Xbox 360 Review: Splinter Cell: Conviction (2010)

You know, I really like Splinter Cell. The fact that Conviction is exclusive to the Xbox 360 had a major influence on which next-gen platform I chose to buy. Beefs with Microsoft aside, I was not disappointed with the game. As you know, it was a serious break from previous entries in the series, with a much faster pace and being more action oriented. This will be a very good thing for some people, as the learning curves for the previous games could be quite large. For the SC veteran, I think he or she will welcome the change and see it as a refreshing take on the original tagline of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: “Stealth Action Redefined.”

Unlike previous games, where gunfights were rare (in the first two games you would be forced into them occasionally, in the latter two it was possible to complete the entire games without firing a shot), they are now quite common. However, as they were once quite uncomfortable, the more action-inclined Conviction allows for quick guerilla attacks that would have been a poor option previously. But this is not without its serious trade-offs. One of the major appeals for me in Chaos Theory was the fact that after completing a mission you would be given a success rating that was heavily based on your stealth abilities. Being seen, setting off alarms, leaving bodies where they can be found, and even lethal attacks would lower the rating. Avoiding these things, as well as completing all objectives, would result in a 100% rating (which aids in the fulfillment of the Curse of Completionism). This emphasis on stealth was continued in Double Agent: there was an unlockable difficulty level that barred the use of guns. Being able to go through the whole game with just goggles, a knife, and the OCP (an EMP device that temporarily disabled lights instead of breaking them and something I wish Conviction included) was downright sexy.

In contrast, Conviction does not seem to have such clear distinctions of superior stealth ability. Many firefights are simply unavoidable and the lack of ability to specifically choose a non-lethal hand-to-hand attack was a drawback as killing indiscriminately sometimes makes one feel like an arbitrary sociopath instead of a precise ninja. Another shortcoming, at least in my book, was the limited vocabulary of Sam Fisher’s enemies, whose mouths are dirtier than any I’ve heard in a game. If you’ve played it, you know what I’m talking about: shoot out lights and you can get them to swear on command.

Fortunately, the superior features of the game dwarf those that may have been better about the old games. There is now a selection of weapons (though I am experiencing glitches obtaining some of them) instead of just the Five-seveN and FN 2000, alternative single player options besides the story mode, specific accomplishments (such as disabling 3 enemies with one flashbang), and other additions that make Conviction a more engaging and lasting experience. It also includes those certain subtle things that really seem to make a gaming experience more fun. Simple things like displaying your objectives on walls, having flashbacks project on those walls, or Sam commenting on how well you handled a group of bad guys. [Another Tom Clancy example would include the instance in Rainbow Six: Vegas how if you reload a gun that is not empty, it will have one more bullet than a clip has after reload, accounting for the bullet that is already loaded in the chamber. This is how real guns work, and a simple thing like that gives the experience a Clancy-esque attention to detail.] The legendary co-op returns, though I haven’t yet immersed myself enough to give a detailed evaluation (though it is promising). As you may know, I do not subscribe to Xbox Live and therefore cannot comment on the quality of the multiplayer. However, some have said that the online multiplayer has “made” the series of Splinter Cell. Obviously, I disagree.

I give Splinter Cell: Conviction one of my highest recommendations. The developers have kept the series fresh and have offered a compelling follow-up story to Double Agent. The gameplay will offer a challenge to anyone, and he or she will feel just plain B.A. in the experience. If you own a 360 and have not played Conviction, you are missing out.