Splinter Cell was the game that started the epic series but can, perhaps, be best described as a trial.
Why: Splinter Cell is a stealth game. It's focus is on you, the splinter cell agent named Sam Fisher, and how you stealthily creep around an area gaining intel and killing terrorists. Now, although the focus is on stealth, this game does not quite deliver the beleivability or immersiveness that would be required of a game of this calibur. Simply speaking, the levels in the game are far too linear to make it feel like you are choosing your paths carefully to avoid detection. In fact, in many levels, the path you are forced to take is the perfect place to hide. A vent, behind a wall, all would be great except that you get no choice in the matter. To me, if you make a stealth game, you should be able to say to yourself "ok, now how will I avoid detection in this room." and then you could find the best way to proceed. Perhaps you'd sneak in the shadows, or perhaps you'd make your way back to a vent entrance you overlooked earlier to enter.
In other words, what I'd like to see, is a more free-roaming experience with different ways to proceed under stealth. In Splinter Cell, this is not the case, you are cleverly maneuvered into vents, compartments behind walls, and attics in order to avoid detection, which left me feeling like I wasn't being the stealthy one, the game was. I didn't have to do a thing except proceed along the levels and carefully avoid the guards. It's not much harder after that.
Another thing that the game does horribly wrong (which seems to be a trade-mark of Tom Clancy games) is the recoil on your gun when you shoot. As always, you must wait for your cursor to stand completely still before you can shoot, otherwise the shot misses the mark by about three feet. Now come on, you're telling me you, a super agent splinter cell with loads of special ops training, can't hit the broad-side of a barn?! Not only is this unbeleivable, it's also a rediculous notion. Such is the case with every weapon that Sam Fisher may use. The only other explanation besides the fact that it's a Tom Clancy game, is that Sam Fisher is pretty old.
Anyhow, enough of the negative. Splinter Cell has many great points. The stealth is done very well. The ammount of light that hits Fisher (indicated by a light-meter) shows how visible he is at any moment, and the enemies react realisticly too. If you're somewhat visible, they'll wonder aloud what they think they see, and move towards you. If you leave a body in plain sight, they'll set off the alarm and start searching for the culprit. They can also be manipulated in a veriety of realistic ways. For example, say a guard is between you and a destination and there is no way around, look to the ground, you're likely to find a can or a bottle that you can pick up and throw behind the bogey. Once it hits the floor, the enemy will take notice to the noise and turn to investigate. This is good and all but conveniently placed bottles are found far too often.
Overall, Splinter Cell is a fairly good game. Certainly a step in the right direction for what could quite possibly be the best series that has ever come out. This is the game that started it all.
Graphics: 10
Why: They're stunning. Best graphics for any X-Box game at the time.
Sound: 8
Why: Good music, sometimes annoying but good. The music changes when you're seen from a jazzy stealthiness to a fast paced rush tune. The voice acting is also superb and features Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher
Value: 7
Why: Although this game is good, the other two Splinter Cell games do it much better. Still worth playing through though.
Reviewer's Tilt: 6
Why: Splinter Cell is a great game, but the series has grown and the latest two have improved far upon this once great game. In fact there is little reason to play this game unless you need a bit of back history for the series.