This coming after Convictions you would expect a couple of changes in the game play because Conviction was so different from the rest of the games in the series. But nothing can prepare you for Blacklist. Nothing. This is the definitive game of not only this franchise, but stealth games in general for it offers you so many options to play with, and then rewards you adequately.
Yes, the co-op mode is super fun in the campaign if u have the perfect partner. Yes the tried and tested Spy vs Merc campaigns are intense. But it’s the story mode that will mostly catch ur eye with its vivid diversity, its gritty moments and absolute 21st Century-thriller story.
Sam is back with a new voice, which though seems out of place with its youth, but certainly matches with his appearance here which makes up for it because the campaign focusses a lot on his presence and his decisions as the leader of Fourth Echelon. Accompanying him is the always-alert Anna Grimsdottir and new faces Charlie and Isaac Briggs, each of whom play very important roles in their assigned departments. Against this team are the Engineers and the Blacklist, lead by Majid Sadiq, who propose an ultimatum before the United States and threat to bring down the country otherwise. The story escalates into a possible war between the States and Iran, and its all up to Fourth Echelon to stop the Blacklist attacks on US soil and avert the war.
Helping them in the process are cutting edge gadgets and suits, which are all purchasable and customizable aboard the Paladin, their aerial headquarters. But nothing beats good stealth tactics and complete aversion from conflict by carefully maneuvering around the enemy paths and security traps. This ghost-type of gameplay will earn you points, so will panther-type stalking and killing your enemies and full-on assault with the assault-type approach, but the ghost is certainly the toughest and the most rewarding. The cover-to-cover system is back, so is the level of intensity within missions last found in Chaos Theory. Sam fully quipped in stealth suits and gadgets bring back memories of old Third Echelon days, which have been missed the last 2 games. If you play co-op, the experience will be compounded by first-person shooting from Briggs which will most often clear the path for Sam to sweep pass.
The game also handsomely rewards you for collecting Blacklist laptops, drives and High Value Targets within missions, and also finding hidden paths in the levels – which should tell you how good exactly the level designs are.
Apart from Sams voice, everything just feels so well knitted that youwill be encouraged to replay levels just to perfect them in a particular style and to find all collectibles so that you can purchase the next upgrade to make your player look cooler and kill better, or move faster and softer. The levels are also interconnected by cut-scenes before and after each mission which sum up every chapter of the progressing story, and you will be encouraged to straight away get back to business after every mission rather than walk around the Paladin talking to your team mates or your daughter – Sara – over phone, although such optional interactions within the game make it oh-so-well detailed and lively.
The voice acting and facial animations are top notch, so are the graphics which give you the best experience as a special agent.
In fact, with the terrific story, multi-angle approach to each mission and numerous gadgets to use with your tactics, this might just be the best modern stealth game available in the market. Might.