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The Beauty Of Chaos | | Will from Webster, Tx, USA says (19/Mar/2005): | When titles like Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory release, it's clear why games are overtaking movies as the world's premiere form of entertainment. The Splinter Cell series provides the kind of intelligent plots and explosive action that was once limited to films or novels, but lets the player experience the world of international espionage first-hand in a way that no other medium can emulate. The latest entry, Chaos Theory, not only emerses the player in a masterful spy thriller, but also comtimues to innovate the stealth/action genre.
As with any good spy story, a smart, complex plot is the key to success, and Chaos Theory delivers with Sam Fisher's most explosive adventure yet. I won't spoil the twists and turns, but I will say that the themes of intellectual warfare, betrayal, and divded loyalties make for one of the most intelligent video game plots to date(except for the Metal Gear
Solid series, which has the most complex and enjoyable plots I have ever experienced). Writing in video games is a subject that doesn't get a lot attention, but Chaos Theory features a simply great script. Not only is it complex and deep, it's also surprisingly funny. Over the course of the adventure, there are jokes about Sam's age, other games (such as Metal Gear Solid 3 and Half-Life 2), and even a sly nod to the film Brazil.
While I loved the story and the dialogue, I felt that Pandora Tomorrow did a better job of doling out jaw-dropping moments throughout the game, whereas Chaos Theory's biggest thrills were confined to the final third of the game. But I'm pleased to say that pacing issues were the biggest faults I could find in this title. From a technical standpoint, Chaos Theory is nearly flawless. The visuals are staggeringly awesome, with some of the best textures the Xbox has yet produced. Character models are amazing, and environments are almost frighteningly realistic. The audio department is similarly impressive: Amon Tobin's score is both intense and beautiful, and the voice actors once again knock it out of the park.
The gameplay is just as polished: all of Sam's various moves are a breeze to pull off, although I rarely found opportunities to use some of his more exotic tricks. I never used his new hanging neck snap in my first play through, but I did get a chance to try some of these moves out in Chaos Theory's Co-op mode. I love how playing with another spy opens up so many natural extensions of the Splinter Cell universe with it's team-based moves and reinforces the realism and gravity of Chaos Theory's plot by cleverly tying into the single-player story. My only complaint about this mode is that it's far too short, as it can be completed in a handful of hours. Fortunately, Pandora Tomorrow's excellent four-player Versus mode is also included. The spies vs. mercs gameplay is one of the most unique and addictive online experiences around, and although it hasn't changed much, the new maps alone make it worth a serious time investment.
If Chaos Theory were limited to only it's single-player campaign, I'd still recommend it as one of the most intelligent and exciting action titles to date. But with the inclusion of two separate multiplayer modes, each of which offers a separate, fantastic experience, Chaos Theory becomes so much more. It is simply a masterpiece, and a crowning achievement in the art of video games.
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