Jun/2003): | When I saw the previews for this game (even before I won a free XBox from Certiport for my Microsoft certification test score), I knew it was a whole new level to the gaming experience - not to mention the graphics - and I had to have it! I'm an adult video game freak, but very selective of what I'll pay $49.99 for. I was not disappointed. First of all, the only thing I didn't like (and I'm on the "Presidential Palace" level), is the fact I had to shoot a dog more than once to kill it. I don't care where it was shot, a dog will go down. Second, the dismissal of dead bodies lying around as, "It must have been nothing," by some guards. I enjoy a good "shoot-em-up" game just like any video-gamer, but more so a strategic game with a story that doesn't take too much of your time to present - but includes just enough to sink your teeth into and loose yourself. Splinter Cell has that and more. The fluidity of Sam Fisher's movements are exquisite, the shadowy rendering a work of art, and the pulsating musical cues add a level of panic and excitement to the already intense atmosphere. As a female... it's nice to finally see a male equivelant to the drool-provoking Laura Croft of Tomb Raider. Not to mention that VOICE! Michael Ironside is almost essential. God forbid they should choose another voice over for Pandora Tomorrow (Splinter Cell 2). He sure made the character come alive.
Lastly, a movie? I could see George Clooney easily in this role... !
| A nearly perfect gaming experience. | | Alex James from New York, USA & London, England says (27/Dec/2002): | I bought this game three days ago, on Christmas Eve, and I've just completed it - WOW. This game rocks, it really does. The levels aren't really that much bigger than a lot of other large modern games, but some clever design has made this game feel HUGE! The graphics, the movements, the interaction with your environment all come together to make this the most realistic and compelling experience of this gamers life. There were one or two annoying little things about the control interface for me though. For example, when climbing a ladder, it is sometimes a bit hit-and-miss when jumping off to get hold an adjacent ledge or wall - when you miss and drop you often alert a guard. Also, when double jumping off a wall, it is nearly impossible to predict which direction you will jump off it!. That said, this game raises the bar and sets a new standard for every stealth/shooter to follow. Every detail of this game is fantastic - there's a little news flash segment on one of the news cut-screens that flags up a Rayman movie (same developers as Splinter Cell) and another that says "Caulkin (of Home Alone fame) tipped for Oscar?". All of this is combined with a truly hard difficultly setting that requires careful planning, even on the Normal setting, and the final product is one of the most tense, exciting, excruciating, boring, thrilling and rewarding experiences you can have outside of a real-life mission. Buy it, try it, love it...
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