Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent Limited Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)This fourth installment in the Splinter Cell series of games takes a radical change in direction from the previous three games. In the game you are Sam Fisher, an NSA operative who is given the task of infiltrating the JBA, or John Brown's Army, a terrorist organization.
Double Agent for the Xbox 360 uses a branching storyline that allows the gamer to make choices that ultimately affect the final outcome of the game. The previous games were more linear in their approach to accomplish goals. There are fewer 'levels' in Double Agent than in previous versions, but only because each level is much larger and there are multiple missions that occur on each level giving you the experience of a longer game.
You are given assignments or 'objectives' in the game, some of which must be completed at the time they are given, if you choose, and others can be done at various points throughout the game. This is accomplished by using a 'free roam' approach to some levels rather than limiting when and where the player can be at any given time. An example would be that you are asked to acquire information about the top members of the JBA, and you do so by locating records on them and getting retinal scans of their eyes. All of this can be done at any given time during the game as the opportunity arises.
The developers went all out to give the gamer plenty of 'eye candy' in the form of graphics. There are areas that have large groups of people, each with different characteristics whereas before they were limited to only a few characters. The level that is based on the city of Shanghai truly gives the look and feel of being there. The details are incredible, right down to the rain that falls on Sam's skin and clothing, acting as real rain would with those surfaces.
The only real let-down of this game is the way it ends abruptly without giving any continuity towards the next game or finalizing the series. You're just left wondering "so what happened?".
The online multiplayer mode, or 'Spy versus Upsilon', has many features that are very appealing to players new to the series, but leaves some hard core fans of this game wanting to return to the previous title's, Chaos Theory, 'Spy versus Merc' version of online play. UBI has removed many 'gadgets' that were previously available, forcing the spy to be more true to his calling by using stealth but at the same time losing something in the process. The user community seems to be split as to whether or not the multiplayer change is a good thing. For me it's better, but only because I was never good at the previous online game.
I give the Xbox 360 version of the game an 8.5 out of 10 rating.

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Special Limited Edition Packaging along with a bonus DVD containing the following original content:
"True Life of a Covert Operative” documentary focusing on authenticity & realism of the game
A behind-the-scenes look at making of the game courtesy of MTV.
Interview with Michael Ironside, voice actor for Sam Fisher
Instructional Multiplayer tips and tricks to improve your game
Seven mini web films
Developer videos
Game trailers
Concept Art gallery and more

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