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Platform Filters:   All Platforms  Xbox   GameCube   PlayStation 2   PC   Game Boy Advance   Site Sections:   Updates  News   Games   Publishers   Developers   Reviews   Previews   Release Dates   Editorials   Glossary   Contact Us		Review:       10th May 2005: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory  The Pacific is at boiling point and there is only one man who has the skills to avert a major war. Time to call on scotophile, Sam Fisher Posted by Chris Snook - PlayStation 2,Xbox - UK and Europe Sam Fisher is back and this time he is older and even more sarcastic about things than ever before. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is the latest in the series of games based on the world of Tom Clancy, the acclaimed thriller author. It is 2007 and the world once again teeters on the brink of a conflict that could engulf the whole of the Asian Pacific into chaos and destruction. North Korea and China are blockading and boarding Japanese commercial ships. Understandably the Japanese are not happy over this and their newly created I-SDF - the Information, Self-defence Force - is claiming that this another move in an ongoing struggle to ruin it's economy and so hasten its loss of status as the premier power in that section of the world. The I-SDF itself is considered a political nightmare as many in the region see it as a standing army, able to influence the world outside of Nippon's borders, so rupturing it's own constitution and the treaty signed at the end of the Second World War. Japan has responded to the blockade by invoking the ninth article of that treaty - so summoning aid from the US, who understandably are a little leery of becoming involved. Elsewhere, an expert in computer algorithms and encryption is kidnapped by a group of Peruvian Rebels. Kidnapping not being unusual in that part of the world but this one has a more sinister and possibly far more reaching motivation than mere ransoming. The knowledge he has could help any terrorist group in the world and aid the plunge into the apocalypse that seems to be approaching. To prevent this Sam Fisher - Third Echelon's best field agent is sent in to recover the expert and if possible take out the rebel leader. But like the proverbial Butterfly and the following Hurricane the two are inextricably linked together. One part of the other in an unfathomable dance of death that could be fatal for everyone. Chaos Theory does something that many stealth based games does not. It provides an immense range of variations on things, actions that can be performed, moves that can be used to finish off a captive, the gizmo's that can be deployed and that there are many, many different ways to complete a mission with some more successful than others. It all adds to a flexibility that for once manages to avoid the normal pitfalls of the genre - that of only one way to do things, that has to be timed absolutely perfectly at some point to progress, or the no matter how good you really are somehow that guard who has been patrolling in the same pattern for the last fifteen minutes suddenly decides to look behind him when you are sneaking up. Enemy AI however is not stupid, they will check things out and look in shadows if they suspect something is amiss and on one or two occasions even seemed to make the decision to open fire on a location because they were nervous. It is this that makes things challenging, yes you can hold all the cards but just the right level of paranoia is shown to keep things interesting. Visually it's one of the best games about. Shadows are crisp when they should be and softer when the lighting dictates. The three imaging systems in use, low light, thermal and one that allows the detection of Electromagnetic radiation are all well done and presented. Each has a use and each is shown differently from the others. Generally movement is well done, both when moving normally and stealthily. Other effects are also spot on, particle effects, monitor flicker on computer screens, even speech synch is nearly perfect in places. As a game that relies so much on being soundless it is nice to note that there is plenty of ambient sound to keep you hidden, gunfire, breaking waves, machine hum and a whole host of others. Gunshots sound hefty and you can here the Doppler effect as they move towards you. Music is understated but suits the mood and voice acting is quirky with a human feel to it. For once the sarcasm works as it is rooted in the experience of the characters. The levels are well designed and whilst they often have a definite goal there are a number of paths and methods that can be used to achieve each mission and the objectives they contain. There are opportunities to roam and explore about, often paying off by finding items that prove useful. There are a large number of missions each with the expected package of objectives to be completed. You can play online or via a LAN setup as well as engaging in a co-op mode in addition to the normal solo play this further adds to the continued play factor. Every button on the controller does something, often more than one thing but the layout is intuitive and after a short while it becomes second nature. Responses are nice but once or twice an unexpected action my take place, a little too close to the wall in a narrow corridor and a split may take place, a nifty move but can be surprising the first time it is done. Most of the moves however are explained in the thoroughly excellent set of tutorials, where Fisher explains some of the things he is capable of, shows some of his moves and showcases the equipment he can use. There is humour here, a droll and understated sense of wit regarding the actions on screen, yet behind it all are a comprehensive guide to the way the game should be played. A real bonus in my book. There is no real obvious killer problem to the game, it all works well and is balanced. Things are tough without ever being impossible or unfair. The main downside is that despite the innovations, the new ideas and the moves, there is a sense that this has been seen before. That the core is there and it is the strongest piece of the whole ensemble, for those who enjoy the series they will love it, for those who are new it will prove difficult at first to get into and to those who really dislike the whole concept of sneaking about they will ignore it. Possibly the best action/stealth game currently available. Chris Snook             Latest Images:		Review Scores:    Graphics:   Sound:   Gameplay:   Length:   Overall: Click here for our Review Score Guidelines.  Review Summary:  Sam Fisher and the Third Echelon are back, in a corking title that has as its backdrop the possibility of Japan, the US and China having a shooting match in the Pacific. With great visuals, stunning moves and a whole bundle of new goodies the only downside is that there is a streak of seen the core of this before. Still, however, a superior example of the genre.  Related Games:  Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory for PlayStation 2  10  Screenshots  1  Review Click here for All Game Information.
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