Game review: Splinter Cell: Blacklist

The lead voice actor has been changed and the concept of stealth is now mixed liberally with all-out action. In fact, much of what you know of the Splinter Cell franchise is no longer relevant, but for some reason, this combination of factors makes this outing one of the most gripping games from the series.

For the stealth loyalists, Blacklist goes back to the basics of the original game, where Sam Fisher is typically unarmed and outgunned, and needs to hide and surprise his enemy to survive.

But for newbies who might be daunted by the sharp learning curve of the game, Ubisoft has rolled out three methods of play.

You can sneak your way through and achieve Ghost mode, or do a combination stealth and attack to get the Panther rating. The trigger-happy ones can opt for a full frontal attack for that Assault mode.

Or you can do a mix of all three. At the end of each level, your points determine the monetary rewards given to your new Echelon Four team, which can be used to upgrade your weapons and equipment.

And yes, attempting stealth mode grants players more points and more money, allowing you to upgrade your arsenal at a faster pace, while turning Rambo gets you a fraction of the reward.

Completing a kill in stealth mode also triggers the mark-and-execute skill, where players can tag multiple victims and take them out with rapid shots. This is especially effective in crowded rooms where the element of surprise is a must.

The story here is rather simple. A group known as The Engineers has attacked an American military base and it is up to Sam and his newly formed team of soldiers to counter them.

There are some story twists along the way and in terms of gameplay, Sam can perform some rather extraordinary feats, such as sniping soldiers located via satellite, to mask the team's incursion into enemy territory.

Ubisoft has relooked the stealth gameplay, so that memorising a soldier's patrol movement cannot be the only way to take them out.

Aside from the fact that players can gain more points by finishing a mission in record time, patrol schedules are also less routine and soldiers can pop by at any time from anywhere.

But one thing I found jarring was the removal of Michael Ironside, who voiced Sam in six earlier games, to bring in the much younger actor, Eric Johnson.

In fact, this depiction of Sam looks as if someone shaved 20 years from his life, as he now looks and sounds much younger in the game.

It is not to say that Johnson did a bad job, as his Sam lends some playfulness to the character, which was something Ironside never conveyed convincingly.

Just go into this game with an open mind, because it will surprise you.

sherwinl@sph.com.sg

Rating: 9/10

Price: $61.90 (PC), $73.90 (PS3, version tested), $159 (PS3 Limited Edition), $69.90 (Xbox 360)

Genre: Stealth/action

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