"Why is hippyman reviewing a last gen game", I hear you ask!  Well, I'm planning on going back to some of my favourite games from the past and reviewing the ones I believe are gems - that are available for sale or download at  bargain prices. So let me start this series of reviews with Spliner Cell: Chaos Theory.


The wonderful world of Third Echelon and Sam Fisher returns to try and wow us gamers once again.  Thaking the difficulty level from the frst game, Chaos Theory leads us into a frustrating mission to stop the whole world from colapsing because of one algorithmic code (The plot is rather self explanitory in the game, but if I wereto explain it, it would be as if you were trying to work out the plot in Lost)

For an original Xbox game, the graphics are brilliant, being one of the first to experiment with a new type of lighting effects - it will make you think twice about running through the moonlit streets. 

The dialogue is absolutely fantastic, not often commented on in many reviews.  The enemies will have you in fits of laughter when you scare them by running about and throwing rocks  in the dark.  Their frightened barks in the dark are hilarious!

Talking about the enemy, Ubisoft have developed a way to make taking on your opponents easier.  You ca now kill or incapacitate them by running up to them and pressing one of the trigger buttons.  Not ideal ways of trying to complete the mission, but the reflex reaction of hitting a trigger when you get caught is a great way to get you out of tricky situations.  However, you could use this method in your gameplay.

The AI has certainly improved from the previous games - now if the guard is suspicious of a noise or sees a glimpse of movement, instead of just wandering around until he bumps into you, they can randomly fire wildly in your direction.  Really scary stuff if you aren't expecting it.  They have even improved their guard training since Pandora Tomorrow.  Guards often wander around in threes and carry torches or flares - which is now standard for the Splinter Cell games, which can really scupper your plans if you think hiding in the dark was the best way to play it!

There has been an addition to the multiplayer, you can now play 2-player co-op splitscreen on some of the missions.  You play as two trainee splinter cells and have to co-operate to get he missions done.  On one level, they even converse with Mr Fisher himself.  Nice little touches like that makes this game stand out from the rest of the rushed releases.

There are a few problems to note though, it gets very difficult from early on (the second level has put me off ships for life now...). However, like the Call of Duty games, it is a compulsive play - chances of doing your homework or helping with the housework are slim whilst this is playing on your console.

Other problems may crop up with a few of the differences you findbetween this game and its prequels.  Security cameras used to be a breeze to pass, just shoot them and they stopped working.  Now you'll find that they are armoured and the only way pass is to disable them temporarily or find a route that keeps you out of their view.

Apart from the difference as the few problems as mentoned above, it is a must buy for those who enjoy stealth games.  Whether you go back to your orignal xbox /PS2 or download it from the Xbox Live Marketplace for 1200MP, it is well worth a play through.  Double Agent had it's moments, but this is one of the better games in the series.  I like Splinter Cell and this is my favourite.

Being fair to say this is now an old game (a fair few years old) and trying to keep in time with what the games were at the moment, I would give this a worthy 8/10