Publisher: Ubi Soft
Ages: Mature
Parental
Advisory:
Violence and blood
Much like playing a modern-day ninja armed with the latest weapons and equipment, Ubi Soft's Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell effectively explores the under worlds of cyber-terrorism, shadow agencies and covert operations. The game depicts lots of killing and violence, but provides a compelling, challenging and entertaining experience.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a third-person action game. Here, players control Sam Fisher, a field operative of a secretive "black-ops" NSA sub-agency called Third Echelon. Fisher is trained to infiltrate high-security strongholds, seize critical intelligence, destroy threatening data and neutralize the enemy - all without leaving a trace. And as Sam, players will infiltrate enemy positions and acquire critical intelligence by any means necessary.
The game features an intriguing array of cutting-edge technologies that include night vision; thermal vision; optic cables for seeing under doors; and more. Sam himself has an amazing arsenal of abilities that include picking locks, interrogating suspects, dragging bodies to locations where they won't be discovered, using the enemy as human shields, sliding down cables, shimmying up walls by wedging his body, climbing across horizontal pipes, shooting out lights so he can't be seen by cameras, peering behind corners, throwing cans or bottles to distract guards, as well as running, crouching, climbing, and shooting. Sam can even wedge his body between two walls by performing the splits, and then drop down and attack an unassuming guard. The key throughout the game is stealth, in which Sam excels.
In some ways, Splinter Cell is reminiscent of Eido's Hitman 2. However, Hitman offers more ways to accomplish objectives. At times, Splinter Cell makes players rely a bit too much on trial and error to come up with exact solutions, but this doesn't detract much from the experience. The title is single-player only, and lacks multi-player modes.
The graphics are first rate, and the lighting effects, in particular, are superb. One would expect an emphasis on lighting since Splinter Cell is a game about stealth and lying in wait in shadows. The game also has some minor problems that for example, make Sam stand on air in certain spots.
In the end, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is an engaging, satisfying game. It's violent, gritty and tense, and definitely for mature gamers.
3/10/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
