Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,928 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Game Cover
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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a single-player shooter game with excellent mechanics, good graphics, and awesome music. As Sam Fisher, an NSA secret operative, you must infiltrate terrorist positions, acquire critical intelligence, and execute missions while leaving no trace to prevent global chaos. Despite some bugs, the game offers a wonderful atmosphere and an interesting plot, making it a thrilling experience for players.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Nintendo Gamecube
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,928 reviews
story135 positive mentions
stability30 negative mentions
  • Classic stealth game that still holds up well after 20 years.
  • Engaging gameplay with a strong emphasis on stealth mechanics and environmental interaction.
  • Great voice acting, particularly from Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher, adds depth to the character.
  • Clunky controls and mechanics that can feel dated and frustrating at times.
  • Inconsistent AI behavior, with enemies sometimes spotting players in complete darkness.
  • Linear level design that often forces players into specific paths and solutions, limiting exploration.
  • story593 mentions

    The story of the game is a mix of engaging political intrigue and typical Tom Clancy tropes, focusing on espionage and global threats. While some players appreciate the depth and realism of the narrative, others find it clichéd and overly simplistic, often criticizing its jingoistic undertones. Overall, the plot serves as a backdrop for the stealth gameplay, with varying opinions on its execution and memorability.

    • “The story is engaging, with a well-crafted plot that keeps you invested throughout the game.”
    • “The story offers an amazing Splinter Cell experience, challenging, good fairness, also now and again you can pull away and have some random fun.”
    • “It's pretty unique because of the more political nature of it; since Sam Fisher is a government agent on clandestine operations, different rules get applied to different missions, with some instantly failing if the enemy sounds an alarm and others forbidding you to kill anyone until a certain point, which emphasizes the stealth aspect in a way not many games do.”
    • “The story is nothing to write about and is carried by Sam's and Lambert's voice acting.”
    • “The story is forgettable.”
    • “The story is your classic Clancy war story, with tricks and turns and Eastern European villains.”
  • gameplay404 mentions

    The gameplay of Splinter Cell is primarily centered around stealth mechanics, utilizing light and sound to navigate environments and avoid detection, which many players find immersive and innovative for its time. However, the game suffers from repetitive missions, clunky controls, and frustrating mechanics that can lead to trial-and-error gameplay, making it feel dated compared to modern titles. Despite these issues, the core stealth experience remains enjoyable, with a nostalgic appeal for fans of the genre, though it may not be as accessible for newcomers accustomed to more refined gameplay.

    • “There's an emphasis on core mechanics like shadows being incredibly useful to hide in, slow walking being better to stay undetected, tools to help look past doors, night vision goggles that will probably remain on 90% of the time, and bottles and cans that can be tossed about to distract enemies.”
    • “The stealth mechanics are great and make you feel so cool; it reminds me a lot of the stealth in Metal Gear Solid, from which they obviously took a lot of inspiration.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent due to the great stealth mechanics and vast replayability.”
    • “Gameplay is bad and janky.”
    • “The gameplay itself is a crude boardroom distillation of Hitman 2 and MGS2.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit too clunky to be enjoyable in the modern age.”
  • graphics233 mentions

    The graphics of the game, originally released in 2002, are generally considered dated but still hold up reasonably well for their time, particularly in terms of lighting effects and overall art direction. Many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and atmospheric visuals, though they acknowledge the need for graphical tweaks and mods to enhance the experience on modern systems. While some criticize the outdated textures and animations, others find the visuals acceptable and even impressive when compared to other games from the same era.

    • “The graphics, which were mind-blowing when it was released, have held up well.”
    • “For 2003, the graphics are really nice, especially the lighting.”
    • “The graphics are really good for a 2002 game, the gameplay is great, you can walk slowly, walk, run and run a little faster, it's even more complex than the newest Splinter Cell games.”
    • “The graphics are terrible, but the level design is great.”
    • “It's astonishing how outdated and pixelated the visuals appear in Splinter Cell.”
    • “The game has not aged well in terms of graphics and controls, as newer games have surpassed it in both aspects.”
  • music75 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the stealth experience with dynamic tracks that respond to gameplay situations. While some tracks are noted as repetitive or generic, the overall soundtrack is considered impactful and fitting for the game's tone, with standout moments that resonate with players' nostalgia. Despite a few criticisms regarding specific tracks, the sound design and music contribute significantly to the game's ambiance and tension.

    • “The soundtrack is so atmospheric and peaceful, making it a joy to listen to.”
    • “The dynamic soundtrack is both helpful during gameplay and great to listen to.”
    • “The soundtrack wraps the game up in a nice little bow and makes every situation nail biting and tense.”
    • “The music is fine, but extremely repetitive.”
    • “It's like they used really short loops of music; it's noticeable after a while.”
    • “The music is somewhat generic and the story seems to be sort of lackluster in that it's hard to care about the characters or what's happening to them.”
  • humor43 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by dry wit and clever dialogue, particularly from the main character, Sam Fisher, whose voice acting adds a layer of charm. Players appreciate the mix of serious themes with comedic moments, including funny enemy interactions and amusing gameplay mechanics, which contribute to an engaging and entertaining experience. Overall, the humor enhances the game's immersive qualities, making it both enjoyable and memorable.

    • “The voice acting for Sam Fisher is spot on with its dry humor, and the rest of the cast don't miss a mark either.”
    • “Some of the dialogue is genuinely funny, and the enemy conversations are great for immersion.”
    • “The dry, sarcastic humor Michael Ironside adds to the briefing discussions, interrogations, and in-mission communications is beyond hilarious at times.”
  • stability31 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, particularly on newer PCs. While some minor issues are expected due to the game's age, significant problems such as freezing, poor collision detection, and inconsistent controls have led to frustration among players. Overall, while the game retains its charm, its stability issues detract from the experience, especially for those using modern systems.

    • “It's still fun to play after all these years, and it runs great on my Windows 7 machine.”
    • “A somewhat buggy port, from rough asset application with gaps to poor aim and inconsistent voicing.”
    • “On my high-end PC capable of playing Crisis at ultra settings, this game freezes every 10 seconds.”
    • “Works very buggy on Windows 10; I refunded mine as it wasn't playable.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its impressive lighting, sound design, and immersive settings, which effectively create a tense and engaging experience. Despite its age, the game maintains a strong sense of intrigue and mood, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack and memorable narrative elements. Players appreciate how the atmospheric elements contribute to the overall gameplay, making it a classic in the stealth genre.

    • “The atmosphere and immersion are fantastic, and I have completed this game a good number of times since its original release.”
    • “Whether you're sneaking through an embassy or evading capture from armed guards, the game will have you on the edge of your seat with its gripping story and very atmospheric setting.”
    • “Set in a near-future world of political intrigue and espionage, Splinter Cell's narrative is engaging and well-written, with a cast of memorable characters and a strong sense of atmosphere.”
    • “The mechanics have not aged very well, given that you will find yourself sometimes in front of a real trial and error, but if you can adapt and breathe deeply, the atmosphere the game represents is one of the founders of the genre.”
    • “Given that listening for noise is an integral part of the gameplay, music is primarily limited to combat sequences, but when it does surface, it contributes to the game's tense atmosphere.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally rated low to medium, with many players noting its linear structure and limited mission variety as significant drawbacks. While some find enjoyment in experimenting with different stealth approaches, the overall consensus is that the game lacks substantial replay value, with ratings often falling around 4 to 6 out of 10. A few players appreciate the potential for replaying levels with varied tactics, but the repetitive nature of the story and missions diminishes long-term engagement.

    • “This exceptional quality is made even more impressive by how these titles remain highly replayable decades after release, and yet very few companies, including Ubisoft, take notes as to why the original Splinter Cell remains an instant classic worth playing today.”
    • “There's a lot of replayability in how to tackle levels and it's still to this day really fun to just ghost through a level and make it through without being seen.”
    • “It has very high replayability, and is a game I will continue to love and enjoy for a long time into the future.”
    • “It's a very linear game with only really one way to get through it, so it's not very replayable.”
    • “There also isn't much replay value at all.”
    • “Content/replayability: 4/10”
  • optimization16 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game is mixed; while some players report smooth performance on modern hardware without crashes or stuttering, others experience significant issues, including difficulty running the game and even system crashes. Many recommend sticking to console ports or newer titles like "Chaos Theory," which benefit from better optimization and fan-made patches. Despite its age, some users find it runs well at higher resolutions, but the lack of official support for modern controllers and inconsistent performance detracts from the experience.

    • “Game works fantastic from a performance perspective.”
    • “No stuttering, drops, crashes, nothing.”
    • “Just stick to the console ports or skip over to Chaos Theory, a better optimized port that's further improved by fan-made patches.”
    • “Unfortunately, this game doesn't appear optimized for modern systems, and so I've gotten four BSODs in the last hour trying to play it.”
    • “Just a quick note regarding graphics and performance... as you may know this is an 18-year-old game, so don't expect high resolutions, but unlike some other old games, this one worked pretty well on Windows 10.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the thrill of stealth and the feeling of being a covert spy, others criticize the lack of immersion, emotional investment, and narrative tension. Many feel that the characters are underdeveloped and that the gameplay mechanics detract from the emotional stakes, leading to frustration rather than engagement. Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players, with some finding joy in stealth gameplay and others feeling disconnected from the game's narrative and characters.

    • “Stealth games always had a special place in my heart, and playing this game just made me feel really good.”
    • “What I loved and still love about the series is the ability to play every mission without touching a soul.”
    • “One aspect that still amazes me is that you can sneak through most levels without ever touching a guard or being detected.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, often describing it as boring and requiring excessive time investment. For experienced players, particularly those who favor stealth gameplay, the challenge can feel overshadowed by the frustratingly unforgiving AI.

    • “Getting through levels feels tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's slow, tedious, and boring at times; in other circumstances, the AI can be unforgiving.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    Reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the monetization practices of Ubisoft, labeling their approach as a "lazy cash grab" characterized by incomplete products and excessive microtransactions. While some players appreciate the absence of ads, the overall sentiment reflects frustration with the perceived greed and repetitive nature of their game design.

    • “The controls may take a bit of time to get used to, as jump is with the shift key (inb4 random sticky keys notification), and there are no ads.”
    • “Valve really should not tolerate broken or incomplete products on the Steam store. Shame on Ubisoft for a lazy cash grab.”
    • “Copy/pasted open world games, outposts, microtransactions, Ubisoft Connect, greed... but guess what?”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve meaningfully throughout the narrative. The storytelling effectively intertwines character arcs with the plot, allowing for emotional engagement and investment in their journeys. Overall, the development of characters is seen as a standout feature that enhances the overall gaming experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Play time

10hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
13hMain story
16hCompletionist
2-23hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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