Publisher: UbiSoft
Ages: Teens
Parental
Advisory:
Violence
Violence
Rating:
When it comes to stealth
games, and we've reviewed some great ones, none are better than those in UbiSoft's
Splinter Cell series. The latest version, Tom Clancy's Splinter
Cell Chaos Theory, delivers everything that stealth fans want, and includes
some welcome enhancements that improve on the experience.
When intelligence deemed critical to national security can't be obtained by traditional means, the government deploys special units that are known as Splinter Cells: elite intelligence-gathering forces that consist of a lone field operative supported by a remote team.
Like a sliver of glass, a Splinter Cell is small, sharp, and nearly invisible, and its existence is denied by the government. The year is 2008 and the nation is experiencing blackouts, sabotage of its stock exchange and electronic hijacking of its defense systems. To stop the information warfare, secret operatives must infiltrate deep into hostile territories and collect critical intelligence.
As before, players become Sam Fisher, an elite agent. To successfully complete missions, players will have to lurk and sneak in the shadows, kill at close-range, attack with combat knives, shoot prototype Land Warrior rifles and apply radical suppression techniques that include inverted neck breaks.
The game looks fantastic. The figures are fluid and the main character performs a variety of athletic and stealth moves, as well as kills. The artificial intelligence is strong and allows computer-controlled characters to perform naturally, respond quickly and recall past events. The game features an open design that allows for multiple paths and secondary objectives. There is replay value here.
A welcome new cooperative multiple player mode allows for teamwork options and is a blast to play. The mode even features co-op moves that may only be performed when two are working together.
The graphics are phenomenal and the advanced physics engine supports rag doll physics and particle effects to provide stunning and realistic visuals. With all of this killing going on, the title is an ultra-violent one that the young kids will ask to play, but shouldn't.
Those who love stealth games will be thrilled with the latest, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. It's another violent, bloody and entertaining adventure for grown-up gamers.
4/11/05 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
