Rumor has it that the development for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell® Pandora Tomorrow™ and Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell® Chaos Theory™ began simultaneously, with the caveat that whichever project was further along would get the green light to go into crunch time to release last March. Whether or not this is true, I don't know, but having now looked at Chaos Theory, I can only imagine that it has been in development that long, as I cannot fathom a game so beautiful and inventive being put together in the course of a mere year. Pandora Tomorrow is a phenomenal game, don't get me wrong, but Ubisoft reached deep into its bag of tricks and sprinkled Chaos Theory with as much love as any gamer could possibly bear.
You're the danger in the dark.
You not only get three games in one (single-player campaign, co-op story mode, and versus mode—a monumental achievement in its own right), but you also get an awe-inspiring single-player experience that strongly stands on its own. In fact, that's what I'm going to focus on in this article, though I promise to provide detailed accounts on the other two modes in the near future. (Heck, it's just more of an excuse to play every last bit of this game, which I couldn't be happier about.)
Next Gen Now The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) this May is being heralded as the launching platform for next-gen systems. All of the major console manufacturers are set to finally show at least some of their cards, and we'll hopefully get to see what the next-gen video games will look like at long last. My point? I won't be surprised if Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is comparable to the visual wizardry we'll see at the launch for the next wave of consoles.
Splinter Cell has always been known for its graphical artistry, but the effects on display here are simply jaw-dropping. You'll see dry, dull-looking concrete transform with glistening wetness as rain pelts down upon it. You'll see puddles form around you and Sam's suit shine with reflective quality as your environment literally transforms around you. You'll witness bodies fall and tumble with proper weight and physics.
The detail on the textures seems to have been increased tenfold over last year's game, and the animation is even that much smoother. It looks amazing in the screenshots, but honestly, they don't even begin to do justice to how this game looks in motion. Put simply, I was shot and killed yesterday in-game while taking the time to just look at the effect of water dripping down onto the floor and sliding down a set of steps. The game looks so good you'll end up putting poor Sam Fisher in jeopardy.
Tsk tsk Sam. You've been caught.
A New Philosophy "Closer than ever" is a common marketing refrain for Chaos Theory, and a more fitting slogan I cannot imagine, as nearly every new maneuver offers a new way to deal with an enemy or situation up close and personal. Let's go over just a few to give you a rough idea:
Slice and enter: You encounter many situations in which all that separates you and an enemy is a flimsy bit of fabric. For example, one situation has you stealthing through a network of tents. Get close enough, and you can interact with the tarpaulin material by cutting a slice down the middle, creating a makeshift entrance.
Hang and grab: Sam Fisher has routinely used pipes and wires to shimmy across to a new location (or simply to hide, as guards rarely look up), but this purely defensive posture has now been given a lethal alternative. Let a guard walk under you as you cling to a pole now, and you can reach down (while holding yourself to the pipe with your legs), grab the poor guard, and knock him out or snap their neck, as you see fit.
Fling 'em over the rail: You can now also toss or pull your enemies over a rail and let them fall to their demise. Hanging from a ledge as a guard walks up? Grab them and pull them over. Simple as that.
Bash the door: This is a simple little addition, but it's fun to perform. Let's say you walk up to a door and decide to use the Optic Cable (always a good idea) before opening the door, but you see a guard right on the other side. You can now choose to bash down the door, which in this case will knock out the guard on the other side. It's a loud, but very satisfying knockout.
Sam's new tool.
It's Not Just Pretty … The weather may be something to behold visually, but its effects on gameplay are even more important. For example, rain can cause ambient noise, which allows you to move a little faster than you may normally be able to, as the rain will mask the sounds of your movement. Bad weather may even force the guards under shelters as well. Thunder and lightning can even come into play, as a clap of thunder can mask a gun shot, but the bright flash of lightning may illuminate you for all to see.
Here's a free gameplay tip as well: See a guard or two standing in a newly formed puddle? Break out your sticky shocker and shoot the water they're standing in. Lights out for the guards!
I could go on and on about Chaos Theory, and I likely will, but I think my point has been made. If not, let me sum up:Chaos Theory doesn't just trump the previous twoSplinter Cell outings. It breaks them over its knee with ease. This is Splinter Cell as I imagined it might be years down the road, not one year after Pandora Tomorrow. Let us rejoice, Clancy gamers. We're all in for quite a treat.
