| 05 April 2010
After getting a few hours to play around with the new Splinter Cell at the LA launch event, it was hard to separate the fun of going to the actual party from the pleasure of playing the co-op version of the game. Now that I've given it time to coalesce in my mind grapes, I give to you the results of a night of scotch and espionage.
The first thing I learned about this game is that you can not not not not not not not not play this at all like Battlefield, Call of Duty, Mass Effect, Bioshock or any other game out there at the moment. You have to play it like a Splinter Cell game: Slow, methodically and deliberate.
Who are we kidding here though, you're going to try to gun your way through the first time, right? Right. I did too, but I got killed three times in 5 minutes doing it that way. It's a tough habit to break out of immediately. When you DO break out of it the game really opens up.
In order to enjoy playing the game you need to do certain things. Things like:
- Shoot out lights.
- Use melee kills whenever possible to earn Mark and Execute points.
- NOT move around when you're using your sonar optics (movement blurs your optics reception)
- Pay attention to when you are in the dark, and when you're out of the dark.
- Think vertically, You can (and should) climb ledges, scaffolding, stairwells and skylights.
- Use your gadgets (EMPs, cameras, etc...)
- Split up.
This last one really comes in handy due to the fact that you can attack enemies at the same time and even Mark/Execute your teammates' targets. If and when your buddy gets laid out/rear naked choked, you'll be alerted and directed to his location to revive/rescue him.
My favorite aspect of the game is the dependency on your teammate. For instance; if you attempt a close quarters take-down of an enemy you run the risk of getting the move reversed, then the choker becomes the chokee. While you're standing there, watching your oxygen meter slowly drain, your teammate will pop around a corner. At that time you can press the "A" button to "Distract" your captor. And just like all sweet hostage situation should play out, you'll head-but the enemy and duck. A split second later your partner puts one in the bad guy's dome. Epic.
If you're ready for the next evolution of the Splinter Cell series, with its slow pace, gratifying kill scenes and a whole mess of invisible projectors breaking the 4th wall... then you just might enjoy Conviction.
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