Splinter Cell Conviction

Splinter Cell Conviction By: Blue Rose

The Splinter Cell series isn't exactly one that took the world by storm, but since it's a Tom Clancy game, were are required by law to review it.

The game is great, but it's apparent why it isn't as popular as some of the more main stream games out there. With only a shallow delve into the multi-player modes, I felt very unimpressed. the mode we played was extremely frustrating at times, and frankly got boring after about 30min, and it seems these days that without a never ending, hopelessly addictive multi-player mode these days, your game is doomed.

While the game lacks in multi-player game modes, it exceeds in Co-op story mode. While the single player story mode is compelling in and of itself, Clancy Games was genius enough to actually have written a completely different campaign for the co-op story mode. There was no end to the pleasure of tag-teaming against terrorists by virtue of jumping down from the ceiling and snapping their necks.

The game is centered around stealth, but, for me and Reach at least, we found a mode we so cleverly entitled "Screw It" mode to be MUCH more entertaining. The mode involves turning the difficulty setting on so low, a slightly-challenged 3rd grader could handle it, and running into rooms, guns a-blazing, spraying the enemies with bullets until they had more holes than your average wheel of Swiss cheese.



The only other major problem with the game, is graphic design. In Splinter Cell, the screen goes black-and-white to show when you are in the shadows, and therefore invisible to enemies. This is pretty annoying because even when you're looking in the light, everything looks like shadows to you. Since the game is based around stealth, you spend a hefty majority in the dark. It gets old playing such an expensive video game set in 1940s graphics, but the gameplay makes it entertaining enough.

The game overall is very entertaining, and served to successfully eat-up a Saturday, but if you're not passionate about Tom Clancy (which obviously everyone is), I don't recommend running-out and purchasing this game. If you happen to have a means to rent it, or have the patience to wait until the price goes down, definitely grab a friend and play through some of this game.

- Blue Rose