[Good]
Level Design: Much better than the old Splinter Cells. There's a lot more choice as to how you want to complete the missions. You can either take everyone on, avoid everyone, or take them out when they're not looking. In fire fights there's good emphasis on flanking. Even the final boss fight was really awesome. It just looks great and plays great.
Replayabilty: Since you have a lot of choices for completing the mission, the game has challenges for specific play styles as well as different sets of weapons and gadgets. The changes in difficulty and the semi-randomness of how enemies are placed and how they behave is nice as well.
Multiplayer: Co-op missions are awesome assuming you can find someone to join you.
Story: This is the best Splinter Cell story so far.
Weaker: Even with good armor, Sam can't take too many shots. This is good.
Performance: I only have a mid-range PC with a mid-range video card, but even with all the settings maxed out, the game still ran pretty smoothly.
[Bad]
Uplay: I really don't see any value with this. It's just another separate login that doesn't really offer anything, aside from locking up parts of my game. This should be removed. Ubisoft I'm never going to buy games from either your online store or EA's store. Just stop this and stop annoying me with Uplay.
Bugs: A lot of people are reporting bugs i.e. Game won't start or multiplayer doesn't work. My guess is the source of these bugs is Uplay. It needs to be removed.
Steam Family Share: Because of the extra DRM from Uplay, this game doesn't support Steam's Family Share feature.
Multiplayer: Maybe this will change with time, but there's no one online for PC. This is probably due to Uplay. See a pattern? I like single player better anyways so I can quit playing anytime.
Story: Like all Splinter Cell games, the story isn't very good. This time however, it's not as ridiculous and horrible as the older Splinter Cells. It's just super vague about everything. There is still some really unrealistic and ridiculous stuff in the game, but you don't play Splinter Cell games for the story. On the bright side, the story is better and makes more sense than anything from Metal Gear. Hint: to make the story better, Sam Fisher and his organization can't be the good guys all the time. Those stories are for children and yet this game is for adults. A lot of adults enjoyed the Sopranos and Breaking Bad. Why can't this type of maturity in storylines cross over to video games? One more thing. In the field during an operation, professionals use call signs instead of their real names. This franchise sorely needs a story reboot with either better script writers and advisors and / or less constraints given by Ubisoft execs for the story. Maybe Ubisoft should hire a former spook to consult?
Choice: The game does give players some choices, but I don't feel that they actually affected anything. It would have been nice if they actually changed the game or even the ending.
FPS view: I didn't like the small solo missions with FPS view. Splinter Cell to me is meant to be played in 3rd person view.
Not the best deal: Paying ten bucks more, gets you weapons you probably won't use, much better suits, and two new missions. The two new missions are nice but I didn't care much for the weapons. As for the suit, you may like if you want the game to be easier. I'd just get the normal edition and wait for the DLC to get cheaper. I just bought them all because I wanted to have them right now.
[Misc]
Not a full reboot: When you do something drastic as changing Sam's voice to someone younger sounding, you really need to change the story. A 30 year old with a college aged daughter doesnt make too much sense.
I am really thankful that Ubisoft removed their always on DRM, but they need to get rid of UPlay.
If you don't like Steam, you probably won't like this download.
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It's been awhile since I last went to bed at 3 AM because of a game. This game takes some getting used to and figuring out, but once you learn the ropes, leave all hope. I have only been through several main missions and a few side missions (those are difficult) but it is already safe to say Awesome!!! Have some patience before you master the controls and user interface, and you won't regret it...OK, after initial infatuation I have to take one star off and here's why:
1. First, the game is rather short. It has 13 main missions (two more than Conviction) and 10 side missions (solo play, 4 more than Conviction), and all of the missions are short. I feel like I make a couple of moves and I'm done. That is not much given that this is 20 GB installation. It's true, it has many more coop and multiplayer missions and if you play those as well, you may find the length of the game satisfying, but the main story ends quickly.
2. There are considerable parts of mission maps where you just pass through, they include no hostiles, they can't be used for any action, and you cannot return there.
3. There are bunch of weapons and equipment to buy, but you only need a few of them, and money making makes no sense after you get all the plane upgrades and equipment you need (this kind of undermines replayability). Once you get a good sniper rifle and full equipment, the game gets pretty easy on normal difficulty. I will try the 'perfectionist' for replay and see if it makes a difference.
4. Overall, the story was not that interesting and it is forced a bit, it moves too quickly, and you miss most of it. They have to make the threat bigger and bigger each time.
I must say, I kind of liked the Conviction better
Best Deals for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Deluxe Edition
Splinter Cell: Blacklist is the latest installment in the beloved series. With Splinter Cell Conviction, Ubisoft decided to make the game less about stealth and more about brute force. Sure, there was the option at times of using stealth but I never felt the need to use it. With Blacklist however, stealth plays a much bigger role. Gone are the days when it was ok to charge headlong into a room emptying clip after clip on enemies. While I enjoyed Conviction, Blacklist takes all the good parts of Conviction and adds so much more to it.For a game bearing Tom Clancy's name, the plot line is exactly what you would expect. Terrorists are threatening to destroy something and an elite group of soldiers have been given carte blanch to stop them. In this case, terrorists are threatening to destroy the United States by systematically taking out high value targets, or what they call the Blacklist -things like energy, food; basically the backbones of the country. Sam Fisher of the elite 4th Echelon is tasked by the President to do anything necessary to stop the attacks. While the plot isn't spectacular, it serves it purposes to facilitate the missions and lead you towards the final encounter.
From the first mission it's evident that there is an enhanced fluidity to movement. It's easy to slip into the shadows, mantle over cover, climb up a pipe and drop down onto an unsuspecting enemy. There is a certain satisfaction in sitting in one spot for several minutes studying enemy movements to really plan out a route that will either let you slip by completely undetected, or to divide and conquer without raising any alarms. Each mission allows you to complete it any number of ways; some force you to remain undetected while others encourage it by sending in swarms of reinforcements. It proves beneficial to not start large scale gun battles.
One complaint I had with Splinter Cell Conviction was, while stealth was a game mechanic, there was very little true need to use it. That has completely changed with Blacklist. Sam Fisher can only take limited damage and when multiple enemies are attacking it can end very quickly. Planning before the mission is just as important. Deciding what gadgets and gear to equip before you put boots on the ground is imperative to making the mission go as smoothly as possible. There is a wide array of gadgets you can purchase with money earned during the mission such as smoke bombs, EMP grenades, sticky cameras, sleep gas grenades, etc. Depending on your play style, there is certain to be gear you will quickly fall in love with.
Graphically the game looks good. On Xbox there is an optional HD Texture pack that can be installed from disc 2. It's approximately 3 GBs of data; honestly if you have the space just download it for the full effect of the game. Lighting and shadows are well done. The lights on Sam's suit flare when you are under cover of darkness. They provide a nice indicator so you are not left guessing if you are in the shadows or not. Likewise, the sound track and effects are pretty good as well. They won't win any awards here, but they don't detract from the game either, but with one exception. I have a surround sound headset which is perfect for a stealth game like this. However, on more than one occasion the enemies footsteps did not mesh with where the enemy was on screen. This created some frustrating moments when I needed to go off enemy positions purely based on sound.
On top of the single player campaign there are two multiplayer offering as well. The first is the fan favorite Spies vs Mercs mode. Spies are elite, agile stealth-based characters who need to hack certain terminals, all done in third-person perspective. The Mercs and heavily armed, first-person based characters whose job is to stops the Spies from hacking or to kill the spy responsible for the hack before it completes. Playing as the Merc, there is always a sense of tension as you search for the spies, knowing at any moment you may be taken down by a lithe assailant. Conversely, as a Spy you know if you are caught in the open the fight will end quickly. There are a couple different modes within the Spies vs Mercs umbrella. Classic 2 vs 2, 4 vs 4, and then Uplink where there is a combination of Spies and Mercs on the same team. All three are high tension modes, but when you succeed luring an enemy into a kill spot and execute it to perfection, there are not many video game moments that can live up to it.
The other multiplayer mode is 14 Co-op based missions. These appear as side missions during the campaign, and all but 4 can technically be done solo. Yet, playing through these missions with a partner adds an entirely new level of strategy, planning, and tension. Executing double kills, having a partner distract a guard so the other can sneak up behind them and eliminate them is so rewarding. I have never hid the fact that I love co-op games, missions, or stories. While Conviction had a Co-op mode, it was a self-contained story and felt more like an add-on. The co-op in Blacklist feels and plays so well. Enemies rarely do the same thing no matter how many times you play a mission, so repeating the missions with different play styles, or partners, still offers an engaging experience.
I haven't enjoyed a Splinter Cell game this much since Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. Blacklist went back to the roots of what made it an outstanding game and added more variety and appealing gameplay. I have always been a fan of stealth-based games, a few games claim to be stealth-based but quickly become run and gun games where the only stealth is hiding when you are waiting for your health to regenerate. Blacklist is not one of those games. It's a game that forces you to plan ahead, and rewards you for good choices, and punishes you for rash decisions.
Pros
Stealth, that actually works and is beneficial
Amazing Co-op and MP modes
Fluid movement
Cons
At times audio is out of sync with events on screen, most notable enemy footsteps
At times the control scheme gets in the way of the game
Splinter Cell Blacklist is the stealth game that Conviction promised it would be. With solid gameplay, and fantastic level design, it delivers many memorable moments while not sacrificing its true vision. Allowing the player to play anyway they want through almost each mission, and still feel as though it was the way the developers intended it, is a testament to how much Ubisoft wanted to get this right. Blacklist is a deeply rewarding game for those who take their time, plan, and execute a strategy. If you are looking for a fast paced, run and gun shooter you can play like that. If you are looking for a game where you can sneak past virtually every enemy leaving nothing but a shadow behind, you can play like that. If you want something in between those you, you can do that as well. While Conviction was a decent game, Blacklist excels as a stealth -based game with loads of replayability. This is one game I will be trying to convince as many friends as I can to pick up. This one is simply too good to ignore.
Honest reviews on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Deluxe Edition
Will have additional updates in the future. Having a great time with my first night playing the game. Only played for about 90 minutes total. I was quite angry when the activation code did not work, but it started working after a few hours. I don't see any deniable ops which was the most enjoyable part of Splinter Cell Conviction, but I don't know everything about this game yet so there may be other features that are just as cool (or maybe better). Using XBOX 360 controller on my PC and it all controls seem to work fine, but still getting the hang of the controls. Experience? I have played every Splinter Cell game, it is the only game I like.Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist Deluxe Edition
Off the bat, I took away 2 stars for being forced to use Uplay. It doesn't add any value. I'm forced to create another user account for another service that I don't want.The game is pretty. There is great potential there. The environments and the character models are quite polished. My PC allows me to run the game on the "Ultra" setting without hearing the fans kick in. It's great to be able to see a game how the developers meant for it to be seen. Unfortunately, the game is full of glitches that make the game unplayable. Whenever I kill an enemy, the body flies around the environment, shattering windows, alerting other enemies , etc. Tech support, if it were only a graphics glitch then it should not affect the environment or the AIs in it. It completely prevents me from being stealthy so I get gunned down quickly, or have a random dog fly through a wall and chew my arm until I die. Why are the dogs so deadly in this game?
Also, why do I have to pay to upgrade my gear? It doesn't make any sense. The government wants me to track down and stop the terrorists. Why would the government not give me the tools to perform that duty for free? Do you want equipment that's going to keep you alive? Well, you have to buy it. You buy them with in-game currency that you receive for completing missions, which doesn't make sense either. I'm guessing Ubisoft intended to sell in-game items and upgrades for real money, but I didn't explore the upgrade system deep enough to see if it was a "pay to win" model.
If I hadn't received this game free with my GTX 760, I would ask for a refund. It's not worth the aggravation.
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