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25 of 30 found the following review helpful:
 Splinter Cell and Metal GEar Solid 2, nothing ALikeJul 25, 2003
I've heard a lot of idiots going around saying that this game is the killer of Metal Gear Solid 2, that's like saying Tony Hawk 4 will kill off Grand Theft Auto Vice City. First of all, the games are very different. Splinter Cell is firmly rooted in reality, and that includes the lighting and shadow effects that are constantly mentioned and there is a lot of trial and error, whereas MGS 2 is a mix between fantasy and reality and has a set course for you to follow, so these games aren't really the same, and given the choice between them, I'd take 'em both. With that out of the way, ON TO THE REVIEW!
Splinter Cell is the only Tom Clancy game I've ever liked, I feel that games like Rainbow 6 and Ghost Recon are too real to be fun, and if I wanted realism I'd join the Marines, but what makes this so different? Who knows, but the story is very cool and realistic, the graphics are OK for the Ps2 hardware and the actual gameplay is excellent, you can hide from enemies in the shadows and distract them, enabling you to move on and the controls are also very easy to use, taking only a short time to master. The enemy AI is also very realistic and it offers a good fight, which is why you should either sneak up from behind enemies or just avoid them altogether.
Reading the other reviews, I've seen that in addition to comparing MGS2 to SC, people also compare the XboX to Ps2 versions, I've played both and they're equally good. The Xbox version has better graphics going for it and you can also download the levels that are in the Ps2 version, the Ps2 version has better and easier controls and the levels are already there. Given the choice between the xBox version and Ps2 version, I couldn't choose and the only reason I got the Ps2 version was because I don't have an XboX.
But it doesn't matter which version you buy, because the game is cool wether you get the Ps2, Xbox, PC or the Gamecube version, (is there a Gamecube version?)
Thanks for taking the time to read the review.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Ubi Soft hit the nail on this one...Aug 02, 2003
OK, so, if your looking for an action shooter title with a bit more strategy, or a stealth based game that allows multiple ways to complete the mission (e.g.: Hitman II), Get Splinter Cell, period. It combines some of the best visuals I've ever seen into a game where everything from lighting to the terrain your standing on affects yur risk of being captured (read: complete your mission).You can even shoot out the lights in a room! Unlike other games, there is no "obvious" way to get around a problem. You'll have to figure it out on your own, wheather its simply sniping a lone guard from a dark corridor and dragging his corpse into the shadows, or sneaking up behind him, grabbing him, and walking towards your objective using him as a human shield. There IS a lot of trial and error in this game, it is definently not an easy game to beat. You will not however become bored with it once you've tried something a couple of times (granted, I did become bored with it after I got up from the computer and realised it was 4 AM seriously!). The graphics are great,but you will need a pretty high-end system to run it. It wouldn't load on my old PIII, but I got a new Toshiba Satellite with an nVIDIA Geforce FX-M card and it smokes!! Also, the mission advancement is very well-balanced. You won't get all the cool gagets and weapons immediatly. You are always equiped with what is needed for your mission, but some of them are limited ammo, so you might fail your mission if you don't have any once you reach your objective! Some examples are:
-the laser mic. point andlisten device for hearing conversation behind walls
-diversion camera. small camera that emits a whistle on command and can also shoot knock-out gas.Another great addition to this game is the dialogue between Sam Fisher and his boss, and even the enemies! example: NSA Boss: Good Lord! That's general Kong Feirong! Fisher: Good Lord. Who's that? ________________________________________________________________ Soldier 1: So...how many did you kill?
S2: Eh...computer geeks? I killed 1, he got four. (points)
S1: Four? (mutters then gasps) Hey, I think I see something! Those soldiers were then blown to pieces by a frag grenade. There's a bit of dark humour in this game, like most of the rest of it. This is a dark game, and to fully appreciate the stunning visuals, you might have to turn off your night-vision goggles once in a while. This is truly the most complete, breathtakingly real black ops game I have ever played. Don't try to compare this to MGS. It will blow you away with its graphics (those sys specs are real!)and the gameplay is unmatched. And if you even think that Fishers headset looks wierd with the three green eyepieces, you'll change you mind after playing. I'd definently give this game a 10/10, this is one of the best games I've ever played! AND THERES A SEQUEL COMING!!!!!! ...Hey, who turned out the lights?
15 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Lookin good!Feb 04, 2003
Well chances are, you already know of this game but you probably want to know what the PS 2 verison will have to offer that the original did not. Well so far the following additions have been confirmed. The PS 2 version will feature an all-new binocular-vision headset, as well as four, count 'em, 4 new levels in the power plant area! It will also get 30 additional minutes of cinematics, and a completely new four-minute intro with music performed by the Prague Orchestra. Ubi Soft also said they will support Dolby Pro Logic II sound, so anyone with a PLII sound setup will really appreciate this feature. The graphics seem to have been slightly downgraded due to the fact that the original was made for completely different hardware but it looks like it's coming together very well considering it's a port and the extra levels and gadgets should make it a worthy purchase.
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
The hype is justified!Apr 08, 2003
By Walter Reade
I am always suspicious of an overly-hyped game, but Splinter Cell left nothing to be disappointed about. If this is a taste of what's down the road for video games, I'll have to quit my job! The graphics are super, game play and sound awesome, and the implementation of the stealth concept is powerfully convincing. I have only three minor issues with the game. The first is that it takes a bit to get the controls down. Not a big deal, just a forewarning. What really bugged me was that pistol aiming was too slow. The number of bullets it took to put someone down was also on the unrealistically high side. You could be right over someone and shoot him in the back of the head, and it still would take a couple shots. These minor flaws aside, the game if simply awesome!
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
Will Satisfy You Until The Next Metal Gear Solid Game!Aug 01, 2003
By C. Conard
"ExtremeAvalanche"
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a wonderful addition to the Tom Clancy games. I like Splinter Cell much better than the Ghost Recon games, and the game is better than most tactical shooters. In fact, it would really be hard to call this game a shooter at all. You really don't get very many bullets in the game, and weapon use comes second to stealth tactics. Also, killing an enemy may result in an alarm being triggered if someone is nearby. I many levels, only one alarm that is set off could mean mission over. The max amount of alarms that you could have in a level was three. Howeverm if you are careful, the alarms aren't that big of a deal. You should note that this is no Red Faction II or even MGS2. Splinter Cell is 90% stealth! You must stay in the shadows and avoid enemies. The best way to dispose of troops is hiding, then they turn their back, and then you can(fairly easily)sneak up on them. It's quiet and efficient. Also, you must hide bodies to avoid being caught. Even James Bond kills a thousand times more people than Sam Fisher. The graphics aren't as good on the PS2 as they are on X-Box, but they are still great! The sound is very good too, with humorous enemy chatter and good music and sound effects. The biggest drag to Splinter Cell is that the first time through, the game is exhilerating, the second time, it's pretty predictable, and then after that, it will most likely sit on your shelf for awhile. Please don't buy Splinter Cell if you hate sneaking around and not firing a lot of bullets. If you are a Timesplitters 2 fanatic, you might want to think beforebuying this game. Now, I love both combat games and espionage types, so I loved Splinter Cell. And this game is great relief for MGS fans until MGS3:Snake Eater is releasd next year. My Rating:9.4!
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