Below are user reviews of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
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User Reviews (1 - 11 of 95)
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Finally a Splinter Cell game for me
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 51 / 55
Date: April 28, 2005
Author: Amazon User
When the first Splinter Cell game came out, I immediately bought it for it's blend of cool visuals, shadowy game play and cool spy moves. I didn't like it. I'm not a fan of trial and error gameplay and the game was completely filled with it. And, while realistic I'm sure, setting off alarms was too easy and unforgiving.
Splinter Cell 2 did a better job of smoothing out the problems of the first while including a cool online portion but it still had trial and error gameplay that I couldn't get into.
Finally, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is out and it is grand.
When I first started to play the single player game, I was amazed at how much more forgiving the system was. Not to say it was dumbed down or easier, I still got my ass handed to me, but it was more fair. And if I made a mistake it didn't necessarily spell total disaster. Overall, it's still a lot of the same from before, except that in this case you are given much more freedom in how you want to go about your missions and you can, in fact, use those high-powered weapons you were given without worry.
Then there's the multi-player portion which is amazing. The co-op mode is fully fleshed out, allowing two people to play either split screen, system link or through Live. New moves are given for team attacks and for various ways of solving situations. Gameplay is fun and exciting, it's a natural extension of the single-player experience and makes me wonder why it took for the third game for them to include it. My only complaint is that there aren't many co-op levels but hopefully this will be remedied through downloads through Live.
As if those two modes aren't enough, there's the merc vs. spy multi-player from the second Splinter Cell. Maps from the second game and new ones are included. Very awesome. Nothing like going up against real people for a change.
Astoundingly, the graphics have been increased in this game. I didn't know how they could do it, but they did. Environments are more realistic, the shadows are better, everything is much much better. Audio is also stellar and if you have the ability for 5.1 you will be in for a treat.
I don't like repeating other reviewers out there so I don't think I can say much more. It's a fun game mostly, that incorporates some real cool moves. If you liked the original two but wanted more freedom in how you go about things, then this game is for you. It took three games but I am finally a Splinter Cell believer.
Best of the best
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 23 / 28
Date: April 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User
Ive played and tremendously enjoyed the first two Splinter Cell series, but this one is far and away the best, in fact its the best game in its genre, no other tatical/action game comes close. These are the best graphics I've seen for the X-Box (and I have Doom 3, Halo 2 and Riddick). The textures look incredible and its incredibly immersive, this game sucks you right in. The enemy AI has drastically improved, the enemy responds to broken lightbulbs and locks the added all round intelligence makes the game extremely believable. The only feature that marred the last 2 Splinter Cells' was the enemies lack of intelligence and common sense, most of this has been corrected.
The 5.1 mix of this game is perhaps the best that I own, you are put right in the middle of the environment, guards walk and talk behind you and sounds swirl around you with great effect, and the ambient sounds are fantastic. Sometimes when dogs are barking or birds chirping, I actually have to put the sound on mute to check if its coming from the game or outside, its that good!
All in all, this is the best game for X-box I've ever played. You wouldnt be disappointed.
A taste of Xbox 360 graphics.
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 15 / 17
Date: July 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User
Splinter cell Chaos theory described in one word is STUNNING.
The graphics that are in this game is mind boggling, to the shadows to the dolby digital 5.1 sound it's simply amazing.Levels in this game vary from going though the streets of manhattan during a blackout.A bathhouse, a computer lab and the jungle and many more gripping levels.Want to save ammunition and keep the noise level down? just pull out your knife for a quick execution or grab his back and interrogate him for vital information and security door passwords then knock him unconscious.It's another gripping political story from the mind of the Tom clancy and with the great work of Ubisoft, Splinter Cell Chaos theory will be the last great game for the current xbox system.
The Opinionated One has Spoken.
Possibly the best Xbox game ever.
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 11 / 12
Date: March 31, 2005
Author: Amazon User
What can I say, this is quite possibly the best Xbox game ever created.UBISOFT has out done themselves.They have created a game like no other.From jaw dropping graphics to intense gameplay, this game has it all.Now let's get to the review.
Gameplay:
The single player seems like the greatest mode in this game.Some people say it's okay, but I say it's amazing.The aletrnate paths and alternate way's to play only make the single player better.So if you don't have xbox live, your still getting a good game.You have complete freedom, I've heard people complain that the game is too violent now.well you know what, don't be violent.I've managed to sneak through a whole level only knocking out 2 guards.The game has a fine mix between action and stealth.But the action dosen't overun the stealth.This game stay's true to the Splinter cell genre, you can sneak through an entire level without touching 1 guard(unless it's required).So for anybody who say's the game has to much shooting now...well, don't use your gun.Because in this game you have the choice to be violent or stealthy.And either way your playing it's a great game.Anyway's, you are once again in the roll of Sam Fisher, he is a soldier basiclly, a very sneaky one.I promise that every moment you are playing you will be sucked into the gameplay, every moment you will wonder if a patrolling guard will see you, every moment you will realize just how fun this game is.For anybody who didn't like the last game, you should really give this one a try.This game is more forgiving.Alarms don't matter anymore.You can get as many alarms as you want.And there are only 2 levels in the whole entire game where you are required not to kill.There is a sound meter.And it really helps you in some situations.There are a bunch of objectives.Primary, secondary, bonus, and opprutinty.The only objective you must complete is primary.The other ones are up to you.You also get a ranking for each mission.There are also a bunch of new moves, Close courter combat attacks(including knife attacks).There are new gun attachments such as the,the shotgun, which can stop an enemy in one hit, the foregrip, which helps with accuracy, and a Sniper attachment that has bullets strong enough too pierce through walls and multiple enemies(my mouth dropped when I nailed 2 enemies with one sniper bullet).And there's other stuff that will amaze you.There is also a Co-op and versus mode.And they are both a blast.This game gives players alot of freedom, in the last game you were forced into stealth.Well in CT, you can play how you want.The game should take you 15-20 hours to beat.If your a splinter cell veteren the game should be easy.I beat it around the 10 hour mark.But some people like to explore more.It still has it's difficult moments though.Oh and by the way, I've heard alot of people say it's too easy.Well they won't be saying that on expert mode.Trust me, if you play the game on expert mode it won't be that easy.Co-op is short but still fun.You are basiclly having 2 Sam's in one mission.But there are a ton of co-op moves.Teamwork is the key to co-op.And if your playing online with a headset don't talk to loud, because if you do enemies will actually hear you over your headset.Co-op can be played online, split-screen, or system link.Versus is basiclly the same as it was in Pandora Tommorow, with better improvements, and more weapons.
Levels:
Lighthouse: The most linear level, it's short but fun.It is definatley like a training mission beacuse you get to try out most of the new things the game has.
Cargo ship: It's a blast.Every moment I was wondering about guards in the area, it brought up the intenseness.And there are a ton of parts where you can throw guards overboard.
Bank: This level is one of the best ones.It has cameras and laser everywhere, and a nice twist at the end of the level.
New york: You are dropped into the NY streets and you have to make it to a penthouse.The 1st half of the level is sneaking through alleys of NY.It has a unique level design.Some of the rooms actually look like typical house rooms.And there is even a crazy old dude near the end.Oh and by the way, purpously get 4 alarms on this level.You would be suprised by how many reinforcements come in, it's a nice addition to have reinforcements come in the level.
Displace: This is the 1st non-kill mission.It is a very colorful looking place.And it's where your good buddy works.It sorta reminds me of the CIA mission from Splinter cell.And the CIA mission was a good mission.
Hokkaido: This is the 1st Japanese level.And let's just say that you have to kill a good friend near the end.This is my 2nd favorite level.The level design is very unique.
Battery: You basiclly must prevent a missle from launching.This level is the most typical in the game.It's not as unique as other levels in the game.
Seoul Part 1 & 2: This level is insane.You are in a war torn city.And...it's just insane.You sneak through the streets, and guess what, THERE ARE TANKS, you heard me, TANKS SCANNING THE STREET.And there are also a few areas where North koreans are fighting South Koreans, and you can help them if you want...the North koreans I think.It's a very challenging mission if you wanna play stealthy.
Bath house: This is my favorite level.Never have I been so amazed by a video game level.The last part of the level was the coolest thing I've ever seen in in a game.This is also the most intense level in my opinion.The main objective of this mission is to kill your friend(he escaped during the earlier mission).On this level there are also Japanese Splinter cell's(that wasn't a typo).This is also quite possibly the hardest level.I was trying to be extremely stealthy, but I still got a 69%.
Kokubo sosho: This is the 2nd non-lethal mission(although you can kill towards the end).And there is something extremely cool that can happens if you arent careful.Like all Splinter cell games, the last level isn't as good as some of the other levels.UBI is yet to make a last level better then the rest.It's still a good level.
I don't know alot about the co-op and versus levels.But I do know there are 5 Co-op levels and 11 versus levels.I can't remeber the co-op levels, but co-op mode was very fun.And required true teamwork.And versus is complicated to get used too.
Co-op:
Basiclly, 2 rookie agents are sent into 4 missions where they must work together.It's like single player except you must work with a partener.There are multiple moves.You can stand on your parteners shoulders.Your partener can toss you over a wall.Your partener can toss you onto a ledge and then climb up you like a ladder.Your partener can toss you into another enemy knocking the enemy out.Your partener can rappel you down a building.You can share equipment, you can heal eachother, you can do a crud load of stuff.And the missions run alonside the story of single player.
Versus:
When I first played versus it was hard.Maybe because I was up against high ranked people.Versus also requires teamwork, but not as much as co-op.You can watch over your parteners back and create distractions, basiclly, any teamwork you do in versus can be done in co-op.Mercs have a gas mask, a camera syetem that let's them see from cameras, a shotgun, a machine gun.I don't play as a merc alot, so I can't tell you about all the equipment.Spies have a new camo suit, and while you are slightly visible you are still very hard to see.They have a heart beat dectector, and they can perform some of the co-op moves, but not many of them.To tell te truth, I only get the chance to play versus at my cousins house, so I haven't used all of the equipment yet.There are 3 modes, story, deathmatch, and disk hunt.Disk hunt makes you collect disk, but if you die you loose all the disk you picked up.Story mode makes you complete certain objectives like launching a missle.And deathmatch let's you just kill.But your equipment is limited.
Sound:
The music is perfect, and the voice acting for main characters is superb.Every sound put into the game sounds real.Footsteps, gun fire, everything.It really makes you feel like your in the enviorment.
A.I.:
Some of the most intelligent A.I. ever.There are a couple of flaws, but it's a big improvement over the past games.Enemies react to more stuff and they even have levels of fear.It's fun to scare guards.Guards can also flank you, they work together, and they will even turn over things like tables and bookshelfs for cover.The best thing about enemies in the game is that you can now interrogate half the enemies in every level for useful information.And sometimes it's funny when enemies have conversations with eachother after you alert them.Enemies get smarter as you advance through the game.One time I was trying to get a guard to come to a door.But when I whistled the enemy said, "A trap."Then one time I threw a smoke grenade and the enemy said, "he's using smoke grenades, this guy is good, but not good enough."And enemies have alot of things to say while engaged in combat, which makes combat with enemies seem better for some reason.One time I was fighting a guard and he said, "I'm gonna take those shiny goggles off of your corpse."Then another time a guard said, "say hello to my little friend"(I'm serious).
Graphics:
The best looking Xbox game ever.I've never seen so much detail and care go into a game.Everything looks so real, sometimes too real.UBISOFT has surpassed the graphics of riddick and Doom 3 by a mile.I've never seen a better looking game.And they also added lip sync(when the chracters mouth moves it looks like they are going along with the words).Face designs are amazing.Enemies actually look scared when you grab them.Every animation is as smooth as butter.I'm amazed by what UBISOFT did.And the game also has ragdoll physics, perfect for the new shotgun and sniper attachment.And there are also more interactions with the enviorment.You can shoot through doors and walls(you can shoot through multiple walls and enemies using the sniper attachment).
Story:
A typical Clancy story.Nothing fancy.Some guy trying to screw up the world, blah, blah, blah.There are nice plot twist.It's alot funnier then the previous games(but not to the point to where it get's ridiculous).The story is better then the previous 2.Scripts for the enemies are sometimes hilarious.Because like all Splinter cell games, guards usually have conversations.On the Hokkaidio level there is a conversation about ninja's, it's funny, especially if you interrogate the guard who say's he dosen't believe in ninja's.
Replay:
Awesome, this game has a higher replay value then the previous ones.There are a ton of multiple paths in every level.And you can play it in different ways.You can be stealthy, violent, or what I like to call, stealthy assault A.K.A care free mode.Or grab-o-rama mode which is where you grab every enemy in the level.
New features:
A knife, 4 different lethal close quarter combat moves.3 different non-lethal close courter combat moves.Inverted necksnap and inverted choke(inverted means hanging from a pipe).More astounding graphics, new A.I., being able to interrogate alot more enemies.New weapons attachment like the foregrip, which allows for more precise aim.The shotgun, a one hit killer.And the sniper, able to shoot through multiple things.Being able to change shooting angles.Being able to choose between 3 different weapon sets.Multiple paths that let you tackle a level in many different ways.New gadgets include, EMF vision(let's you see electronic powered things).The OCP, which disables lights for around 30 seconds.New animations for moves in the previous 2 games.Being able to pull people from ledges.Being able to hack things up close or from a distance.You can break a door lock and bash a door open.You can cut fabrics with your knife and pierce generators with it.Co-op mode where you can use multiple techniques that make you work with a partener.New equipment in versus mode like a shotgun, machine gun, etc.new moves in versus like ledge pull, berserk attack, etc.I may have missed a few, but that's enough to make you readers drool over the game.
Rating:
This game deserved a "T" rating.But the realism of the game is what truly gave it an "M" rating.I'm only 13 and the content of the game dosen't really bother me.The game has a small amount of blood.You have to be at point blank range to see the blood(point blank means very close).There is a pretty bad torture scene, and multiple chracters are murdered, one tries to commit suicide.On a few levels corpses are seen lying on the ground(bodies don't dissapear in this game).When you do see blood in the game a tiny squart comes out, but it goes away quickly.The game has alot of language.But the only time your hear it is when engaged in firefights.Enemies yell some pretty bad things at you.The knife stabbing, throat slitting, and neck snapping add on to the violence level.
Overall:
This is the best game I've ever played.It has improved on every feature of the last game.And it now includes a co-op mode and improved versus mode.There is only one word to describe this game.WOW.
Gameplay:20/20 You will love every moment of the game.
Graphics:20/20 Best looking Xbox game ever.
Sound:20/20 Enemies voices are too much of the same, but the main chracters have perfect voice acting skills.Either way the enemies have good voice acting.And background music and alert music is very good.
Story:20/20 I like Clancy stories, so I like the story of this game.It's nothing too special though.The game has awesome plot twist.The comedy in the game is great.I like the story, but don't expect for it to be like Metal gear solid.
Replay:20/20 You'll definatley come back for more.And the versus and co-op help the replay value.
Overall:100% The game rocks, nuff said.And guess what, UBI has already announced a Splinter cell 4.It will come out in 2006(if it doesen't get delayed) for both regular consoles and next-generation consoles.
Just About a Perfect Game
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 9 / 9
Date: May 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User
The Splinter Cell series has been truly amazing, and with #3 they have perfected it. The AI is great, the graphics are stunning, and gameplay is simply fun.
First, if you've never played the Splinter Cell theory, you really have to see these graphics. Curtains ripple in the wind. Candlelight gleams faintly. Streetlights fall through blinds in rippled patterns. It is gorgeous to watch.
The plot feels very real and current. You're a lone spy, sent in to get information and extract hostages. You learn more as you go through the game, finding out who to trust and who not to trust.
All the latest gadgets and techniques are here. You have to use your heat vision, night vision, electronic vision to scan for danger. You have a wireless device to scan laptops from nearby. You can shimmy along pipes, hang by your knees and grab people beneath you. You can slit holes in fabric curtains and grab people through them. You really begin to forget that this is "just" a game.
The enemies have become quite intelligent. If you turn off lights, they wonder who did that. If you open doors that should have been closed, they notice. You really couldn't ask for much more.
But then, it gets even better. The missions offer a number of ways to solve them. There isn't just "one path". And multiplayer is truly phenomonal. You could play multiplayer every day for months and never get bored.
Of course, it needs to be pointed out that, while you can aim for stealth as much as you wish, this is a game involving violence. You are snapping the necks of guards, watching hostages be killed in nasty ways, and generally dealing with adult dangers. This isn't a game for pre-teens.
But that being said, the game is amazingly immersive and does reward you for taking the stealthy way through the course. You get far more points for sneaking in and out of the enemy base, vs doing a Rambo and blasting away everything in sight.
Highly recommended!
This game is gonna rock
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 4 / 15
Date: September 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User
This is the best darnn game ever. You get new guns and get to use a knife to grab and kill guards. Splinter Cell was fun, Splinter Cell 2 was better, so what can you conclude about Splinter Cell 3? The best Darnn game of the series.
Splinter CELL CHAOS THEORY but it is later than you think...
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 4 / 12
Date: September 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User
Well this game has been in development for two years ever since the first Splinter CELL A.K.A SC hit the streets. This game is going to be out not in NOVEMBER 2004 as advertised here but MARCH 2005 this is a great disappointment but is confirmed by UBI soft. For (...) the quick over-run CHAOS THEORY is going to be the best game, GRAPHICLY in the history of games.
The main character, Sam Fisher, is a member of the so-called THIRD ECHELON government agency. Sam is a BLACK OPS agent and cannot (SHOULD NOT) leave a trace on the political, or physical map...in other words he must be "invisible". So Sam's latest adventure is based around the premise that the Japanese made an "ARMY" trained to use "information" warfare (using electronics to mess around with thing like the national defense agency's computers) and attack themselves to blame it on the north Koreans this starts the pieces rolling and heads the player off to war...By the way this game will be a must have so pre-order is a good idea!
All Killer-No Filler
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 4 / 5
Date: March 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User
Ubisoft Montreal has once again put their collaborative effort into stealth action. The result, a title that pushes innovation and graphical abilities of the XBOX. Splinter Cell chaos Theory once again ups the ante on reallistic stealth action.
Taking its cue from normal mapping titles such as Chronicals of Riddick and Doom 3, Chaos Theory presents some of the BEST art direction in any gaming experience. Real time lighting effects are once again perfectly pulled off, surfaces all have a distinct look and everything has an impressive level of detail. Another feature is the physics engine included in this installment. NPC's now have a hightened sense of reallism instead of an animated look.
Chaos Theory also features an impressive library of sound files. Enemies have relevant lines when they become suspicious and communicate with each other to find you. CT's sound engine adds a new depth to gameplay with "sound masking"
Sound masking allows machinery, as well as ambient background sounds to drown out some of Sam's movement. Much like the photosensitive bar which shows you your cover, you now have a sound bar which shows you how much noise you can make. Although the game is fiercly enjoyable, I've encountered only one bug. There are times when too many sounds are being played at once and the sound engine pauses to play a new sound. If you're sneaking though a room with a radio playing, and a machine humming and you whistle to get the enemy's attention, all the sounds stop-the enemy says something-and the music and humming starts again. Considering how taxing CT is on the system, this is hardly a fault, just noticable.
The Gameplay is perfect. I must have done the first level four times over just to take in what the game has to offer. Enemy AI is vastly improved on and offers a good challenge. Most people who have never played a Splinter Cell game would think sneaking around from shadow to shadow, subdue-or kill-gaurd, lather, rinse, repeat would get boring. Although sneaking around is the best way to get through the game, there are always new situations and the player never gets bored. One complaint from past SC titles was how weak Sam's guns are. "Was" past tense. This time around, the guns have more of a lethal sense and the game supports run and gun-its not impossible, just harder. Echelon agent Sam Fisher is also more of a lethal character this tme around with the inclusion of a knife and usage of environmental hazards. You can now knife a character, throw them over a cliff or ship rail or ledge etc... New improvements on the game include hacking, EMF vision mode and OCP pistol attachment(disrupts lights, computers, radios for a few seconds)
Overall, with new moves, gadgets and an engine makeover, Chaos Theory once again proves itself a heavy weight champ. If you're looking for an anime/X-files inspired goofy stealth game, pass this one up and get a copy of Metal Gear. Gamers who want to immerse in a believable plot, reallistic gameplay and stealth action suspense should pick up Chaos Theory ASAP.
Theres a reason that the Xbox Magazine gave it a 9.9/10!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 4 / 5
Date: April 03, 2005
Author: Amazon User
When it comes to the Tom Clancey games, you cannot go wrong. And this has proved once again with his latest release of "Tom Clancey's Chaos Theory."
Graphics: The graphics in this game are probobly the best out of all the games on Xbox. Everything from the character designs, to the facial expressions, to even the background is amazing. The lighting in the game is also incredible and one to brag about definetely. All in all, the graphics in this game are truely wonderful!
Gameplay: Another great feature of this game is the gameplay aspect. You can basically do whatever you want in the game that you could do in the previous Tom Clancey game, Pandora Tomorrow with many more features as well, which includes hanging off a rope with a knife and slitting their necks. The controls do however take a long time to get used to, so that might be a problem if you are a younger audience and less experienced with the Xbox.
Audio: This is probobly the best aspect of the entire game, the audio. You can hear footsteps from behind you, to the left, right or in front of you depending on which direction the enemy is coming at you from. The voices are amazing and it is so clear that you can hear everything that they are saying. The gunshots sound extremely realistic along with everything else in this masterpiece of a game.
Online: This aspect is good, just like any other multiplayer online game, except the only problem is that you can only have four people playing at one time online. But thats not enough of a problem to give this game less then five stars!
In conclusion, this game is a must have for all Tom Clancey fans! And even if you aren't a fan of his games, then its still worth picking up!
Another Sucess
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is the latest sequel in the Splinter Cell franchise and in my opinion, the best of the three. While the basic premise of the game remains the same the developers have made definite improvements in the overall gameplay. Controls are tighter, better moves, better weapons and you can save WHENEVER you want. That fact alone makes a huge difference, especially if you've ever had to replay the same part over and over. If you liked the others, Chaos Theory is a must have. Can't wait until the fourth one comes out.
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