I have made an honest effort in playing the game to the best of my ability, unfortunately since I haven't played the other series I cannot bring myself to liking this one. I am in no way bashing this game but what I think of this game is my own opinion. Splinter Cell Essentials is, basically put, a stealth game.
Controls - 60
Maybe I didn't have time to "clean off" the taste from my hands after playing Syphon Filter's controls, but the controls in this game were still confusing. It is just too much to remember what each button on the D-pad was assigned for because there was more than one assignment for each button. If you ever need to go back to some of the controls you need to pause the game and then look at the game manual for some of the answers. The controls are explained during the game, which makes it decent. When you press start during the game you are allowed to change to only two different preset controls. But eventually the large printed tutorials get in the way and there is not option to have them turn off making it a bit annoying. All the while you may or may not be fumbling with the camera movement. The only relief in the control is using a weapon, that's when it becomes easier. Even then the controls to shoot are slow and sometimes unresponsive. You can sit and wait to snipe an enemy but then the precision aiming becomes a bit tedious and alot of work to adjust to.
Graphics - 89
I try not to be nitpicky about about alot of things, but a visual presentation at best would have allowed me to look past the worst controls for the console yet. I think the PSP screen can make prettier images, however, I lack enthusiasm about the game graphics and details. It plays as if there had to be a Splinter Cell game for the PSP. All past games rolled into one isn't a bad idea. I imagine the storyline is playing through the past games of Splinter Cell, which had the same graphics? The weapons lack detail and there are no refined graphics. The gunshots coming from the barrels of the guns were white and looked like they were "drawn-in" like a low budget film of props and with the fake blood. For a mature rating it is very child-like in special effects. The cut scenes were comic stips in transition (just with little touch ups). The screen shots for the game isn't quite up to par with the actual gameplay.
Gameplay - 87
Now that the worst had past. Let me start with a little appraisal for the game. The gameplay, in its own way, is well drawn out. The games direction flows and you can interact with alot of the objects in the environment. I did say earlier the mature rating is very child-like for most people, that may be but the devs are tasteful in how interactive the environment should be(I tried throwing a body into the fire but it didn't work and yes I would be cruel enough to to that to my virtual enemies). It's like reading a well - written book. You know what the author wants to tell you, so you keep reading to find out what happens in between the beginning and the end. I found myself trying to see how far I'd get before I was caught or killed, the reason for me being killed was because I wanted to be killed (the controls really dampened my enjoyment).
Conclusion
Overall if you are a fan of the series you probably know the controls better than any other person being introduced to this game for the first time. I am a first timer and the controls were not very nice to me. I eventually figured out how to play with the camera controls to suit my style of play. Since this is not a run and gun game any average user will find themselves getting use to the controls only in a matter of time.
hmmm i gave the graphics a lower rating.. i wonder what scale the captain used to calculate my scorse cause they are no where close to the equivalent I made on the review
that's too bad mikeike, i didn't realize they misrepresented peoples' reviews. it's bad enough most of the stuff on this site (90%) is ripped directly from ign, gamespot, and others, but the reader reviews were one of the only valuable things on this site, and now they're not really genuine. so what's the point of this site?
I doubt it was an intentional misrepresentation of MikeIkes veiws. The moderators of the site, as well as Captain, are very fair minded and tend to try to do the right thing. I would give them the benefit of the doubt that it was a misunderstanding or oversight, and not intentional Citizen. I appreciate your review MikeIke and will not be buying this game based on your input. Thanks.
To enjoy splinter cell you have to be a fan of the series and I am. To me the graphics were better than this review implied, they were par with the ps2's . The controls are almost the same also. I don't agree with this review, if you like stealth games this is the one to have. If not don't play it you will be dispointed.
Atilla said: "If not don't play it you will be dispointed."
someone call the syntax police. jk!
i'm sure the game has good qualities. syphon filter and katamari just came out and i know they're awesome. there's just no time for questionable video games.
Atilla: I was disappointed because I played Socom and Syphon Filter both have good graphics both had flaws overall they were much better games... So as I said SC would be a game for the fan of the series, I don't mind stealth games so I gave it a a try buying this game. That's all.. but it's cool if you don't agree I was merely stating my opinion based on playing the game for myself.
I'm also a fan of this series and I agree with Mikeike as far as the control layout goes. What makes it so unexcusable is the fact that this game was release a year after the PSP's launch, so they had plenty of time for studying what works and what doesn't. SOCOM got it right and so did Syphon Filter. Why couldn't Ubisoft get it right?
As far as the graphics, I agree with Atilla. By Splinter Cell standards the graphics are good. In my opinion this was never a game franchise that shined for its graphics.
I liked syphon filter because you didnt HAVE to be stealth but you didnt have to not be stealth either, you had a CHOICE, if i'm in the mood I go through a mission in stealth and just like stab all the bad guys or shoot them with darts, if i'm in another mood I just run out and mow people down. I liked also that if you were stealthy the game showed you you were stealthy because you would have less enemies to deal with, and if you jumped out they would call for back up and you would have more enemies to deal with, that was a quality I really liked.
We know the controls are not like socom and SF, this is a differnt game. SC is more like a price of persia seak around and find the better route to the enemy, this is not a run and gun so the target lock is not needed. If you all are comparing the target lock system, if not sorry. But the controls do what they are meant to do. The hole key to the game is to slow down and find ways to get to the enemy that are hard to find, you can play the hole game with out taking a shot(i've heard).
who the hell would want target lock in any game, it is just like a cheap poop deck head fest. Anyone who has an option to use target lock or not and chooses target lock is cheap, end of story.
That review is horrible, you have never played a splinter cell before and just learned it was a stealth game. I would have thought you might have read a publication along the way. I am starting to lose respect for this site after seeing ty reviews like that.
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