It has been a while since the game came out, but I recently started playing it again, and it is still a blast!
User Rating: 9.5 | Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction (Collector's Edition) X360
Well, first off, since this game has been out for a while, I will make this short. The game offers many interesting and fun mechanics that I love: one, the random placement of most enemies; two, the mark and execute feature; three, the last known position feature; three, the massive amount of interactivity; and four, the excellent storytelling and music. The random placement of most enemies, especially on the co-op side, adds a lot of variety to the game and allows you, the player, to play the missions over and over again. The mark and execute feature, coupled with the cover system make this a very versatile game where you can unleash trained, precision death to your enemies from almost any position. The last know position feature adds a new and innovative way to outsmart your enemies and lure them exactly where you want them to go, enhancing the stealth aspect of the game. The amount of interactivity in the game is astonishing! Many of the small objects in the game like computers, monitors, bottles, etc have physics applied to them which can make spraying down some enemies really fun and realistic. In addition to that, there is also quite a bit of destructible cover which can just add even more immersion to the game. Finally, the just amazing and wonderful portrayal of a Sam out for blood. It is reflected in everything: he no longer cares about leaving behind a mess of bodies, he will brutally interrogate the key enemy characters, and the entire story is cut together through a series of beautifully crafted video and picture that is projected onto the walls. Splinter Cell is not quite perfect though in that there are a few small things which can be disappointing. For instance, the overall graphics quality is a little low because of the use of Unreal Engine 2.5, but this is also made up for partially by the massive amount of physics and the excellent combat animations and take downs. Another thing that is a little disappointing is the lack of being able to move bodies once you dispatched them; however, this can be at least partially explained by the mental state of the new, disgruntled Sam Fisher. The last thing that is a bit disappointing is the weapon upgrade system is not as versatile as the outfit customization in co-op, and there is no outfit upgrade system in single player.
The few downsides aside, this game is a true masterpiece and it does blow away most action games on the market, plus, now you can get the game for like $10-20 on amazon!
