Xbox/Xbox360: Splinter Cell Double Agent

The latest installment in the Splinter Cell franchise actually comes in a variety of minty flavors. The Xbox and Xbox 360 versions are drastically different from each other, so different in fact they could be considered different games altogether. Having played both versions I’ll try and review them both at the same time, point out the differences, and just maybe, if I feel like it, give you my opinion on which one is superior.

Story:
After enduring a personal tragedy Sam Fisher has pretty much lost his will to live and has decided to take on a very dangerous assignment. He is about to go undercover with a terrorist organization known as the JBA to try and discover what their plans are. During the course of the game you’ll perform tasks for the JBA and NSA and try to keep the “Trust Meter” balanced to prove you aren’t a spy or a terrorist. The story is deeper and more involved than the other games in the series and is quite interesting. To get the whole picture about what is going on you really have to play both games. Some parts that are confusing in the 360 version are explained in the Xbox version and vice versa. While certain parts of the story are absent from both versions I would not say that one version is better than the other and could recommend either if you are only really interested in the story.

7/10

Graphics:

360:
Very impressive. The detail on Fisher alone is outstanding. On some of the levels he actually sweats, very nice. The environments are also sights to behold. The daytime levels look great and are incredibly detailed. However since they take place in the daytime the amazing lighting effects that the series is known for absent but when they do show up on the darker levels they are just as impressive as ever. My only real beef is the recycled animations from the previous games that hold it back from feeling new and make it feel kind of last gen.

9.0/10

Xbox:
Strangely the graphics appear to be a slight step down from Chaos Theory. While still very impressive and some of the best on the Xbox the amazing amounts of detail found in the last game seem to be missing. The graphics are still way above average and will not hold you back from appreciating the game even if you’ve been spoiled by “next gen” graphics. One nice touch is a new walking animation where Fisher steps a bit to the side when you push left or right, which makes him seem more real and lifelike.

9.6/10

Sound:
Both versions provide an excellent sounding experience. Worth noting are the Kinshasa levels from both games. In the 360 version the sounds of civilian screams and gunfire surround you at all times making you feel like you’re in an actual war-torn city. In the Xbox version the sounds of bombs going off every few minutes not only blare out of your speakers but provide you with a warning on when the power is going to go out and you can make your next move. Everything else that worked so well in the last game has been carried over and sounds fantastic.

360: 9.5/10

Xbox: 9.3/10

Gameplay:
Here’s where the two games start to drift apart.

360:
As a strange change of pace a lot of this game takes place during the daytime. Is this a good thing? Meh, not really. It obviously limits the amount of hiding places you have in each level and it makes the game more linear, and quite frankly, not as much fun as its predecessor. While levels like the cruise ship are very cool, graphically impressive, and make you feel like you are actually sneaking around a real cruise ship they get boring very quickly due to the lack of options you have in getting through them.

Another unwelcome change is the removal of the light meter. It has been replaced by a light on Fisher’s back that changes color from green (hidden), yellow (visible) and red (about to be shot by anyone in the vicinity). It’s no where’s near as accurate or informative as the old light meters and seems stupid.

Some new moves have been added to help you dispatch of the inept enemies you’ll come across. One very helpful new move is the ability to smash through ice that you’re swimming under and haul a soon-to-be-dead guard under the water and stab him in the heart. Got to love it.

Something else they have added is the ability to upgrade your equipment. You can gain access to quicker lock picks and upgraded night vision (such as full color night vision which seems really dumb and unrealistic from the very first time you switch it on). There wasn’t too much challenge involved in getting the upgrades and as long as you don’t completely suck at sneaking around you should be able to get yourself some crappy, unrealistic NVG’s in no time flat.

Overall this version of the game is only average as it doesn’t really bring anything new to the table and actually takes a few steps back in a few places. If you never played the last gen versions of Splinter Cell than you’ll probably enjoy this one but overall it’s a disappointment for long time fans of the series.

8.0/10

Xbox:
This version plays a lot like Chaos Theory which is not a bad thing at all. Some levels are more linear than the previous game but a few of them still offer multiple ways to complete them. All the levels in this version are completely different than the 360 version even though they may share the same setting, don’t be expecting them to share any similarities at all.

In both versions you’ll be able to wander around the JBA compound and complete objectives for the NSA But the JBA compound is laid out completely different in both games, hell it’s even set in different cities. The Kinshasa level which is a daylight, street-level war zone in the 360 version takes place inside a single hotel at night on the Xbox.

The cruise ship level also takes place at night in this version and is usually confined to the inner hallways and bowels of the ship as oppose to the large room daytime action of the 360 version. It surprisingly ends up feeling completely different from the 360 level.

Unlike the 360 version this one actually has an improved light meter. It’s no more effective than the previous iterations but it looks cooler. It’s basically a silhouette of Fishers head that lights up depending on how well lit you are, nice touch.

This version isn’t really an improvement over the last game but it doesn’t really take too many steps backwards either so if you like Chaos Theory than this one is highly recommended.

9/10

Replayability:

360:
Well there are 3 different endings that are much better done than the Xbox version and you can remake those key decisions again but that’s about it. Due to the lack of effective hiding places you’ll find yourself doing the same thing every time through. I only found myself going through the levels a couple of times before I got bored with them. The story may have you coming back but the gameplay is quite boring.

5/10

Xbox:
Lot ’s of the levels have multiple paths that you can explore. You can also go back through to take a different approach to the storyline and make some of the key decisions a little differently. There are also two different endings but there is very little difference between the two (just a different news clip played during the credits, whoopee) but overall there is a lot of replay value here for fans of the game

8/10

Conclusion:
So which version of the game is better? I’d go with the Xbox version. The 360 game has spectacular graphics and an interesting storyline but the gameplay gets boring way too quickly. And really what’s graphics and story worth if the game isn’t much fun?