GamerHound Old Chewbone – Splinter Cell Conviction Review

He’s back, meaner, out for revenge and even Chuck Norris will be scared.

The last adventure with Sam Fisher absolutely threw the concept of Splinter Cell on its head. Being able to work as a Double-Agent was a exciting prospect to experience and see the transformation within Sam Fisher. Fisher returns to seek answers or revenge in other words. Double-Agent is the prequel to Conviction to what Sam Fisher has become. He’s more violent, aggressive in his actions and more in front of your face.

I feel that Ubisoft have brought a Jason Bourne (Bourne Identity) & Jack Bauer (24) feel to Fisher in Conviction. Definitely what Fisher wants after the events of Double Agent. Its clear that a modern adaptation of how agents work is crafted into Fisher. With his own personal feelings getting the better of him and thinking the whole world is against him. Fisher needs to get back into the game if he wants to seek the answers he needs. Sam giving himself orders of his own (Bourne influence), people are going to be scared and Third Echelon the organisation he used to work for are going to be very worried indeed.

The plot to Conviction is very good. The twists and turns are great and makes up for the short campaign. If the game was longer then perhaps it would lose all self-purpose and people will complain. I, for one was clued to the television from the disk in my Xbox to the day I finished Conviction. Not only is Sam on a personal mission of vengeance but also thwart a terrorist plot in the middle of it. Getting told by Irving Lambert his best friend, superior, about the death of his daughter, back in Double-Agent. Fisher lost everything and the world around trembled to the ground. Conviction picks it up from Double-Agent left’d it, and where our AWOL agent, Fisher seeks out the person who killed his daughter. Once Fisher get’s his hands on the one who is ‘suspected’ to have killed his daughter. You will embark on a journey full of deceit, betrayal through this web of conspiracy.

Now with Fisher being aggressive. The whole stealth part is somewhat non-existent to some degree. Its still there but with the use of gadgets and quick hand to hand takedowns. The use of the shadows won’t be needed as much as you think when looking at a Splinter Cell game. You have a new feature called ‘mark & execute’ which enables you to tag your enemies and once performed a takedown, you’re ‘execute’ will be filled and you can perform a quick succession of elimination. This feature brings a lot of satisfaction to me. I really like this gameplay mechanic and wished a similar mechanic was implemented into the previous Splinter Cell titles. There will be sections in the game where you will be able to perform this act. If it doesn’t bring some satisfaction then I simply do not know what is up with you. Fisher will indeed have his goggles but sonar goggles. This pair of sonar goggles will enable Fisher to see through walls by advanced AI controller that can penetrate through objects such as walls. You will be able to detect armed targets and civilians plus detect explosions. EMP is going to be a popular name throughout Conviction. Fisher will have a EMP device which will disrupt devices at short range to provide a quick path when outnumbered. You have EMP grenades which is going to help a lot when preparing for a heavy hostile area.

Weapons, lovely weapons. Comparing to the past Splinter Cell games, you are fixed to what weapons you could have in each level. Conviction on the other-hand brings a new total concept. You can pick up weapons from dead enemies and upgrade them. Improve there efficiency in damage, recoil and accuracy. You can add scopes, red dot laser’s for the precision aiming and of course suppressors. There are a wide range of weapons to choose from which will no doubt make each level exciting. At some points in the game you will come across some weapon stashes which will replenish ammo and your gadgets. The stashes will also enable you to buy upgrades for your weapons and change what weapons and gadgets you have. The way you play the game is totally in your hands.

Conviction offers co-op just like Chaos Theory and Double Agent. Now this is where I think which lets the game down. The game feels to me that it wants you to play like the old Splinter Cell games. Go in silent, shoot the lights out, take out the guards one by one and leave without a trace. Throughout the co-op you still have the features which feature in the singleplayer. The mark & execute for example is changed slightly. You can both perform the execute move at the same time if both players press Y or you can do it individually. The co-op side wants you to play both sides. New Splinter Cell gameplay with old Splinter Cell gameplay. It does work with this rather nice blend of gameplay but in areas you are forced to take the aggressive approach which somewhat makes it go out of place or the stealth option.

Overall, Splinter Cell Conviction is most definitely the best entry to the Splinter Cell franchise. The chemistry of the plot is Hollywood gold and the gameplay is far more superior. Don’t get me wrong. The stealth in the first Splinter Cell game is what made me fall in love with the game. Conviction just gives Splinter Cell a new life and a new direction to step in. The mark & execute is notably the highlight of this game as you will come to certain areas that you can smash through a window and take 3 guards out single-handedly without them knowing what hit them. Maybe the decisions what you made in Double-Agent could of changed the plot slightly to Conviction if Ubi went down that path such as RPG’s as in Mass Effect, but what Ubi have created. I wouldn’t want anything changing or any new additions. They have masterly polished this game off with style. The only downside will be the co-op. The frustration of connection ruining the majority of it, and the forced of different blends of gaming in areas you simply want to play in your own style. Co-op is most definitely fun but with these slight niggles. I’m afraid Ubi need to spend more time in that department and the online side of things of there games to really have a real package.

9/10