The Best Splinter Cell Game?

I put this in here as the games go way back and you can't play every Splinter Cell game on any one console/handheld/PC etc.

It was my birthday recently and I got Splinter Cell: Conviction for the Xbox 360. I have been a fan of Splinter Cell ever sincethe originalwas first releasedon the PS2, way back when. I had always believed Pandora Tomorrow to be the best Splinter Cell game, but after having played Conviction lately and doing the majority of the Single Player Campaign and a Multiplayer mode, I think Conviction might just be the best Splinter Cell game, even though it was slightly different from the originals. But I have heard that the next Splinter Cell will go back to the old style stealth 100%. The thing that makes Conviction so good is the Co-op missions (I haven't tried the Co-op campaign yet). It's a fantastic game! I see myself getting addicted to it's Co-op game modes a lot after finishing the Single Player Campaign (I'm going to do it again first on Realistic after I complete it this time). May I also add that Splinter Cell: Essentials (PSP) was HIGHLY underrated so if anybody ever thought about picking it up, you should! it's got a few old classics in there and a lot of original ones seen no-where else as well!

My favorite is still Chaos Theory, but Conviction is probably #2. Double Agent is clearly the worst entry in the franchise.

My favorite is still Chaos Theory, but Conviction is probably #2. Double Agent is clearly the worst entry in the franchise.

hangman418

Like most, I'd say Chaos Theory. I remember certain areas of the game were different across the PS2, Xbox and Gamecube versions; a neat idea, not fully sure why they did it. Once I finish Conviction I'll replay the whole series and maybe pick up Essentials. Are the controls as big a pain in the derriere as the reviews say?

Speaking of Conviction it is very good. There's still a nice dose of stealth in some sections so it turned out better than I feared. I'd still prefer a return to the pure stealth of the older games.

I like all of them a lot but I still think Chaos Theory is the best of the series.

I really liked PT the most. Chaos theory is a better game, but the play mechanics began to feel tiresome by the time it came out, for me at least. The first one left you wanting more, and PT expanded upon the originals ideas and introduced the multi player aspect. Double Agent on the 360 I don't even like--unless someone wants to give me a pointer in the section where you are in some gang hideout. I get so bored with that part that I leave it alone, come back, and forget what I'm supposed to do.

i havnt played conviction....well i tried it at a friends but that dont count.....i have to say chaos theory was the best

I'd still prefer a return to the pure stealth of the older games.

Floppy_Jim

...maybe pick up Essentials. Are the controls as big a pain in the derriere as the reviews say?

Definitely Chaos Theory. My first splinter cell, and though I've played them all, it remains the best hybrid of tense, linear storytelling and stealthy gameplay with action and freedom.

I've played all but the handheld games (1-4 on PC, Conviction on 360). I'd rank them: 1. Chaos Theory - Took what made SC1 and SCPT great, and improved/expanded. Easily one of my favorite games of all time. 2. Splinter Cell - Where it all started. I was hooked from the start. 3. Pandora Tomorrow - Although it improved on the SC1 formula, it felt like something was missing. Still an amazing game however. 4. Double Agent (Old-Gen) - Way better than next-gen DA. A great game, only fourth because I don't like consoles very much. 5. Double Agent (New-Gen) - Meh. A good game in it's own right. Just didn't live up to the extremely high bar set by CT, and a couple poor design choices and bugs (which have mostly been patched) held back most potential. 5. Conviction - I could rant on and on about this game, but I'll save you the reading/scrolling to avoid it. I just didn't like it.thedumbcusin

I haven't played the orginal xbox Double Agent--in what way is it better(is it 16:9)?

The pc review for Conviction (on this site) sums up the game pretty well.

It's made by the same people that did Chaos Theory, while the next-gen is done by Ubi Shanghai. There's a lot of small changes between the few as far as the story goes, missions take place in the same general areas but the layouts are entirely different. It plays a lot more like Chaos Theory than the next-gen DA, which is what makes it so much better, imo.thedumbcusin

Conviction is precisely what the franchise needed to shake things up after following a solid but predictable pattern for so many years. It wasn't to everyone's taste but had those changes not been made I have no doubt even more people would accuse the franchise of stagnancy, something that was already beginning to happen when DA was released.

As to the overall rankings of the series, Chaos Theory is a modern classic and I'm actually enjoying Conviction just as much, though admittedly for very different reasons.

If I take only single player into account

1: SC 3
2: SC
3: SC 5
4: SC 2
5: SC 4

With Co-Op and Multiplater added into thought

1: SC 3
2: SC 4 (Xbox version had the co-op of 3 and other modes on the 360)
3: SC 5
4: SC
5: SC 2

Since I haven't played Conviction yet (at least not until Ubi fix the broken PC version), so I'll go with Chaos Theory. The game was perfection. Double Agent... They completely f-ed up the plot in the current gen (and PC) versons, andthe gameplay.. I coul see they wanted to shift the focus from "sitting in the dark corner, waiting until the enemy turns his back on you" to more conbat oriented gameplay(which they did in Conviction) - but it wasn't great. Plus, they went with thw worst possible choise rearding Lambert in this one, so I'm not happy.

4: SC 5: SC 2Legolas_Katarn

My favorite Splinter Cell games are Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Splinter Cell: Conviction. Both games have such explosive stories and such profound revelations about the main storyline of the series.

Chaos Theory is definitely the best in the series, and for me, one of the best games of last generation. Eliminating trial and error from previous SC games and allowing for a more non-linear approach in terms of playstyle (complete with the ability to choose your own loadout), pathways and optional side-objectives. Today, CT still holds up very well.

Conviction is just right behind Chaos Theory as my favorite SC game, which is vastly different, yet familiar in some ways.

Chaos Theory is definitely the best in the series, and for me, one of the best games of last generation. Eliminating trial and error from previous SC games and allowing for a more non-linear approach in terms of playstyle (complete with the ability to choose your own loadout), pathways and optional side-objectives. Today, CT still holds up very well.

Conviction is just right behind Chaos Theory as my favorite SC game, which is vastly different, yet familiar in some ways.

martialbullet

Conviction was horrible! WTF why did you get a pistol with unlimited ammo? Why was Sam Fisher a beserker shooter, and not a stealth guy, a splinter cell? WTF with the camera? WHERE IS SVM?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!??!?!

My personal favorite is the original, as it had a comprehensible story (unlike Pandora and Chaos Theory) and that CIA level was one of the best levels I have every played in a video game ever. But Chaos Theory comes close with its awesome multiplayer and singleplayer (wasnt a fan of co-op). Pandora comes after that. It was fine, but DENNIS HAYBERT SUCKED as Lambert! Really? The Allstate guy as Lambert?!?!?! But the multiplayer was fun, and the singleplayer was sort of enjoyable. In second to last comes Double Agent. It was lazy, but nowhere near as bad as Conviction. Its story was good, and the singleplayer was sometimes fun. But SVM WAS AWFUL! IN DA!! ITS NOT EVEN FUN! As I said, the first was the best, as its atmosphere, levels, and gameplay were unmatched in the rest of the franchise.

Chaos Theory. Double Agent I agree was definitely the worst. I also enjoyed Conviction and looking forward to Blacklist.

The incoming 'The Division'.