Splinter Cell Conviction Review
It’s not often a game really grabs me anymore, call it a sense of déjà vu or even that as my age has crept so has my cynicism. Whenever a PR agent speaks to me regarding a game there’s always a part of me that thinks I’ll believe it when I see it. You can imagine my surprise then when I put in the new Splinter Cell conviction that the game brought back a pure sense of enjoyment for me, I was captivated and like a child a merrily believing in Father Christmas I fell hook line and sinker for the story they sold me.
Without hesitation this is the best overall game of Splinter Cell there has ever been. Best game for sure, but perhaps not for the reasons traditional Splinter Cell fans are probably after. Gone are the split jumps, gone is the lock picking and carrying dead bodies into the shadows. You’d think after such omissions there wouldn’t be much of Splinter Cell left, but what is left is a more refined, condensed and overall a better formed gaming experience. If you get detected it isn’t going to end your game.
Graphically Splinter Cell Conviction has some nice touches, most effective on the gameplay is the use of black and white to illustrate that you are invisible to the enemy. It’s a practical way of demonstrating this to the gamer while at the same time the black and grey tones add a serious feeling to the gameplay ensuring that the gamer never misunderstands the gravity of the story they are part of.
Interestingly the graphics do seem not as ‘next gen’ as other 360 titles being released in the same window. Alan Wake makes the graphics of Splinter cell seem dated, as does Red Dead Redemption. Its not a bad looker at all but when compared to its contemparies the graphics engine creaks under the strain.
Rather humerously with regards to the presentation is the age of our protagonist Sam Fisher. When he originally graced our screens he was a grizzly, weathered character. By comparison he’s positively youthful; a sure sign that working on matters of national security are not half as stressful as Spooks would have us believe.
Other effects within Splinter Cell Conviction also impress. The fact that stealth plays a key role, but it is not overbearing is a great nuance to the gameplay. Sometimes when you balls things up it’s a welcome feeling to know you can try and gun down the oncoming enemies.
But where would any Splinter Cell Conviction review be if it didn’t mention the new interrogation scenes. At times Sam fisher will grab his desired target with the intention of gaining valuable pieces of information. Early within the game you are taught how to interrogate grabbing an enemy and smashing his head into a nearby toilet. The key to a successful interrogation is through utilising the environment around you; leaving the gamer with a level of brutish creativity: which stool, chair, window or crate could I inflict the most damage with? New touches like this adds a feeling of super cool power to events.
Combat throughout feels weighty with weaponry having a real punch. Seasoned Splinter Cell fans will no doubt miss the options of hiding the bodies and although you can still shoot out the lights, traditionalists may be aggrieved that it doesn’t play as much significance.
What remains is a solid, yet refined experience reducing Splinter Cell to its finest points while at the same time rooting the solid gameplay to a phenomenal and engaging storyline.
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