Splinter Cell Chaos Theory offers many new features, which make this game a must have for Splinter Cell fans.
Some of the new features of this game are actually very cool. Although the game still focuses on stealth, there are a few new, louder weapons to choose from. You are also able to use a knife, which I thought they should have included a long time ago. The knife can be used for quick and silent kills, along with interrogation. Sam also has a few new moves to use in the game. He can hang upside down and then grab people from the ceiling, and he can even snap their necks while hanging. Although it may not be very realistic, it is a lot of fun to pull off these moves. The story of Chaos Theory is also great, and I liked it better than the first Splinter Cell, but not as much as Pandora Tomorrow.
Another big new feature of this game is multiplayer co-op mode, which allows you to play with a friend without having to link Xboxes together. I thought that the multiplayer in this game was nicely done. Most games when trying to add multiplayer, mess it up in some way. I think the multiplayer in this game helps, because it is an added feature, and it can be a lot of fun to play co-op stealth missions with two people. With co-op mode comes a few new moves. For example, you can throw your partner into another enemy to knock him out. You can also lower ropes for your partner to climb up, or he can simply climb up you. The co-op mode adds a new level of difficulty to the game because not only do you have to look out for your own safety, but also your partners safety. I liked the multiplayer in this game, and I think that it is nice to finally be able to play co-op in a stealth action game, because there aren't many other games that allow you to do that.
Obviously, the graphics in this game have improved, which pretty much always happens with sequels. The textures during in-game play are truly amazing. You can see individual water dropplets on a wall, and all of the wet textures look amazing. The lighting effects are some of the best ones that the Xbox has to offfer, and you can easily see that this game is not too far from 360 graphics. Although the shiny textures look nice, I always wondered why they applied them to the people, who look like they are wearing saran wrap or something. I find that common in many Xbox games, where the characters look really shiny. I guess its not really a bad thing; it looks nice and all. Even though the graphics are amazing, they can sometimes be lost in the depths of night, thermal, and electronic-sensory vision. The game is pretty dark most of the time, which forces you to use these vision-obscuring devices. Although you can see much better in the darkness, you often miss a lot of the really cool textures. But I guess most people don't stop to look at these textures when they are being chased after by enemies. So what can I say, the graphics were great, even in the auxiliary vision modes.
Sam Fisher's voice is still relatively the same, so you don't really have to worry about that. The person who plays him has been in a few movies, but the only one I can think of at the moment is "The Next Karate Kid." The weapon sound effects are ok, but I think that they could have made the guns that the enemies carry sound a bit more realistic. Fisher's weapons sound great though, and even the knife has sound effects when you slit enemies' throats. Now about the music, I thought it was pretty awkward at times. Even though it fit well with the gameplay most of the time, it sounded like jungle music at times. And there would also be times when there was absolutely no action, but the music would make me feel like I was in pursuit of someone, meaning it was really fast paced. Now when I am sneaking into a bank, I don not want music like that. I want quiet, but cool music that allows me to concentrate without haveing to frantically run around thinking there are enemies about. Other than that minor detail, the sound was really good.
If you liked playing the other Splinter Cell games for their gameplay, you will enjoy playing Chaos Theory as well. It offers nearly the same smooth gameplay as its predecessors, but with new faetures added in. These new features only increase the value of the gameplay in my mind. The only thing that I could find that was wrong with the gameplay was the fact that there were no navigation points or "nav-points." Half of the time, I didn't really know where to go; I just experimented with different doors and ventilation shafts until I figured out where I was supposed to go. I thought a more detailed map would have been good, and maybe even nav-points, although they would decrease the realism of the game. The gameplay in Chaos Theory is nearly flawless, and any tactical TPS fan can easily grow accustomed to the controls and the gameplay.
Overall, I think that Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is an amazing stealth-action game. It is one of the best TPS action games beside Socom III: US Navy Seals and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. With this game's fluent control scheme, and addicting gameplay, any gamer could easily pick this game up and start playing. I would give this game a 10/10 for fun factor, because of the non-stop action and great gameplay. Everything in this game blends together nicely, and it makes Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory an amazing and entertaining experience that everyone should enjoy.