Nearly a month left until we wear the suit of one of the greatest assassins yet again – Sam Fisher, and like always, Ubisoft is here teasing us with all the most beautiful things from the game. Last night, they released a video trailer especially targeting the expanse of the upcoming Splinter Cell: Blacklist’s in-game strategy. Can’t write in words as to how much am I anticipating this new game to arrive in my hands. There is so much to do in the new Splinter Cell as I can expect, and there are so many recurring thoughts in my head.
Sam Fisher and the whole of the Splinter Cell series can be easily deduced as the most strategic and comprehensive titles on the planet. They’ve done magic with each of their series. And this one looks no different. The main talking point of yesterday’s trailer is also the unquestionable USP of this Splinter Cell edition: The Various Modus Operandi. Like how you would go around, killing or sparing people, in order to complete your set of objectives in the mission to retrieve the Blacklist. Sam Fisher will infiltrate terrorist hot spots, take down faction leaders, recover intel from well guarded chambers and will allow you to drool through the whole campaign. Even though I’m still analyzing it from the trailers that I’ve seen, I think Splinter Cell is keeping its shell intact, while at the same time blending the best bits of Batman: Arkham series and the Metal Gear Solid saga. The similarity will make sense once you go through each of the Sam Fisher styles of completing the job:
Become the Ghost
I read it in one of the top comments on a Splinter Cell YouTube video, which stated that the Ghost is the only way you can play Splinter Cell. The gentleman is quite right about this bit. Splinter Cell has always been a fan favourite because of its soldier style stealth logistics. It’s unlike Hitman, Assassin’s Creed and the likes, because Sam Fisher is a man who has trained himself, to stay and kill from the shadows. His takedowns are different, his style of dashing through the corridors is different and beyond everything, his decisions sort of become yours during the gameplay. Of course you can run around without killing anybody, but what if sh** goes down? With Ghost, the prices and the consequences may get deadlier, but it is surely the style that I’m looking forward to the most. The pride of beating any stealth game is by flaunting how easily you sneaked past people, without hurting needlessly and yet completing the level to everyone else’s surprise.
In Blacklist, you have the goggle vision to cat scan any area before jumping into it. You have the walls for a quick detour. You have explosives and leather cutters to make alternate ways. And of course you have the shadows. At times, you’d love to put someone to sleep instead of randomly opening fire. You can create distractions to sneak past unnoticed. This whole phase reminds me of some great gaming moments. Remember while liberating outposts in Far Cry 3 with Jason Brody? Throwing a rock there, successfully distracting some 3-4 idiots and opening a cage to let a beast out? Or like sitting atop a gargoyle in Batman Arkham City, and rope tagging one thug after another, while they are clueless and left panicking? Trademark Ghost moves, huh? Imagine this with Sam Fisher in the upcoming Splinter Cell: Blacklist, I know right! Sorry Call of Duty, you can no way be called a Ghost!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYAyBdn-tew]
Become the Assault
For those who do not care about what the world holds against non stealthy players, being the Assault can be an ideal case. I’m pretty sure there won’t be any ammo limitations (like in The Last Of Us) in this expansive modern warfare title. So why not choose a super loadout, pick and use some random guns from the levels and have a great time just killing everyone and showing how good you’re at it? Sam Fisher can be the ideal case for all your acrobatic moves while taking down a criminal establishment. Switch gears, switch sides, switch targets, and just try to hold on to a proper vantage point.
The depth to which the Ubisoft team has travelled in order to bring forth the most challenging and encapsulating Splinter Cell edition till date can be seen in their hard work. If you are daring to be an Assault, you get to apply some crazy strategies, unlike some games that let you ‘just’ shoot. You compensate your last known position during a gun fight, and quickly change covers in order to trick an enemy in Blacklist. The enemies aren’t just stereotypical AI, some of them are as intellectual and instinctive as Sam is, so getting past them might require some extra strategy beyond your Assault style. This is what I understand from my experience of another Ubisoft title: Ghost Recon – Future Soldier. To be honest, Splinter Cell looks as close as Future Soldier, at least in its stealth style, sans the camouflage. The level designs also look a bit similar; I’m imagining a lot of Noble Tempest from the Blacklist gameplay trailers. Gear up to kill and hide, hide to kill.
Become the Panther
If you’re not sure whether to choose the Ghost or the Assault, you might be a panther on the inside. This mode of style gives you the swag of a predator and the brains of a secret agent. The Panther is an alert bounty hunter who runs from cover to cover; killing people within zero reaction time and at the same time maintains that low profile. A suppressed gun and a melee knife would do just great to become a Panther, as shown in the gameplay videos. But make one silly mistake, and you are on your own, you will become a forced Assault. Snake from MGS would be the best example of such a Panther on spree.
The approach to every level seems pretty neatly segregated and laid out in Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Coupled with a neat loadout, it can really get interesting even in the most obvious of situations. Here’s hoping that the long wait for Sam Fisher’s return is indeed a rewarding one, and here’s hoping a great season of gaming up ahead!
