This article was first posted on a a blog just recently started up. Check it out from time to time.
I have a controversial taste in media. Essentially, this means that no one else really agrees with my taste in movies, music, and games. But what can I say? I just like the things I like. However, fellow blogger and cohort Ryan Lobocki has challenged me to justify my opinion that Splinter Cell: Conviction is the second greatest game of all time, next to Bully.
I’m a fan of action movies. The more violent and brutal the action movie is, the more I’m inclined to enjoy it. There’s just a part of my brain that will sometimes want me to do nothing but shut my mind off and watch a mindless action flick. My top two action films of all time are Taken and Die Hard 2: Die Harder, both of which cater to my love of insane action. Now, this love for action also translates into the games I enjoy. I enjoy crazy action games such as Painkiller. Quake, and Serious Sam as well as smart action games likeAssassin’s Creed, Uncharted, and Splinter Cell: Conviction.
Now, I enjoy Splinter Cell for a multitude of reasons. I’ll lay it out in a simple format below:
- The Story & Writing
I consider Splinter Cell to be a shining example of a good story in a game. It’s full of mystery, suspense, and keeps you interested the whole time. You care about the characters and whenever there’s a twist involving them, you feel genuine surprise. The writing is at least on par with that of a television show, which is quite good for videogames today. The dialog writing is slightly weaker, but only for a few minor characters and the goons you murder. However, the dialog for the goons is all incidental, which is more a game play feature than actual story.
- The Gameplay
The gameplay is what really sets Splinter Cell apart. The blend of stealth and action works very well, to the point where it never gets old. The feeling of jumping down on an enemies back and snapping their neck has never felt better, nor does it ever get tiring. The violent action of Splinter Cell is so varied and jarring, that it’s hard not to be impressed every time Sam Fisher kills somebody. In addition, the cover mechanics and overall feel of the game is polished and streamlined, making for a very enjoyable action experience.
- The Characters
Sam Fisher is my favorite character out of any game. I’ve followed him through five other Splinter Cell games; however, it’s in Conviction where I really began to enjoy him. Beforehand, Sam Fisher was just another military spook with a cool voice and some good one-liners. However, of late, Sam Fisher is a rogue killing machine with blood on his hands and vengeance on his mind. And it’s that sort of characterization that makes him so interesting. The many secondary characters, such as Victor Costa and Anna Grimsdottir are also very interesting, as the game fleshes out Victor’s relationship with Sam and we’ve known Anna since the very beginning, so it’s interesting to see how her character has changed in recent years. Overall, the characters are fleshed out in a way that makes their relations with each other compelling and enjoyable to watch.
- Graphics
I don’t want to fawn over the graphics too much, as it’s not really the main focus of this article, however I must give credit where it’s due. The game looks quite good, with a slick interface and a distinct style. The way the game shifts from color to black and white when Sam is hidden is unique and works well. The animations are also fluid and look polished. Overall, a well designed game, graphically.
All in all, Splinter Cell: Conviction is my second favorite game of all time, for the previous reasons, and is a game worthy of anyone’s time. I feel that it’s a game that offers a great amount of crazy stealth-action alongside a good story and enjoyable characters. While many may consider a good game, I consider it to be better than most. Give it a try, and see how you feel about it. Because, after all, it all boils down to your personal preference.
*spit take* 'controversial taste in media is right.
I can honestly say that I disagree with almost every sentence in this post.
Crikey, I played the whole game through in a couple of days and had no real clue nor inclination to care about what was going on. Tom Clancy games have had weak stories and characterisation in the past and while to be fair the style used to relate story elements to the player is slightly improved in Conviction, it makes the mistake of assuming the player gives two hoots about people previously so very loosely defined.
By the end, I knew vaguely who Grim was (she was well developed from her previous role of voice in Sam's ear), and Sam's daughter (only that she existed, and was supposedly dead at the game's beginning- subsequent events gave no clue about the sort of person she is). Hiis mate who helps him out? No real clue about him. The villains, and their plot and motive? Lord only knows.Something about bang bang president gets it. Good story and characterisation? This can sometimes get up to the level of a weak episode of 24. Or Die Hard 2. A-ha!
As for gameplay, I was exceptionally disappointed by conviction, largely because I was a huge fan of the earlier games. Classic splinter cell is a series of logic puzzles, drawing people out with a variety of techniques and avoiding confrontation. In going 'agressive' Conviction lost all of its tension and did stealth in a far less satisfying manner than, say Batman Arkham Asylum while not really working as an action shooter either.
Now the co-op was genuinely enjoyable, and there is dumb fun in the package, but Conviction is nowhere near worthy of the title best in its own series (it only falls slightly ahead of the mediocre Double Agent) let alone of all time ever.
Coming into Conviction only playing a bit of the first Splinter Cell, I enjoyed what this game offered. Although I didn't find the game's plot to be all that enthralling, I did enjoy Sam's plight and conflict as a character during some very well done game set pieces and creative cut scenes. Combat was also fun and it never really bothered me that I was forced to clear a room in a few instances. I may not have all the knowlege of the Splinter Cell universe, but this game was easy to get into and a satisfying expericene.