You Are Sam Fischer, This is Your Fictitious Story

Splinter Cell (a Tom Clancy project) began in 2002 with the X-Box version of Splinter Cell - the game that blew gamers away by graphical shadowing alone. The game was intended to be the first "true" stealth game and rival the Die-Hard-like competitor Metal Gear Solid. In some ways, even then, the game seemed revolutionary. Sneak in the cloak of shadows and through the gaps of broken light in silence to destroy enemies was basically what Splinter Cell was about. Despite the neat gadgets the game had (surveillance cameras that dispersed gas, guns that fried electrical units), the game seemed simple; in fact it was simple in a linear interpretation. When the game ended, there was no real reason to go back through the game, even if it was an instant classic. So, out came Pandora Tomorrow, two years, later that tried to expand Splinter Cell. In some cases, it did; larger levels were built, the lighting was better adjusted, and it even featured multiplayer. But, once again, when the time came for the game's completion, Pandora Tomorrow fell shallow - even with the multiplayer. So, out comes Chaos Theory; a game where they expanded the levels even larger, readjusted a few things, and added a few perks to enhance the gameplay and make it worth a second, or third, go through. Did their attempt succeed? Yes it did. So much that it not only impressed me, but made me realize that UbiSoft is the next major contendor in third-party manufacturers and may just be the next Rareware (although Rareware is a second-party company, but you know what I mean...).

Gameplay 5 (out of 5)

You are top stealth agent Sam Fischer, who is reprising his role of serving the U.S. Government way beyond his deadline for retirement. You are twice the age of the new recruits who you serve, but the Pentagon values you more than the other men. Why? Well, its easy to say that your record of killing people exceed even your commander-in-chief, you have survived two other world-threatening missions and above that, your a very dangerous killing machine who doesn't sleep. You smell, see, taste, hear, and feel death around you, its in your blood to kill for the good of decent men and you can't accept life any other way than offered to you by your career. You are Sam Fisher. The Chaos Theory has been assigned to you and you will not fail your mission; it's in your blood, it's why you were born to live.

That's the overall attitude the game puts in you. That is what successful games do, puts you in the mood and makes you believe you are that character until you get a game over and restart and reenact through the same belief that compels you.

The newer installment has been redefined. The levels are huge, complex levels with different niches and ways to get past it. For instance, you can go through crawl spaces to get around an obstacle, fall from catwalks to knock out guards, or just go ape-wild with your machine gun and blast them. It's truly up to you. A few levels do seem linear; especially the post-apocalyptic Seoul stage; where you have to follow building top upon building top across a city of destroyed structures and, when you get past the buildings, you have one-way alleyways to worry about:, but then again, you can follow the route either on ground or through fire escapes and zip-lines.

At the beginning of the stage there are very impressive GCI rendered cut-scenes about sudden incidents that will cause you to pursue the particular mission given to you by Colonel Irving Lambert. After a briefing is made, you are given the option of three types of weapons to enter; Stealth (has weapons like the sticky camera, silent pistol, and combat knife with limited ammunition), Assault (You are given grenades, machine guns, etc.) and William Redding's Recommendation (The amount of weapons and weapon types that best suit’s the chosen level). I usually choose stealth because A, I love it, and B, I am trying to get passed the entire game undetected (which means not killing anyone). Though I don’t think B will be possible, sense the bosses recognize you. But even so, it's still a challenge. If you don't want to use your weapons assigned to you, you can always use natural entities (as of rocks or wine bottles) to hum at their heads. Be careful though on how you aim an object; a few times I totally missed their head and they instantly pinpointed from where the bottle was thrown.

Yes, the A.I. is more advanced in this version. They hold conversations with each other, cough, and even struggle for their lives from your deadly grasp. With their impressive realistic natures, comes more enhanced protocols. The enemies in the game can now sense something out of the ordinary, are able to notice you from across the yard if you are exposed in the light, and gain a funny feeling if you follow them. Meaning, you can make the slightest noise and they turn and shoot you. So, this game really pushes you to the limit and demands you to be quick with the toes if you intend to go about the game as a stealth figure. They will even call out reinforcements or walk out of their jurisdiction to investigate whatever disturbance. A few times, I was sniped out by someone who noticed me in the shadow from an upper floor of the building; I guess the scope of their sniper rifle has a night-vision lens.


At the end of each level, you are offered statistics on how you performed in the stage (how many people you killed, how many times you were noticed, etc.) and a percentage grade is given to you; which is not only challenging to get 100% on all stages, but through harder difficulties it is even more tricky). Do not ask me what happens when you get an overall game completion of 100%, because I haven't yet reached that, I am at 97% in the easiest difficulty. I, having been pulled into the (complete the entire game and receive a special prize) have been fooled too much into the ploy; I am not expecting much of out this supposed conspiracy, but it Chaos Theory alone is just so spectacular that I have no problems replaying it again for the umpteenth time.

If you get bored of the main game, there is a training mode, and online play via XBOX Live. But I will be frank with you, I don't have an XBOX-Live and couldn't even afford to have one even thought I would like to add in a review on how Chaos Theory runs online. Yet, I'd rather play the single player campaign anyways, it serves a breath of fresh air in the gaming world.

Graphics 5 (Out of 5):

I don't know how well the enhanced Ninja Gaiden: Black looks because I haven't had the chance to try it out (though I got annihilated by the boss of the first stage of Ninja Gaiden for XBOX, so I am in no rush to try it's revamped version), but I should feel safe to say Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory renders the best graphics I have seen out of the XBOX. It is twice superior to that of Pandora Tomorrow and rivals the visuals of Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. Between the expression of fear seeping out the faces of the enemies held hostage, the tarps swaying lightly with the wind, the leaves of ferns and blades of grass drifting back and forth by the breeze, and the moistened glow of the nightlight running up Sam Fischer's suit give one of the most realistic console atmospheres I have played yet. The only problem with Splinter Cell, is don't the A.I. drones notice the three round beams (from the visors attached to Sam's crown) glowing in the dark? I found that a bit perplexing. But either than that, the colorization of the levels (most importantly the golden stage of Hokkaido) are beautiful and vibrant.

Sound 4.5 (Out of 5)

While the soundtrack is on the border of non-existent, every natural sound (waves rushing upon the rocky surf of the lighthouse stages, the gusts of rain catapulting with the gales, and even the range of other people voices (as they are down the hall or in another room) all sound true to it's nature. The gadgets sound high-tech and the rapid firing of the guns blare at a full Dolby Digital 5.1. If there are fans who dig sound effects, this is your game.

Replay 5 (Out of 5)

With over a dozen intricate ways to kill your target, I don't find any two experiences through a single stage will be enacted in the same way, there is just too much happening. There is the "Save anywhere, anytime function", which I humbly adore in any game, included in Chaos Theory. While some of the missions are hard, this game screams to be made into a movie. What with safe-cracking, hacking into a bank's security system, taking over Japanese conspirators, defusing bombs, being hunted by hovering robotic sentry units, finding dozens of secret passages in the game, and actually racing to destroy a nuclear weapon before it hits land… who would want more out of a video game? Although this game is far from epic, it the adventure can be fun and quick, intriguing and slow paced, suspenseful, or whatever you want it to be. It is Sam Fisher's life you are playing and, just like your own life, you can experience it however you want to with the understanding of the consequences involved with the actions you take. Although I haven't played it online, I heard it was pretty awesome. There is also offline Co-op, I haven't tried it however; don't have any friends close by who are still interested as I am in playing video games… But, it doesn't matter. The Single-Player campaign will last you a good few weeks or, if you like it as how I do, Chaos Theory will last you a very long time.

Overall 4.75 (out of 5)

I know I haven't gone into critiquing the controls. They are the same as what is found in Pandora Tomorrow, except now they have a hanging upside down move and you also get to decide if you want to crack their neck or knock them unconscious (I don't recall if you were given the option in the previous installment). But anyhow, Chaos Theory delivers and makes you feel as if you are actually working for the Pentagon. A classic XBOX game that is worthy to be in anyone's collection. I can't wait until I can continue my fictitious career of Sam Fischer in the Splinter Cell sequel coming out on the XBOX 360, if I could actually afford to buy an XBOX 360 later on in the future. Here's to hoping…