Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Posted November 17, 2005
The third installment of the Splinter Cell series kicks off with an international crisis between China, Japan, North Korea and the U.S. Our stealthy protagonist, Sam Fisher, is brought into the mix once again to diffuse a tense situation. For those that adore an intricate, well-versed story line, this chapter in Sam Fisher’s life will not disappoint. Ubisoft far exceeded the dramatic presentation of their previous two games in the Splinter Cell series.
Gameplay:
The most obvious change in this rendition of Splinter Cell is an abandonment of the stealth requirements in order to finish a level. This welcome alteration offers a choice between a forceful, bullet-expending assault on unsuspecting guards or the faithful stealth moves for dealing with each level. Many people will opt for middle ground as the previous two games molded our sneaky skills. The three-alarm system has been scrapped in favor of guards using body armor and search parties when an alarm is sounded.
Even with the assault alternative, Sam gets some fancy moves and gadgets to expand his repertoire of skills. Being able to use your silenced pistol while rappelling, hanging, or split-jumping is an interesting, if not brash, way to take down a hostile. Performing an inverted neck snap while hanging off a metal pipe is particularly satisfying! Sam also gets a couple more options when opening a door, such as being able to smash a door forward to knock a guard unconscious.
Hacking an object is yet another new feature that can reward the player with bonus objectives throughout the game. The hacking screen is a series of IP addresses that you have to choose from. Numbers within the series flash on the right and the player has to determine the correct IP before time elapses. My only gripe with this system is that it becomes quite tedious due to its repetition towards the end of the game. Varied hacking interfaces throughout the game should have been implemented.
The arsenal offered to the player has been expanded as well. While the sniper attachment can be enjoyable, the shotgun attachment to the SC-20K machine gun is a true visceral pleasure. The grenades offered, while amusing, can often alert guards to your position before the ensuing explosion. This may lead to a quick death before your frag grenade goes Kaboom!
Unfortunately, the enemy AI still remains as spotty as ever. Somehow, they always know exactly where to shoot in a blackened room if alerted to your presence by a loud misstep. On the flip side, the enemy AI has an amazingly poor problem seeing Sam and his patented green goggles within a couple feet of him. If anything has been improved, it would be the use of flashlights. Enemies now turn on their gun-mounted flashlights when any dark situation arises. So if Sam decides to snipe the closest light bulb, a guard will be ready to react appropriately.
The multiplayer features found in Pandora Tomorrow return in Chaos Theory with the edition of an online and offline co-op mode. The 3 modes in online combat are story, disk-hunt, and your standard deathmatch. Story mode is similar to what first appeared in the popular FPS game, Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Completion of a set of objectives yields another set until you finish the series. Disk hunt is a linear type of game, pitting you against an opponent in an attempt to snatch up all the disks.
The Co-op mode expands on the single player mode by adding a number of special moves that will create interaction between you and your partner. For instance, you can stand on each other’s shoulders, create a human ladder, or even perform wild, acrobatic jumps. Depending on an online player can be nerve-racking at times, but it’s all in good fun. The Co-op mode is a fresh approach to the world of Splinter Cell. In the latest 1.05 update, Ubisoft is continuing to release more maps for the Co-op mode to extend the gaming half-life of Chaos Theory.
Graphics:
The graphical elements of the Splinter Cell series have always been spectacular and this version has only been improved upon. Sam’s surroundings are vastly detailed and the lighting environment is still the most interactive in any video game. The facial expressions have been souped up for the wonderful interrogations between Sam and startled guards. The shadows are quite ominous as well as the contrast between Sam’s various lighting options when looking through the goggles. Fortunately for budget gamers, this will play well on a moderate system such as a 1.6 ghz / 9700 pro combo. You do not need a top of the line video card to pull off the graphical effects.
Audio:
What more can be said about the voice talent of Michael Ironside? Top notch doesn’t even begin to describe it. He not only sells the serious nature of the character; the lighthearted ribbing of guards during interrogations is phenomenally funny. Also, a different voice clip was recorded for every guard Sam is able to interrogate. You will want a sound system with a powerful subwoofer to fully enjoy the resonate depth of Sam’s voice. In addition, gamers with a DD 5.1 setup will love the directional sound. It's a nice audible warning to hear a guard coming up behind you. The music in the game is the same electronica heard in the previous two versions, but with an added sense of urgency. This elevates the suspenseful nature of the game and is far less irritating than the music found in Pandora Tomorrow.
Conclusion:
Chaos Theory’s single player game is well worth the $29.99 price now found in most retail stores. The online multiplayer and co-op mode is a bonus that makes your purchase even more satisfying. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory should be purchased by fans of the stealth genre, FPS games, or intriguing spy narratives.
Gameplay:
The most obvious change in this rendition of Splinter Cell is an abandonment of the stealth requirements in order to finish a level. This welcome alteration offers a choice between a forceful, bullet-expending assault on unsuspecting guards or the faithful stealth moves for dealing with each level. Many people will opt for middle ground as the previous two games molded our sneaky skills. The three-alarm system has been scrapped in favor of guards using body armor and search parties when an alarm is sounded.
Even with the assault alternative, Sam gets some fancy moves and gadgets to expand his repertoire of skills. Being able to use your silenced pistol while rappelling, hanging, or split-jumping is an interesting, if not brash, way to take down a hostile. Performing an inverted neck snap while hanging off a metal pipe is particularly satisfying! Sam also gets a couple more options when opening a door, such as being able to smash a door forward to knock a guard unconscious.
Hacking an object is yet another new feature that can reward the player with bonus objectives throughout the game. The hacking screen is a series of IP addresses that you have to choose from. Numbers within the series flash on the right and the player has to determine the correct IP before time elapses. My only gripe with this system is that it becomes quite tedious due to its repetition towards the end of the game. Varied hacking interfaces throughout the game should have been implemented.
The arsenal offered to the player has been expanded as well. While the sniper attachment can be enjoyable, the shotgun attachment to the SC-20K machine gun is a true visceral pleasure. The grenades offered, while amusing, can often alert guards to your position before the ensuing explosion. This may lead to a quick death before your frag grenade goes Kaboom!
Unfortunately, the enemy AI still remains as spotty as ever. Somehow, they always know exactly where to shoot in a blackened room if alerted to your presence by a loud misstep. On the flip side, the enemy AI has an amazingly poor problem seeing Sam and his patented green goggles within a couple feet of him. If anything has been improved, it would be the use of flashlights. Enemies now turn on their gun-mounted flashlights when any dark situation arises. So if Sam decides to snipe the closest light bulb, a guard will be ready to react appropriately.
The multiplayer features found in Pandora Tomorrow return in Chaos Theory with the edition of an online and offline co-op mode. The 3 modes in online combat are story, disk-hunt, and your standard deathmatch. Story mode is similar to what first appeared in the popular FPS game, Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Completion of a set of objectives yields another set until you finish the series. Disk hunt is a linear type of game, pitting you against an opponent in an attempt to snatch up all the disks.
The Co-op mode expands on the single player mode by adding a number of special moves that will create interaction between you and your partner. For instance, you can stand on each other’s shoulders, create a human ladder, or even perform wild, acrobatic jumps. Depending on an online player can be nerve-racking at times, but it’s all in good fun. The Co-op mode is a fresh approach to the world of Splinter Cell. In the latest 1.05 update, Ubisoft is continuing to release more maps for the Co-op mode to extend the gaming half-life of Chaos Theory.
Graphics:
The graphical elements of the Splinter Cell series have always been spectacular and this version has only been improved upon. Sam’s surroundings are vastly detailed and the lighting environment is still the most interactive in any video game. The facial expressions have been souped up for the wonderful interrogations between Sam and startled guards. The shadows are quite ominous as well as the contrast between Sam’s various lighting options when looking through the goggles. Fortunately for budget gamers, this will play well on a moderate system such as a 1.6 ghz / 9700 pro combo. You do not need a top of the line video card to pull off the graphical effects.
Audio:
What more can be said about the voice talent of Michael Ironside? Top notch doesn’t even begin to describe it. He not only sells the serious nature of the character; the lighthearted ribbing of guards during interrogations is phenomenally funny. Also, a different voice clip was recorded for every guard Sam is able to interrogate. You will want a sound system with a powerful subwoofer to fully enjoy the resonate depth of Sam’s voice. In addition, gamers with a DD 5.1 setup will love the directional sound. It's a nice audible warning to hear a guard coming up behind you. The music in the game is the same electronica heard in the previous two versions, but with an added sense of urgency. This elevates the suspenseful nature of the game and is far less irritating than the music found in Pandora Tomorrow.
Conclusion:
Chaos Theory’s single player game is well worth the $29.99 price now found in most retail stores. The online multiplayer and co-op mode is a bonus that makes your purchase even more satisfying. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory should be purchased by fans of the stealth genre, FPS games, or intriguing spy narratives.