Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Mar 28, 2005
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 83 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 83
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 83
  3. Negative: 4 out of 83
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. sufflaminandus
    Jul 6, 2019
    6
    Chaos Theory wins the title of the best Splinter Cell game not with changes but with improvements. Graphics, sound, gameplay - take any game aspect and there will be tons of smaller enhancements. Visuals are breathtaking, animations and physics are superb. Arsenal was not expanded greatly but many tools were reworked into better forms (like merging camera jammer into pistol). Many newChaos Theory wins the title of the best Splinter Cell game not with changes but with improvements. Graphics, sound, gameplay - take any game aspect and there will be tons of smaller enhancements. Visuals are breathtaking, animations and physics are superb. Arsenal was not expanded greatly but many tools were reworked into better forms (like merging camera jammer into pistol). Many new environment interactions were added into the game, for example Sam can now hack devices remotely. Many existing elements were bettered like interrogation or noise mechanics. But the greatest improvement of them all is that game levels became slightly bigger and nonlinear. However the plot is disappointingly mediocre and introduction of find-X-objects “quests” is totally incongruous.

    Aforementioned information is only relevant if you played previous Splinter Cells. The most likely case though is that you decided to play one and only one Splinter Cell game and after brief research your choice fell on Chaos Theory. In that case I will repeat the same sentences I used for previous Splinter Cells because the games are basically identical. Splinter Cell (Chaos Theory) is stealth mechanic simulator with immersive story background but totally artificial linear levels. Splinter Cell mechanics are indeed nearly perfect, especially quantity-wise, however the fact that Splinter Cell missions are a linear consequences of obstacles that are resolvable in one exact way ruins the experience. Chaos Theory, being a better game all around then previous titles, still remains a *Splinter Cell* game with foregoing innate drawbacks.

    By the way, can you play Chaos Theory without knowledge of previous titles? Yes. Should you play it? If you haven’t played Thief or Metal Gear series before.    … Expand
  2. Roger
    Mar 29, 2005
    7
    A lot of people have rated the PS2 version poorly because of it's graphics, but I submit that it is not the graphics at fault, in fact I would say the lighting and shading effects are among the best on the PS2. The problem is that the levels are severely "Chopped up". Not only have there been strange doorways inserted into the levels to provide loading screens between areas, but also A lot of people have rated the PS2 version poorly because of it's graphics, but I submit that it is not the graphics at fault, in fact I would say the lighting and shading effects are among the best on the PS2. The problem is that the levels are severely "Chopped up". Not only have there been strange doorways inserted into the levels to provide loading screens between areas, but also the different zones that the levels are now split into have had their alternate paths removed, resulting in a straight-forward linear experience, and in my opinion removing the major selling point of this installment which is the open-endedness of the gameplay. I believe anyone who has played the PC demo will instantly recognize that after passing through the first part of the caves there is now an abrupt series of hallways seemingly ripped from what used to be alternate paths from the PC demo. Having said all of this, I would still recommend this to someone without an XBOX or capable PC simply on gameplay merits, and would give it a 7 which I believe is above average. But with even a passable video card I would recommend taking the PC route based merely on maintaining the original gameplay experience.… Expand
  3. JohnT.
    Apr 11, 2005
    7
    The last two Splinter cells were execllent but this one they added too much coarse language and wrecked the game, too bad.
  4. SuperKing
    Aug 28, 2005
    6
    A pretty average game that impresses at first with a few genuinely neat touches. Graphics are hit and miss and the script is appaling but the multiplayer is probably worth the price of admission or at least a rental.

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best PS2 Game of 2005
73
#73 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005
78
#78 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. games(TM)
    80
    Despite the inclusion of new gadgets and stunning visuals, the series is starting to decompose; playing the same thing over and over is beginning to wear a little thin. It’s a good job the multiplayer experience continues to blossom. [Apr 2005, p.90]
  2. Gamers' Temple
    95
    The online mode is not something for the casual player, but if you take the time to learn to play the game right and to study the layout of the maps it can be an exciting experience.
    Read full review
  3. DarkStation
    70
    Just an average stealth game on the PS2. It suffers from frame rate problems and just doesn't offer as much as we all would have hoped.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »