Product Description

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell grants players access to the highest echelons of national security, where shadowy operatives have the freedom to do whatever it takes to safeguard America. The player controls Sam Fisher, a field operative of a secretive black-ops NSA sub agency called Third Echelon. Sam Fisher is geared up to infiltrate high-security strongholds, seize critical intelligence, destroy threatening data, and neutralise the enemy--all without leaving a trace.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2446 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: UBI Soft
• Released on: 2003-03-28
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Platform: PlayStation2

Amazon.co.uk Review
Author Tom Clancy has written some fine novels, and UbiSoft has written some great games based on these works; Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is one such release. This one is a bit different, however: it models itself on that champion of espionage Metal Gear Solid 2, which, as it happens, is a good thing.

As Sam Fisher, you're out to save the world from international terrorism. In doing this, stealth is of paramount importance. Splinter Cell makes terrific use of light and shadows in this regard. If Sam Fisher stays in the dark, he is less likely to be seen; but, equipped with night-vision goggles, you're not hindered by the lighting effects. It's a clever system that creates some memorable scenes and adds to the sensation of being undercover.

Splinter Cell is a supremely balanced game. The initial training received is just long enough, gameplay is perfectly weighted between stealth and action and the blend of different objectives within missions ensures that the experience never becomes a chore. This is as compelling a spy game as you'll ever play. --Jonti Davies

This review refers to the Xbox version of the game

PSM2 Magazine
"The ultimate 'boys-with-toys' action adventure. 91%."

Customer Reviews

Action, stealth, what more could you want?
Splinter Cell puts you in the role of an American secret agent, Sam Fisher, working for a special operations agency, Third Echelon.

This game allows you to do everything you can imagine that a secret agent would do. There is a range of amazing gadgets to use, which adds to the experience of the superb gameplay. There are optical cables that allow you to see through to the other side of doors, lock picks, which can be used to unlock certain doors and an assault rifle with capabilities such as stunning, using grenades and also just for killing enemies.

The game also allows a much greater control over the character than most games offer. This means that the environment can be used to an advantage, as he can climb on pipes, and use the walls to springboard himself onto higher ledges or platforms.

The developers have thought of everything, which makes this one of the most realistic games around. However this results in losing health more rapidly than other games, which can be fixed by medical kits, which are found at different places on various missions. Another backdrop is, where you could obtain ammo from dead enemies in other games, you cannot with Splinter Cell, and unlike medical kits there are very few ammo packages on missions. This means that on most missions the ammo you enter with, is all you've got, so you have to ration you're ammo very carefully.

Everything about this game, such as the stealth aspect and the many gadgets to use more than make up for the few glitches in the game, and although the story isn't the best around it does compliment the gameplay, which is what makes this game a 'must have' for all gamers!

What if I go in noisy?
Splinter Cell is for my money the first really solid title in the Tom Clancy range. Obviously marketed as a rival to the stealth and cinematics crown held by Metal Gear Solid 2, S.C. pitches itself at the audience with a far less bizarre, convoluted and other-worldly bent and gets straight to the point launching you into the world of special forces/espionage hard-nut Sam Fisher.
The game ingratiates itself to you immediately by giving you a brief but effective tutorial allowing you to perform each of Sam’s basic abilities and filling in some of the story line as you go. From the outset you will be gripped by just how cool Sam looks and sounds (thanks to the vocal talents of Michael Ironside). His black suit, night vision gear and cat-like grace make Raiden from MGS2 look like a wet ponce!
The different athletic manoeuvres and range of equipment on offer from the outset of the game make it clear that there will be numerous paths to each goal and how you achieve them is up to you. Once into the proper missions, for the most part this seems to be true. Although the beautifully drawn, breathtakingly textured locations are basically linear (a la Max Payne and the Getaway) you can play it in your own style. You can choose to play carefully, shooting out the lights, keeping yourself well hidden and incapacitating your foes without actually killing them, or you can play risky revealing your position to deal out brutal head shots and using your oponents as human shields to inflict even more casualties. The choice is yours.
The learning curve is gentle but not annoyingly easy. From the outset you can tell that the makers of the game want you to complete it, they don’t want you to be stuck on one bit for three months, get fed up and exchange it for Vice City! As your tasks become slightly more complex, it is to the developers credit that they have managed to bring in a bit of variety. A game which has little cut-scene padding and is basically just sneak from point A to B laying out anyone who gets in your way could be boring but not so with Splinter Cell. One mission may involve a quick no-holds barred infiltration, while in the next the story line may preclude you from killing anyone. Coupled with this the environments are pleasantly varied and much of the scenery can be interated with. This game demonstrates the serious next gen physics which we have now come to expect from games.
I think, however that the ultimate selling point of this game is gadgets. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a thrilling array of toys in a game. From remote control guns, CCTV cameras and proximity mines to Sam’s multi-purpose assault rifle, camera jammer, rappelling rope and night vision, there is enough here to keep James Bond up at night... sweating.
I am trying to think of something bad to say about S.C. to wind this up, but as I can’t I shall leave you by saying that this is indeed MGS2 without all the padding. It’s fun from start to finish, the controls feel like second nature in a matter of minutes and it contains some of the best voice acting I’ve heard in a game for a while. It is cool. Very cool. If you are serious about your PS2 you need to play this one through.

THE BEST GAME EVER!
I bought this game not knowing anything about it, instantly I fell in love! At the start of the game there is very useful training, which most other game don't show you. This tells you all you need to know to get you through. Although total game play is quit short, it is very exciting and most enjoyable. Being the first in the splinter cell's this game set you off on a ride of wanting more after completing each game. Luckily the 3 game's (Pandora tomorrow, chaos theory and double agent.) that follow are each and individually better then the last. I would recommend it highly to anyone!

* Graphics = 9/10
* Fun = 9/10
* Excitement = 10/10
* Difficulty = 8/10
* Controls = 9/10
* Overall = 9/10