Should I Hide the Unconscious Guard or Throw Him Out a Window?
This review only covers the single player portion of Splinter Cell: Blacklist.
Stabbing necks, hiding bodies, and avoiding security cameras are important skills to learn when becoming a spy, and Sam Fisher has long been known as the master of such skills. Unfortunately, Fisher’s last adventure (Splinter Cell: Conviction) removed some of these skills to make a more streamlined action game for broader audiences. While Convictionwas a well-made game that sold well, fans of Sam Fisher craved a more classic experience. Ubisoft Toronto created Splinter Cell: Blacklist to provide this experience, and the result was fantastic.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist is set shortly after Conviction with Fisher (not voiced by Michael Ironside) now running Fourth Echelon after a terrorist attack on an air force base. These terrorists, known only as The Engineers, demand that President Caldwell recall all military forces or suffer attacks every seven days. Thus begins Fisher’s quest to find the leaders of The Engineers and stop their attacks before America is destroyed. Aiding Fisher in his mission are Anna Grimsdottir and two new team members, Charlie Cole and Isaac Briggs.
Sam’s missions (launched from a massive airplane called Paladin) take place in worldwide locations including Chicago, London, and Benghazi. These varied cities help increase the puzzle aspect of Blacklist because mission times and layouts drastically change. Some areas, like Chicago, may have relied on Christmas-themed warehouses at night, but also I spent multiple missions sneaking around areas in broad daylight trying to find the best method for avoiding or silently subduing Engineer guards and watchdogs. Thankfully, I had some handy, new tools to complete this task, courtesy of Charlie.
Sam initially starts his missions with standard stealth equipment like silenced pistols and sticky cams, but he is quickly given better equipment to distract or kill enemies. A crossbow with multiple ammo types can now be used as a silent alternative to the stun gun for non-lethal playthroughs. Those that prefer silent death or outright firefights have the option to purchase more powerful weapons via the black market as well as add lethal gadgets like proximity mines or breaching charges. By far, Sam’s best gadget is the Tri-Rotor, a remote-controlled drone that can disable enemies with shock darts or self-destruct to cause havoc. It was endlessly enjoyable to disable snipers and more advanced enemies with the Tri-Rotor then stroll through with Sam to pick up and hide unconscious bodies.
New tools and varied landscapes are details that make Blacklist great while focusing on new play styles. You now have the ability to complete each mission by following or mixing together three separate paths: Ghost, Panther, and Assault. Ghost is the classic play style that focuses on silent, non-lethal takedowns or avoiding guards altogether. Panther, much like Ghost, focuses on silence but with a more deadly approach. Stabbing necks, scoring silent headshots, and quietly killing guards is the focus of the Panther style. Assault is the loudest style because it involves going into each mission with guns blazing, stealth be damned. Each style has perks and bonuses, and they can all be mixed together at a moment’s notice. However, you may want to check settings after a reload when playing Ghost because Blacklist defaults to lethal takedowns and automatically equips the silenced pistol.
Results of the different play through styles can be seen when Sam is wandering around Paladin, which serves as a realistic version of The Normandy from Mass Effect. Sam can gain access to extra weapons, gadgets, and missions by having conversations with different members of his team. Conversations may not be as detailed or entertaining as those in Mass Effect, but you can gain essential knowledge by having them. Paladin also serves as the hub for competitive and cooperative multiplayer modes, which can be accessed by a central computer. This computer enables replay options for every completed mission and provides access to Fourth Echelon side missions. Having the option to replay different missions is fantastic because you can refine your play style or try the perfectionist mode that removes sonar and the Mark and Execute ability. Perfectionist is perfect for those that miss the original Splinter Cell and crave for more of a challenge.
Splinter Cell: Blacklist has a main goal of progressing Sam Fisher’s story while simultaneously regaining the classic stealth formula that had so much success on the original Xbox. Combining new technology and weapons with older abilities like hiding bodies is a fantastic way to achieve that goal while making Splinter Cell approachable for newcomers. Sam’s team members are basically useless until specific story missions, but they don’t detract from a phenomenal experience. The sheer amount of different options during each mission provides almost endless replay value and enjoyment.