Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

 Xbox
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 168 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 142 out of 168
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 168
  3. Negative: 9 out of 168
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. CharlieLoGamer
    Jul 6, 2023
    10
    A instant classic. I really remember playing this game when I was kid and still loving it today. There are
    no games like this anymore sadly. 10/10
  2. KentKouh
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    The game that started it all, still a masterpiece even today. Maybe not as good as Pandora Tomorrow or Chaos Theory tho.
  3. Alex_Pilgrim008
    May 1, 2022
    9
    An Xbox classic from 2002. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell plays like a realistic version of Metal Gear Solid. At the time of release, it was the most graphically advanced video game on console. Featuring stunning lighting and shadow effects, "Splinter Cell" was the first true showcase of the Xbox's graphical power. Visually, It still holds up exceptionally well in 2019. The stealth gameplay isAn Xbox classic from 2002. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell plays like a realistic version of Metal Gear Solid. At the time of release, it was the most graphically advanced video game on console. Featuring stunning lighting and shadow effects, "Splinter Cell" was the first true showcase of the Xbox's graphical power. Visually, It still holds up exceptionally well in 2019. The stealth gameplay is equally impressive. While it might be too slow for some, the game arguably surpasses MGS and Hitman in stealth tactics. As NSA field operative Sam Fisher, players can utilize numerous abilities, weapons and gadgets. While there may be too many trial-and-error segments, this is one of the best action titles from the early 2000's. I would rate it with a 9.3 out of 10… Expand
  4. oldmaster1818
    Jul 23, 2021
    9
    Splinter Cell was one of the great games from 20 years ago. I noticed that this game was on the backward compatible list for the Xbox One, and decided to give it a whirl. It was a great decision, as the game was brilliant back then, and is still fantastic today!

    I was amazed just how revolutionary it was for a 2002 game. Sam Fischer rocks! Pros- Sneak mode is awesome with lovely use    Splinter Cell was one of the great games from 20 years ago. I noticed that this game was on the backward compatible list for the Xbox One, and decided to give it a whirl. It was a great decision, as the game was brilliant back then, and is still fantastic today!

    I was amazed just how revolutionary it was for a 2002 game. Sam Fischer rocks!

    Pros-
    Sneak mode is awesome with lovely use of shadow/lighting
    Heaps of gadgets to attach to the weapons
    Incredible storyline- Chinese, Burma, Russian Republics- just like the real world today
    Michael Ironside voice acting
    Nice challenge to beat on first playthrough- easy on second attempt
    Combat is really good for a stealth game
    Good amount of check points to save frustration

    Cons-
    No widescreen support for modern gaming
    AI soldiers have repetitive patterns and voice acting
    Jump button can throw you in frustrating directions

    Game Content- 10 out of ten
    Fun Factor- 8 out of ten

    Overall score- 9    … Expand
  5. KaleSungurCrane
    Nov 20, 2020
    8
    OVERALL - 82%

    Gameplay - 9/10 Graphics (for time) - 7/10 Story - 7/10 Game Length - 7/10 Characters - 8/10 Level/Area Design - 8/10 Atmosphere - 10/10 Sound Effects - 7/10 Soundtrack - 7/10 Replay Value - 7/10 I found the controls hard to get used to and couldn't help but compare it to the superior MGS series, but there was a clear developer vision that was laid out in this    OVERALL - 82%

    Gameplay - 9/10
    Graphics (for time) - 7/10
    Story - 7/10
    Game Length - 7/10
    Characters - 8/10
    Level/Area Design - 8/10
    Atmosphere - 10/10
    Sound Effects - 7/10
    Soundtrack - 7/10
    Replay Value - 7/10

    I found the controls hard to get used to and couldn't help but compare it to the superior MGS series, but there was a clear developer vision that was laid out in this game and deserved to be successful.    … Expand
  6. storygamer
    Oct 19, 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! I played it on PC too, but the Xbox version is by far the best!
  7. Dperks
    Jul 4, 2019
    6
    The games aged roughly I want to love it but the games so frustrating that i cant. Its still not bad just frustrating to play a lot of the time if this version had quick saves id probably be more forgiving and give it a 7
  8. Broyax
    Apr 10, 2017
    7
    Découragé à l'époque par la difficulté, je l'avais mis de côté pour finalement le ressortir du placard 8 ans plus tard...! son gameplay est resté fidèle à lui-même : toujours aussi rigide, toujours aussi "hardcore". Ce n'est définitivement pas un jeu pour noobs ou autres wannabies... de l'infiltration pure et dure sans concession aucune.

    Finalement c'est parfois crispant, souvent trop    Découragé à l'époque par la difficulté, je l'avais mis de côté pour finalement le ressortir du placard 8 ans plus tard...! son gameplay est resté fidèle à lui-même : toujours aussi rigide, toujours aussi "hardcore". Ce n'est définitivement pas un jeu pour noobs ou autres wannabies... de l'infiltration pure et dure sans concession aucune.

    Finalement c'est parfois crispant, souvent trop scripté mais toujours passionnant. Les graphismes et jeux de lumière restent étonnants et la VF est au sommet avec la voix de Daniel (Schwarzy-Batou) Beretta. Les épisodes suivants (à partir du 3) ont mis de l'eau (bienvenue) dans leur vin mais cet épisode fondateur a malgré tout bien vieilli.    … Expand
  9. JeffM.
    Dec 8, 2004
    10
    This game rocks it changed the way I look at stealth gaming and I still have yet to play Pandora Tomorow but I know it will be good.
  10. Mark
    Jul 14, 2004
    7
    I dont know what is so amazing in this game. I think Splinter Cell is good game, but not so good what everybody say.
  11. CarloL.
    May 6, 2004
    10
    If you give this game a rating lower than a 10, then you suck balls.
  12. HitmanD.
    Apr 18, 2004
    9
    Awesome game, all the people rating it below 9 are doing so cos they sucked at it and find it too hard.
  13. JayZ.
    Feb 3, 2004
    7
    A spectacular piece of eye candy, no doubt, but the AI was either too smart for humans or too incompetent for 3-year olds. Good storyline but way too much trial and error. Its just too bad there isn't an online co-op mode too play around with like Socom. Great game that just lacks depth.
  14. JustinM.
    Jan 18, 2004
    9
    One of my favorite games eva. The ai could use a little improvement but the game was awesome.
  15. DerekO.
    Jan 11, 2004
    10
    Awesome.
  16. SimonA.
    Dec 16, 2003
    1
    Without doubt the greatest load of rubbish ever made for the xbox.
  17. JeremyC.
    Nov 17, 2003
    6
    Very nice graphics and an excellent idea for a game. But it stops there. First of all all the levels are ridiculously linear, and this is meant to be a stealth game? This game is full of try, die, and load again. It got very frustrating having to do the same things over and over again just to get killed in the same place. The A.I. is ridiculous. Sometimes you stand practically in broad Very nice graphics and an excellent idea for a game. But it stops there. First of all all the levels are ridiculously linear, and this is meant to be a stealth game? This game is full of try, die, and load again. It got very frustrating having to do the same things over and over again just to get killed in the same place. The A.I. is ridiculous. Sometimes you stand practically in broad daylight and they don't see you, other times when it is pitched dark they turn and put a bullet through your head. One time i had a gun to one guys head, i aimed at his comrade, over the guys shoulder, who began firing with an ak-47 at full blast I fell back dead while the guy i was using as a human shield walked away. Also it seems that if you throw a grenade at a group of guys if they notice it then it does no damage. More then a dozen times i saw a group of three or four guys so i threw a grenade they say 'GRENADE' and it blows up in their faces but they aren't hurt. Also this game is stuck in the middle of two worlds. I wish they had either made it more stealthy where their is very little action or else more SWAT like with infiltration and assassination. As is, it is ridiculous, in one mission you sneak through the entire level only to be confronted at the end by having to fend off an attack of over ten well armed guys while you are stuck with Mr. Cantaim Sam and his pathetic weaponry. Meanwhile three American soldiers stand at the back and wait for you to finish. The objectives and missions were more suited for an RPG or FPS, Splinter Cell needs to get some better designed levels and AI.… Expand
  18. Josh
    Aug 24, 2003
    7
    Very nice looking game. Best in stealth ever,but I'm not real happy with games that a player has to have a strategy guide before the 3rd level. Very hard, probably because you have to do what the exactly what the game allows, nothing more nothing less!!!!!!
  19. MattR.
    Aug 1, 2003
    10
    At times infuriatingly difficult (CIA level, anyone), this game is also the most rewarding. The graphics are stunning, and arguably the best on any platform, ever. The lighting is incredible, and adds what Metal Gear lacks: realistic tension. I also enjoyed the real-life mood of the game, from the one-shot one -kill approach, to the concept of sound being a give-away, to the lack of At times infuriatingly difficult (CIA level, anyone), this game is also the most rewarding. The graphics are stunning, and arguably the best on any platform, ever. The lighting is incredible, and adds what Metal Gear lacks: realistic tension. I also enjoyed the real-life mood of the game, from the one-shot one -kill approach, to the concept of sound being a give-away, to the lack of idiotic level-end bosses. When will the Metal Gear series (and Nintendo, for that matter) grow up and realize that an espionage thriller loses all luster when after skulking around with your mullet, you have to shoot a certain character 243 times in the head in order to keep playing? That is SO 1988!… Expand
  20. J.Hill
    Jul 25, 2003
    10
    It is awesome, pure and simple. Those who complain about the clipping and physics (bodies going through walls) are ignorant as to software development. Is it irritating? Yes. Is it a worth-while trade off for what the devs spent their time and energy on? ABSOLUTELY! Same thing with the linearity issue. I don't like it either, but I am educated enough on games and software in general It is awesome, pure and simple. Those who complain about the clipping and physics (bodies going through walls) are ignorant as to software development. Is it irritating? Yes. Is it a worth-while trade off for what the devs spent their time and energy on? ABSOLUTELY! Same thing with the linearity issue. I don't like it either, but I am educated enough on games and software in general to understand that it was a design choice, not a short coming. When you see what the designers and devs have done in this game, it is pretty obvious to anyone with common sense why they had to design it in a linear fasion (perhaps to release it sometime this decade?). If you are tentative and may not like stealth/spy genre, go rent it. If you are into the black-ops genre, quite thinking and go get this game, you will not be disappointed.… Expand
  21. LazyLewis
    Jul 7, 2003
    7
    Yes the graphics are great! But the game play is Very, Very straight forward! I felt as if I was playing a movie, not a game. Were have the games that allow a bit of choice gone? This game left you a corridor and you had to go straight ahead! All doors locked! But graphics are still eye popping and sound is also up to scratch! Over all nice to look at! Boring to play!
  22. LesliePoo
    Jun 24, 2003
    6
    What is the hype all about, it isn't that ''special''... the graphics are (compared to other games) not as good and astounding, it also got a lot of bugs wich don't give splintercell that ''special'' award, but its one hell of a spy game, its just that I really don't like way it's so lineair and boring... the sound reaaly makes What is the hype all about, it isn't that ''special''... the graphics are (compared to other games) not as good and astounding, it also got a lot of bugs wich don't give splintercell that ''special'' award, but its one hell of a spy game, its just that I really don't like way it's so lineair and boring... the sound reaaly makes me pissed because it is always the same shite the german-like voices say, "Get out, there must be arbeit" or something dopey they say, damn get it right with your games now!!! Don't get mad and looney because it isn't my type of game, end of story… Expand
  23. SeanoB.
    Jun 16, 2003
    10
    It's worth the $$$!!
  24. MatthijsOtterden
    Jun 1, 2003
    10
    It's just a top game!!
  25. M
    May 30, 2003
    8
    Ronald A., before you start rambling on about a game you dislike, use some DAMN periods. Everything you typed was practically gibberish.
  26. ChristianO.
    May 1, 2003
    9
    The only almost-meaningful problem with the game is the limbs going through walls. Love everrything else. OPSAT isn't in color, and I wonder why. My PDA is in Color.
  27. HoraceP.
    Apr 30, 2003
    9
    This game was one of the best I've played on the XBOX. There were some missions that were not givin enough instruction, but overall it was an awesome game.
  28. AndrewZ.
    Apr 29, 2003
    10
    Perfect game. Stealth simulation taken to the extreme! Definitely a "must have".
  29. 2-D
    Apr 28, 2003
    9
    Very good game but the PC version can be better control wise.
  30. BruceF.
    Apr 24, 2003
    10
    Its great.
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Xbox Game of 2002
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox Game of 2002
1
#1 Most Shared Xbox Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Xequted
    84
    If ever there was a game to show off the Xbox, this is it.
    Read full review
  2. GameCritics
    75
    This is a very linear game, and... one can't but feel it's a wasted opportunity to limit the player's freedom in choosing how to approach a situation.
    Read full review
  3. GamePro
    100
    Realistic scenarios in realistic environments add to Splinter Cell’s tantalizing world of covert operations. With a strong overall package of incredible features, the stealth/action genre has a new hero.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »