Tercel_driver
(Banned)
- 1,773
Yippe, yippie, yippie!
Time for another review, and this time it is for... :drums:
Yes, after thinking a lot about whether or not buying the game, I finally made the step and went to Gamestop, and purchased Splinter Cell. Well, it is a used copy though. I was looking for the game, when I stumbled upon the Used Section, and I said, what the hell. Then I found it! The save is not that big, just 6 bucks less, but I can use those 6 bucks to get a magazine!, (OPM magazines are a big waste, for 8 bucks, the only thing worth it is the demo dvd, and that was why I bought the latest OPM edition, for the SC demo).
Well, I returned home and went straight to pop in the cd, and what I found in front of me, was a heck of a game. At least I had an idea from playing the ps2 demo and xbox version. While the Xbox version is graphically superior, one the many things that turned me down in a big way was the bad controller. Yes, using the Xbox controller is pain in the arse, especially to pull the fine and exact movements that Fisher needs to do.
In fact, that was the only reason why I was having my doubts, because of the Xbox version. After playing the demo though, I decided to get the full version. The demo was fun, and I went through it like 10 consecutive times, but still it left me wanting more.
Anyways, the first thing I found about the game was this cool video introduction that tells you what happened with two NSA operatives, and the reason of your sudden call, which is to investigate about this two agents.
Enough of the story. Here are the critical points.
Graphics
Not as good as the XBox eh? well, not at all. While the ps2 version lacks the dramatic lightning... the new cool effects more than make up for the loss. Turn on your nightvision googles, and you will suddenly find yourself surrounded by a cool bright gray effect in which everything looks blurry except Sam (just to give you a cool idea about how the environment looks from his eyesight). The lightning is less dramatic but then it looks more realistic as not every object is lightened to the extreme. Your surroundings has that dark look unlike the xbox version in which everything looked lightened up, even in the dark. Sam's movement seems fluid, and you will rarely if ever find yourself in a framerate loss moment. Animations are fluid, from both Sam and the enemies. The heat effect of the lights on nearby surfaces and the blurriness of the distant lights definately looks amazing. The graphics totally immerse yourself right into the action. All of this would mean nothing without good sound and that is my next point which is
Of course Sound
I have never been immersed so much into this game as this one, and one of the main reasons is the really good sound. As all Tom Clancy games, this one does not dissappoint and it is all because everything sounds so good and correct. Sam's voice is one of the best and most appropiate ones made for a character like this. Hear him and you will quickly sense the experience of this character. Not only him but Lambert's voice is accurately done. Nothing is overdone in here. The environment sounds are as good as usual. Personally I was shocked when I went through the first non-training level. It is set up on a dark night in which you have to get information from a Russian agent cooperating with you (the almighty NSA). What really shocked me was right after the moment that you get off the pipe, you will find yourself surrounded by the echo of the firefighter trucks sirens, and some shots done to the air (as every dangerous city). And it is all because everybody in that city is as "crooked as a Virginian Fence"-Lambert. Sound is top-notch.
Gameplay
Many people have complained that this game has no replay value and it is too linear, but if you want to rush your way without actually following what the game expects from you (be totally stealthy), then you will get boring in no time. The game expects you to think rather than pull the trigger and that is why many people were turned off. Find yourself in the middle of a dark street and you have a guard in front of you. The first thing that will come through your mind is "shoot him, shoot him!", but if you also think about what the hell is going to happen after I shot him, where do I hide him, what if they radio him back and no answer?. In this game, it is better to do your stuff alone instead of carrying the entire game with a pile of dead bodies. This is the beauty of the game, you have to be sharp, and invisible, leave no trace, and something delicate like this needs a controller that would do the job. This is when Sony's god-blessed controller comes in handy. The smoothness and top notch button location of the Dualshock2 is really welcomed in here, as you pull your left analog stick delicately to crouch slowly and get past an enemy who didnt hear you. Hell, he didnt even notice you were there!, but hey!, you need to squeeze some info about this guy, so there you go, sneak behind him and press the interrogate button and bam, Sam grabs his prey from the neck and forces him to cooperate. Many times I have found myself pressing the wrong button on the Xbox controller and jumping right in the back of the enemy instead of grabbing him. Control wise, the game wins. The movements are smooth and there is no lag effect.
From what I've heard, you carry only two guns, your silenced pistol and a variant of the FN-2000, called the SK-20. This gun can carry a lot of valuable stuff from real bullets, to non-lethal ones, sticky shockers, grenades, cameras, everything. The game is realistic in its own ways. I would have prefered to not have a life bar, because once your spotted the whole concept of the game is lost. Well, at least you dont get to carry that stupid codec and receive information in the most inopportune moments, or get to carry a crap load of weapons from ak's to rocket launchers. You get your information from a pda. And while you still get the latest verbal news from Lambert, you can be doing anything at the same time , from opening a door, to shooting, or rappeling.
Sam gets to carry new uniforms and even the typical one is interesting. Reading from the OPM, Sam's uniform is actually a prototype uniform for the Navy Seals. The new "cool" thing is that it accomodates to your sudden temperature changes, thats why you can get a building on flames and get outside on the cold street without changing uniforms. Except when you need it.
Besides this, the game has unlockable videos and extras, like information about Sam's voice, real high spy tech gadgetry (sp) and some other bonuses. I am not really that far into the game but I can find myself quickly enjoying every minute of it. Expect a lot of good stuff from this game.
Well, this is all from now. Enjoy.
Time for another review, and this time it is for... :drums:
Yes, after thinking a lot about whether or not buying the game, I finally made the step and went to Gamestop, and purchased Splinter Cell. Well, it is a used copy though. I was looking for the game, when I stumbled upon the Used Section, and I said, what the hell. Then I found it! The save is not that big, just 6 bucks less, but I can use those 6 bucks to get a magazine!, (OPM magazines are a big waste, for 8 bucks, the only thing worth it is the demo dvd, and that was why I bought the latest OPM edition, for the SC demo).
Well, I returned home and went straight to pop in the cd, and what I found in front of me, was a heck of a game. At least I had an idea from playing the ps2 demo and xbox version. While the Xbox version is graphically superior, one the many things that turned me down in a big way was the bad controller. Yes, using the Xbox controller is pain in the arse, especially to pull the fine and exact movements that Fisher needs to do.
In fact, that was the only reason why I was having my doubts, because of the Xbox version. After playing the demo though, I decided to get the full version. The demo was fun, and I went through it like 10 consecutive times, but still it left me wanting more.
Anyways, the first thing I found about the game was this cool video introduction that tells you what happened with two NSA operatives, and the reason of your sudden call, which is to investigate about this two agents.
Enough of the story. Here are the critical points.
Graphics
Not as good as the XBox eh? well, not at all. While the ps2 version lacks the dramatic lightning... the new cool effects more than make up for the loss. Turn on your nightvision googles, and you will suddenly find yourself surrounded by a cool bright gray effect in which everything looks blurry except Sam (just to give you a cool idea about how the environment looks from his eyesight). The lightning is less dramatic but then it looks more realistic as not every object is lightened to the extreme. Your surroundings has that dark look unlike the xbox version in which everything looked lightened up, even in the dark. Sam's movement seems fluid, and you will rarely if ever find yourself in a framerate loss moment. Animations are fluid, from both Sam and the enemies. The heat effect of the lights on nearby surfaces and the blurriness of the distant lights definately looks amazing. The graphics totally immerse yourself right into the action. All of this would mean nothing without good sound and that is my next point which is
Of course Sound
I have never been immersed so much into this game as this one, and one of the main reasons is the really good sound. As all Tom Clancy games, this one does not dissappoint and it is all because everything sounds so good and correct. Sam's voice is one of the best and most appropiate ones made for a character like this. Hear him and you will quickly sense the experience of this character. Not only him but Lambert's voice is accurately done. Nothing is overdone in here. The environment sounds are as good as usual. Personally I was shocked when I went through the first non-training level. It is set up on a dark night in which you have to get information from a Russian agent cooperating with you (the almighty NSA). What really shocked me was right after the moment that you get off the pipe, you will find yourself surrounded by the echo of the firefighter trucks sirens, and some shots done to the air (as every dangerous city). And it is all because everybody in that city is as "crooked as a Virginian Fence"-Lambert. Sound is top-notch.
Gameplay
Many people have complained that this game has no replay value and it is too linear, but if you want to rush your way without actually following what the game expects from you (be totally stealthy), then you will get boring in no time. The game expects you to think rather than pull the trigger and that is why many people were turned off. Find yourself in the middle of a dark street and you have a guard in front of you. The first thing that will come through your mind is "shoot him, shoot him!", but if you also think about what the hell is going to happen after I shot him, where do I hide him, what if they radio him back and no answer?. In this game, it is better to do your stuff alone instead of carrying the entire game with a pile of dead bodies. This is the beauty of the game, you have to be sharp, and invisible, leave no trace, and something delicate like this needs a controller that would do the job. This is when Sony's god-blessed controller comes in handy. The smoothness and top notch button location of the Dualshock2 is really welcomed in here, as you pull your left analog stick delicately to crouch slowly and get past an enemy who didnt hear you. Hell, he didnt even notice you were there!, but hey!, you need to squeeze some info about this guy, so there you go, sneak behind him and press the interrogate button and bam, Sam grabs his prey from the neck and forces him to cooperate. Many times I have found myself pressing the wrong button on the Xbox controller and jumping right in the back of the enemy instead of grabbing him. Control wise, the game wins. The movements are smooth and there is no lag effect.
From what I've heard, you carry only two guns, your silenced pistol and a variant of the FN-2000, called the SK-20. This gun can carry a lot of valuable stuff from real bullets, to non-lethal ones, sticky shockers, grenades, cameras, everything. The game is realistic in its own ways. I would have prefered to not have a life bar, because once your spotted the whole concept of the game is lost. Well, at least you dont get to carry that stupid codec and receive information in the most inopportune moments, or get to carry a crap load of weapons from ak's to rocket launchers. You get your information from a pda. And while you still get the latest verbal news from Lambert, you can be doing anything at the same time , from opening a door, to shooting, or rappeling.
Sam gets to carry new uniforms and even the typical one is interesting. Reading from the OPM, Sam's uniform is actually a prototype uniform for the Navy Seals. The new "cool" thing is that it accomodates to your sudden temperature changes, thats why you can get a building on flames and get outside on the cold street without changing uniforms. Except when you need it.
Besides this, the game has unlockable videos and extras, like information about Sam's voice, real high spy tech gadgetry (sp) and some other bonuses. I am not really that far into the game but I can find myself quickly enjoying every minute of it. Expect a lot of good stuff from this game.
Well, this is all from now. Enjoy.
