Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Essentials

 PSP
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Mar 21, 2006
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 37
  3. Negative: 10 out of 37
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  1. Game Revolution
    42
    A lackadaisical, recycled romp that tries to emulate the Splinter Cell experience. But without the good graphics, A.I. or multiplay, all it does is put the “Why?!” in spy.
  2. Worth Playing
    40
    This game should have been as good and as much of a departure as the upcoming Splinter Cell is; instead, its gameplay piddles around with everything the series has already established.
  3. Modojo
    40
    The most hardcore Splinter Cell fan might want to try to overlook the game's problems for its new levels, I suppose. What's most upsetting is what could have been.
  5. GameSpy
    40
    Even Sam's biggest fans will disappointed by this mediocre title, especially those that are expecting the same type of experience they've gotten used to on the consoles.
  6. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    40
    This is one of the least user-friendly gameplay experiences I've had in some time. [May 2006, p.90]
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  7. PALGN
    40
    The idea is sound, but the execution most definitely isn't.
  8. VideoGamer
    40
    Splinter Cell Essentials is an example of a game that simply isn't suited to the control limitations of the PSP. If you can get past the camera issues (which is a big ask), you're still going to have a less than brilliant experience due to the dumb AI.
  9. RewiredMind
    30
    The AI is so basic that it is possible to rush through many areas without fear of getting hurt or even getting noticed. Even if you do decide you’re going to take it slow, it is a lottery as to whether some enemies will detect you or not.
  10. GameCritics
    30
    To make an embarrassing story short, Splinter Cell: Essentials is a mess. For a series that leads the stealth genre and has worked hard to make itself more accessible and more polished with each successive sequel, an entry like this—even on a portable— can only be seen as a miserable failure.
  11. Computer Games Magazine
    20
    Controls are so poor that Sam might as well be fighting the forces of evil blindfolded. [July 2006, p.92]
    All this publication's reviews

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Most Discussed PSP Game of 2006
25
#25 Most Shared PSP Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 49
  3. Negative: 8 out of 49
  1. SickRobbery
    Nov 1, 2021
    6
    Pretty enjoyable game. Has some fun story beats. I love the (funny) banter between NPC's. Clunky controls are helped by a remastered controls mod.
  2. DGDrocks7
    Jun 20, 2018
    5
    Adapting PS2 experiences on the PSP wasn't an uneasy task. Just look at games like SOCOM and Metal Gear Solid. While they controlled differentAdapting PS2 experiences on the PSP wasn't an uneasy task. Just look at games like SOCOM and Metal Gear Solid. While they controlled different and some sacrifices had to be made, they were fun experiences. So what happened here?

    They just dumped a PS2 game here, that's what happened. Ubisoft thought you can just develop a PS2 game then dump it on the PSP without making changes. First, the controls, oh my, the controls. Because of no second analog stick (seriously who the hell thought just one analog stick was a good idea?), camera control is a nightmare. The default means you cannot move Sam and the camera at the same time. Alternative allows you to do so but it puts camera control on the face buttons. Guess where the action buttons are. Either way, you need to push a button to activate or deactivate camera mode. Granted you can get used to the controls quite easily, but if only the levels were designed with that in mind. But they aren't. As if the PC and console SC games weren't difficult enough (in a good way), the control scheme made it frustrating. Remember those times where you had to reload saves when you screwed up? You'll have to do it many, many, many more times here.

    Speaking of reloading saves, get used to the Title: you'll be seeing it many times and for quite a while. Aside from constant reloading, you'll have to wait a long time when reloading saves. And I was playing the DIGITAL version. On a PSP-3000. So imagine playing on a UMD with the PSP-1000 (which has less RAM). That said, the loading times can be resolved if you play on a PPSSPP Emulator. The control issues, however, are still there.

    And I had no idea what's going on in the story. This is after Double Agent (which was released months later). Sam get falsely arrested and needs to clear his name. So all except the final level are flashbacks as Sam is telling what really happened. You also see a twist in the SC timeline which I think was not supposed to be seen until you play DA (gg Ubisoft). And remember when I said they just dumped a PS2 game here? Well, two of the levels are exactly from the console versions (one from the original and the other from Chaos Theory). And like I said, these levels were hard enough on the bigger platforms.

    And the bonus missions...are all from Pandora Tommorrow. No, if I want to play those levels, I'll play Pandora Tommorrow. You can only unlock them by entering a code on the website but since it's dead and you're curious: just go to the Bonus Missions screen, hold Select and tap L+R at the same time repeatedly till you unlock all of them. But trust me, go play PT instead as you'll just torture yourself. You've been warned.

    SC:E looks fun. I just wished it was playable on a platform other than the PSP. If it got some more development time, it would have been excellent. Wasted potential is what I'm seeing.    … Full Review »
  3. sage2001
    Jun 1, 2017
    4
    I picked this game up for my PSTV for 3.49. I'm a big fan of metal gear solid and thought that I should give Splinter Cell a shot.

    Perhaps    I picked this game up for my PSTV for 3.49. I'm a big fan of metal gear solid and thought that I should give Splinter Cell a shot.

    Perhaps I should've picked something else...

    The game controls like utter **** thanks to the PSP not having a second analog stick. You have to toggle between camera controls and action controls and it all feels clunky and terrible.

    For a PSP game, the game looks absolutely terrible. Mind you, this is the same system that brought us Midnight Club, Portable Ops and Resistance.

    All in all, SC Essentials is a stealth game ruined by clunky controls and horrible graphics...    … Full Review »
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