Superior version of a superior game
When opportunity knocks, one has to be a fool not to answer it. Despite the fact that the GC version was just fine, when I finally purchased an Xbox I felt I needed to exchange it for the Xbox version. And while from most points of view the two versions are identical, it's a number of little things that make the Xbox version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory the better game.
The first Splinter Cell was more or less intact from Xbox to Cube, with only a few parts changed, such as a room being omitted or a path being changed. This had no real impact on how great I found the game to be. Pandora Tomorrow, which I also exchanged for its Xbox counterpart, was altered significantly, with the online multiplayer being taken out, the graphics not nearly as great as they should be and lagging here or there. However, all in all, even with different controls, it played the same way, and was also very enjoyable. Chaos Theory was likewise developed with the Xbox and PC in mind, and it shows. The gameplay is the same, and while I did harp that people have to be insane to really enjoy looking at polished backgrounds to favour one version above the others, I've been forced to eat my words.
The gameplay is essentially the same as before, which is nothing bad. Your objective as Sam Fisher is to sneak into enemy territory and accomplish your mission without being seen if the mission calls for it. It took a while for me to notice, but this game does indeed look better on Xbox. Backgrounds are sharper, the lighting is much better, and guards actually talk and get frightened looks in their eyes (as opposed to the frozen talking masks they were in the GC version). However, while better looks are indeed nice, they don't make a game. The controls have been left more-or-less untouched from the first two, with a few exceptions. For example, you have to hold down the White button and scroll through your arsenal to select your weapon, rather than just pressing a button on the D-pad. It's really nothing to concern yourself with, though.
Chaos Theory feels very complete in comparison to the first two. In Splinter Cell, the characters were introduced, and Sam accomplished Third Echelon's maiden mission without fail. Pandora Tomorrow felt too similar, much like an expansion pack rather than an all-new game. It still had its moments, though, including new voice actors for Lambert and Grimsdottir, plus the CIA man D.P. Brunton. In Chaos Theory, Lambert and Grimsdottir's original (and better) voice actors are back, and Brunton has been replaced by the much less-annoying William Redding. Before every mission, Lambert, Grimsdottir, Redding, and whoever else involved in that mission will brief you on what's going down. You even get to choose your arsenal based on your preferred approach: "Stealth" if you plan to sneak around more, "Assault" if you intend to get your hands dirty. There is also "Redding's Recommendation," which is essentially a combination of the two with a couple of unnecessary items omitted.
Level design is also much more complete. Whereas the first one was mainly indoors, and the second one was largely outdoors, Chaos Theory blends the two very well. For example, the first mission is on an island with a lighthouse. You start the level on a beach, and then creep your way through underground tunnels before reaching the guerrilla hideout, which is a series of large and small buildings. You'll never stay in or out too long, even the mission is mainly in one of the two, such as when you must rob a bank. You begin that stage in the bank's courtyard, sneak around the building and then eventually sneak inside, only to be able to return outside later on.
There are the numerous new moves that Sam has that makes Chaos Theory feel much more fluid than either of the first two. Now equipped with a dagger, Sam can slice an enemy's throat open as he passes by, and can also stab them in the back if holding onto them, both by using the R-button. The L-button makes Sam us non-lethal force, such as punching a guy or choking him into unconsciousness. There is also the move Sam can pull off while hanging from a ledge. If an enemy sentry walks by, you can press the A-button to have Sam reach up, grab the enemy and pull him off the cliff, or building, whatever the case may be.
Something that really makes the Xbox version of CT superior to the Cube version is the load times. When booting the game, the sequence is almost identical, but a lot shorter: Xbox load screen, Ubisoft logo, Dolby logo, CT title screen for 20 seconds, opening movie (which doesn't seem to let me skip until about a minute into it), load profile (no time), load mission (no time), load progress (10 seconds), load level (10 seconds), load exact location (5 seconds). The biggest relief is during the missions, which are seamless from beginning to end, unlike the "levels" in the GC version. For example, on GC when you play the bank level, you start in the courtyard, then once inside, you must load three different wings, which each can take half a minute to load. On Xbox, there's no loading time whatsoever, and that helps the game feel much more immersive.
Another interesting thing about CT is also how the missions aren't totally isolated from each other. There are "primary" and "secondary" objectives. The primary ones must be accomplished before extraction is possible, but the secondary ones aren't entirely vital. If you fail to accomplish a secondary objective, you will have to accomplish it in a future mission. There are also "opportunity" and "bonus" objectives, which are the ones you can choose to do should you get the chance and ones you do without even knowing it or being asked. However, only primary objectives are listed in your OPSAT.
One new feature I absolutely love is the OCP, a special attachment on your pistol that allows you to disrupt almost anything with an electric current, such as certain lights, certain cameras, and other things like computer monitors and electric windows. Instead of having to shoot one of those out and risk having a sentry hear you, you can merely disable the light or camera and sneak past, plus the OCP causes the malfunctioning item to emit enough noise to disguise your passing if an enemy is indeed nearby. Sound is also more important in this game, because now there is actually a small gauge for it to let you know how loud Sam is. The small square on the bar represents the allowed level of noise, and anything above the square increases the risk of you being heard. Another new feature is the EEV, which is a visor mode that allows you to view and find objects that you can interact with, such as a computer, light or microphone. You can access and hack objects from a distance with the EEV, and can toggle all your different visors as well.
Even though I don't play online, I can easily enjoy the two-player co-op mode. Having two players cooperating can be fun, but as it really turns out, if your partner doesn't screw up, you will; some of these levels can be very unforgiving. There are only a few co-op levels, but they are fun just the same, and it's interesting to see the kind of objectives that would require two agents instead of just one.
Is Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory a good game? Yes. Better visuals, easier controls and much shorter loading times give the Xbox version the edge over the GC version. If you have any interest in action games, there shouldn't be too much reason why you haven't tried this game already. Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is the Splinter Cell game we've all been waiting for. Find this game, pop it into your system and get ready to have fun.
