markd13's Full Review: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell for Xbox
Well, as you can see from the title, you can see what i am about to say. I came to play SC from borrowing it off a member of my family, and i still have it, and STILL haven't completed it. There is probably one word which describes SC and that is HARD! You need to be calm, logical and most of all, patient. The main basis of the game is Trial & Error, you save, you die, you start again, you may actually pass the part without dying...but that's if you're good.
As good as everything is good about about this game. I will start with the graphics. Somebody once turned round to me and said "the graphics on SC are too linear" WHAT? How could anybody say anything in the region of linear? OK, maybe they are a bit patchy in places but what the hell! You are Sam Fisher, employed for the NSA to check on Kombayn Nikoladze and whether he is being a good boy, which unfortunately is not the case. Sam used to be in the marines approximately 8 years previously and went into stealth espionage...(not going away from the subject btw) He is dressed in typical spy gear, and is expressed beautifully. All of his pure black gear, the texture details which actually look real, the Night Vision goggles perched ontop of his head, with the glowing green light, your pistol in its holster, and (when you get it) your SC-20k, which is HUGE! taking up basically all the height and length of Sam's back. But moving on...the environments and the lighting effects. On some games, they concentrate on the characters, but leave the environments as they are, untextured, unrendrered all of it. But not on SC. Every environment is as detailed as Sam himself, you can see everything in front of you, with a realistic perspective point, with none of that 'pop-up-scenery' on some games. The graphics are topped off with the dynamic lighting. Basically the most important visual aspect in the game, where how much you are lit up can depend on your life. The realism of the lighting is so amazing that even a beam of light can make all the difference in a passing guard discovering you; oh yeah and about all of the lights can be shot: lamps, lights, outdoor lights. The only lights that cannot be shot are lamposts (yes I am English), spotlights and guarded lights. Most of these you will not encounter til later in the game.
Sound: As far as sound goes, the makers have put as much detail in it as they have with the lighting. There are differences when you have smashed a glass bottle, threw a can of pop, and especially when you are walking on different terrain. You will have to move carefully when walking on wood, concrete...lets say basically anything, if a guard is about and you start running, you will be heard, even if you're running in grass of the bushes...The quality of the sound will immediately make you notice what has happened, whether you will be able to anticipate what action you are going to perform will alert the guards. The quality of the sound also plays an important part because they actually sound like you are throwing that pop can or stepping on wood, it is completely unbelievable how the developers have made the sounds so realistic
Gameplay and Interaction: It takes a while to get used to, but you will be flying once you get used to the controls, and the general aspects of the game. By about level 4 (the hardest one-CIA) you will be a master of stealth and even if you're not, some serious practice will be needed. On certain levels, you wont be able to kill anybody, so you will have to rely on slow movements, darkness and the right trigger to get past the mission. I have encountered 2 levels where you haven't been able to kill anybody, and they were huge! You will have your NSA chiefs/colleagues sometimes buzzing in your ear about data you have picked up from bodies, how many alarms you have set off and the annoying guilt trip when you fail the mission...but otherwise very helpful. Another essential thing in the game is your OPSAT (which is Sony Ericcson in the sequel hehe)which contains your objectives, notes (which are vital for keypad codes etc)and data sticks, where, if you want, you can read and find out random things. The amount of pressure you put on the left thumbstick will determine how fast Sam moves, and you wont want alot of pressure on it most of the time, as alerting the guards is a bad idea.
You will have a fairly large assortment of gadgets and weapons which will aid you on improving your gameplay and skills on SC. Apart from your original pistol, Sam will meet up on: SC-20k (a big BIG machine gun), lock picks, which may be tedious to handle as you are given the task of finding the quadrant on the left thumbstick in order to pick it, another option of getting through locked doors is a DISPOSABLE pick, which are quick and easy, as it burns through the lock cylinder and great for getting out of tight spots. Other weapons include smoke grenades, frag grenades, wall mines and sticky shockers, airfoil rounds, and sticky/diversion cameras (diversion cameras can make an annoying whistling noise which can distract the guards, and when they are right in the camera view, you gas them which is one of the fun elements of the game) these all attach to your SC-20k and act as alternate fire weapons, and are also a more humane and stealthy way of continuing through the mission.
Overall: Well SC is one hell of a game, with a lifespan of i dunno...i have spent at least 12 hours+ on it with 4 more missions to go...so about 25 hours worth at least. The graphics and sounds speak for themselves, and interaction is excellent...with a fun factor of 10 if you love games like this. Overall, a big 10 for this, it might be getting to 2 years old now, but, on the Xbox, it hasn't lost anything really, except graphically slightly, as time moves on really. One more thing, PS2 or Xbox, GET IT! Or you can get Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, or the latest one WHICH I WANT BUT NO MONEY lol Splinter Cell:Chaos Theory!
You are Sam Fisher, a highly trained secret operative of the NSA's secret arm: Third Echelon. The world balance is in your hands, as cyber terrorism a...More at Walmart
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