Background
Video games are one of many hobbies that I have had since the 1980s. Through my experiences I have played many would-be epic games to see if the developer knew what they were doing. Splinter Cell is Ubisoft at the top of their game. Splinter Cell is a third person stealth game with a perfect understanding of how to design tension, strategic, and patient gameplay. Every system in this game works together cohesively to create the best stealth gameplay experience possible. You play as Sam Fisher, a spy who infiltrates enemy buildings to steal information or assassinate targets. Each level is an opportunity to fully utilize your training and equipment to decide how you want to complete your objective.
Are you going to sneak by enemies? You can do that if you are adept enough. Do you want to open up aggressively when you are spotted? You can do that too. The choice is yours, and the game gives you the freedom to play as you see fit. Another wonderful feature of this game is how light plays a factor. How visible you are to the enemy is determined by how much light you are standing in. If you are standing in bright light, you will be easily seen. If you are hiding in the shadows, you are practically invisible. The game even provides visual feedback on how visible you are. Your character model is shown clearly so you know how visible you are. You can even see the sight lines of your enemies by how they carry themselves. You are given all of this information so you can plan out your routes through each level.
Even your gadgets provide meaningful benefits to your gameplay. Night vision goggles allow you to see in the dark. Thermal goggles allow you to see through walls and identify living bodies by their heat signature. The lock pick allows you to open locked doors and containers. The mine detector warns you of land mines and other traps. The sticky cam lets you scout areas before you go in. Each gadget allows you to approach problems in different ways and plan ahead.
Controls
Controls feel tight and responsive. The movement speed is adjusted so you can be precise with your movements. The rate you can aim is quick when you need it to be. You are given the third person perspective which is perfect for gauging cover and light sources around you. The camera is positioned perfectly in allowing you to see what you need to while planning your next move.
Splinter Cell perfected third person stealth gameplay. Before Splinter Cell, there were stealth games but never one that played great in the third person. Camera angles didn’t leave you with a clear view of what was in front of you. The controls didn’t allow for precise movements. You lost track of enemies too easily. The view didn’t allow you to carefully observe your surroundings like you could in Splinter Cell.
The camera is strategically placed behind Sam’s shoulder. Not only does this allow for an unobstructed view of what’s in front of you, but you can always see Sam. You can easily make out lights and shadows which help you judge distances. You know exactly where guards are looking based on their positioning. This information is given to you visually without taking you out of the game or forcing you to play a game where the AI knows everything.
Gameplay Difficulty
Splinter Cell also scales well with difficulty. On easy settings, you will be able to breeze through most levels. The guards pay little attention to their surroundings and have smaller sight ranges. You are forgiven for your mistakes. Normal provides you with the proper difficulty. The guards behave as you would expect and taking your stealthy approach rewards you. However, if you are spotted, there will be consequences to your actions. On hard mode and beyond, the game expects you to learn how to play. No difficulty setting cheats by just making you take more damage.
Graphics and Sound Design
Splinter Cell graphics are acceptable for a game released in 2002. Sam’s character model looks great with a high amount of detail. The levels are also designed with enough detail to allow for stealth gameplay. Light sources are easily identified. Shadows look good. Even the surfaces you walk on give you visual cues as to what they are. Animation is smooth and definitely sells the movement of characters. Splinter Cell has a strong sense of art direction and each level feels different from one another.
Sound also plays an important role in stealth games. Your footsteps sound differently depending what surface you are walking on. Guards use walkie talkies to communicate with each other. There are distinct sounds for guards becoming alerted. Splinter Cell constantly keeps you informed with audio cues about the state of the game. Since stealth revolves around you avoiding being seen, Audio is another form of you gathering information.
Enemy AI also feels impressive for the time. Enemies have realistic field of view and actually look around with their eyes. They communicate with each other when they see something suspicious. They investigate noises. They can raise the alarm if they feel threatened. But they never know everything that’s going on. They see stuff, they hear stuff. This allows for a dynamic gameplay experience that encourages you to play carefully.
Splinter Cell Today
Graphically the game shows its age but the lighting mechanic is still very relevant. The game still looks good and gives you all of the information you need. Controls still feel tight. Stealth gameplay still works incredibly well. The game is still fair on difficulty. Everything about the game that made it work back in 2002 is still here today.
The levels are long and well designed. Clocking in at over 12 hours, you will have plenty of game to play. Levels are designed so each area transitions nicely to the next. There is no feeling of going to the next level, you just continue on. The game naturally scales in difficulty as you play.
Gadgets still have their uses and every tool you acquire serves a purpose. Objectives are laid out nicely without being too strict. There are optional objectives for you to complete if you want extra challenges. The game’s levels allow for any play style you want to enact. And trust me when I say getting spotted definitely hurts.
Splinter Cell’s Significance
Splinter Cell showed that you can have amazing third person stealth on consoles. Splinter Cell showed that stealth games could be the main focus of a game. Splinter Cell showed that if you perfect the technical aspects of camera movement, AI, and level design you can make the perfect stealth game for the player. Pretty much every stealth game since Splinter Cell has taken something from what made it great.
Splinter Cell was the identity of Xbox’s spy games. The game went on to sell millions of copies. Ubisoft became a competitor in the stealth genre. But none of that would have been possible if the designers didn’t understand what stealth gamers wanted and knew how to execute it flawlessly.
Splinter Cell showed that third person and stealth are not incompatible. The game plays great and every aspect of the game’s technical side work together to give you the best stealth experience possible. Go play Splinter Cell if you’ve never experienced it for yourself to see why fans of stealth games regard it as the best. If you played it when it came out replay it and appreciate how well the game has aged. If you are a stealth game designer study this game, because it is a masterpiece of translating what makes stealth gameplay fun into a technical spectacle.
Game Rating: 10/10 — Splinter Cell showed the world what an amazing third person stealth game could be on consoles.
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