Gameplay
The gameplay in Double Agent is just the same as it has been in the previous three games. The idea is to sneak around in the shadows and not be seen, but if you have to fight your way out you are well equipped to do that too. Unfortunately, unlike Chaos Theory where you had lots of paths and could complete levels any way you wanted, Double Agent goes back to that old Splinter Cell formula of forced stealth and penalizing you for not playing the game the way the developer wanted you to. The level design doesn’t help this much because most of the time you are in tight, indoor spaces with not much wiggle room and you are constantly being funneled towards the next bottleneck and stealth set piece. Also, there is a lot of trial-and-error in Double Agent that will drive you batty after a while. You are just dumped into the level with vague objectives, and it is up to you to figure out how to get where you need to go and what to do when you get there. This should all be familiar to Splinter Cell die-hards that have been with the series since the beginning, but for those of us that fell in love with the open design of Chaos Theory, reverting back to the bad old days in Double Agent is a tough pill to swallow.Multiplayer
Ubisoft
Along with the single-player campaign, Double Agent also comes with an improved multiplayer mode. The Spies vs. Mercenaries game returns, but this time around up to six people can play instead of four. It is the spies’ job to try and hack terminals and return the data to their insertion point. It is up to the mercenaries to stop them. Each side has different weapons and items and they play very differently from one another, which makes Splinter Cell multiplayer feel so unique and different from other multiplayer games. There is a lot more strategy and teamwork required here, and you also really have to study the maps and know exactly where you are going and what you are doing. It is thinking man’s multiplayer, and that is why so many people love it. There are also co-op missions available, but unlike the story driven co-op of Chaos Theory, in Double Agent these just pit you against AI controlled enemies in matches that are similar to the multiplayer. The multiplayer overall has been tweaked so it is more balanced and it moves a lot faster than before, but the core gameplay is still here, so if you liked it in PT and SC, you’ll like it here.
Graphics and Sound
One area where Splinter Cell always shines is the graphics and sound, and Double Agent doesn’t disappoint. Everything has a very high level of detail, and as we have come to expect, the lighting and special effects are top-notch. Sam Fisher’s character model is insanely detailed and looks great.
The sound is also very well done. Great music. Great sound effects. Great voice acting. The sound really pulls everything together.
Bottom Line
Ubisoft
Splinter Cell: Double Agent is a good game that SC fans will absolutely love, but it isn’t the free and open game that Chaos Theory was, which is somewhat disappointing. It is as if they took one step forward and two steps back with Double Agent, and that is never a good thing. I thought we were long past the days of forced stealth, penalties, and repetitive trial-and-error gameplay. But that is exactly what you get with Double Agent. Also, the concept of being a double agent is interesting, but the trust system is poorly implemented because your actions are based more on improving your numbers with one group rather than you actually making a tough decision. In the end, if you liked the first two Splinter Cell games, you’ll love Double Agent because it is a definite improvement on that particular formula. If you preferred the more free and open gameplay of Chaos Theory (or Hitman: Blood Money, an Xbox 360 stealth game I would recommend over this one), then Double Agent might not be for you. Give it a rental first.
