I finally finished the original Xbox version of Splinter Cell Double Agent. It was, fine. I don’t really know how to feel about it. Do I think it was better than the Xbox 360 version? In some ways, yes. But at the same time, I do think the game plays it really safe. I don’t think the “do this or that” options to either stay in the JBA’s good graces or Third Echelon’s were that compelling. Anyone with a half a brain is going to do just enough of either in order to stay “neutral.” Going too far in any direction makes you suspicious to the other side and you’ll have to complete extra tasks in order to prove your loyalty. That just means extra work, and I’m lazy.
Other than that, it’s pretty straight-forward Splinter Cell. There’s just not much to write home about. In a way, it also feels pretty vanilla compared to ideas from past Splinter Cell games. Playing it, you’d hardly believe it was the fourth game in the series. While the original Splinter Cell introduced the series and all of the stealthy tactical goodness that became the staples of the series, Pandora Tomorrow mixed it up with sound and light mechanics, and in some instances flipped it on its head to do things that were out of your comfort zone. For example, in Pandora Tomorrow there’s a section where you’re being hunted by mercs with night vision. What to do? Well, hide in the light! Sam has to stay in the spotlight in order to get past the mercs. That was some cool shit back in the day. And then, also in Pandora Tomorrow, there was an ambient noise meter, and the higher it was, the more noise Sam could make without alerting the guards. Waiting for a crack of thunder in order to shoot a guard was awesome (also, that lightning was bright so best not be wearing your night vision).
Chaos Theory, the third game in the series, opened up the levels to allow for multiple approaches, gave Sam an emp that could disrupt electronics as well as a wealth of other gadgets, and both lethat and non-lethal options to approach a situation. Every Splinter Cell game offered something a new twist to the series.
Which is why the Xbox version of Double Agent was so disappointing, and why after playing it, I have a newfound respect for the Xbox 360 version. The 360 version, developed by Ubi Shanghai, was the one that offered the gameplay twists and new mechanics (it just didn’t do them very well). The original Xbox version was tapped by Ubi Montreal, who up to that point where the SC pioneers, and it just feels like it was something they did because they had to. There’s just no creativity here.
That said, the missions are still well-done and the game was difficult. It took me many tries to get through pretty much every mission. The graphics from the OG Xbox still look great, and was probably the one great thing it had going for it. It’s a good looking game.
I’m glad I played it. It was always a question mark in that series for me, and now I can say I’ve played every Splinter Cell they’ve offered me. Now all I can do is pray that Ubisoft will end the Sam Fisher circle-jerk and actually make a new one. Or reboot the entire series, I don’t care. We went an entire fucking generation without a Splinter Cell. It’s time.
