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Amazing graphics and immersive gameplay

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 99 / 101
Date: November 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This latest Tom Clancy game has amazing graphics and some incredibly detailed body movements. It takes the spy game genre to an entirely new level!

I'm a big spy-game fan in general, and we have all 3 major platforms, so I went into Splinter Cell curious about all the hype. It's gotten incredible ratings from several magazines. I have to say, after having played it, those ratings were well deserved.

First, the graphics. The amount of work that went into graphics on this game is just phenomonal. Your character goes through smoke and fire, through darkness and bright neon light, under shaded lattices, through light coming through venetian blinds, through hazy curtains, through punch-hole metalwork. It is just STUNNING. You really begin to believe that this is a movie and you're controlling the outcome.

The other senses aren't neglected. Sound is KEY and you are constantly aware of how much noise you're making while you're sneaking around. The speed at which you move, your crouching, your stance, all affect how well people notice you. Unlike other games which blast you with rock music, in this one you're so attuned that you hear the little movements of your own feet as you creep, or the movements of guards walking down the hallway.

The animation on the character is fantastic. Press up against a wall. Climb a fence and roll over the top. Slide down a wire. Go hand-over-hand across a pipe, and pull up your feet to get more traction. Slide down a ladder, jump up a wall and do a split to stay there, unseen. The way the character moves is just amazing. Some serious work was put into this effort, and it pays off.

The gameplay missions are logical and draw you along into the story. It's not exactly a ring-through-the-nose drag like other games. You are given objectives - "Get object X which is in building Y" but you aren't handed a map to follow. Instead, you're put into real-world situations and have to figure out for yourself the best way to accomplish that goal. You could try a frontal assault, you could try the sneaky back way. It's up to you, and your success depends on your ability to think through a situation and then implement your path.

The game even encourages you not to be violent. It points out that your aim is stealth, and that you should try to stay unseen and sneak by whenever possible. In most missions you can get through without killing anyone, if you use your head.

Highly recommended for any first-person-shooter fan!

Great game! Not sure what "Druff" was thinking...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 35 / 44
Date: November 08, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Druff called this game "horrible. Very horrible." This is untrue. Splinter Cell is one of a kind. Metal Gear Solid 2: Subtance, is good, I don't deny that, but Splinter Cell is better in every aspect. In Splinter Cell, you can interrogate civillians, use human shields, and many other original things. Hey you don't have to take my word for it. Look at the XBOX Magazine. Splinter Cell was rated 9.6 (out of 10) and on the cover it states [Splinter Cell] "BETTER THAN METAL GEAR!" Splinter Cell is the new king of stealth games, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Best stealth action game to date, hands down.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 30 / 31
Date: January 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User

While it lacks universal appeal, Splinter Cell (SC) is an outstanding game that provides an experience on the Xbox that no other game can. You take the role of Sam Fisher, an veteran special forces commando called out of retirement for a new, experimental intelligence initiative of the NSA. The storyline is classic Tom Clancy (as is Fisher, Clancy readers may wonder why they didn't just name the character Clark and be done with it). As far as simulating this type of experience goes, SC is remarkably well done but what will really determine if you like the game is whether or not the core concept appeals to you.

If you're considering purchasing SC then you've doubtlessly already read about how fantastic the graphics and sound are. Believe the hype. The music and sound effects are wonderfully immersive and create the sort of tense atmosphere this game needs. The lighting engine is nothing short of revolutionary. There are some clipping issues (dead bodies can poke through walls) but it is difficult to pick on the game for this considering how much power must be devoted to the best real time light and shadows ever in a game.

The gameplay in SC is excellent. The conrtrols and camera are intuitive and easy to use. Fisher can perform an extensive variety of physical actions to interact with his environment. Sometimes it is difficult to get him to do exactly what you want because there are so many options available and so many objects to interact with but practice and experience will solve most of these problems.

It is important to be clear that SC is not a shooter in the classic sense. Certianly, you will encounter some scenarios in which the only real course of action is a full blown fire fight with automatic wepaons, but they are rare. Ubi Soft did a fantastic job of conveying how chaotic and disjointed such combat must feel. Fisher's aim worsens drmatically if you try to move and shoot at the same time and both you and your opponents will miss a lot. In addition, everyone is realistically fragile - it only takes a few rounds to put someone down and head shots will always kill. But SC is really a stealth game. The point is to sneak through a dense thicket of security without being caught. The game's finest moments are found while you wait in the shadows, timing the complex patterns of a group of guards, waiting for the exact second to move to the next pool of shadows. Or when you sit in the darkness, mere feet from a pair of guards with machine guns as they stalk by, your heart stuck in your throat as you wait to see if they discover you. Depending on the way you choose to approach the game, you might kill every guard you come across or kill virtually no one. It is almost like there are two games in SC. You can play through as a cold machine, dropping every guard you come across, or you can take the self-imposed challenge and try to minimize the body count and the game will never really punish you for choosing one over the other.

Overall the level design and widely ranging methods of attack give SC a great deal of replay value. There are only nine levels, but each one takes several hours to complete and expansion levels will be available through Xbox Live or the Official Xbox Magazine game disks soon. The path through the levels may be a bit too linear. There is often really only way to travel from the start of a level to the end. The designers did this intentionally to keep the levels from being confusing, but it would have been a better simulation if it included such uncertainty. You can only save your game at certain check points in a given level and this is a good thing. It keeps the tension higher than it would have been if you could save your game anywhere.

The final point to touch on is the game AI. Overall, it is quite good, especially on a room to room basis. Enemies react realisitcally to your discovery and will investigate any sounds you may make. However, the game AI does have its faults. First it is possible to do things like shoot out a camera and then simply wait out a guard's investigation. If you stay hidden, eventually the guard will just figure it broke or something and forget about it rather than raising an alarm. It is also odd how you can stalk into a building, leaving in your wake nothing but broken lights and carefully hidden bodies, and no one on the radio network operated by the security notices the growing silence. It is also odd nobody ever notices a camera going offline when you shoot it, but the moment a camera sees you, all hell breaks loose. In the sequel Ubi Soft should try to address this, perhaps by upping the overall state of alarm every time a camera or radio equipped guard goes off the air.

In the end, SC is a game that anyone who finds the idea of slowly sneaking through shadowy compunds while dodging cameras, security guards, and dogs appealing should flat out purchase. You won't be disappointed. If you are unsure whether or not you would enjoy a video game where the tension and excitement come from the portions of the game that aren't action driven, then you should definitely rent first.

The best XBOX title to date.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 16 / 17
Date: November 26, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game redefines the stealth gaming genre that Thief and Metal Gear Solid series made popular. You control a NSA splinter cell agent, Sam Fisher, who doesn't exist. The 9 stealth based missions (and 5 extra missions downloadable through Xbox live in March) usually involve infiltration into an enemy base to extract specific information.

The thing that makes this game so cool is the combination of breathtaking graphics, superior level design, precision character control, and the multitude of high tech gadgets and moves you can make.

The game uses a tweaked Unreal engine. The first thing you'll notice when you play is how life-like things look due to the dynamic lighting effects made possible with the nvidia graphics chipset in the Xbox. Light reflects off Sams body and all objects in realtime without the need to prerender frames. It's absolutely gorgeous.

Eye candy can only bring a game so far - it really has to be designed well. The levels in SC increase in challenge as you become more comfortable with controls. Early on you learn the basics and then later are expected to perform more complex tasks, i.e. rapelling down a wall vs. rapelling down a wall while avoiding moving lights. There are 9 missions with the game, and 5 extra missions will be available in March as downloadable content though XBox Live.

The fine grain accuracy the controller gives you over Sam is outstanding. If you push the left thumbstick forward slowly, Sam creeps along. The other stick gives you a 360 degree camera around Sam so you can evaluate all of the surroundings. The game is mostly in third person, with an over the shoulder view when shooting.

All these things make a great game, but the gadgets is what separates Splinter Cell from all the rest. Sam has an thermal/night vision headset, an ephedermal comm link, a Palm Opstat, a pistol, a fn2000 gun which can alternate fire smoke grenades, remote cameras which can act like his headset or emit smoke, ring airfoils to incapacitate guards, and shockers. There's also wall mines, flares, and computers to interact with. You can sneak up on enemies and interrogate them at gunpoint, or force them to open doors for you.

The AI is very decent in the game. Sam has a light meter which shows how exposed he is. Anytime this meter is above 1 tick he can be seen by enemies. Enemies can also hear his footsteps, esp. when running or on metal/wood surfaces. Unlike MGS2, you can't just re-enter a room to remove an alarmed situation - the SC enemies remember, and also know where to look for you.

Overall the gameplay is in the 25-35hr range, give or take depending on how quick you want to breeze through the levels. There are checkpoints placed in the mission, with up to 3 distinct saves.

Do yourself a favor and get this game if you have an XBox - it won't disappoint.

Not Like Previous Tom Clancy Games

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 36
Date: September 30, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Don't be fooled, this game is not going to be anything like Rainbow Six, Eagle Watch, Rogue Spear, or any other Tom Clancy game. Finally, an edition to the master of actions' video game collection that will actually be fun to play!

Obviously, I haven't played the game yet, but I have seen numerous trailers and have read the book upon which the story is based. It was a fine read, unlike most of Clancy's work it has nothing to do with swat teams and beurocracy, it's hardcore, (non-evil) vigilanteism.

From what I gather the game will be somewhat like a mix between Syphon Filter and Metal Gear Solid, both fine games. Put together, even better. There will be no more impossible to plan team strategy maps like in Rainbow Six, just action and a great story. If you're a fan of MGS or SF, I would highly recommend this game.

Check out the trailer at XBOX.com and you'll see what I'm talking about, this is a great looking game with exclusively XBOX content, which equals superior graphics!

Splinter Cell

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 17, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I Bought This Game for a while Now and i am still playing it , it is one of the best xbox games and it is really hard for me.

in the game you play as Sam Fisher, he has been on the front lines of espionage in several defining con-flicts throughout the past decades. he has not only survived, but also excelled in the field of covert operations through hard work, insatiable curiosity and brutal honesty. He has little time for polite and even less for lies.

This is the man you are goin to play in the game,it's not goin to be easy Believe me you will stick in a level for days, you are Sam Fisher you have the right to spy, steal, Destroy, and assassinate to ensure that american freedoms are protected. If captured The U.S. government will disavow any knowledge of your existence.

Experience the best in Xbox graphics: a world of Cinematic protions.

in the game you can Force enemies to coperate or use them as human Shields when the enemy is opening Fire at you, also you can stalk from the shadows and then strike with precision.

there is 9 pulse-pounding stealth missions from the world of Tom Clancy.

Utilize prototype weapons and equipment.

You can Download new levels on xbox live.

it Features music by The Crystal Method.

This Game is a must have for an xbox Owner, Sure it is out on other systems But it is Better on Xbox with Better gameplay and Graphics.

Splinter Cell... truly redefining the stealth genre

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: November 07, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game is amazing. It is by far more steathly than Metal Gear Solid, and has much more gameplay depth and options than MGS. I would recommend this game to anyone, except those who have it in their mind that MGS is the best game/series ever made and who have no intent on letting any other game, no matter how good it is, take its place. But in my opinion, Splinter Cell does just this, blows MGS out of the water.

The Best Game I own

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Splinter cell is easily the best game i own. This games graphics are increadible The controls are easy and its the most rediculously hard game I have ever played in my life. But the extream dificulty is what makes this game fun. Not being able to just bust into a room and kill every one is what really gets you hooked and makes it a challenge. I would strongly sugest a stratigie guide for this when I bought one in greatly reduced the stress factor for me and made the game alot more fun. Like other people that have reviewed this I would sugest you think about your patience threshhold befor buying this because alot of the missions involve waiting around and timing the gaurds movements waiting for the right time to pass (this can be liek 20 min) but thats what makes the game fun and realistic. I strongly recomend this game because its amazing.

The Best

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I think that Splinter Cell is probably the best game by far on the XBOX platform. The characters and the action this game introduces you to is phenomenal. I didn't think I'd ever say this about another game since Halo.

Best Single Player Missions Ever!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: May 07, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I loved Halo, didn't think it could get any better. The moment I had Splinter Cell in my possession, I knew I was wrong. The graphics in this game are simply amazing...especially the lighting effects. Stick to the shadows, or set off alarms! Truly a realistic game. You get a wide array of items, from the pistol, the SC20K and all the stuff that goes along with that (Sticky shockers, sticky cameras, etc.), lock picks, to grenades, the arsenal is very simple yet easily sufficient. This game has been criticized by customer reviewers for being too hard...isn't that the point? Sure some missions are hard, the CIA HQ mission took me probably around 10 hours total the first time through, now I can probably do it in around 2. Some of my friends have owned this game from almost the time right after it came out, and as far as I know, none of them have beat it yet because it poses such a challenge. I guarantee that this will be the best $ that you'll ever spend on a video game!!

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