Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Encyclopedia
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is an action-adventure
stealth game, developed by Ubisoft Montreal
and built on the Unreal Engine 2. It is the first Splinter Cell
game in the series endorsed (but not created) by author Tom Clancy
, and follows the activities of American NSA
Black Operation
, "Black Ops", agent Sam Fisher. The character of Sam Fisher is voiced by actor Michael Ironside
. His boss, Irving Lambert, is voiced by actor Don Jordan.
The game is available for Xbox
, PlayStation 2
, Nintendo GameCube
, Windows
, and Mac OS X
. 2D
versions of the game were released for the N-Gage
and Game Boy Advance
, as well as the mobile phones version developed by Gameloft
. A remastered, High-Definition, version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell was announced for the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3
on December 20, 2010. The success of the game series spawned a series of novels written under the pseudonym
David Michaels
.
and thermal vision
goggles to help the player navigate in darkness. The game also displays a E.M display to highlight sources of electricity.
The game heavily encourages the use of stealth over brute force. Although Fisher is usually equipped with firearms, he carries limited ammunition and is not frequently provided with access to additional ammo. The player begins most missions with a limited supply of nonlethal weapons in addition to Fisher's firearms, a suppressed
FN Five-Seven pistol
as well as a suppressed FN F2000
assault rifle
, which includes a scope and a launcher for some of the less-lethal
devices such as ring airfoil projectiles
, "sticky shockers" and CS gas
grenades.
Flexibility of movement is a focuspoint of the game. Fisher can sneak up on enemies from behind to grab them; allowing interrogation, quiet incapacitation, or even use as a human shield
. Fisher is acrobatic and physically adept, and has a variety of maneuvers including the ability to mantle onto and climb along ledges, hang from pipes, and perform a "split jump" in narrow spaces to mantle up a steep wall.
The game is set in the fall of 2004, as the player takes on the role of Sam Fisher, a retired Navy SEAL called back to duty by the American National Security Agency
, or the NSA, to work with a secret division dubbed "Third Echelon", a top-secret sub-branch within the various intelligence branches of the National Security Agency. In 2004, the unnamed president of Georgia
is assassinated during a suicide bomb attack in Tbilisi
, allowing Georgian multi-billionaire Kombayn Nikoladze to seize power in the country in a bloodless coup d’état. While in power, Nikoladze promotes technological advances in information industries with the support of some countries in Europe
as well as the United States
.
Meanwhile, Sam Fisher is dispatched to Tbilisi in Georgia for his first assignment as a Splinter Cell. His mission is to investigate the mysterious disappearance of two CIA agents: Alice Madison, who secured a role in Nikoladze's political cabinet, and Robert Blaustein, who went to find Madison when she went missing but ended up disappearing as well. Fisher meets with NSA informant Thomas Gurgenidze, who he finds in a warehouse engulfed in flames. Before dying, Gurgenidze states that according to Madison's last transmission, the duo had discovered "something big," and she had said that gaining proof could lead to war. Finding the bodies of Madison and Blaustein in the local morgue, Fisher then learns that both agents have been dead for more than a day and that Vyacheslav Grinko - a Russian mercenary, formerly a member of Spetznaz - removed their subdermal tracking implants and departed in his car. Using his license plate number, Third Echelon tracks him to the Georgian Ministry of Defense.
Fisher arrives at the Ministry to find that Grinko is here to meet a computer genius named Phillip Masse. Listening in with a laser mic, Fisher learns that Nikoladze is conducting some kind of top-secret operation in Azerbaijan
. For more information, Fisher infiltrates Nikoladze's personal office and has Anna Grimsdottir, Third Echelon's technical expert, hack into the computer via satellite, only to have the Ministry's security detect the hack and cut Grimsdottir’s access, sending the building into alert. She manages, however, to retrieve the rest of the data, revealing to the NSA that Nikoladze has secretly been waging an on-going ethnic-cleansing campaign in Azerbaijan. Fisher is extracted via a van provided by Wilkes.
With the information gathered from the Ministry, US led NATO troops into Azerbaijan. Nikoladze goes underground. The NSA notices that a Georgian military cell that has been stationed on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea
has been exchanging data with the Georgian Presidential Palace, suggesting it to be of some importance; and thus Fisher is sent to retrieve the data.
Fisher infiltrates the oil rig, only to find that NATO is sending in planes to bomb the facility, which sends the entire oil rig into panic. The team then learns that a computer technician, Piotr Lejava, is trying to prevent data in the rig's computers from falling into NATO hands, which can only be accessed via the technician's encryption key, and so Fisher trails Lejava around the oil rig until he finally catches him and obtains his laptop along with his encryption key. A brief interrogation of Lejava reveals that the data concerns something called 'The Ark', but he doesn’t know what it is.
Once extracted, Grimsdottir examines Lejava's laptop. She's shocked to discover that the level of information stored on the laptop could have only been gained by a mole in the CIA. At that moment, the transport plane they're in suddenly preforms evasive maneuvers. The pilot apologizes for the faulty collision warning, but an incoming call from Third Echelon commanding officer, Irving Lambert, reveals that North America has just been hit by a cyber warfare attack, targeting mostly military targets. In a broadcast, Nikoladze claims responsibility for the attack and officially declares war on the United States.
As America struggles to cope with the aftermath of the attack dubbed as the "Information Crisis" by the media, Fisher infiltrates the CIA headquarters and accesses the CIA computer mainframe, allowing Grimsdottir to trace the location of the data leak to the personal computer of Mitchell Dougherty, and Fisher is ordered to bring him in for interrogation. Dougherty claims to have no knowledge of a data leak but the NSA learns that his obsessive-compulsive caused him to haul all his data onto an insecure laptop, which was taken advantage of by the nearby network housed in the corporate building of Kalinatek Inc.
Knowing that their operation has been compromised by Grimsdottir's trace, the troops inside Kalinatek attempt to destroy any evidence that could lead to Nikoladze, including their computer technicians. The NSA intercepts a 911 call made from a technician named Ivan who states that his life is in danger, and he will help the American government in exchange for rescue. Lambert then tells Fisher that the FBI will collect Ivan and all he needs is Ivan's encryption key. Fisher locates Ivan and he hands over his encryption key. Fisher leaves the Kalinatek building as FBI agents come to take over the scene and rescue Ivan. Using the encryption key, the NSA discovers that Nikoladze has been using a network of unconventional relays to communicate with the Georgian military cells.
The NSA traces the full relay network to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar
, raising questions of Chinese support for the Georgians, which could potentially lead to a war with China. Fisher is sent to sneak into the embassy in order to investigate if the Chinese are really assisting Nikoladze. Fisher sneaks onto the embassy grounds, and is able to eavesdrop on a conversation between Nikoladze and General Kong Feirong, a prominent member of the People's Liberation Army of China. The conversation reveals that the two are working together.
The NSA learns that the two have brought US Military hostages as well as PLA Administrators to a local slaughterhouse for execution and plans to broadcast the execution to America via webcast - Fisher delays his objective of interrogating Feirong so that he can save the hostages, which he successfully accomplishes. Fisher then meets with a Chinese informant and learns that Feirong is in command of a renegade faction of the Chinese military and does not represent China in his actions, stabilizing American and Chinese relations and avoiding war for the time being. Fisher's presence is detected, and in a firefight, Fisher kills Grinko. Returning to the embassy, Fisher manages to grab Feirong before he can commit suicide
, and forces him to share the information on his computer, which reveals that Nikoladze has retreated back to Georgia, where he is trying to activate a WMD called "The Ark", something that he is willing to die for.
Fisher then rushes to the Georgian Presidential Palace, to prevent Nikoladze and the new temporary defacto president, Cristavi, from accessing the key to the Ark which is revealed to be a nuclear bomb hidden somewhere in America. However, Cristavi's men arrive and hold both Nikoladze and Fisher at gunpoint. Nikoladze reveals that the Ark is already armed and located at the intended target. He bargains to give the Ark key to Cristavi in exchange for safe passage out of Georgia. They take Nikoladze and the Ark key elsewhere, and Fisher is left to be executed - luckily, Lambert organizes for a five-seconds long blackout, allowing Fisher to escape and locate Nikoladze, who is still trying to negotiate the Ark for his freedom: in order to prevent this from happening, Fisher assassinates Nikoladze, the only person capable of activating the Ark, thus preventing the Information Crisis from escalating.
With the threat of a major war averted, the United States begins to recover from the crisis, with the President declaring that a new era of peace has emerged. The corpse of Nikoladze is recovered and sparks international backlash for the assassination, however, not known to the public is how it happened; but nonetheless, the President thanks everyone who did their part in ending the crisis and that America “will not forget their resolve”. Fisher laughs at the thanks, watching it at home with his daughter Sarah, who doesn’t know why he’s laughing. Fisher then receives a secure phone call from Lambert about another assignment, obviously disappointing Sarah.
Each version of the game has some exclusive features. The Xbox and Windows versions have three new downloadable missions which involve a Russian nuclear sub. The PlayStation 2 version includes an exclusive level which takes place in a nuclear power plant, new cinematics, a new intro cinematic with original music by the Prague Orchestra, and many behind-the-scenes interviews and documentaries both about the new intro and the game itself. GameCube uses the Game Boy Advance link cable to give you a real-time overhead map and a new sticky-bomb weapon. Additionally, both GameCube and PlayStation 2 include new binoculars items.
A PlayStation 3 version was announced to be part of the Splinter Cell Trilogy which was released in September 2011 as part of Sony's Classics HD
series. It was revealed on the PlayStation Blog, that it would be ported from the PC version, because it had more details and more content than the PS2 version. It was released on the European PlayStation Network on August 10th, 2011.
's Greg Kasavin said that Splinter Cell has "hands down the best lighting effects seen in any game to date." IGN
likewise praised the game for its graphics and lighting. Both praised the game's audio, noting that Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher's voice suited the role perfectly.
Criticism of the game was also present. Greg Kasavin said that Splinter Cell is "sometimes reduced to frustrating bouts of trial and error." In addition, Kasavin criticized the game's cutscenes, saying that they are not up to par with the rest of the game's graphics.
The Splinter Cell Trilogy released in September 2011 was released to mixed to positive reviews. http://au.ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1196951p1.html
Action-adventure game
An action-adventure game is a video game that combines elements of the adventure game genre with various action game elements. It is perhaps the broadest and most diverse genre in gaming, and can include many games which might better be categorized under narrow genres...
stealth game, developed by Ubisoft Montreal
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
and built on the Unreal Engine 2. It is the first Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is an action-adventure stealth game, developed by Ubisoft Montreal and built on the Unreal Engine 2. It is the first Splinter Cell game in the series endorsed by author Tom Clancy, and follows the activities of American NSA Black Operation, "Black Ops", agent Sam Fisher....
game in the series endorsed (but not created) by author Tom Clancy
Tom Clancy
Thomas Leo "Tom" Clancy, Jr. is an American author, best known for his technically detailed espionage, military science, and techno thriller storylines set during and in the aftermath of the Cold War, along with video games on which he did not work, but which bear his name for licensing and...
, and follows the activities of American NSA
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
Black Operation
Black operation
A black operation or black op is a covert operation typically involving activities that are highly clandestine and often outside of standard military protocol or even against the law.-Origins:...
, "Black Ops", agent Sam Fisher. The character of Sam Fisher is voiced by actor Michael Ironside
Michael Ironside
Michael Ironside is a Canadian-born actor. He has also worked as a voice actor, producer, film director, and screenwriter in movie and television series in various Canadian and American productions. He is best known for playing villains and "tough guy" heroes, though he has also portrayed...
. His boss, Irving Lambert, is voiced by actor Don Jordan.
The game is available for Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
, Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, and Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. 2D
2D computer graphics
2D computer graphics is the computer-based generation of digital images—mostly from two-dimensional models and by techniques specific to them...
versions of the game were released for the N-Gage
N-Gage
The N-Gage is a mobile telephone and handheld game system by Nokia, based on the Nokia Series 60 platform, released in October 2003. It began sales on October 7, 2003. The N-Gage QD replaced the original N-Gage in 2004....
and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
, as well as the mobile phones version developed by Gameloft
Gameloft
Gameloft SA is a major French computer and video game developer and publisher headquartered in Paris, France. The company also has subsidiaries in 31 countries around the world....
. A remastered, High-Definition, version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell was announced for the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
on December 20, 2010. The success of the game series spawned a series of novels written under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
David Michaels
David Michaels
David Michaels is a pseudonym for the authors of novels in the Splinter Cell, EndWar, H.A.W.X , and Ghost Recon series, all of which were created by Ubisoft Entertainment and developed under Ubisoft's Tom Clancy license...
.
Gameplay
The primary focus of the gameplay is stealth, with heavy focus on light and darkness. The player is encouraged to move through the shadows for concealment whenever possible. The game displays a "light meter" that reflects how visible the player character is to enemies, and night visionNight vision
Night vision is the ability to see in low light conditions. Whether by biological or technological means, night vision is made possible by a combination of two approaches: sufficient spectral range, and sufficient intensity range...
and thermal vision
Thermography
Infrared thermography, thermal imaging, and thermal video are examples of infrared imaging science. Thermal imaging cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum and produce images of that radiation, called thermograms...
goggles to help the player navigate in darkness. The game also displays a E.M display to highlight sources of electricity.
The game heavily encourages the use of stealth over brute force. Although Fisher is usually equipped with firearms, he carries limited ammunition and is not frequently provided with access to additional ammo. The player begins most missions with a limited supply of nonlethal weapons in addition to Fisher's firearms, a suppressed
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
FN Five-Seven pistol
Pistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
as well as a suppressed FN F2000
FN F2000
The FN F2000 is a 5.56×45mm NATO bullpup assault rifle, designed by FN Herstal in Belgium. The F2000 made its debut in March 2001 at the IDEX defense exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.-Design details:...
assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
, which includes a scope and a launcher for some of the less-lethal
Less-lethal weapon
Non-lethal weapons, also called less-lethal weapons, less-than-lethal weapons, non-deadly weapons, compliance weapons, or pain-inducing weapons are weapons intended to be less likely to kill a living target than are conventional weapons...
devices such as ring airfoil projectiles
Ring Airfoil Projectile
Ring airfoil projectile is designed as an incapacitant. The original design has kinetic and chemical variants.The design of the RAP is an aerodynamic, circular-shaped munition that uses a blunt force to sting the subject, discharges a chemical on impact, or both.-External links:*...
, "sticky shockers" and CS gas
CS gas
2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile is the defining component of a "tear gas" commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent...
grenades.
Flexibility of movement is a focuspoint of the game. Fisher can sneak up on enemies from behind to grab them; allowing interrogation, quiet incapacitation, or even use as a human shield
Human shield
Human shield is a military and political term describing the deliberate placement of civilians in or around combat targets to deter an enemy from attacking those targets. It may also refer to the use of civilians to literally shield combatants during attacks, by forcing the civilians to march in...
. Fisher is acrobatic and physically adept, and has a variety of maneuvers including the ability to mantle onto and climb along ledges, hang from pipes, and perform a "split jump" in narrow spaces to mantle up a steep wall.
Characters
- Sam Fisher - The game's protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
. He is a seasoned veteran of Covert OpsCovert operationA covert operation is a military, intelligence or law enforcement operation that is carried clandestinely and, often, outside of official channels. Covert operations aim to fulfill their mission objectives without any parties knowing who sponsored or carried out the operation...
and Black OpsBlack operationA black operation or black op is a covert operation typically involving activities that are highly clandestine and often outside of standard military protocol or even against the law.-Origins:...
who is the first person recruited as a secret field operative known as a "Splinter Cell" for the NSANational Security AgencyThe National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
's super-secret sub-agency, Third Echelon. - Irving Lambert - The operations coordinator at Third Echelon, he is the link between agents, like Fisher, and a remote team of specialists monitoring them. He contacts the player with new information, objectives, and instructions periodically throughout a mission.
- Vernon Wilkes, Jr. - Coordinates the transportation and equipment for field agents. He drops the player off at the start of a mission and picks him up at the end. He is killed by a Russian mercenary in the "Kalinatek" level. In the PS2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version, he dies in the Nuclear Power Plant level. - Anna Grimsdóttir - The computer and security expert at Third Echelon. She, like Lambert, will contact the player throughout a mission - usually in accordance with Lambert.
- Kombayn Nikoladze - The main antagonist of the story. He is the President of Georgia who wants to bring down America with his power and resources. He launches a technological war on the U.S. before going underground for fear of capture. A terrorist leader. He is killed by Fisher in the "Presidential Palace" level.
- Vyacheslav Grinko - A former SovietSoviet UnionThe Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
SpetsnazSpetsnazSpetsnaz, Specnaz tr: Voyska specialnogo naznacheniya; ) is an umbrella term for any special forces in Russian, literally "force of special purpose"...
operator, he is Nikoladze's terrorist military commander - usually working with mercenaries. He is killed by Fisher in the "Abattoir" level. - Phillip Masse - A Canadian hacker, he is the technology behind Nikoladze's terrorism. He is killed by Fisher in the "Kola PeninsulaKola PeninsulaThe Kola Peninsula is a peninsula in the far northwest of Russia. Constituting the bulk of the territory of Murmansk Oblast, it lies almost completely to the north of the Arctic Circle and is washed by the Barents Sea in the north and the White Sea in the east and southeast...
" level. - Kong Feirong - A rogue Chinese general, Feirong is an ambitious Chinese officer whose alliance with Nikoladze nearly ignites World War III. He commits suicide in the second "Chinese Embassy" level after Nikoladze deserts him.
Plot
The game is set in the fall of 2004, as the player takes on the role of Sam Fisher, a retired Navy SEAL called back to duty by the American National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
, or the NSA, to work with a secret division dubbed "Third Echelon", a top-secret sub-branch within the various intelligence branches of the National Security Agency. In 2004, the unnamed president of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
is assassinated during a suicide bomb attack in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, allowing Georgian multi-billionaire Kombayn Nikoladze to seize power in the country in a bloodless coup d’état. While in power, Nikoladze promotes technological advances in information industries with the support of some countries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as well as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Meanwhile, Sam Fisher is dispatched to Tbilisi in Georgia for his first assignment as a Splinter Cell. His mission is to investigate the mysterious disappearance of two CIA agents: Alice Madison, who secured a role in Nikoladze's political cabinet, and Robert Blaustein, who went to find Madison when she went missing but ended up disappearing as well. Fisher meets with NSA informant Thomas Gurgenidze, who he finds in a warehouse engulfed in flames. Before dying, Gurgenidze states that according to Madison's last transmission, the duo had discovered "something big," and she had said that gaining proof could lead to war. Finding the bodies of Madison and Blaustein in the local morgue, Fisher then learns that both agents have been dead for more than a day and that Vyacheslav Grinko - a Russian mercenary, formerly a member of Spetznaz - removed their subdermal tracking implants and departed in his car. Using his license plate number, Third Echelon tracks him to the Georgian Ministry of Defense.
Fisher arrives at the Ministry to find that Grinko is here to meet a computer genius named Phillip Masse. Listening in with a laser mic, Fisher learns that Nikoladze is conducting some kind of top-secret operation in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. For more information, Fisher infiltrates Nikoladze's personal office and has Anna Grimsdottir, Third Echelon's technical expert, hack into the computer via satellite, only to have the Ministry's security detect the hack and cut Grimsdottir’s access, sending the building into alert. She manages, however, to retrieve the rest of the data, revealing to the NSA that Nikoladze has secretly been waging an on-going ethnic-cleansing campaign in Azerbaijan. Fisher is extracted via a van provided by Wilkes.
With the information gathered from the Ministry, US led NATO troops into Azerbaijan. Nikoladze goes underground. The NSA notices that a Georgian military cell that has been stationed on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
has been exchanging data with the Georgian Presidential Palace, suggesting it to be of some importance; and thus Fisher is sent to retrieve the data.
Fisher infiltrates the oil rig, only to find that NATO is sending in planes to bomb the facility, which sends the entire oil rig into panic. The team then learns that a computer technician, Piotr Lejava, is trying to prevent data in the rig's computers from falling into NATO hands, which can only be accessed via the technician's encryption key, and so Fisher trails Lejava around the oil rig until he finally catches him and obtains his laptop along with his encryption key. A brief interrogation of Lejava reveals that the data concerns something called 'The Ark', but he doesn’t know what it is.
Once extracted, Grimsdottir examines Lejava's laptop. She's shocked to discover that the level of information stored on the laptop could have only been gained by a mole in the CIA. At that moment, the transport plane they're in suddenly preforms evasive maneuvers. The pilot apologizes for the faulty collision warning, but an incoming call from Third Echelon commanding officer, Irving Lambert, reveals that North America has just been hit by a cyber warfare attack, targeting mostly military targets. In a broadcast, Nikoladze claims responsibility for the attack and officially declares war on the United States.
As America struggles to cope with the aftermath of the attack dubbed as the "Information Crisis" by the media, Fisher infiltrates the CIA headquarters and accesses the CIA computer mainframe, allowing Grimsdottir to trace the location of the data leak to the personal computer of Mitchell Dougherty, and Fisher is ordered to bring him in for interrogation. Dougherty claims to have no knowledge of a data leak but the NSA learns that his obsessive-compulsive caused him to haul all his data onto an insecure laptop, which was taken advantage of by the nearby network housed in the corporate building of Kalinatek Inc.
Knowing that their operation has been compromised by Grimsdottir's trace, the troops inside Kalinatek attempt to destroy any evidence that could lead to Nikoladze, including their computer technicians. The NSA intercepts a 911 call made from a technician named Ivan who states that his life is in danger, and he will help the American government in exchange for rescue. Lambert then tells Fisher that the FBI will collect Ivan and all he needs is Ivan's encryption key. Fisher locates Ivan and he hands over his encryption key. Fisher leaves the Kalinatek building as FBI agents come to take over the scene and rescue Ivan. Using the encryption key, the NSA discovers that Nikoladze has been using a network of unconventional relays to communicate with the Georgian military cells.
The NSA traces the full relay network to the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
, raising questions of Chinese support for the Georgians, which could potentially lead to a war with China. Fisher is sent to sneak into the embassy in order to investigate if the Chinese are really assisting Nikoladze. Fisher sneaks onto the embassy grounds, and is able to eavesdrop on a conversation between Nikoladze and General Kong Feirong, a prominent member of the People's Liberation Army of China. The conversation reveals that the two are working together.
The NSA learns that the two have brought US Military hostages as well as PLA Administrators to a local slaughterhouse for execution and plans to broadcast the execution to America via webcast - Fisher delays his objective of interrogating Feirong so that he can save the hostages, which he successfully accomplishes. Fisher then meets with a Chinese informant and learns that Feirong is in command of a renegade faction of the Chinese military and does not represent China in his actions, stabilizing American and Chinese relations and avoiding war for the time being. Fisher's presence is detected, and in a firefight, Fisher kills Grinko. Returning to the embassy, Fisher manages to grab Feirong before he can commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, and forces him to share the information on his computer, which reveals that Nikoladze has retreated back to Georgia, where he is trying to activate a WMD called "The Ark", something that he is willing to die for.
Fisher then rushes to the Georgian Presidential Palace, to prevent Nikoladze and the new temporary defacto president, Cristavi, from accessing the key to the Ark which is revealed to be a nuclear bomb hidden somewhere in America. However, Cristavi's men arrive and hold both Nikoladze and Fisher at gunpoint. Nikoladze reveals that the Ark is already armed and located at the intended target. He bargains to give the Ark key to Cristavi in exchange for safe passage out of Georgia. They take Nikoladze and the Ark key elsewhere, and Fisher is left to be executed - luckily, Lambert organizes for a five-seconds long blackout, allowing Fisher to escape and locate Nikoladze, who is still trying to negotiate the Ark for his freedom: in order to prevent this from happening, Fisher assassinates Nikoladze, the only person capable of activating the Ark, thus preventing the Information Crisis from escalating.
With the threat of a major war averted, the United States begins to recover from the crisis, with the President declaring that a new era of peace has emerged. The corpse of Nikoladze is recovered and sparks international backlash for the assassination, however, not known to the public is how it happened; but nonetheless, the President thanks everyone who did their part in ending the crisis and that America “will not forget their resolve”. Fisher laughs at the thanks, watching it at home with his daughter Sarah, who doesn’t know why he’s laughing. Fisher then receives a secure phone call from Lambert about another assignment, obviously disappointing Sarah.
Development
Because the development team was aiming for a Teen ESRB rating, the team tried to minimize the level of violence.Version Differences
The PC version of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is fairly closely based on the original Xbox version. Both were made by Ubisoft Montreal. The GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions, which were developed by Ubisoft Shanghai, are similar to each other, but have many small changes over the originals with the result that they are generally easier. Some doors are moved around, guards are less likely to notice gunshots, etc.Each version of the game has some exclusive features. The Xbox and Windows versions have three new downloadable missions which involve a Russian nuclear sub. The PlayStation 2 version includes an exclusive level which takes place in a nuclear power plant, new cinematics, a new intro cinematic with original music by the Prague Orchestra, and many behind-the-scenes interviews and documentaries both about the new intro and the game itself. GameCube uses the Game Boy Advance link cable to give you a real-time overhead map and a new sticky-bomb weapon. Additionally, both GameCube and PlayStation 2 include new binoculars items.
A PlayStation 3 version was announced to be part of the Splinter Cell Trilogy which was released in September 2011 as part of Sony's Classics HD
Classics HD
Sony's High-definition remasters are a series of video games originally released on the PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable video game consoles, re-released for Sony's PlayStation 3 and Playstation Vita. A number of related programs exist, the most prominent two being "Classics HD" and "PSP...
series. It was revealed on the PlayStation Blog, that it would be ported from the PC version, because it had more details and more content than the PS2 version. It was released on the European PlayStation Network on August 10th, 2011.
Reception
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell received positive reviews upon the game's release. GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
's Greg Kasavin said that Splinter Cell has "hands down the best lighting effects seen in any game to date." IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
likewise praised the game for its graphics and lighting. Both praised the game's audio, noting that Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher's voice suited the role perfectly.
Criticism of the game was also present. Greg Kasavin said that Splinter Cell is "sometimes reduced to frustrating bouts of trial and error." In addition, Kasavin criticized the game's cutscenes, saying that they are not up to par with the rest of the game's graphics.
The Splinter Cell Trilogy released in September 2011 was released to mixed to positive reviews. http://au.ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1196951p1.html
Sales
The game has sold over 3 million copies: 2.4 million in US, 600,000 in Europe, 5,449 in Japan, making it one of the top best selling video games for the Xbox.Awards
- E3 2002 Game Critics AwardsGame Critics AwardsThe Game Critics Awards are a set of annual awards held after the E3 video game conference since 1998. The awards are given to products displayed at E3 with the title Best of E3 of their category. The nominees and winners of the awards are chosen by individual judges representing 35 major North...
: Best Action/Adventure Game - 3rd Annual Game Developers Choice AwardsGame Developers Choice AwardsThe Game Developers Choice Awards are annually presented by the Game Developers Conference for outstanding game developers and games.Introduced in 2001, the Game Developers Choice Awards were preceded by the Spotlight Awards, which were presented from 1997 to 1999.The 2009 award presentation was...
: Excellence in Writing - 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Console Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering
- IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
Best of 2002: Xbox Game of the Year, Xbox Best Graphics
Nominations
- 3rd Annual Game Developers Choice AwardsGame Developers Choice AwardsThe Game Developers Choice Awards are annually presented by the Game Developers Conference for outstanding game developers and games.Introduced in 2001, the Game Developers Choice Awards were preceded by the Spotlight Awards, which were presented from 1997 to 1999.The 2009 award presentation was...
: Game of the Year, Original Game Character of the Year, Excellence in Game Design, Excellence in Level Design, and Excellence in Programming - 6th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards: Innovation in Console Gaming, Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design, Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering, and Console Action/Adventure Game of the Year
- IGN Best of 2002: Overall Game of the Year