Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

Posted 06/23/2005 at 8:55am | by

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Quietly making noise

The original Splinter Cell reinvented the stealth shooter. Its sequel Pandora Tomorrow delivered near-perfect objective-based multiplayer. The latest installment to the series, Chaos Theory, takes the best from its two predecessors to deliver a game that’s superior to both. With an inspired single-player campaign, more of the same spy-vs.-mercenary multiplayer, and a brilliant co-op mode, Chaos Theory delivers.

As always, you assume the role of Sam Fisher through 10 single-player missions. Settings range from NYC during a blackout to Hokkaido, Japan. We’re pleased to report that the single-player portions of Chaos Theory are much more forgiving than in previous iterations. In addition to allowing the player to save the game anywhere, Chaos Theory objectives are separated into three broad categories: primary, secondary, and opportunity. Fail a primary objective, and you fail the mission; the remaining objectives are optional. In fact, we accidentally gave a friendly target a dirt nap and still went on to complete the mission. Not having to repeat large sections of a mission because of one tiny fatal blunder eliminates 90 percent of the previous games’ tedium.

As always, you have an impressive array of super-spy gizmos at your disposal. In addition to such favorites as the sticky camera and the smoke grenades, you also have a K-Bar knife and a pistol-mounted EMP weapon that’s capable of taking out most electronics—including lights, TV sets, and computers. The EMP pistol is the perfect diversionary tool: Enemy guards almost always leave their patrol route to investigate malfunctioning equipment, giving you an opportunity to either sneak by unseen or neutralize the target while he’s distracted. The knife also gives you a convenient way to quickly dispatch any enemies that might see you and set off an alarm.

When you finish each mission, the game rates your performance based on the number of times you were detected, the number of people you had to kill, and the objectives you accomplished. To achieve a perfect 100 percent on a mission, the enemy should never know you were there. You need not achieve a high rating to continue, but the new scoring system adds much-needed replayability to the single-player campaign.

The brand-spanking new two-player co-op mode is exactly what co-op should be. Instead of simply chucking two people into a single-player mission, Ubisoft Montreal built four exquisite new missions specifically designed for co-op play. These missions are not to be missed. Co-op mode demands teamwork—you’ll need to assault several enemies at the same time, and cooperation is necessary to complete the missions. Voice communications are crucial, but keep ‘em quiet. If you talk too loud, the enemies will hear you. Our only complaint with co-op? Four missions ain’t enough.

Chaos Theory’s final boffo feature is its spy-vs.-merc, two-on-two multiplayer. One team consists of two mercs, the other of two spies. As in Pandora Tomorrow, each team has different weapons and vision modes—the spies gravitate toward nonlethal weapons, while the rent-a-cops tote weapons with maximum kill power. This small-scale, objective-based multiplayer action is a welcome diversion from the massive battles we’ve come to expect on the PC. We’re stoked that the latest version of Splinter Cell’s multiplayer features built-in voice comm, but the quality is lacking, even over a rock-solid connection.
Chaos Theory is the best installment of Splinter Cell yet. No serious gamer should miss it.
—Will Smith

+ SPOOK: Excellent single-player campaign, and co-op kicks serious ass.
- PINKERTON: Not enough co-op missions, and voice-comm quality is so-so.

Month Reviewed: May 2005
Verdict: 9
kickass=yes
URL: www.splintercell.com