GENRE
	Stealth-Action
	DEVELOPER
	Ubisoft
	PUBLISHER
	Ubisoft
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1
	CONNECTIVITY
	yes
	BUY NOW AT

Sam Fisher. A name that Xbox fans have been enamored with for some time now because of Ubi Soft’s incredible Tom Clancy: Splinter Cell game. It’s espionage and covert ops at its finest and, unlike most other Tom Clancy titles, you aren’t controlling an entire platoon or squad. It’s just you and the bad guys and a few light bulbs! What does this mean? First of all, you can’t take the enemy head on. You’ve got to be better than that, smarter than that and most importantly, sneakier than that.

The entire audio, visual and game play package of Splinter Cell basically “sells” you on the fact that you’re a super covert agent. Halfway through the game, I couldn’t wait to finish it, go back and try all of the challenges again with a different methodology. In the end, Splinter Cell really does feel like an interactive experience that immerses you, and isn’t that the definition of a great video game?

I have to say that April has been the best month yet for GameCube owners. Burnout 2, Ikaruga and now the icing on the cake; Ubi Soft’s superb Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. Not to mention that you can use your GBA in several excellent ways via the connectivity that Ubi Soft took the time and effort to incorporate into the GameCube version. If you’re a MATURE GameCube owner you simply have to own this game!! There’s challenge and content that you’ll find incredibly enjoyable.

visuals

I was told by an Xbox owner that the GameCube version didn’t look as good as the Xbox one. Now whether he said that out of spite I don’t know. But I can tell you that looking at this game I’m reminded of the hockey saying “I’ll take Steve Yzerman on one good leg than a whole team of healthy Russ Courtnalls.” Regardless of the Xbox’ visual amplification of this game, the GameCube version is drop-dead, knockout freaking gorgeous. The most significant things are its subtleties.

For instance, the look, usage, and presence of light and dark throughout the game. Because this game is accurate to a covert agent’s real work rather then the 007 stuff you’re used to, you’ll find that avoidance and limited confrontation are the best ways to stay alive. Ubi Soft punched this up by the use of shadow. You have a “dark-light” meter in the bottom right hand corner of your screen and the idea is that if you’re totally in the black then you won’t get recognized by the enemy. Within twenty minutes of playing Splinter Cell you’ll be paranoid of any light bulb! It sounds strange but it’s the single most impressive take on an action game that I’ve seen in years and coupled with a incredible soundtrack it makes this game filled with tension. In Splinter Cell, you don’t need three hundred enemies to fight when being spotted by just one will do you in!!

There are some excellent environments as well as characters in the game. Sam Fisher himself looks outstanding through all of the life like animation that he has and the use of lighting effects against his character model.

As for the front end, you’ll find an easy to use menu system that’s laid out like a Palm PDA display. There’s are also a great intro movie, an interview with Michael Ironside – the voice of Sam Fisher and a proud Canuck as well as a star from the TV show “V” (Remember that?!), and a quirky interview of Sam Fisher at UBI Soft.

You’ve probably already heard that this game is a knockout in terms of graphics. Believe it!! It’s a beautiful experience for your eyes that definitely rivals titles such as Metroid, Zelda and more.

audio

As brilliant as the subtle lighting may be, so too are the excellent audio effects. You’ll know when you’ve been spotted by the low thud of the bass “bong” and, because the music has a lot of tension, you always get a little antsy when you hear that music no matter how many times it starts up. Also, all of the sound effects are incredibly detailed. When you turn on your night vision goggles, the sound of them firing up is amazing, as are all of the weapons you’ll use. I noted as well that the symphonic soundtrack is very similar to Mission Impossible 2. Ubi Soft has incorporated a super soundtrack that is perfectly interwoven with the action on the screen. Stunning.

I want to mention that Ubi Soft has done a marvelous job in making the audio experience integral to the gameplay experience. You not only have to look for enemies but if you turn up your speakers you can hear them coming! Little clues like footsteps, chatter, whistling and all types of real “audioscaping” work with the game play. Brilliant.

A special note has to be made here of the voice acting in this game. It’s amazing how the characters sell you with their dialogue throughout the game. Sam’s chat usually is a sparse blasting of one-liners but his orders comes in perfectly (including radio degradation), and all of the villains around him sound fantastic, including their accents. There’s one instance that I think exemplifies the audio excellence of this game. It’s a scene where you’re in the Courtyard with a “whisper 2000” microphone eaves dropping on a conversation in a glass elevator. The amazing thing is that the audio detail in this instance goes to the point that it does sound crackly and poppy like a real distance mic and when you pull the mic away from the target, it zaps off and on with total authenticity. I’ve always been impressed by detail and Ubi Soft has done a great job filling in all of the miniscule audio cracks here to create a brilliant sounding game.

gameplay

When I first heard that the crux of the game play here was to avoid contact with the enemy and stay in the shadows, I was discouraged. I figured that Splinter Cell would be an amplified version of the VR missions in Metal Gear Solid. Well, as usual, I was wrong! Big time!

By the middle portion of the training I was already hooked on the amazing control I had over Sam Fisher. I love the fact that you can lean up against walls, quietly crouch, do a soft landing, rappel, choke and interrogate enemies, and so forth… There’s so much level of control here that you really do feel as if you’re Sam. You basically can make him do everything and, like my fully poseable 1980’s G.I. Joe figures, the control level immerses and allows your mind to fall into the story and play of the game. More importantly, you have all of the meticulous control over Sam and you have it in an excellent and intuitive layout. Once again, Ubi Soft hits it right on the head. Everything from weapon/item selection, arming a weapon, deactiving a selection, the Zelda-esque interaction button, binoculars, and night vision are laid out in a way that you won’t even think about the control scheme. This is yet another reason why this game immerses you.

You won’t have a problem understanding what you’re supposed to do and where you’re supposed to go either. The missions are set up in short bursts of staccato objectives so everything remains clear. Too many action games dump objectives on you and leave you to rot. In Splinter Cell, you get focused tasks to complete. As well, you can acquire data sticks to assist you in the game.

As for gadgets, the first time I used the optical cable I was giddy. Sam is like a Swiss Army knife! He’s loaded with so many cool devices/weapons etc. that you’ll think it’s a shame to pull out a gun to solve a problem! You’ll love the diversity that Ubi gives you in this game thanks to Sam’s Bob Villa toolbox of goodies.

GameCube owners will be happy to know that this version of Splinter Cell has something no other version has; GBA connectivity and interaction. Here’s how it works:

1. Turn out the lights
2. Plug in your frontlit GBA SP
3. Be dazzled by the GBA OPSAT map!!

It’s an amazing feature where you have a wireframe map that gives you a real time spread of what’s in your immediate vicinity. Things such as cameras, enemies and more are all there. If you want a wider range you just press B. Your GBA will also beep when a threat comes up. Honestly, with the lights out and your GBA on the arm of your favorite gaming chair, it’s just like you have that detector in Aliens 2 where the enemy is closing in around you. One more GBA reason to brag is the sticky bomb that, after being deployed, can be detonated remotely by the GBA. What a wicked use of the GBA and kudos to Ubi Soft for giving Nintendo fans a reason to brag about their version of the game.

Overall, the game play has three outstanding qualities: succinct and flowing objectives and excellent levels to compliment them, extremely intuitive play control, and a difficulty level with enough challenge to both stimulate you and make you want to play the game again and again.

multiplayer

N/A

overall

As a Canadian I would like to take some time to congratulate Ubi Soft Montreal for a brilliant game. It sounds campy but the more I played Splinter Cell the more pride I felt for the hard work that these guys put into this astounding game.

Okay, as for the overall comments; the most outstanding feature of Splinter Cell is its unique take on stealth action and subsequent immersive qualities. You’re alone against an army and a light bulb can kill you! (in a round about way). I haven’t been this immersed in a video game in a long while. I just couldn’t put it down. Immersion is the biggest factor of validity for any video game whether it is a cartoony title or one as gritty and realistic as Splinter Cell. Because of the incredible game play, superior control scheme and depth, stunning audio and graphics, and brilliant synergy between all of these elements Splinter Cell is the “Goldeneye” calibre game for this generation that we’ve been waiting for. I know that sounds like high praise but nothing on a mature scale has caught me like this game has and until something does, Splinter Cell gets the shelf of honor in my bookcase.

If you’re old enough to buy this game, you simply must in order to validate your GCN/GBA purchase. I really think it’s the benchmark for any GameCube game to follow. Quite simply, Splinter Cell is stunning.

9/10