Not a year goes by where fans don’t ask for anotherSplinter Cellgame, understandably so. Many fans miss the Ubisoft traditional stealth franchise that used to ride alongsideMetal Gear Solidwhen it came to AAA stealth-first action games. Both franchises have been holding it down until the last decade; with theMetal Gear Solidfranchise presumably retired after Kojima left Konami, and Ubisoft puttingSplinter Cellon indefinite hiatus since 2013. WhileMetal Gear Survivemight have been the proverbial nail in the coffin for Konami’s stealth franchise, there’s certainly still potential for another entry in theSplinter Cellseries.
With reports of a new title in the works, fans will undoubtedly be excited that one of the greatest stealth franchises could receive a modernized take. Of course, given that all reports of thisSplinter Cellgame state that it’s in an early development phase, the next game may not release for at least another few years. In the meantime, fans may consider going back to legacySplinter Cellgames to enjoy some traditional stealth action to help tide fans over. Many of the games in theSplinter Cellfranchise are some of the best stealth games of all time, even if a few of the titles in theSplinter Cellcatalog have definitely not aged well compared to modern games.
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Splinter Cell (2002)
The firstSplinter Cellgame from 2002 is a prime example of a game that has not particularly aged well, on almost all platforms. While it was still a formative stealth game for the time, mechanically speaking,playingSplinter Cellin 2021 is a clunky and awkward experience. The lighting systems and graphics, close quarters combat and interrogation, movement, among other issues, are incredibly finicky and lacking the greater degree of polish applied to future games in the series. That’s assuming players can even play the game on a modern platform: The PC port requires several fan-made patches to work, while emulation is the only viable option for older platforms.
This is without even taking into account the game’s inherent design, which doesn’t match the quality of later games in the series. The complexity of the narrative is razor thin, far more generic compared to later entries likeChaos Theory, or evenPandora Tomorrow. Plus, this was before Sam Fisher’s identity and personality really came into his own, as there’s a severe lack of clever writing that the iconic superspy is known for. Fans should play the firstSplinter Cellgame, but not new players.
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (2004)
In terms ofSplinter Cellgamesbeloved by the hardcore fans,Pandora Tomorrowis often the underrated pick for best in the series. It’s certainly not as mainstream asChaos Theorywas, but a lot of the narrative and mechanical improvements of the series began withPandora Tomorrowin 2004. Design-wise,Pandora Tomorrowwas sort of the development bridge between the first game andChaos Theory. Several quality-of-life changes improved the gameplay mechanics, and it was clearPandora Tomorrowwas a glimpse into what would become one of the most widely-praised games in the whole series.
Unfortunately, this isthe most difficult legacySplinter Cellgame to play, mostly because it’s not sold on any modern platforms. Plenty of threads on Ubisoft’s forums, as well as Reddit, involve fans asking for a digital re-release ofPandora Tomorrow. The last timePandora Tomorrowsaw a proper re-release was on the PS3/Xbox 360 with theSplinter CellClassic Trilogy. Ubisoft’s existingSplinter CellCollectionstill omitsPandora Tomorrow, and likely will for the forseeable future, which is a shame.
Spliner Cell: Chaos Theory (2005)
Which leads toSplinter Cell: Chaos Theory, which is generally the prime example most fans will point to as the bestSplinter Cellgame in the entire franchise. Understandably so,Chaos Theorywas the peak of Sam Fisher’s stealth action: The story is a top-notch international espionage thriller that ramps up in intensity as Fisher’s mission becomes progressively more precarious.Chaos Theory’s mission design is equally top-notch, as the game offers some of the best stealth sandboxes that properly challenges players' stealth abilities and gadget usage sufficiently. Additionally,Chaos Thoeryis where the iconic wit of Sam Fisher’s personality shines brightest.
It’s clear Ubisoft learned a lot from the past twoSplinter Cellgames in the series, asChaos Theoryis not nearly as punishing to play as past games. From a gameplay perspective,Chaos Theoryis easily the most satisfying legacySplinter Cellstealth gameto play; all of the CQC and interrogation feeds into the main gameplay loop artfully, with iconic missions like the Bank allowing players to tackle their objectives in a relatively non-linear manner.
Many look back onChaos Theoryas the last greatSplinter Cellgame, which is hard to argue against, considering subsequent entries in the series never quite measured up the same way. Plus, the Spies vs. Mercs multiplayer was a surprise hit that many look back on fondly, despite the series being largely recognized for its singleplayer.
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Splinter Cell: Double Agent (2006)
Splinter Cell: Double Agentwasthe last “traditional"Splinter Cellgame, and even that is still a stretch when incorporating all of the experimental efforts made in this game. Coming at the beginning of the at-the-time new PS3/Xbox 360 console generation,Splinter Cell: Double Agentwas meant to be a truly next-gen entry in the franchise. Alongside higher graphical fidelity and animation, Ubisoft incorporated an ambitious morality system between Third Echelon and the JBA that forced players to balance objectives and thier consequences. Players had to balance maintaing loyalty to Fisher’s agency, as well as the terrorist cell he had gone undercover with.
While it’s not quite as good asChaos Theory, there is a surprising amount of things to love aboutDouble Agent. The fourth mainlineSplinter Cellgametook a lot of risks and made a lot of controversial changes, and while it’s functionally not the best in the series, it should be commended for the risks it took. In the grander scheme of things, those risks didn’t necessarily pay off in a better game, butDougle Agenttried to revitalizeSplinter Cellin interesting ways.
Splinter Cell: Conviction (2010)
Arguably the most controversial game in the entire series,Splinter Cell: Convictionwas a significant departure from the traditional stealth-first design of the franchise’s past.BeforeJohn Wickwas as popular as it was,Splinter Cell: Convictiontook a similar narrative turn for Fisher. Players take on the now-retired rogue agent who’s working to take revenge on the murderer of his daughter. The gameplay ofConvictionis much more action-oriented, often encouraging players to take on a hybrid style of stealth and going loud. To some degree, there was merit inConviction’s gameplay design that deserved praise, but to many fans it wasn’t “Splinter Cell” as they knew it.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist (2013)
As for the latest game in the series,Splinter Cell: Blacklisttook a middle ground approach with gameplay, which meant the game slightly struggled with its own identity. Merging the new action-oriented gameplay ofConvictionwith a greater degree of stealth options,Blacklistwas a mediocre last act forSplinter Cellthat fans struggled with deciding if they enjoyed or not. Compared toConviction, many thoughtBlacklistwas a step in the right direction, but wasn’t quite the same as previous entries in the series. Compounded by the replacement of Fisher’s voice actor, many felt thatSplinter Cell: Blacklistjust wasn’t quite the right directionfor the franchise.
AfterSplinter Cell: Blacklist’s release and reception in 2013, the series has been on hiatus ever since. Ubisoft as a publisher has changed significantly since then, and many are worried that a newSplinter Cellgame won’t be able to live up to the expectations of fans who’ve been waiting years for another entry. Obviously hype and optimism is hard to avoid with news of a new entry, but a newSplinter Cellmay not live up to what players want from a modernSplinter Cellgame.
