Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 492 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 423 out of 492
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 492
  3. Negative: 15 out of 492
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  1. JosephPalka
    Jul 13, 2009
    10
    This was a pretty good game on the Playstation 2 when I first experienced it. The stealth element in the game made the game itself come to life. Despite the weapons, there were also a variety of objects in the game as well. Another good thing about this game are the graphics. The graphics are polished in every single environment along with the effects of the sky, explosions, fire, andThis was a pretty good game on the Playstation 2 when I first experienced it. The stealth element in the game made the game itself come to life. Despite the weapons, there were also a variety of objects in the game as well. Another good thing about this game are the graphics. The graphics are polished in every single environment along with the effects of the sky, explosions, fire, and decals. The interrogations and conversations from the NPC's are also entertaining. In the Kalinatek building, you see two guards through a transparent wall talking about how wall mines are dangerous. You have two choices: Wait for one of the guards to walk into the room and be knocked out by you or just open the door in the middle of their conversation, take out your SC20K, zoom in and shoot the mine to turn them into barbecue steaks!

    Overall: I have played all the Splinter Cell games in the franchise so far and even though this game is old, it is well worth anyone's time.    … Expand
  2. Macmillan
    Aug 17, 2011
    10
    supremo! Sam fisher rocks! Kick the people finding flaws in this game.it is much better than hitman where if u wear enemy cloths then no one recognises you.oh come on it is impossible to unrecognise top most honour killer agent 47 in any getup specialy because they have those barcodes on the back side of head.
    Splinter cell rocks man!
  3. dyspeptic
    Jan 15, 2015
    8
    LAST PLAYED: Jan 2015 (GOG.com Version)

    PROS: + Stealth matters + Story is pretty good + Some cool equipment CONS: - Some clumsy control elements – Graphics haven’t aged well, even on max PC settings REVIEW: When I spotted this title on sale on GOG.com’s platform I thought I’d try it out, since it spawned so many sequels. In some ways, I was pleasantly surprised. The Assassin’s    LAST PLAYED: Jan 2015 (GOG.com Version)

    PROS: + Stealth matters + Story is pretty good + Some cool equipment

    CONS: - Some clumsy control elements – Graphics haven’t aged well, even on max PC settings

    REVIEW: When I spotted this title on sale on GOG.com’s platform I thought I’d try it out, since it spawned so many sequels. In some ways, I was pleasantly surprised. The Assassin’s Creed series, also by Ubisoft, claims that you should try to kill your target stealthily, but gives no reward for doing so. Splinter Cell, by contrast, really can’t be played “loud” since the computer is scripted to give you one warning before terminating the mission. It is refreshing to have stealth be a mission-critical element in a game, since so many of them are optional at best.

    As a side-effect of the stealth focus of the game, patience is rewarded. If you wait, in game, things improve. This is also true for the story, which starts out pretty bland but gets better later (though if you don’t care for geopolitics and conspiracy theories you might still be bored). Also, the rifle with all the attachments only becomes available later. From my perspective, this is kind of a mistake, since it makes the early missions less fun, but whatever.

    The bad of the game really boils down to some growing pains. Ubisoft hadn’t figured out a good control scheme yet, I guess because the mouse wheel is all important for controlling movement speed in this game. Yes, I could have used XPadder to try to mimic the console, but who would really want to go to all that effort? Also, the character models are angular with terrible textures—symptomatic of games of the time.

    The results? A game that is still worth playing 12 years later: it will immerse you if you are willing to be patient with the awkward controls and clunky first levels.    … Expand
  4. DGDrocks7
    Jun 21, 2015
    8
    My very first Splinter Cell game. No, I didn't play this when I was a kid, I just started the series and plan to play them in order. Talk about being late! Back then I heard this game was aimed to be a Metal Gear Solid 2 killer. Ha! Not even close. Splinter Cell is a great game, just not on par with MGS.

    As you may already know, you are Sam Fisher, a secret agent of Third Echelon, a    My very first Splinter Cell game. No, I didn't play this when I was a kid, I just started the series and plan to play them in order. Talk about being late! Back then I heard this game was aimed to be a Metal Gear Solid 2 killer. Ha! Not even close. Splinter Cell is a great game, just not on par with MGS.

    As you may already know, you are Sam Fisher, a secret agent of Third Echelon, a section of the NSA. A coup has occurred in Georgia, and a man named Kombayn Nikoladze has come into power. The CIA sends in two agents to see if this guy is up to no good. Suddenly they lose contact. That's where you come in. The story is decent and so is the voice acting. Music also sets the mood too.

    Obviously, stealth is a must in this game. Why? Because #1: you have limited ammo. #2: Sam can get killed easily, even on the easier difficulty and #3: setting off too many alarms will cause the mission to end. This game does not hold your hand, you have to figure how to proceed by yourself. What I like about this game is the use of light and darkness to proceed. There are cases where you can be nose-to-nose with an enemy yet because you're in pitch darkness, he wouldn't notice you. Note, that's an exaggeration, he'll notice if you get too close, so don't actually do it :D

    Of course, there are faults. One is the melee attack. There's JUST one: an elbow strike. You can knock out enemies from behind with it, but the real problem is using it face-to-face. When you're sneaking from behind and they turn around and spot you (which will happen very often), it takes two strikes to dispatch them and by the time you do that, they pumped 2-3 bullets (more if it's an assault rifle), bringing down a good chunk of health.

    Another thing is the aiming. For some reason, this highly-trained NSA agent cannot aim his pistol right. As in, even if you're crouched and still, you can still miss. Not a big deal since you're not supposed to kill too much anyway, but it's a problem when you trying to shoot lights out. What I do is that I quicksave before I shoot. The SC-20K is MUCH better. Not only is it more accurate, but you can do a lot of stuff with it, like sniping, shooting non-lethal darts and sleeping gas. And the last thing is once you beat the game, that's it. Fortunately, it's worth a second playthrough. Try it on Hard.

    This game has done a good job of introducing me to the SC series. It's worth the low price now. I want to play Pandora Tommorrow now but it's not on Steam. Please Ubisoft, fix whatever problems it has and re-release it.    … Expand
  5. Sten-Bengt94
    Jun 4, 2014
    8
    I have played many stealth games and after playing through this game I am still not convinced that this is one of the best stealth games but it was still enjoyable and well made for it's time. The controls was ok but there are problems with the gameplay when descending from a ledge to another ledge and jumping from a ladder to a ledge which can make you miss the ledge. This was annoyingI have played many stealth games and after playing through this game I am still not convinced that this is one of the best stealth games but it was still enjoyable and well made for it's time. The controls was ok but there are problems with the gameplay when descending from a ledge to another ledge and jumping from a ladder to a ledge which can make you miss the ledge. This was annoying but with many tries it finnaly worked. The difficulty of this game was very hard and not because of how smart the A.I was or how the level design was built, but reather the recoil and accuracy of the weapons which made the game harder in a unrealistic way and also those times when you had to kill your way through to complete a level was a bit annoying. You can get used to it but still it could have been more enjoyable if the shooting mechanics could of been better.

    The difficulty was unrealistic how the A.I could spot you with their eyes in the back of their heads which also made the game bad. Some might disagree with me and say that I made too much noise but was not the case here, the A.I knew that you were behind them all the time quite often but this could be a bug or the A.I. was inconsistent.

    Being the first game in the Splinter Cell franchise it is still a enjoyable stealth experience but it is disappointing to me that the A.I is inconsistent and the weapon handling is bad.

    The story is good but not great but how the story was told was quite interesting.
    I would like to have a longer story campaign with more stealth gameplay but they wanted to balance the variation of the gameplay by having more shooting rather than stealth which is unfortunate because I still think that this game needed more stealth moments and If the shooting mechanics would have been better, well then I would have enjoyed having those crucial shooting moments in the game. Despite those flaws this game Spinter Cell is a very good stealth action game and I recommend those that love the stealth game genre to play it.    … Expand
  6. NinjaMafia
    Aug 11, 2003
    6
    I really don't like this game that much. First off, the game is very linear, which I could handle if it had some replay value to keep me going. The gameplay was fun for a while but you had to sneak everywhere in this game, making running almost useless except for the parts where there are no guards around. I liked the fact that you could take human shields but they did a poor job on I really don't like this game that much. First off, the game is very linear, which I could handle if it had some replay value to keep me going. The gameplay was fun for a while but you had to sneak everywhere in this game, making running almost useless except for the parts where there are no guards around. I liked the fact that you could take human shields but they did a poor job on it. Enemies still shoot at you when you have a human shield and the only thing a human shield is good for is to knock a guard out. The targeting system could have been improved , I really didn't care for unholstering my gun and then suddenly Sam Fisher moved at a crawl.This game isn't that terrible though, you really feel like your being extremely stealthy in the game, which can be a good or bad thing. The graphics are realy good but I don't really care how a game looks. The sound is ok, the voice acting was good but sometimes Sam sounded a bit monotone. There is practically no memerable music in this game. I did like that fact that shooting out lights could help you hide in the shadows but there rises another problem. This game is too dependant on hiding in the shadows. Sure I can understand it if it had other stealthy moves buts it really doesn't. Overall, Splinter Cell can be an incredibly fun game for a lot of people. It just isn't my cup of teamemerable music in this game.… Expand
  7. RogerB.
    Nov 27, 2003
    6
    Good graphics and sound - despite the on-going issues with both (Testing department??) Story line is too linear and no on-line/multiplayer option therefore less incentive to continue playing after completion of the game. anyway good effort - bring on Pandora Tomorrow.
  8. JurisdeMo
    Feb 25, 2003
    6
    Well, nothing special. Yes it is good, but I am tired of walking in all 3d alone. Also map on game just sucks. And to make it worse you can allways see that there is only one way to go, just go forward and no left or right. If U have not played much 3d then this is great, but for others - I am tired of these kind of games, they R always the same.
  9. Sneak
    Sep 4, 2008
    10
    I really, really, pity the people who think that this has been done before/is stupid/is too linear. It takes a while, but there is always an alternate route, with a few exceptions. Also, AI is amazing, mch better than in Metal Gear Solid (where pointing your gun at them caused them to crap out ammunition and supplies. Also, even though I have only played the Xbox version, the computer I really, really, pity the people who think that this has been done before/is stupid/is too linear. It takes a while, but there is always an alternate route, with a few exceptions. Also, AI is amazing, mch better than in Metal Gear Solid (where pointing your gun at them caused them to crap out ammunition and supplies. Also, even though I have only played the Xbox version, the computer version can't really be that much different.… Expand
  10. Basem101
    Aug 20, 2013
    6
    although i like stealth games but i can't seem to get well with this one maybe because i played it lately and not when it was released or maybe because i didn't like its slow paced gameplay
  11. mr-NachoMen
    Sep 4, 2019
    5
    Personally i'm not a huge fan of the stealth genre, i'm more of the go straight to the point rather than just sit and wait a few minutes for the perfect moment to take down an enemy, but there are games like Thief and Hitman that manage to be fair in check points, detection and how to deal with enemies in case you've been detected... Splinter Cell is not that game, it is more like thePersonally i'm not a huge fan of the stealth genre, i'm more of the go straight to the point rather than just sit and wait a few minutes for the perfect moment to take down an enemy, but there are games like Thief and Hitman that manage to be fair in check points, detection and how to deal with enemies in case you've been detected... Splinter Cell is not that game, it is more like the hardcore experience in stealth video games.
    This series is a big one... it has multiple sequels and a huge fan base.
    The game story is pretty interesting and well executed, movie quality stuff i would say.
    This game for it's time (2002/2003) was a tech improvement... it implemented real time shadows and lighting that were essential in the game's mechanics. This game was built using Unreal 2 Engine and still looks good... it looks better than letter games using that engine like... Land of the Dead and A series of unfortunate events. When an engine it's on good hands... amazing stuff can happen.
    For me, personally the general game was a huge downside due to it's controls, mission structure and stealth mechanics.
    Being stealthy is strongly recommended here, engage in combat and kill enemies is risky and can result in a mission failure.
    Making a sound can attract enemy attention and they will go looking for you, so try to not make any sound, stay hidden in the shadows is essential, the player can shoot to security cameras and light bulbs with your silenced pistol to remain hidden but when doing it, like i mention, will result into enemy patrols searching for you. Shooting at enemies is a no go, the aiming is inconstant at long range and it will alarm the enemy, there are multiple missions in which you must not get spotted, if so... mission fail and you must load the previous check point, most of the times you will rather press f5 to quick save and start from there.
    Again... Splinter Cell is not necessary a bad game or nothing like that, but this game is for the hardcore stealth gamer, which is not my case...    … Expand
  12. DrewL.
    May 31, 2003
    10
    This game brings out the best in every aspect of what a solo-shooter game should be. Graphics are amazing, and stealth tactics are awesome.
  13. BoMD
    May 4, 2003
    10
    TOP OF THE LINE !!!!!!! This game is realy something new and never before seen. The only bad thing about the game i can say is that it abit too hard fore me. THUMBS UP
  14. SimonB.
    May 29, 2007
    7
    You play a secret agent with gadgets and catchy lines. That's kind of like James Bond and Hitman. Except James Bond cares less if he blows up an entire skyscraper. Comparing this game to Hitman is flawed. Hitman can go with intense action and making mass murder. Sam Fisher has only sixty lousy bullets and he can't pick up guns from dead bodies. Stealth prevails here more than You play a secret agent with gadgets and catchy lines. That's kind of like James Bond and Hitman. Except James Bond cares less if he blows up an entire skyscraper. Comparing this game to Hitman is flawed. Hitman can go with intense action and making mass murder. Sam Fisher has only sixty lousy bullets and he can't pick up guns from dead bodies. Stealth prevails here more than making a private Vendetta. This game is a solo game made in 2003 or 2004 , I'm not certain. Back then, nobody really believed in free gaming. This isn't some FPS or hardcore gamer game. If people aged over 40 years old could play it as a pass time, I believe (yes I have proof of this) that it deserves more than just being compared to other action games. Overall, great stealth game with a solid story (though the dialogues are beyond ridiculous in my opinion, seeing as nobody speaks other languages than english).… Expand
  15. ChristopherW.
    Mar 6, 2003
    9
    A superb game, way better than the console versions.
  16. PliskinI.
    Mar 8, 2003
    10
    Best Game out There Definitely buy it.
  17. IzZo
    May 1, 2003
    10
    One of a Kind!! This game rocks!These stealth games have alwayz been my fav, especially MGS series. Man, this game has 2 b ubisoft's best piece of work yet! unfortunately like other games 2day it's a very demanding game, requiring a Geforece 2 operate, had 2 upgrade my geforce 2 to 4 jus for this n MGS 2 but seriously these games r worth it!the lighting n audio r incredible, n i One of a Kind!! This game rocks!These stealth games have alwayz been my fav, especially MGS series. Man, this game has 2 b ubisoft's best piece of work yet! unfortunately like other games 2day it's a very demanding game, requiring a Geforece 2 operate, had 2 upgrade my geforce 2 to 4 jus for this n MGS 2 but seriously these games r worth it!the lighting n audio r incredible, n i like da idea of da scroll mouse for adjustin runnnin speed, very creative me thinks, well done Ubisoft, i take my hat off 2 u for this great game!… Expand
  18. TimB.
    Apr 5, 2004
    10
    Oh man. I don't know where to start. This game lets you choose whether to kick ass and take names, or just hide in the shadows and sneak past everyone. If there were no ending, I'd still be playing it. Nonstop. I wouldn't even sleep.
  19. DalekC
    Jun 6, 2009
    8
    I thought that the game was fun, sneaking and shooting and whacking the crap out of people.
  20. TheTwo
    Oct 16, 2003
    7
    Like some people already said, it's HIGHLY overrated. It can be anything but original: it's basically a mix between Metal Gear, Thief and Hitman, plus a little of NOLF and other games; the only original things it adds are the "free camera", the speed control and the split jump. OK, that doesn't matter that much, but is the most LINEAR game I've ever played. If taking Like some people already said, it's HIGHLY overrated. It can be anything but original: it's basically a mix between Metal Gear, Thief and Hitman, plus a little of NOLF and other games; the only original things it adds are the "free camera", the speed control and the split jump. OK, that doesn't matter that much, but is the most LINEAR game I've ever played. If taking decisions about what to do in certain situations is the way you think an infiltration game should be (like in the 3 games I've mentioned first), AVOID THIS GAME, because the level design forces you to go(do) wherever(whatever) the developers want you to go(do): "rappel here", "everything is closed except the ventilation system", etc. In Splinter Cell you can do almost anything you can think a secret agent "ninja style" can do, your character really has a good variety of moves, and you will find yourself using all of his moves through the game and that's cool, but that's because you have to, you don't have the choice for a better/quicker way of infiltrating/getting out, you have no choices at all in this game, then it's hard to get involved in the history of the game, cause everything is "staged" (highly scripted), everything is done in only one way, eveything ca be passed in only one way, everything feels unnatural. Of course, because of all this, the game has ZERO replay value. The enemy AI is very poor, and you can figure most scripted sequences and beat them the second time you pass them if you die. Style, graphics and sound save the day.… Expand
  21. JoshF.
    Mar 16, 2003
    8
    So far, I'm really liking this game. I got a PS2 unfaithfully , solely for Vice City. Planned to buy this, too, but when I found the PC version I couldn't imagine playing it with an anolog stick. Mice are SO much more precise. Games like this are totally suited for PC's. Any way, so far this game kicks ass, people.
  22. DjE
    Dec 22, 2004
    10
    This game is the best with all the best sound graphics and levels puls how much deatial is put in to the guns this is a sweet game i would recommend this to anyone.
  23. Stuie
    Feb 19, 2003
    10
    Totally a wicked game, very well done, excellent gameplay, excellant sound and graphics..... all around a top notch game and totally woth the money.
  24. AdamR.
    Mar 27, 2003
    10
    Very good. I have only played the demo, but it is very good. But what is with the AI? I was using this guy as a human shield and the AI shot at me anyway. And when the shield died, the computer blamed it on me. What's up with that!? But, back to the demo I go. Another note: Graphics are bad on a GeForce2 GTS
  25. ShawnH
    May 24, 2008
    8
    A good game, even in 2008, 5 years after it debuted. I agree with what others have said. It is linear and has aspects of Thief, Hitman and No One Lives Forever. I enjoy sneaking up and taking out enemies, but I wish there were more ways to dispatch the enemy. I also enjoy listening to the conversations between NPC's, which give life to the game. It is definitely worth playing, and I A good game, even in 2008, 5 years after it debuted. I agree with what others have said. It is linear and has aspects of Thief, Hitman and No One Lives Forever. I enjoy sneaking up and taking out enemies, but I wish there were more ways to dispatch the enemy. I also enjoy listening to the conversations between NPC's, which give life to the game. It is definitely worth playing, and I look forward to playing the sequels to see what other adventures Sam Fisher gets involved in.… Expand
  26. jacobwt226
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    Age beat it up, but it never fell down. I love the game, it comes close to my heart the testament of how good games stay forever whereas some leave, this one will not leave me for one second though!
  27. BoozerReviews
    Jun 23, 2012
    9
    after playing chaos theory this game looks abit stale but for it's time it's great you can pretty much tweak anything in the ini solid game showing its age
  28. Nataraja
    Apr 3, 2013
    8
    Considering that this game was released in 2003 its a pretty remarkable game. Not for the graphics those are okay and on par for the generation of games it is in not for the controls of the game and its responsiveness to your actions (drove me insane that Sam would not do the simplest maneuvers without doing it multiple times "No GRAB THAT LEDGE YOU MORON") but purely for the game play.Considering that this game was released in 2003 its a pretty remarkable game. Not for the graphics those are okay and on par for the generation of games it is in not for the controls of the game and its responsiveness to your actions (drove me insane that Sam would not do the simplest maneuvers without doing it multiple times "No GRAB THAT LEDGE YOU MORON") but purely for the game play. The voice acting is okay. The sets are decent. But what makes this an 8 and not a 5 is the design of the game, the variety of approaches, even in the restricted space of a spy/stealth game and the need to really examine all the alternatives before taking a particular route or approach. Its still a fun game even nearly 10 years after its release.… Expand
  29. drakenseng
    Feb 12, 2013
    9
    story- it revolves around 'sam fisher' a spy agent that you play as. you work for a type of government security agency. gameplay- the controls can get a bit problematic, sometimes feels blocky. but it introduce a new way to play with tactical gameplay. you use a variety of tactical equipment to get the jobs done. video- solid for its date of release. its about the standard during thatstory- it revolves around 'sam fisher' a spy agent that you play as. you work for a type of government security agency. gameplay- the controls can get a bit problematic, sometimes feels blocky. but it introduce a new way to play with tactical gameplay. you use a variety of tactical equipment to get the jobs done. video- solid for its date of release. its about the standard during that time.

    audio- music is solid, and effects are well done. overall- the original sometimes is always the best and this one beats the recent release imo. conviction didn't really introduce much new and felt all over the place.    … Expand
  30. Pranay6
    Sep 1, 2013
    10
    The original Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is the best game in the series because of its
    1) Game play in which we can do the same thing again and again in different ways.
    2)Graphics which is good for game of 2003.
    3)Sets which are awesome like the CIA HQ & Kalinatek
  31. AWG
    Jul 7, 2013
    8
    A funny and interesting game experience wrapped in a great-written story: more than 10 years after its release, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is still one of the most innovative and lovable "first game from a franchise titles" ever.
  32. gracjanski
    May 23, 2016
    9
    This game is really classic. I am playing it right now and have a lot of fun. The atmosphere is great, even by reading the manual you want to get into the world of Splinter Cell. Although the game is serious the humour of Sam Fisher is perfect and fits to the world: No too cool oneliner like in many unrealistic movies. The presentation of the story is 1s class. the story itself... too muchThis game is really classic. I am playing it right now and have a lot of fun. The atmosphere is great, even by reading the manual you want to get into the world of Splinter Cell. Although the game is serious the humour of Sam Fisher is perfect and fits to the world: No too cool oneliner like in many unrealistic movies. The presentation of the story is 1s class. the story itself... too much US propaganda.
    The graphics was great as it was released and even today your eyes won´t complain to look this game today. Dont forget to download the PS 3 textures.
    The controlling is good, often I am complaining about it, but not in this game.

    Every game has weaknesses, in this game: The KI is unrealistic, they should see and hear more. Often they not behave logically. So the game is too easy, even on hard setting. In addition the music is spoiling a lot. There is a certain music, that is played, when the enemies are alerted. Not very realistic.
    The missions are very linear, the question is only how you want to get over the enemies.    … Expand
  33. iddqd4
    Jan 27, 2018
    9
    Одна из первых игр в жанре стелс на PC. Простой и жесткий сюжет про оперативника, современную войну и террористов, без фантастики. Качественные уровни, хорошая графика и харизма Сэма Фишера.
  34. OldManCoot
    Jun 22, 2014
    9
    I can say this is a well developed stealth/action game. This is when Ubisoft actually put some heart and soul into this franchise. It's an outstanding game with a simple, but quite unique gameplay element - hiding in the dark.
    Even though it was made in 2002, the game manages to run OK on Windows 7 64-bit. The controls are something you need to learn, but in the end they make the game    I can say this is a well developed stealth/action game. This is when Ubisoft actually put some heart and soul into this franchise. It's an outstanding game with a simple, but quite unique gameplay element - hiding in the dark.
    Even though it was made in 2002, the game manages to run OK on Windows 7 64-bit. The controls are something you need to learn, but in the end they make the game quite enjoyable. The shooting mechanics are a bit under-powering, but I guess that's to make you feel like you should be sneaking instead. I loved all of the interesting features such as lock-picking, shooting surveillance cams, rappelling down buildings, grabbing officers to bypass a retinal scanner, using zip-lines and scaling all sorts of obstacles as well as getting into tight places.
    The story is really well written, it gives a very honest feeling of actually working for national security - to prevent any threat to the nation. It's amazing how it teaches you about how information warfare works (thanks to Tom Clancy, may this man rest in peace). The cutscenes are very good as well. The characters seem alright and well detailed and the dialogue is superb. Michael Ironside does a great job voicing the main character, Sam Fisher, making him sound cold and brave, alongside a pinch of sense of humor. Also, Irving Lambert's voice actor Don Jordan
    The level design, while at first a bit confusing, is not bad. I like how it gives more than just one option to pass an area: shall I sneak behind a guard and knock him out or climb up a pipe to get up on the roof and then strike him from above? Speaking of guards, I am a little bit disappointed with the AI. It seems at certain points their field of view is superhuman and they can sometimes hear me when I'm sneaking as slowly as possible.
    This may seem like a burden for your temper, but thankfully the environment in the game is very nicely done. Many places are quite detailed and there's quite some variation as well. There are some areas in the game that make it sound like breaking into them would be insane, but in the end you can actually pass through them. The graphics, for 2002, are quite stunning. Though most of the time the player is accustomed to using night-vision, but while the goggles are off, some very fine details can be seen like the clouds, the faces of the NPCs and the guns.
    To top it all off, the sound quality is amazing. It feels like not one bit of quality was sacrificed when it comes to hearing gunfire, explosions, dialogue and the ambiance. I have to say I love the music too, especially when guards get a bit alerted and there's a sudden piano chord followed by a tense, ninja-esque soundtrack. But when things start to get messy, there's a perfect action theme for the upcoming combat. Overall, the last mission's soundtrack has got to be the best though.
    In the end, this game was a great starter for an interesting franchise. I believe this is when Ubisoft was a respectful game developer, unlike now, unfortunately.    … Expand
  35. AstiX
    Nov 1, 2017
    9
    This game has aged extremely well. After some minor tweaking it legitimately looks and feels like a modern game. The most striking thing about it is the amazing lighting and crisp shadows which is pretty advanced for its time. Going back to it after so many years I didn't expect much but even today it stands as a surprisingly well-crafted title.
  36. Tomle1202
    Sep 29, 2021
    8
    Splinter Cell exhibits some minor annoyances due to its age, but there are more than enough for you to enjoy in this classic title.
  37. runner
    Apr 16, 2017
    8
    Wanted to start and try out the entire Splinter Cell series, quite late, I know. Went ahead and tried the first game, and pretty much lowered my expectations as the game was released way back in 2003. 14 years ago! I was very surprised though, in a good way.

    I'll start by saying that Splinter Cell definitely passes the test of time. It's quite old but still stands as an awesome    Wanted to start and try out the entire Splinter Cell series, quite late, I know. Went ahead and tried the first game, and pretty much lowered my expectations as the game was released way back in 2003. 14 years ago! I was very surprised though, in a good way.

    I'll start by saying that Splinter Cell definitely passes the test of time. It's quite old but still stands as an awesome experience nowadays, and not only for nostalgia lovers. Of course, it shows that it's a game from 2003. But that somehow doesn't prevent it from being fun, from looking pretty neat and running on modern machines without much problem (at least in my experience).

    Splinter Cell shines with its gameplay, and I'm sure that back then it defined some new rules in the stealth gaming. Despite the AI can be slightly dumb at times, it really felt rather sophisticated to me. Plenty of gadgets to help you sneak your way through without getting bored or too tired by it. Plenty of ways to handle each level and each situation, and you're free to do it brutally or to try and keep most of your enemies alive. It's also pretty realistic and goes into small details for such an old game, which I found pretty impressive (Example - you can usually sneak past your enemies without them noticing, but if you'll step over shards of glass they might make some noise which would make you noticeable!). Some things are not explained to you in the tutorial, which I found a little frustrating, but eventually got over that. (I guess that back then developers relied more on players to actually read the manual, which I did, but just couldn't remember it all!)

    Graphics look just fine, very dated but for that time are very detailed and well designed, the different environments you'll sneak through are portrayed pretty well in Splinter Cell, and they manage to still look nice to the eye even today, if you consider it being from over a decade ago.

    Soundtrack and sound effects are also very well planned and designed, the music fits perfectly and creates tension and just the right atmosphere for such game. It can get quite repetitive though, and I generally like to see some more effort put in music in the games I play. But in this case it's forgivable.

    One thing that slightly disappointed me was the story, which wasn't bad at all, but also wasn't anything special and not too intriguing in my opinion. It was a little simple and banal, and still at some points I just didn't manage to follow, and later I pretty much lost interest. I personally care much about story in video game I play and expect for something interesting which would make me want to go on.

    Fortunately I felt the experience was worth it, overall, I enjoyed the game and am looking forward to try out the next installments.    … Expand
  38. Mo3gottar
    Mar 26, 2019
    8
    Control on PC is very good,spy-atmosphere,music following and stealth-mechanics still good,even for 2019.
  39. Faxthtax
    Dec 20, 2021
    9
    These games (SC, Pandora, Chaos and Double Agent) were the ultimate definition of stealth. Games like Metal Gear in comparison is just a joke.
    The mechanics in these games is fantastic. Stealth is the core of the gameplay.
    Gunfights are not something you want to get into. Aiming is hard if you do, and hit ratio is terrible. But again, it is not the element of the game. This is the    These games (SC, Pandora, Chaos and Double Agent) were the ultimate definition of stealth. Games like Metal Gear in comparison is just a joke.
    The mechanics in these games is fantastic. Stealth is the core of the gameplay.
    Gunfights are not something you want to get into. Aiming is hard if you do, and hit ratio is terrible.
    But again, it is not the element of the game.
    This is the first game that truly utilise darkness and shadows as you best companion. These games are pitch black experiences and it is pleasing when Sam Fischer is engulfed in darkness because that is just what you see. The 3-light goggles is your only source of orientation. It so good it is ridiculous.
    And Michael Ironside as the voice of our hero in the shadows is just perfect.
    Splinter Cell stands as a fine franchise from the past. It was a blast playing them again on emulator.
    These should have been remade and refurbished completely. Level design is quite dated with short level loads and other technical feats but the experience is still chilling.    … Expand
  40. shkipermann
    Feb 25, 2023
    8
    {__/}
    ( • - •)
    /つ☕______________________________________________________________________
  41. Cz3rw0ny
    Dec 16, 2020
    9
    Original concept, very good story, great gameplay and graphics for the time.
  42. Babutto
    Nov 12, 2022
    7
    Another fairy tale about brave American hero. Nothing else to expect from Tom Clancy. But.

    Pros.: - If you love stealth - play it. DO IT! - Fischer's humor is hilarious. The only thing I really played game for. - It's a hard game. - Shooting with the silencer. Love the sound. - Sound from The Prodigy - Mindfields when you are spotted (they used 1-2 sec. sequence from the beginning    Another fairy tale about brave American hero. Nothing else to expect from Tom Clancy. But.

    Pros.:
    - If you love stealth - play it. DO IT!
    - Fischer's humor is hilarious. The only thing I really played game for.
    - It's a hard game.
    - Shooting with the silencer. Love the sound.
    - Sound from The Prodigy - Mindfields when you are spotted (they used 1-2 sec. sequence from the beginning of the track).

    Cons.:
    - If you don't like stealth - stay away.
    - If you don't like fairy tales about U.S. superhero special forces dudes - stay away.
    - If you like modern Hitman games and variety of ways to finish the level - stay away.
    - Bugs and glitches.
    - Too linear.    … Expand
  43. storygamer
    Sep 15, 2020
    9
    When Tom Clancy´s fresh franchise Splinter Cell was released in 2003, i was totally hyped. With this game you get the full agent stealth action and a real competitor to the Metal Gear Solid series. Everything from graphics to gameplay were stunning. And this game can still hold up today. Get it for thrilling hours of high suspense!
  44. JuanJorgeperez
    Aug 26, 2020
    10
    Este juego vale mucho la pena tengo toda la coleccion del splinter cell este juego debe continuar gracias tom clancys me gusta mucho este juego ; )
  45. ylnylmn
    Sep 1, 2022
    9
    Like I said, I don't like stealth games much. But I like this game. It is truly legendary for its time. Very realistic and difficult. The graphics are very good for the year. Music the same. There are many methods we can use for stealth. And it's fun to use. The AI ​​is fine for its time. Those who like silencer sound already love this game.
  46. Relenea
    Jul 11, 2022
    9
    Yıllar geçmiş olmasına rağmen kalitesinden ödün vermemiş nadir yapımlardan bir tanesi. Özellikle gizlilik oyunları arasında sunduğu kalite nedeniyle günümüzde bile oynanabilir bir oyun.
  47. kassalex
    Apr 12, 2023
    9
    nagyon jó játék a történet kelőkép izgalmas a pályák nagyon megterveztek a-hoz képest hogy nem mai játék nagyon jó
  48. Frankeyowski
    Feb 22, 2021
    8
    Gra ma piękną oprawę graficzną jak na tamte czasy. Historia Sama Fishera w tej grze jest bardzo ciekawa. Gra była bardzo trudna ale po trzech tygodniach prób udało mi się ją przejść. Polecam tą grę każdemu
  49. JohnoDeruno
    Jul 13, 2021
    9
    Attention: this is just my opinion!

    Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - ''The best stealth detailed game?'' The game surprised me the most with the details and the story. Now talking about the history of the game, the game has an impressive description of the story, very easy to understand what is going on. The game details directly incredible everything seems to make perfect and detail the    Attention: this is just my opinion!

    Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - ''The best stealth detailed game?''

    The game surprised me the most with the details and the story. Now talking about the history of the game, the game has an impressive description of the story, very easy to understand what is going on. The game details directly incredible everything seems to make perfect and detail the atmosphere itself interesting and great. I have nothing to say about the design of the level at all, it is also very impressive, detailed, and everything is put together wisely. The design of the game is great and comfortable. The sound of the characters is 50/50, semi-poor quality, but not the worst. But can annoy you with how characters speak through walkie-talkies. The Cutscenes game was fun really great, but didn't have good quality, but you understand the reason yourself. Now, to talk about a few mistakes, the fact that in some places doesn’t explain to you exactly what to do and has to think. Stealth it is convenient, but sometimes a bug. There is a moment that sees through the wall, it is very annoying, but of course I understand that the old game and has a problem with AI and other things.

    So in my opinion, the game made very great with a lot of effort and love. There are only a few bugs that sometimes interfere with playing the game and of course sometimes don’t explain exactly what to do. I would dedicate myself to this game 9/10.    … Expand
  50. Dream11
    Nov 15, 2022
    9
    I play the demo back in 2004 in ps2 but now that i'm adult I was lucky to remember this game even for today standards it's really good! I like it more than SC 2 and chaos theory. Gem!
  51. Hypn0s6
    Nov 7, 2021
    8
    Как же тяжело проходить игры, которые проходил в далёком детстве и которые ярким и приятным воспоминанием остались в памяти.
    Хвали или ругай игру, это не изменит того факта, что на данный момент игре 18 лет, и она сумела вписать своё имя в список легендарных игр. И всё же поругать, как и похвалить её есть за что.
    Первым на глаза всплывают прорехи в геймплее. Сама игра позиционируется как    Как же тяжело проходить игры, которые проходил в далёком детстве и которые ярким и приятным воспоминанием остались в памяти.
    Хвали или ругай игру, это не изменит того факта, что на данный момент игре 18 лет, и она сумела вписать своё имя в список легендарных игр. И всё же поругать, как и похвалить её есть за что.
    Первым на глаза всплывают прорехи в геймплее. Сама игра позиционируется как стелс и больше заточена под стелс. Но местами он просто сломан. В одном и том же моменте мы можем хоть по головам противников ползать. Но после загрузки в том же месте, нас могут в полной темноте за километр заметить. Понятно, что игра сделана больше для стелс прохождения, но встаёт один большой вопрос, что со стрельбой в игре? Я специально не ставил никаких модов и исправлений, чтобы играть в игру такой, какой она задумана разработчиком. Я не помню, проблема эта только steam версии или вообще игры. Но при стрельбе в упор, при полной фокусировке прицела, пуля летит вообще в другую сторону, полный рандом разброса. Это становится главной проблемой всей игры. Особенно в моменты, когда в игре появляются вставки экшена. Но не смотря на кривую стрельбу и простенький стелс, игра не подкидывает особо каких-то сложностей. Даже на hard противники просто мясные. Ползай себе по уровню от точки А до точки В, хочешь, никого не трогай, хочешь вырубай всех направо, налево. Но не смотря на минусы, в игре очень много интересных механик и деталей, много разнообразия. Хочешь по трубам ползай, хочешь камеры глуши, можешь с локотухи кому-нибудь прописать, или с собакой «поиграй», в общем много всего.
    Про сюжет в первом splinter cell сказать особо нечего. Грузия - агрессор, вернее даже не Грузия, а отдельно её бывший президент со своими приспешниками. Как всегда, под удар попадает Америка. И мы в лице Сэма Фишера должны остановить боевиков Грузии, чтобы предотвратить мировую войну. Больше в сюжете особо отметить нечего.
    Хотелось бы отдельно отметить небольшие детали и неточности, а именно это записи в блоке данных. По всему уровню есть специальные записи, которые есть у некоторых противников и на некоторых компьютерах, которые созданы просто для расширения лора. Так вот, некоторые записи написаны про какие-либо государственные данные, посланные для главных антагонистов, но читаем мы это всё с каких-то рядовых компьютеров, которые стоят где-то в офисе, или же вообще в подвале. Это как на ноутбуке в каком-нибудь магазине техники найти письмо с государственной тайной. Логики в этих записях не много.
    Подведя итог, не смотря на минусы, про которые я расписал, игра безусловно стоит внимания, даже для людей, которые родились позже её выхода. На 10-12 часов в ней точно есть чем заняться, и будет не скучно. В целом игра интересная. Ставлю ей 7,5/10.    … Expand
  52. petrkozak13
    Dec 13, 2021
    8
    One of the genre-defining games. Sam Fisher is an icon and later games got even better.
  53. The_D4RknesS
    Apr 27, 2023
    9
    amazing the fact that this game is from 2003 and has the graphics and physics so good until today. the difference between the PS2 and the PC is not only in the graphics but also in small details.

    Only option I didn't like was the accuracy of the Guns which is bad
  54. EVIL_UJIN
    Oct 15, 2022
    9
    Отличный шпионский боевик.
    Помню, как в далеком 2005 году был в восторге от этой игры. Графика была отличная для своего времени (да и сейчас смотрится неплохо). Особенно доставляла "кошачья" пластика движений Сэма. Сюжет раскручивается постепенно и держит в напряжении до конца. Я прошел все 6 частей Splinter Cell, но первую всегда вспоминаю с ностальгией.    Отличный шпионский боевик.
    Помню, как в далеком 2005 году был в восторге от этой игры. Графика была отличная для своего времени (да и сейчас смотрится неплохо). Особенно доставляла "кошачья" пластика движений Сэма. Сюжет раскручивается постепенно и держит в напряжении до конца. Я прошел все 6 частей Splinter Cell, но первую всегда вспоминаю с ностальгией.
  55. hexagron
    Dec 1, 2022
    9
    best stealth game you can find even still fun to play in 2022 ı say you must play too it's gonna worth every second you play
  56. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    7
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»
  57. DorlGaming
    Jun 12, 2023
    9
    It has some issues with the sound. But overall it's a great classic stealth expierience! 9/10

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PC Game of 2003
20
#20 Most Discussed PC Game of 2003
18
#18 Most Shared PC Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Gamezilla!
    96
    It’s all rendered beautifully, possessing a realistic quality that will likely be unmatched for quite some time. Animation is incredibly fluid and the attention to detail is impeccable.
    Read full review
  2. GameZone
    95
    The graphics in Splinter Cell are unsurpassed. The lighting effects are incredible, the character models look great, and the animations are realistic.
    Read full review
  3. PC Gamer
    91
    It's not all stealth. Ubi Soft's Montreal studio did a terrific job sprinkling the missions with spasms of frenetic action and tech-savvy stunts. [Mar 2003, p.84]
See all critic reviews »