Short history of the series

The series had success mainly because of the gameplay. Based on older sneaking games like Thief and Metal Gear Solid, in Splinter Cell (the first one) you had to remain invisible by taking cover, using the darkness or choosing hidden paths to go forward in the game. You could attack only when it was really necessary otherwise you had to use diversions to pass the guards.

Pandora Tomorrow introduced the multiplayer mode for four users. This mode was totally different from the single player by graphics and by gameplay. Only two users were allowed in a team. So actually this was a two-on-two multiplayer mode. The teams were differently equipped. One of them could be agents and one mercenaries. The agents were equipped like Sam Fisher and the other ones like in a normal FPS with lots of weapons.

Chaos Theory evolved the multiplayer and introduced a co-operative mode. While the multiplayer remained totally different from the single player in terms of graphics and gameplay, this mode could be played similar to the single player mode. The only difference was in the different moves that could be performed only by both players working as a team.

Double Agent comes with a new concept of gameplay. This concept is based on the morality of the user. They created key moments in the game where you have to choose from several options what to do. Being a double agent in the game, Fisher works for two agencies and is forced to do tasks from both sides. While you are still working for NSA, they will give you a major mission to infiltrate and work undercover for JBA. You will encounter very delicate situations where you have to choose whether you kill the enemy or not. Depending on what you choose, you will gain or lose trust for an agency. There are two indicators for every agency. If one of these indicators will become empty it will be game over. In addition to this your actions must not reveal to JBA that you are a double agent.

PC version versus XBOX 360 version

The PC version of the game comes as a conversion from the XBOX 360 version. It looks nearly as good as the XBOX 360 version if you have a powerful PC but you will encounter some low frame rates and long loading times. Sometimes annoyingly long! But even at high settings the graphics are not so polished. From the game menu you cannot set the antialiasing level. So I tried to increase it from the video card menu. All that I got was an interlaced image. I got the same result for every antialiasing level, so in the end I quit. Besides these negative aspects, players were posting complains about compatibility with different configurations and crash bugs. It seems that the XBOX 360 version is much stable and offers a better graphic.

Good and bad

 If you have already played one episode from Splinter Cell you know that the assault rifle is an experimental weapon, but you will get supplied by the JBA with the same kind of weapon. From where did they managed to get it? Although you will be able to take good or bad decisions in the game, the missions are still linear. You will try to do main tasks that don't necessarily influence the end of the game. The missions which have a bigger influence on the game are the ones made in the secret facility of JBA, where you will arrive after almost every main mission.