GamerTM: Splinter Cell: Conviction Preview

2008 is a Metal Gear year. There are relatively few franchises out there that can make this kind of statement – Snake is perhaps only kept company by Grand Theft Auto and Halo, but the trade-off is a massive shadow cast over any competitors hitting the shelves in the same year. Though it's unlikely Ubisoft would take kindly to such a description, there's no avoiding the fact that Sam Fisher's latest opus, due out in the second quarter of this year, will be squaring up to Konami's cash-cow at release.

It's not an entirely fair comparison either, because – while stealth is the lifeblood of both series – Ubisoft has always been careful to give Splinter Cell its own distinct flavour. Indeed, it's fair enough to say that the series has more in common with the French publisher's fellow Tom Clancy franchises than it does Metal Gear. No doubt aware of such aspersions, Conviction is set to see Sam Fisher finally step out of the shadows and into harsh light, in every sense imaginable.

[Boldy]

I have never payed much attention to Conviction until recently. I'm really lookin forward to this game now.

[Grown Folks Talk]

is my favorite series. I can't wait for Conviction. Double Agent was a step down from Chaos Theory, but I have high hopes for this one. The open nature lends itself to great replay value.

[sonarus]

I pity the people who get hyped up for this game. Not every game works in that open world format. Ubisoft will learn that the hard way. Anyways would be interesting to see what they bring to the table. What was so fantastic that couldn't be done on the ps3. lol.

I honestly completely forgot about this game lol. If they come out withing 3 months of MGS4 they should just forget it. On the other hand it could give jealous 360 owners something to play during the mgs fever.

From the preview you can tell the previewer wasn't impressed. This game will be worse than double agent. IMO double agent wasn't even that bad.
If there is anything i can give them props for, it is trying to stay out of MGS4's shadow. I hated assasins creed so much and i am sure i will hate this even more

[Grown Folks Talk]

It's not on the PS3 so it won't matter. If you are a fan of the series you'll get it regardless of what else is coming out. & this jealousy stuff is garbage. Everybody doesn't like Metal Gear. Is it really that hard to understand? & if they do, they probably have a PS3 or will get 1. I'd personally go back & play Syphon Filter 1 & 2 before I'd play MGS4.

[BenzMoney]

Nobody cares to read your opinion, why even bother to comment? You're just here to troll a 360 exclusive, as usual.

And it's obvious you know nothing of the Splinter Cell franchise from your "This game will be worse than double agent. IMO double agent wasn't even that bad" garbage.

As a long time Splinter Cell fan (since the original) I can say that this game will undoubtedly be better than Double Agent, and *hopefully* will be the best Splinter Cell so far.

Double Agent's single player was garbage compared to Chaos Theory, any Splinter Cell fan would agree. Double Agent was done by Ubi's "B-Team" and Conviction is being made by the "A-Team" again.

Splinter Cell - Ubi Montreal
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - Ubi Shanghai (garb in comparison to original, but introduced multiplayer which was done by the Montreal studio [thanks The Lazy One for reminding me of this])
Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory - Ubi Montreal (best SC yet)
Splinter Cell: Double Agent - Ubi Shanghai (garb)
Splinter Cell: Conviction - Ubi Montreal

The game is gonna rock. Don't hate and stop trolling, troll. Your opinion = dirt. I pity trolls like yourself.

[The Lazy One]

Edit ur list of developers to include who did the MP. I think Montreal did the MP for the second game, which was an incredible experience. Some of my favorite times on the original xbox were in that game.

[NO_PUDding]

Double Agent was a boil on a perfectly great series.

I was infact a Splinter Cell fan before an MGS fan on Playstation, but I hate it when series ditch their roots for totally new directions. That isn't how it works, series evolve they don't ditch their roots. Chaos Theory was superb. Double agent was crap. Bad reception of Double Agent makes Ubisoft think they ahve to change the direction, and now it's gone gimmicky.

Conviction is the coolness of having a Simpsons lunchbox when you are 14. And to further this analogy, what made you so cool when Chaos Theory was out was that Transformers lunchbox. AWESOME!

Fisher is now an emo... and a cliched rebel.

[Glad to be a gamer]

My first sc that i played was da and i loved it. Can't believe that the guys that have played other sc didn't think it was good.

@Benz money Gonna have to check out the previous sc that you rated cos if there better than the new one ive really missed out on some solid gold gaming. That end mission before the boat was a great ending.

@Sonarus lmao look like the leapords shown its spots. Guess you wont be laying sc conviction due to you not actually having a 360 uhum! i mean not liking the game.

Mgsand Sc are great franchise and anyone into the stealth genre will miss out not playing either.

P.s didn't you have a forum post about sc versus mgs4 and you were going over good and bad points for both and from that it seemed youd played both and enjoyed them. was that all lies!!!!?!??!

[Richdad]

2008 is MGS year but that doesn't mean that Splinter Cell Conviction is bad I mean the last game Double agent was no way AAA but a A title. But the thing is that this is being developed by the original SC team who worked on Chaos theory and Pandora tomorrow with the first one. So you can see they have got the guts to go.

Also first SC was Ok but Pandora tomorrow and Chaos Theory looked damn good, I mean when I saw Chaos Theory of Xbox 1 I thought its a 360 game it looked so good the textures the movements where great. But you might be saying that the should keep the original mechanics intact but its important to innovate also one of my friend who is a big fan of Chaos theory was pissed to see the Assassin Creed style game play but its different I mean Splinter Cell lacked one thing heavily that was accessibility and this is going to be improved in the new game.

Also the Assassins team have always made story driven game mainly and their actual gameplay never had been stealth and they never used open world concept. But SC team has done somewhat a benchmark in stealth game and there were level but they were open world in all SC after first.

I mean if you have Vallet for Dark Sector and Supreme Commander you should better get this one first. Wait out for the review, you will know it you have a 360 and I think you should get it for that or PC if you want.

[sonarus]

I am not here to troll in fact i am going to be quite honest. Here is the situation plain for you all to see.

This is essentially a scenario like last yr where ps3 had few exclusives and naturally those who owned only ps3's went on praising the little ps3 exclusives they had. I have an Xbox 360 my comment on the 3 month span was directed for me. If SC comes within 3 months of MGS4 I will not even look at it.

So because 360 has few STRONG exclusives to back, all 360 owners want to rally behind this confirmed garbage. Go back and look at the game play video they showed and tell me that got you excited.

I don't troll 360 news that isn't my style.
I am actually a fan of splinter cell. I have played and enjoyed every single splinter cell ever made. But after the BS that was assassins creed i am telling you this game will be crap. It will even be worse than assassins creed mark my words if you like

@Benz Double agent wasn't that bad definetly the worst in the series but I still enjoyed it
Putting so much praise behind UBi Montreal doesn't mean squat
Didn't they spit out assasins creed?
Didn't they spit out lost via domus?
As far as i am concerned they are about as talented as the rest of the Ubisoft team

@glad just because i think SC will be crap doesn't mean i don't have a 360. I beg you go and scope that gameplay video and tell me exactly what excites you there. I BEG YOU. If you look at the footage and tell me honestly it "excites you" then i will try the game out based on YOUR recommendation

@richdad you guys don't seem to understand. I am not saying SC conviction will be crap compared to MGS4 i am saying it will be CRAP.(PERIOD). Even if MGS4 wasn't coming out i would still call it crap. Assuming i was hating on it because it was an X360 exclusive that rumor still stands that it is coming to ps3 and to be honest i believe it will but that doesn't change the fact that i still feel it will be crap. If you enjoyed Assassins creed, i guess you can be hyped for this but i didn't so to me it will be crap. End of story

I am a big fan of the stealth genre. SC for me is a great alternative to MGS. I did a SC MGS4 comparison on the forums and i rated both games very close MGS winning by just a hair. If SC conviction turns out good i will eat my words HAPPILY. Double agent was crap due to the unnecessary changes but the changes are not as large as conviction is turning out. Ubisoft isn't even hyping the game like they did AC. The previewer shows no excitement watsoever but yet you believe by some miracle the game will be the best in the series. 360 has a solid line up there are far better games to be looking at than this crap

But from what has been shown and the evidence presented before me in the form of assasins creed this game will be crap. Take it or leave it

[Richdad]

Please read my whole comment I was saying that why Conviction will not have bade features of Assassin I never compared it to MGS. Instead I said MGS is best in 3rd person stealth genre but if there is a 2nd place it goes to SC by small margin.

Also I know you have a 360 saw you how excited where you abt GOW2 in the forums.
Also brother its not your problem but most people are pissed of to see something new but its damn necessary to innovate Yes Assassin has big issues but there could improvement in it and the sales show that there is a need for those games who innovate but if you say that Devs stop innovating and do things with least risk than you are going the wrong way. Also Assassins issue was it was repetitive but I think its gonna end here.

Yes for God sake believe that all former Splinter Cell ( although good) had heavy accessibility issue and it was for hardcore gamers mainly.

[sonarus]

I rated both games and honestly i love the stealth genre so much i would hop at the chance to play any of them. I bought SC. DA twice for a matter of fact once on ps3 but it was crap so returned it and got it for 360. I enjoyed the MP. Not the best in the series and i def enjoyed chaos theory more. SC is a great game it is just not as grande as MGS. Both games have their strengths and their weaknesses.

If anything i am pissed off at Ubisoft for trying to change an already great formula. It seizes to be a stealth game when you start doing assasins creed nonsense of squeezing through the crowds. Stick to what works find more interesting ways to hide up the enemy A.I. dish out a deeper story. Don't turn the entire series on its head so i am stuck running around with the crowd (FVKIN BORING). I have nothing against the SC series but i am STUNNED that after playing assassins creed and seeing the gameplay videos for SC anyone can be excited for this game. Personally i thing the main reason the game is exclusive to the 360 is because of MGS4. Sort of the way haze became a timed exclusive because of halo. Its just a plot to get 360 owners who can't play MGS to get the next best alternative. I am genuinely sad that this is the direction they took the series. I am not here to troll or hate

I am a hardcore gamer and i understand why they would change it to be more suitable for casual gamers. AC markets to more of the casual crowd. Turning a perfectly good game into a casual games pisses me off. This is all the nintendo wii's fault

[Richdad]

But it could be a mid route like Hardcore + Casual hope say thats what I am talking abt. I mean also if you are a fan of MGS what was the biggest thing missing in Splinter Cell it was cinematic and the formula they have now is good for that. I mean Splinter Cell did have a good story but it was not cinematic, the game play was the main saving grace of the game.

But being cinematic is important for a game, don't you think and this turn will give it better voice acting and story telling than the Conventional way.

[H-V-H]

sonarus is HARDCORE!!!!!!!!!

[NO_PUDding]

@ RichDad

You obviosuly don't know the series that well. It's not the same Team as Assassins Creed for one, just in the same building. Also Chaos Theory and the original Splinter Cell were worked on by the same team. Double Agent and Pandora Tomorrow were different teams. This team is indeed Ubisoft Montreal. But it's hardly a return to form.

Also the 360 wasn't out when this was released. So I dunno how you thought it was a 360 game.

[Z501]

MGS & the Tenchu series.
That is all.

[Boldy]

Ok, but this story is for Conviction, not Tenchu and MGS.

[Grown Folks Talk]

Tenchu 1 & 2 when I had my PS1. They just don't update them with the times. The newest 1 still looks like a Playstation game. As for Metal Gear, I only liked the NES version. As the story states, stealth is about the only thing they share. 2 different games really.

[Richdad]

I know stealth genre games are filled of bad games but you can be rest assured with Splinter Cell. You should try SC2 or SC3 on PC or Xbox to mainly know the difference the PS2 version where not so good.
Also PC will be good to go since it can be played on very low end PC now.

[BigKev45]

Tenchu sucks!!!!

[GFahim]

Conviction will eb great cant wait to get it for the pc

[Z501]

right?
Yeah, Tenchu Z did suck, but

Tenchu, T2, & Wrath of Heaven are one of a kind and good in their own right.
Ya know, Ninja who actually ACT like ninja.

EDIT:
LOL @ disagrees
Those ARE'NT the only 2 stealth games "I" play?
Coulda fooled me.

[Grown Folks Talk]

You know good & well that other people whom you have never met know what you do better than you do. =} I don't click disagree, I just respond. Like I said, Tenchu just never seemed to advance to me. They feel old to me.

[bumnut]

ubisoft make all the best games, this will wipe the floor with mgs4.

i must add that i have just smoked some crystal meths.

ubisoft are on my hate list after r6v 1.5, i will not be buying this game

[Truplaya]

this game will be great. I used to think MGS was the best stealth game until i played the splinter cell series. Hopefully this one is as good as the others

[BeaArthur]

I'm not sure if I'm going to like the new one. Sometimes when they make drastic changes it works out very well (RE4) and sometimes they fall flat on their face.

[acetw1n]

Fans of this series are going to be very upset

sounds like the most boring gamme play ever!

[Boldy]

Did you play the game? Tell me what your personal take is on the gameplay. It's dumb to call a game a dissapointment if you have not played it.

[acetw1n]

but I have never completed them
I wanted to believe it was fun but after a while I felt they were pointless, the hand to hand combat is awful, game objectives weren't meaningful, and overall i didn't have a feeling urgency.

even with that being said ,it sounds like they are taking way the (i guess what you call the best part) action .
im not feeling the whole social stealth thing

[BenzMoney]

If you were trying to play Splinter Cell with "hand-to-hand" combat, it's not at all surprising you didn't like it because you obviously have no idea how to play the game properly.

The extent of hand-to-hand combat should be knifing an unsuspecting enemy in the back. Not getting into fist fights.

[Grown Folks Talk]

Because if he played them on the PS2 he's right. Those versions were all garbage compared to the xbox versions. Same as the Ghost Recon series. My best friend bought the 1st SC for his PS2 after watching me play it on xbox. He never got past the training mission. The only hand to hand was grabbing & chocking or an elbow to the dome so I don't know what you were looking for there.

[acetw1n]

they havent made much mention of weapons, ive seen him toss a chair at some one in a screen shot , maybe he was just telling him to have a seat. my geuse is it probly want have multiplayer either ,not with the revamp steath situations and all.

actually that would be hillarious every one walking around talking to each other.

@grown folk ive played it on xbox
my twin brother has xbox and 360
we often trade systems

[Grown Folks Talk]

the environment. Almost like Alone in the Dark if you've seen any of the tech demos for that. There are still guns & whatnot, but the gadgets don't play as big a role as before. Good thing is, you can always rent 1st to see if you like it.

[SEAN1617]

MGS is story driven, not mission driven, Sam fisher is cool, only because of Micheal Ironsides Voice acting. I do enjoy the splinter cell games all but double agent. But i have to say that the Game is a huge rip off of MGS, even the creators of the game have said that their number one Influence for the game was MGS and Snake. even so they are 2 very different games, i have to actually say that Splinter Cell Has more incommon with tenchu then MGS as far as gameplay anyway go forth and sneak sneak sneak

[Azures]

If you try to compare this game to MGS4, Conviction is gonna lose every time.

Remember something very important: Without Metal Gear Solid and Hideo Kojima, the Splinter Cell franchise wouldn't even exist.

[celticlonewolf]

So few gamers so many fanboys..............Its so hard for some guys to give props to a game if its not on there system huh lol be it ps3 only or 360 only people will bash just because....sad

[Z501]

... and they tried to compare.
Why even mention MGS4 when they're not even releasing together?

[OpiZA]

This game should rock

[slak]

!THIS GAME IS GOING TO ROCK!

[Cherchez La Ghost]

One thing I like about the Spinter Cell series is the realism. And by reading the past articles about Conviction, It's a definite buy for me.

[Grown Folks Talk]

Just not as good as Chaos Theory. I liked the xbox version better than the 360 version of DA. Tighten up the combat & enhance the crowd dynamic & i'm good.

[AlterEgo]

I'm a diehard mgs fan, but I like Splinter Cell also.

Not nearly as much as MGS, but I'll probably pick up Conviction.

Even though Double Agent was horrible.

[Avto]

I am kind of looking forward for this but I hope it's not Assassin's Creed in modern day Washington D.C

[themyk]

if there was one game that would have made me go out and buy a used 360 it was going to be this game. but not after noobisoft released that piece of garbage R6V2.

i know the 360 version of that game is good. and conviction is going to be good. but i'm adding noobisoft to my EA strike list.

it sucks because i know this game is going to be awesome. but i wont buy anything from those losers again.

it's a principal thing.

long live solid snake.

[timmyrulz]

splinter cell games have always been the best series in my opinion for stealth and realism, i remember been totally amazed when i saw how cool the very first one was, even double agent wasnt that bad, if this lives up to its potential then its going to be one awesome game

[SuperSaiyan4]

That the guy in Condemend 2 images I have seen look exactly like Sam in these images in SplinterCell Conviction?

[GFahim]

yes i agree with u there man

[GametimeUK]

... I love splinter cell... I own SC 1,2,CT and DA for the PS2... I also own CT for DS and DA for the 360... So its safe to say im a fan... I am looking forward to MGS 4 more but the only real gameplay element the two games had in common was the stealth based gameplay... and SC dealt with it in a totally different way to MGS anyway...

Now onto why I dont like the looks of this... Im all for new things but this has me on edge... This is one of my fave game franchises and im not convinced this change is for the better... I had a look at a gameplay vid and I much prefer the agent Sams stealth elements as opposed to survival Sams...

Like I say I can not say if the game is good or bad without playing it... But like any fan of a franchise I am going to buy it anyway... And I cant wait for MGS4 either XD ... 2008 is for the gamers... The fanboys will be feeling bitter this year as both consoles have top line ups

[OOG FunK]

Cant wait to try this game out....looks very interesting and is a nice turn for the franchise...should be cool to see what the game will end up being....

For people to say that it shouldnt release 3 months within MGS4 cuz it wont sell?????wtf r u guys on???? You realize MGS4 is on ps3 right??? and this is on 360 right???? a game on PS3 doesnt really hold much power over a 360 games sales right now....and since MGS is a bi franchise but not GTA or GT big....I doubt it will really impact a game on the 360 from selling.....

MGS is stealth but is more about the story....the gameplay mechanics have never been the best....storys r cool tho

Splinter Cell is a game that is all about stealth....less about story....more about gameplay......

Totally different types of games that do not feel remotely the same and will probably not effect each other at all.....

Both look and sound like they may be great.....

If people want to limit themselves to only 1 game because of their weird fanboy loves then it sucks to be you because a true gamer plays games because they are fun and not because of what systems they are on

[Lord Vader]

"2008 is a Metal Gear year. There are relatively few franchises out there that can make this kind of statement – Snake is perhaps only kept company by Grand Theft Auto and Halo..."

Wrong.

Gears of War 2 isnt even mentioned & I bet it outsells both MGS4 & Conviction & may even steal GOTY away from GTA IV, imho.

[Richdad]

The article was abt stealth games so MGS was related but if the writer would have put GOW and other things it could have been a mess.
I mean its good to give a litle flame on console war but if you over do it you are F*ck"d for sure.

[carl ps3]

U got nothing 2 worry about! :D

[GETPWNT]

So then why is MGS4 stealing everything from SC? moron. SC is a better game. better gameplay all around. I'm a huge MGS fan, and will enjoy MGS4 greatly I'm sure. but all MGS has are cut-scenes, most of which, rather boring even.

get owned.

[CallOfWar22]

Resident Evil 4 was born!!!!! Stop hating u jealous PS3 owners who cant have this game and is bitter about it. This could be the biggest game of the year without anyone even realizing it. Assassins Creed was just missing a little something that maybe SCC has to make it a classic. Maybe there is a reason why Microsoft secured this as a council exclusive. I really loved some of things A.Creed did but it was really repetitive. I am looking forward to this one. Ubisoft has been impressing me lately. They revived Rainbow Six franchise and now its time for Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon.

[ChefDejon]

i said this a long time ago and got made disagrees

so bascially its Assaissins Creed but in Modern day setting is what the article is saying

[Angelitos]

They were in the dark for way toooo long. Not giving any info for a while, it will defintely throw off people. Also, I think the new gameplay will actually bore people.

[candystop]

I wonder just how far this game has come from the last time we saw it! I wiling to bet that this game is going to be a hit and make the 360 look really good!

[UJUSTLOSTONE]

This and Gears Two, hopefully there premise of being able to pick up; anything will live up to the hype. Assassins Creed had Great Promise but only delivered on maybe 60% of what they projected, it was still a good game, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.

Hopefully with this one they will learn from those mistakes.

[RenegadeRocks]

Boring...Assassins Creed has already showed that the "Hide among the crowd" is B*llSh1t, so, please, Original Splinter Cells were good, but this open world crowd sh1t sucks! :(