| Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory review |
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We've all used stealth in everyday life, be it from sneaking out of bed quietly enough to take a chunk out of that cake and blame it on the dog, or maybe just spiking someone's drink on a stag night for a little extra entertainment. Of course, neither of these incidents can quite compare to scaling walls, hacking computers and shooting out lights. Sadly, the freedom to legally do these kinds of things is restricted to the secret agents that our taxes pay for.
It's good, then, that this latest offering from Ubisoft's talented Montreal studio gives us the chance to slip on the shoes of the invisible. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is the third game in a series that has become renowned for pushing the barriers of visual technology, and the latest instalment has certainly upped the ante in every regard. The plot revolves around an algorithmic code that has the ability to crash stock markets, blackout major cities, and expropriate weapons of mass destruction. Taking control of everybody's favourite NSA operative Sam Fisher, the player must go behind enemy lines to put a stop to a threat that promises to disrupt an uneasy peace in the Pacific. Anyone who's read a Tom Clancy novel will not be surprised by the twisting, turning, near-future, high-tech universe, but even so, the story throughout is thoughtfully developed and always pressing enough to hold interest in the game.
The basis of the gameplay is to complete a series of story-driven objectives throughout each of the game’s 10 missions via stealth, all-out assault, or a combination of both. Most of the game is your standard covert operation - sticking to the shadows is key to avoid detection whilst you try to plan the best route to get from point A to B without being spotted and blowing the element of surprise. The AI here is smart, and will not hesitate to pursue you and use their flashlights in darkened areas, as well as call for backup if they think it necessary.
Playing as Fisher is effortless thanks to the responsive, refined controls. Chaos Theory does its best to keep things simple, and it usually succeeds. The Action Button menu system is present and in full effect. By walking up to an object players need to interact with, a menu will appear offering options relevant to the situation, and is a much better option for getting tasks done than fiddling around in an inventory for the right item. Moving around is controlled by full analogue movement, and sensitivity is perfectly balanced. Accompanying this is the gorgeous animation in Fisher’s motion. Everything has been modelled with a silky smoothness usually reserved for fast-flowing one-on-one fighters. Slinking across pipes, rappelling down walls, and grabbing a foe from behind are all beautiful moves to watch, and when the controls seamlessly connect to what’s happening onscreen, it becomes a real pleasure to immerse yourself in Tom Clancy’s world.
Previous complaints about Splinter Cell have often been levelled at the trial-and-error nature of the gameplay. This has been fixed with a gentler difficulty curve that doesn't automatically condemn the player to reloading the moment they are discovered. That’s not to say you’re completely let off the hook after making a mistake. The enemy will steadily raise their alerts, adding body armour and helmets, all the way up to fortifying positions that you had already secured. However, this revamped difficulty curve is a blessing and a curse – the enemy takes far too long to reach an alarm and will sometimes stay and attempt to fight, so if you’re seen and are in a position to fire back, you can often clear the danger before it has a chance to get out of hand. Put simply, whilst trial-and-error has been eradicated, things are now a bit too easy.
Thankfully, Chaos Theory’s level design masks this change by offering a quantum leap over its predecessors. One major enhancement is the addition of an abundance of sound-based material. Players will face the familiar problem of crossing noisy surfaces, but also the relief of being able to use heavier weaponry when music from a radio or a helicopter’s blades smother their actions. That in itself offers a whole wealth of tactics when it comes to neutralising enemies, but on top of that there are also two or three different routes to objectives, each concentrating on different strengths and weaknesses of a player. These routes are packed with some of the finest detail seen on the Xbox that goes as far as even putting the original Splinter Cell to shame. Light reflects realistically from shiny surfaces, indoor and outdoor environments are rich in texture quality and very sizable, and some incredible effects such as the soggy-looking characters (after being doused in rain) all contribute to make up a stunningly atmospheric experience. The engine handles this lustrous imagery well and slowdown is not an issue.
Making a welcome return from Pandora Tomorrow is the online play. The Spies Vs. Mercenaries mode returns with some much-needed tweaks to balance the gameplay further, as well as tweaks to some of the older maps which won't make everything so clean-cut for veterans of the game. Spies benefit from Optic Camouflage so that they can briefly blend into the scenery to give them a chance of escape from bloodthirsty Mercs, whilst the Mercs receive gas masks so that a well-placed smoke grenade doesn’t necessary mean death. Unfortunately, newbies to the online game might struggle to get accustomed to the mechanics due to the number of Pandora Tomorrow veterans online. Co-op mode might be a much better option for them, which allows them and a friend to tackle four levels designed especially for co-operative play. Teamwork is a requirement in order to succeed in these levels and it’s a good way to build up your abilities and have a laugh.
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is the pinnacle of both stealth and Tom Clancy games, and is light years ahead of its peers. The changes to the gameplay structure accompanied with the very open-ended levels make for a simply brilliant single-player game, and with the near limitless longevity in its multiplayer modes, it’s a title that will potentially last until the next Splinter Cell. |
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System: Microsoft Xbox
Genre: Action
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher: Ubisoft
Players: 1-4
Version: United States
Reviewed: Apr 2005
Writer: Rob Bowker
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Pros:
- Incredible atmosphere and visuals
- Trial-and-error-free gameplay
- Improved online mode
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Cons:
- A little too easy to go in guns blazing
- Online game might be offputting to newcomers
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