Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

When Splinter Cell was released on the Xbox several months ago, it was heralded as revolutionizing the stealth action genre as Metal Gear Solid did a few years prior. Splinter Cell had it all: beautiful graphics, wonderful sounds, and it gave players a true feeling what it might be like a spy. Since this game was so popular and praised, Gameloft decided to transfer it to the N-Gage, while it is not 3D like its console brother, Splinter Cell is one of the best games on the N-Gage at this time. If you like this type of game, I suggest you pick it up.

Players take on the role of Sam Fisher, an ex CIA and Navy Seal operative, who is called in to help the National Security Service. This service has unlimited resources to new technology and other things that are readably available for Sam Fisher to use. Sam is a “Splinter Cell” who has permission to do whatever it takes to get his objective complete. The downside to this, if any Splinter Cell is ever caught while in the line of duty, the United States will deny any knowledge of his existence. Needless to say it is best if you never get caught.

Going through each of the levels can be extremely challenging yet rewarding. For example, during the first mission, players will have to go through a burning house. They will have to avoid the flames, jump up and grab onto pipes to get to the other side of the level. Than they will have to sprint than jump and hopefully you will have amassed enough speed and jumping distance to grab hold of a ledge so you can climb up. There are many other obstacles that players will have to overcome during the course of the game, but these things make this game so fun.

Several missions will require different objectives to perform, for instance one of them is opening a safe. I think when players open a safe it is more like a short mini game. Safes have three gears that have an opening on the side to allow a bar to go though it, to open it. Players will have to line up all three gears so the bar goes though it within a time limit. As the game progresses players will have harder objects to get passed but they will never be impossible and they are always fun to figure out.

Since this game is stealth action, players will have to be aware of everything in their environments. Players will have to beware of how fast they run or else enemies will hear them and they will have to fight their way through missions. If they have to sneak in where there are a lot of guards, they will have to be on the lookout for closets or other places to hide. It is always in the best interest to remain as quiet and out of sight as possible to win the missions.

The graphics for this game looks really nice, even though it is all in 2D and not in 3D like its console brethren. The environments that the player’s transverse looks really nice, and there is usually some background animation going on. The color palette is nicely used and helps give the sense of stealth while playing. The animation in the game is really smooth. Sam moves really nice if he is sneaking around, running or climbing on pipes.

The music used in this game sounds really nice. It really helps give the game added tension while playing throughout all of the levels. The few sound effects heard during the game are nice but they aren’t special in any way.

Splinter Cell is rated T for Teen.

Gameplay: 8.6
After getting adjusted to the control scheme of Splinter Cell, it becomes a lot of fun to play. My only complaint about this is the attack button. At times you might be right on top of the enemy and instead of doing a head butt, Sam will pull out his gun and shoot the enemy with the precious ammo that you have remaining. While this is annoying at times, it is nothing that ruins the game in anyway; it just makes it more challenging.

Graphics: 8.6
Splinter Cell looks really nice on the N-Gage screen. Unlike a few of the other N-Gage games, the screen never becomes a hamper.

Sound: 8.4
The music and sounds are really well done in this game.

Difficulty: Medium
Being as quiet as a mouse while completing your missions can be hard to do in certain levels, but it always remains fun!

Concept: 8.5
Splinter Cell offers gamers stealth gaming while on the go, what can be better than this? Plus this game offers players the opportunity to play with other gamers.

Multiplayer: N/A
There are two different multiplayer modes: Sniper and Teamplay. At the time of this review I didn’t get a chance to review these multiplayer modes.

Overall: 8.6
Splinter Cell is an awesome game that no one with an N-Gage should be without! Even though this game is in 2D don’t let that turn you off, because this game offers the same heart pounding gameplay that its console brethren had.