differs from most titles in the regard that everything you like to stare at or listen to actually serves as part of the gameplay. Both the lighting and the shadows are tools; most of the lights require being shot out or turned off in order to create said shadows that Sam must hide in. On the bottom right of the screen is a visibility meter. If the meter’s needle is all the way left, it means you are covered in darkness and nearly invisible. Guards will walk right past you whistling and never even know you are there. Conversely, the needle hanging toward the middle or all the way right means you are lit up like Rockefeller Center, and will probably be shot on sight. This method remains true throughout the entire game and in every environment, whether it be indoors our out. In terms of sound, the less one hears Sam Fisher the better. Stepping across gravel will create a lot more noise than walking across thick carpet, and the speed at which Sam moves relates directly to the amount of noise made. The left analog stick controls Fisher’s movement, and the speed of said movement responds to how far the stick is moved in any direction. Crouching and advancing slowly is the key to not being noticed. Creeping up behind foes is also important in this title, as choking them and placing your pistol to their head tends to make them a bit more free with the gabbing, and can greatly assist Fisher in his mission objectives. This method is also essential to disabling guards and various personnel if you find yourself out of ammunition (the game’s emphasis is much more directed toward sneaking around and alternative methods rather than direct violence, and you will find yourself out of ammo often) in a well-lit area crawling with creeps. Grab ‘em from behind and knock ‘em out with one well placed blow to the head with the butt of your pistol. Yes, it’s lights out in this game in many different ways. If you have played MGS2, you will know how to play Splinter Cell. The intimacies of controlling Mr. Fisher will come to you in no time, as the control scheme is very tight and intuitive. Sam uses many gadgets to assist him in his objectives, from his nightvision/heatvision headset (the night-vision effect is something that has to be seen to be believed… it is like playing a game through an Oliver Stone “flash-cut” sequence) to his wire cameras, pistols, rifles, sticky cameras (cameras you mount on a wall that explode when personnel gets near), and anything else found along the way (even empty vodka bottles will save your life on more than one occasion). Above every thing else, Splinter Cell makes you think about every move you make. Although it can be said that the missions and story are linear, how you get through them is entirely up to you. One false move and you are dead ninety percent of the time, so, on occasion, the game will feel a bit “trial-and-error” like, but these quips are minor ones. Splinter Cell is a single player game only, but does have Live support in the way of downloadable content. Bonus levels are being offered soon, (nothing is available as of writing) and it is believed that several of them will be free of charge. Any gamer who enjoys the stealth/action genre and vicariously lives through the lives of covert assassins/operators will absolutely adore Splinter Cell. Do yourself a favour and pick it up without hesitation; you will have a grand time playing through what must be close to the real lives of these shadowy figures.

94%

By Russell Garbutt