First impressions: Splinter Cell: Double Agent
by Ken Weeks 
{ May 11th 2006 at 1:15PM }
The Splinter Cell series always set a graphics and gameplay standard on the original Xbox and the franchise's first attempt on the 360 continues to impress. This is one intense demo. It's starts with a literally mind-blowing execution sequence followed by the most harrowing parachute jump I've ever seen in a game. Ubisoft has gone for shocking violence with this entry. You can tell the guy in the pic above won't be dancing a jig any time soon, and his death convulsions before he finished the job with a grenade are a pleasantly disturbing touch. The initial gameplay will be familiar to Sam Fisher vets, although the controls probably need to be tweaked a bit. The level I played seemed to lean a bit more towards blowing people away than stealth, but I may have just been trigger happy. I appreciated how Ubisoft squeezed something to do into sequences that formerly would have been straight CGI. Overall, Double Agent oozes next-gen production values and looks to offer a gritty tale to frame the well-rendered blood and guts. It may be my favorite demo so far.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pete @ May 11th 2006 1:21PM
Awesome to hear that a trusted franchise continues to impress. Love the Aviators on (assumedly) Fisher in the pic above.
Jason W @ May 11th 2006 1:22PM
I use to be a hard core metal gear fan until splinter cell came out. Hell I even liked the crappy controls of the DS version and the "icant cant get the damn thing to punch" of the PSP version. This series has given me some of the most heart pounding moments in past few years. The first to go online and now the first stealth next gen. Im there day one and will not be seen for a few weeks. Lets hope it lives up the these lofty exspectations and we get a DEMO on live soon.
Danno @ May 11th 2006 1:24PM
I'm not sure how I feel about the move away from the more realistic stealth...
I mean, I can appreciate wanting to change the formula, I'm just not sure if this removes what was unique about Splinter Cell.
Brian @ May 11th 2006 1:32PM
I hope they don't change it, too. I want my stealth gaming with a bit of shooting. I felt like Chaos Theory was moving in the direction of running and gunning which was really awkward with the stealth-based control scheme. Sam Fisher is no Master Chief.
bryan @ May 11th 2006 1:33PM
we see enough of this crap on the news. That does not look fun to me. Its just too real.
Brad @ May 11th 2006 1:36PM
The poster neglects to mention that this game is running at all of 10 frames per second. I saw it at e3 yesterday in all of its choppy glory (along with the super choppy Too Human). Of course they are still early builds, but when something is running at an almost unplayable framerate, I think it should be mentioned.
KilgoreTrout XL @ May 11th 2006 1:37PM
Ken, that's music to my ears, & Bryan, that's a completely valid point.
sandro @ May 11th 2006 1:38PM
Im wondering when the E3 demos will be avialble on the marketplace.
*:-)
adam @ May 11th 2006 1:40PM
It's a completely valid point, but it's a stupid. Should they give all the players big rabbit ears and a clown nose, and have them shoot super soakers instead of guns? Some games are cartooney and silly and fun, and some are meant to be real.
Will @ May 11th 2006 1:45PM
"It's a completely valid point, but it's a stupid."
What's stupid about not wanting to experience incredibly realistic death scenes? How it is stupid to not want to immerse yourself in a game where you're confronted with the choice to execute innocent people?
Don't get me wrong, I'll definitely be playing this. But I can completely understand how someone would be turned off by it.
Geoff @ May 11th 2006 1:59PM
I am really looking forward to this. Thanks for the preview.
One thing though, I know it is coming out for xBox and xBox 360. Do you guys know anything about what will be different between the two? Will the xBox one just have good graphics while the 360 one has amazing graphics?
Mullinator @ May 11th 2006 2:00PM
Grrr... They better not stray too far from the original stealth formula or I am going to be pissed. From a realism side I am somewhat happy about the increase in violence. I mean the emotional disgust and sick feeling it generates is really a form of art in a way. People want games to have more of an emotional impact on the players and this is an excellent way of doing that. From the PR side of things however it is not a good idea at all.
Keep in mind I am not saying all games should adopt such a policy. Just that it is good to experiment with making games have more of an emotional impact on the player.
Vivio @ May 11th 2006 2:07PM
This series rules! I loved the option to play stealth or combat in Chaos Theory. This game will definitely immerse the players (that's the goal). Don't let the graphic content scare you. It serves a purpose. Should everyone play, of course not! This game is for a mature audience. Why are you guys complaining about one of the best series available? You were so pumped to hear about GTA, and now you are complaining about gore in this game. Hypocricy!
Geoff @ May 11th 2006 2:09PM
With regards to the violence in Splinter Cell games. One of the things I remember about Pandora Tomorrow was killing the Israeli agent just because your told to. It kind of bugged me that I killed this lady who had just helped me just because they told me to do it quickly. I also find it interesting how Fisher is never told why he had to kill her. I thought that was some really expert game design there.
Also, let us not forget, if you were a goomba you would consider Mario a homicidal maniac with a stomping fetish.
Mullinator @ May 11th 2006 2:10PM
Grrr... They better not stray too far from the original stealth formula or I am going to be pissed. From a realism side I am somewhat happy about the increase in violence. I mean the emotional disgust and sick feeling it generates is really a form of art in a way. People want games to have more of an emotional impact on the players and this is an excellent way of doing that. From the PR side of things however it is not a good idea at all.
Keep in mind I am not saying all games should adopt such a policy. Just that it is good to experiment with making games have more of an emotional impact on the player.
funkonaut @ May 11th 2006 2:33PM
Yay! Yet another "game" with guns and blood. Yippee.
Mintz @ May 11th 2006 2:56PM
Yeah yeah yeah, that's all well and good, but NOBODY is asking the IMPORTANT question:
WHERE IS MICHAEL IRONSIDE???
Sean @ May 11th 2006 3:06PM
I don't understand why that guy is covered in red paint.
Oh, that's supposed to be blood? Hahaha
refinedsugar @ May 11th 2006 3:39PM
The series needs to strike the right balance. In the first title, the stealth elements got border-line ridiculous and thankfully the sequels eased up on this somewhat - like how an alarm didn't automatically end every mission. I do agree turning Sam Fisher into a generic run-n-gun with take it or leave it stealth elements is wrong for the series however.
What we need are more games that strike that fine balance, allowing you room to navigate, room to be who you wanna be and allow you more than just a linear non-puss method of solving a level. Akin to what the Hitman series of games does or going back even further Deus Ex.
KwadDamyj @ May 11th 2006 3:45PM
I kinda have to agree with the people who find it too realistic.
The most violent games I play these days are Quake III and Timesplitters Future Perfect, which are fairly over-the-top and not TOO detailed, and I keep it at that. I never would have bought Medal of Honor: Frontline way back when if, like "Saving Private Ryan" which it drew much of its atmosphere and some levels from, it had had extremely detailed violence and gore.
I am really starting to question the mental health and general ability to fit with society of much of the game industry, and those who work within it. Admittedly, we've had a few TRULY sick-bordering-on-ludicrous apples---Eternal Champions, was it, that had fatalities more violent than Mortal Kombat's?---but I really think that even if the industry isn't as violent on average as it was before that it could still stand to tone things down a little.
What strange times these are.
pete @ May 11th 2006 4:11PM
Is it just me, or does it look like that guys legs are chopped off at the knees?
ill trooper @ May 11th 2006 5:54PM
We're only seeing the outdoor 'daytime' level that frankly looks like G.R.A.W. at this point. The 'stealth' element is likely more apparent in other levels (I'm basing this on the trailer's wide variety of locales, including the prison, the arctic base, and Shanghai at night).
I'm sure the game will deliver; they always have with Splinter Cell. Although I am a bit worried about the frame rate. And of course: WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH MULTIPLAYER?
Yem @ May 12th 2006 12:05AM
14: IIRC you were eventually told the reason for killing that person. I forget what it was but I'm sure it's mentioned later in the game. You're a hard dude - I didn't do it the first time :)
6: Erk, they had better fix that. Having suffered the PS2 version of San Andreas and True Crime NYC, the thing I'm most looking forward to in the next gen consoles isn't Hi Def output - it's buttery smooth animation. I mean it! I do not want this thing to slow down no matter WHAT it's trying to render. Please?