Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist

 PlayStation 3
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 378 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 276 out of 378
  2. Mixed: 63 out of 378
  3. Negative: 39 out of 378
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  1. wesker2012
    Aug 24, 2013
    7
    I was ready to give this game a solid 8. The controls were tight, level design solid, enemy ai great, etc. Near the end of the game though, the game started freezing up really badly until the game was barely chugging through the action. Ive never played a game that has slowed down so bad that it almost broke the game. Its pretty disappointing that this happened more than a few timesI was ready to give this game a solid 8. The controls were tight, level design solid, enemy ai great, etc. Near the end of the game though, the game started freezing up really badly until the game was barely chugging through the action. Ive never played a game that has slowed down so bad that it almost broke the game. Its pretty disappointing that this happened more than a few times because this game otherwise is a solid title. Besides the story being generic and the horrible voice acting that grates on your ears, the gameplay was great and thats what matters I guess. Also the atmosphere was really well done for a Splinter Cell game. Wish it had a more exciting story though to give the game some suspense. You never really feel for your character or feel any suspense. Its just go here, do this, find this, find them, kill them.

    The multiplayer is where the game shines. Its kind of like hide and seek but with guns and its really fun. Both sides are equally fun. Looking forward to playing more soon. Overall, the game was a nice challenge to get though, but didn't have any WOW moments. And the framerate issues were really a bummer. Def. pick it up tho if you are a fan of the series or genre.    … Expand
  2. AmongstYou
    Aug 21, 2013
    6
    Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is not only my favorite Splinter Cell, but my favorite game of all time.
    When Splinter Cell: Conviction dropped, I felt heartbroken. I series that set out to be different from other war titles and become it's own enemy. Even worse, I had heard the news two years later that a sequel would be made without Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher.
    So, now it's out, and    Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is not only my favorite Splinter Cell, but my favorite game of all time.
    When Splinter Cell: Conviction dropped, I felt heartbroken. I series that set out to be different from other war titles and become it's own enemy. Even worse, I had heard the news two years later that a sequel would be made without Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher.

    So, now it's out, and what do I think? It's good. Surprisingly good. If not damn good. Hell, I even dig the new jaded, stern Sam voiced by Johnson. It fits well.

    The story itself is okay, and definitely not as good as the former titles. It's trying to hard to play it safe after the last disastrous that changed everything. But, it's not bad. The characters keep the story from falling apart and you remain interested throughout the game. Certainly not as good as say... Pandora Tomorrow's plot, but not bad. Just not excellent.

    But, importantly, the gameplay. This was what ultimately won me over. Instead of all the forced action in Conviction, I was actually able to go through a level in Blacklist without killing anyone, and best of all... it wasn't too easy. I felt pretty proud after I did it too, and others will as well. In the end, the game feels more like Chaos Theory with Convictions interface. It meshes perplexingly well.

    Multiplayer is back and it's refreshing. Co-op returns better than ever with tons of variety, but Spies Vs Mercs, a mode I've missed for years, also returns! Playing SvM was a blast, albeit a simplified one in comparison to the games that preceded it. Still, I'm glad it's back.

    Now, is it worth playing? Yeah, I'd say so. Splinter Cell fans of all breeds can get behind this title and have tons of fun, whether your a series veteran or you (unfortunately) started with Conviction.    … Expand
  3. WanyaRolf
    Mar 11, 2014
    6
    Still playing, but it is a chore. Like other user have said, something is missing. The game is very beautiful, graphically. But it lacks substance. When I start playing it, felt like I was being guided through the scenario. Then, turned some information off. Reduced the feel of being a QTE game, but it still is. Sam Fisher is no longer your avatar, it's like B-spec from gran turismo, sortStill playing, but it is a chore. Like other user have said, something is missing. The game is very beautiful, graphically. But it lacks substance. When I start playing it, felt like I was being guided through the scenario. Then, turned some information off. Reduced the feel of being a QTE game, but it still is. Sam Fisher is no longer your avatar, it's like B-spec from gran turismo, sort of. You tell him how you want to play, but you don't play. And this game is part of what I'm sensing as a more mature orientation from Ubisoft, that ended it up being just boring. You can have some fun here, but it is no longer the great Sam Fisher from the Chaos Theory days. Haven't played Conviction, 'cause that was made an exclusive. It is better, to this day, to purchase the HD Collection. More fun guaranteed.… Expand
  4. Underpants158
    Mar 5, 2015
    7
    This game is pure run of the mill stealth action. Quite linear too. There is nothing new, exciting, or engrossing here. The story was pretty good. A pan-national terrorist organization thats main goal is the withdrawal of US troops from around the world is your enemy. I only wish the gameplay was more player-option driven to really make this game come alive.
  5. myEVILi
    Oct 8, 2013
    7
    This game is just good enough to be in the collection of any action or stealth fan. When Blacklist is firing on all cylinders it is a amazing game. Level design allows your choice of execution, which was lacking in recent past Splinter Cell's. However, you will send too much time in campaign with boring UAV strikes and long sections of platforming. The co-op and multiplayer are theThis game is just good enough to be in the collection of any action or stealth fan. When Blacklist is firing on all cylinders it is a amazing game. Level design allows your choice of execution, which was lacking in recent past Splinter Cell's. However, you will send too much time in campaign with boring UAV strikes and long sections of platforming. The co-op and multiplayer are the real stars of the game. Spies v Merc is great tension and co-op is satisfying when 2 people are mic'ed up. There is plenty of gadget and weapons to play with, and high scores to earn in 1 of 3 categories. You can even challenge your friends to high scores and speed runs. The biggest surprise of this game is all the replay value. Every mission has 3 side quests to complete for bonuses. If your on the fence, SC:BL is a great bargain bin find.… Expand
  6. gyigyo2
    Aug 24, 2013
    7
    Pros:Fisher,Majdid Sadiq,Story..
    Cons:Sarah Fisher,family love thing blablbla.... where shold i start? First of all Where is that scene form E3 demo where fisher have in enemy uniform and attack the arabian man and torture him? where is majdid sadiq? etc....Why delete that whole level for the final game release? why? its like far cry3 again E3 demo was better mimics for vaas and graphics    Pros:Fisher,Majdid Sadiq,Story..
    Cons:Sarah Fisher,family love thing blablbla.... where shold i start? First of all Where is that scene form E3 demo where fisher have in enemy uniform and attack the arabian man and torture him? where is majdid sadiq? etc....Why delete that whole level for the final game release? why? its like far cry3 again E3 demo was better mimics for vaas and graphics too.Only 1 ending? Fisher looks like younger again and faster,stronger? younger voice but why? this is so lame! every new Splinter cell game fisher is more younger,stronger,lol This game is a big dissapontment...The best splinter cell was Double Agent.. Sarah fisher was good as dead...    … Expand
  7. mosessaur
    Sep 2, 2013
    7
    The game is fantastic. Not an epic though. I liked it and I liked the game play. But I hated the quality.
    The game is full of glitches and bugs. Typical Ubisoft crap sense AC III. Even after 2 patches the game still suffer from annoying bugs.
    The game play is awesome. Cool weapons and upgrades. You get to upgrade whatever you want very early in the game. In fact you can upgrade your HQ    The game is fantastic. Not an epic though. I liked it and I liked the game play. But I hated the quality.
    The game is full of glitches and bugs. Typical Ubisoft crap sense AC III. Even after 2 patches the game still suffer from annoying bugs.
    The game play is awesome. Cool weapons and upgrades. You get to upgrade whatever you want very early in the game. In fact you can upgrade your HQ once you got some money which you can earn very easily from MP sessions.
    Coop is cool if you played with cool players. You gut 4 missions which must be played with a team mate. All others can be done solo. which I really liked.
    The story is typical American fight against terrorist crap. But it's still fine.
    Here are my list of bugs which I found in one game play session:
    Am I the only one who gets tons of glitches/bugs?
    1) Abandoned City Coop mission on Realistic and Perfectionist difficulties glitches on last objective: After dying first time enemies stop spawning after first wave. Very very annoying to do all the missions to glitch at the end.
    2) Crossbow glitch. I'm sure I hit none heavy target with Sleeping Gas. Still he still standing shooting at me. It happens a lot.
    3) Swiss embassy laptop glitch: the laptop not spawn. I to abandon the mission then start again. Restart the missions didn't get it spawn.
    4) HVT bag and tag: during coop missions sometimes the player character just keep crouching over the HVT for couple of seconds then starts to capture. Actually I had to move the left stick. This very annoying as I get shot with another enemy because I'm slow.
    5) Some enemies directly get hostile when calling them for distraction. Although they were totally none suspicious when being distracted.
    6) Occasionally enemies be invincible you shoot at them and they don't die.

    This is 7 because Ubisoft quality doesn't deserve better than this.    … Expand
  8. chrisjones914
    Jan 28, 2014
    6
    As a big fan of the Splinter Cell series, Blacklist was a huge disappointment for me. Not only have they taken away Michael Ironside, the voice actor for Sam that we know and love, but they removed almost all of the elements that in my opinion made Conviction the best in the series. The story is much much weaker and just about every time Sam opened his mouth i let out a big sigh ofAs a big fan of the Splinter Cell series, Blacklist was a huge disappointment for me. Not only have they taken away Michael Ironside, the voice actor for Sam that we know and love, but they removed almost all of the elements that in my opinion made Conviction the best in the series. The story is much much weaker and just about every time Sam opened his mouth i let out a big sigh of disappointment. Anyway, with all that being said I know many people may not think Blacklist is a bad game and its really not. It's just not the Splinter Cell game that I was hoping for.… Expand
  9. tsakiym
    May 18, 2015
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it.................................… Expand
  10. badgerryan19
    Jun 19, 2017
    7
    Sam Fisher returns again with Splinter Cell Blacklist. The action is better than ever but I wasn't a big fan of the story. Every thing felt great to play and it was enjoyable, but ultimately disappointing.
  11. whatagoodguy
    Jul 28, 2020
    7
    It's a great game if you only want to play the campaign and a few more modes superficially. The graphics, the character design, the story, the action, the script-writing, the equipment design, and the enemy AI are amazing. However, once you start getting into the more competitive aspects of it in which you need to adapt quickly and precisely to the situation and your environment, the gameIt's a great game if you only want to play the campaign and a few more modes superficially. The graphics, the character design, the story, the action, the script-writing, the equipment design, and the enemy AI are amazing. However, once you start getting into the more competitive aspects of it in which you need to adapt quickly and precisely to the situation and your environment, the game starts to fail. For instance, since the PS3 is not strong enough to run this game at the speed and quality it was design to, it tends to chug or freeze if you demand too much from it. Also, it suffers from Assassinscreedosis, a condition that makes your character suddenly stick to walls when you want to run or perform an execution. Apart from that, there are actions that work once but then fail to work a second time under the same conditions, which makes it unreliable and forces you to restart the checkpoint several times. At the end of the game, when you've fully upgraded your gear, the weapon wheel does not respond as well as it should. It resets your weapons so you need to make sure the correct gun or grenade are equipped every single time. After a cutscene, after a dialog, or after an execution, the game decides to reset your loadout. The amount of times I had to restart a checkpoint because the game put the lethal gun on my hands instead of the taser gun is higher than it should if you want to provide the player a good experience.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Best PS3 Game of 2013
35
#35 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013
41
#41 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 27
  3. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Gamer.no
    Oct 8, 2013
    80
    Sam Fisher is officially back. Blacklist may suffer from a cliched story and some finicky controls, but this is still stealth at it's absolute finest.
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  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 5, 2013
    82
    Blacklist suffers from the fact that it's way too tempting to shoot your way out of a tough situation. The incentive to sneak is mostly missing and the cramped level design doesn't help. Still, Blacklist has some pretty fun levels and nice free-form gameplay. [Sept 2013]
  3. The Digital Fix
    Oct 4, 2013
    80
    It’s big, bold and a bit silly at times but for a silky action adventure that will give you more than you put in then you shouldn’t look much further.
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