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Sam Fisher returns for his third installment. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, the third game in the acclaimed Splinter Cell series, manages to improve the game’s visuals, make the gameplay a bit more nonlinear, and add some new gameplay modes to the already exhaustive Splinter Cell brand. Although the PlayStation 2 version of the game is still quite enjoyable, it is obviously a lesser version of a great game.
The game’s single-player mode has Sam Fisher visiting various locations in Japan, North Korea and in the United States as he attempts to get some information for the NSA. Of course, this involves infiltrating many locations and using occasional force with some unhelpful subjects. The game’s plot is told through a mix of cutscenes, pre-mission bits of information, and verbal exchanges with Fisher and the rest of the NSA. As always, the verbal exchanges are quite priceless, and considerably help the story.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, the single player mode has received some enhancements. The missions are a bit less trial-and-error and more open-ended, with larger levels to boot. For example, the game doesn’t place such a big emphasis on keeping alarms in check or hiding bodies. You’re also given some additional objectives to complete if you wish, and multiple paths to get to the desired location. Also new is a knife, as shown in the game’s box art and predominantly featured in Ubisoft advertising. Fisher can threaten enemies with this knife, in a sort of chokehold, though splitting their throat is out of the question. Nonetheless, the game doesn’t stray too far from the typical Splinter Cell formula of shooting out the lights, using one of the nifty vision goggles, and sneaking up behind the guards. All in all, you’ll find around ten hours of gameplay in Chaos Theory’s single player mode. The game’s increased openness makes replaying it a viable option, but single player is hardly all that Chaos Theory has to offer.
Continuing the series tradition of adding a new game mode per iteration, Chaos Theory introduces a cooperative mode. There are only five missions, but they work pretty well. You need to make sure you keep close with your partner, though, as there is no map. That said, playing with a teammate allows you to use the other spy as a ladder to get over high walls, for example. The additions are certainly nifty, and this is definitely a feature Ubisoft Montreal can expand on in the future. On PS2, the cooperative mode is only available via splitscreen, while the Xbox and PC versions let you play online.
Pandora Tomorrow’s much-praised spies vs. mercenaries multiplayer mode also returns. Basically, in the four-player mode, you’ll pair up with another person and play as either a spy or a merc. If you play as a spy, you’ll have the typical third-person perspective and will be charged with completing a number of objectives. Playing as a merc changes the game to a first-person viewpoint, and of course, your goal is to stop the spies. The teammate dynamic can be incredibly helpful at times, but overall enjoyment of the versus mode depends on the quality of the people you play with. Chaos Theory on Xbox and PC added more involved objectives to the mix, which the PS2 version lacks. It is nearly identical to the version of the mode found in Pandora Tomorrow. To appease to players who simply want to kill each other, a deathmatch option has been introduced.
The series’ visuals have always been outstanding. Chaos Theory pushes the PlayStation 2 hardware to the point where I’m sure the Emotion Engine wonders if it can handle the game. Fisher’s character model is incredible; the others don’t fare quite as well but are still in the “good” category. The animations are on-point. The incredibly-detailed environments once again return and they look great. However, they are broken down into smaller chunks, as notable when compared to the Xbox and PC versions. The PS2 version also has noticeably blurrier textures ands simpler architecture. The real star is the game’s lighting system, the best on PS2. The console struggles a bit to keep up with the game, and as a result, the framerate falters here and there. On PS2, though, it doesn't get much better than this.
The game’s audio performs just as well. The dynamic soundtrack from Amon Tobin sounds great, and definitely fits into the Splinter Cell universe. You’ll hear the music pick up when you mess up, and fade back out when trouble is done. The sound effects are stunning, as expected. They accurately relay where the guards are, especially if you’re running surround sound. The game’s voice acting is acceptable, certainly adequate, but nothing out of the ordinary.
The only real gripe against the game is that the control isn’t as intuitive as it can be. There are many options in a given situation, and the game still relies on the same context-sensitive menu system, which is a bit cumbersome. Additionally, playing as a merc in the versus mode is a bit more cumbersome than the controls of a typical first person shooter. Nonetheless, it is nothing too major.
Splinter Cell Chaos Theory is a great stealth action game. The game’s tweaks, graphics update, and gameplay mode additions make it one of the better games in the “bang for your buck” category. The PS2 version is noticeable inferior to the Xbox and PC versions of the game, however, so those versions are recommended. If you solely own a PS2 though, Chaos Theory still supplies ample satisfying gameplay to recommend. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Apr 6, 2005
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