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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory Xbox game cover
Developer(s)Ubisoft
Publisher(s)Ubisoft
EngineUnreal Engine 2.5
Platform(s)Xbox, PS2, GameCube, PC, Nintendo DS, N-Gage
ReleaseMarch 31, 2005 (NA)
Genre(s)Stealth-based game
Mode(s)Single player, multiplayer

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is a third-person stealth-based video game developed and published by Ubisoft. Chaos Theory is the third game in the Splinter Cell series by writer Tom Clancy. The game follows the covert activities of Sam Fisher, an agent working for a black-ops branch of the NSA called "Third Echelon". Though originally announced for release in Fall of 2004, the actual release date was March of 2005 for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube and PC. Handheld versions for the Nintendo DS and Nokia N-Gage have also been released. A version for the Game Boy Advance was planned, but cancelled. The soundtrack for the game - released January 26th, 2005 on Ninja tune record label - is composed by the breakbeat artist Amon Tobin. Composer Jesper Kyd, best known for his work on the Hitman third person stealth shooter series, composed the music for the game's cinematics. Actor Michael Ironside still plays Sam, while Don Jordan returns from the original game to voice Lambert, having been replaced by Dennis Haysbert in Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow.The game went gold on March 22, 2005 for all platforms. Quite recently, The Official Xbox Magazine rated Splinter Cell Chaos Theory Xbox "Game of the Year" (2005) for its oustanding gameplay and lifelike graphics.

Engine and gameplay

The graphics in Chaos Theory feature a number of improvements, including the addition of normal mapping and HDR lighting.

Chaos Theory uses the same basic gameplay as the first two Splinter Cell games, and in fact the basic underlying game code on which the game is built is the same as that used in the original Splinter Cell game [citation needed].

However, unlike Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory also features a number of major changes and improvements to the series' basic gameplay.

Stealth

File:Splintercellsm30.jpg
An in-game screenshot of Chaos Theory

Chaos Theory features more refined gameplay mechanics than its predecessors. In addition to the standard light bar, the game also features an aural monitor that not only measures the noise that Sam Fisher makes, but the ambient noise of the environment.

The AI detection has been altered as well. In former titles after Sam would leave a certain area the game would automatically do a sweep of the previous zone for all unconscious or dead bodies in an area and trigger an alarm if any were found. In Chaos Theory, said bodies have to actually be discovered by a patrolling guard in order to trigger an alarm.

Being spotted by enemies will still trigger alarms, and alarms will still cause enemies to become more alert and combat-ready (such as causing them to don flak jackets and helmets), however creating too many alarms will no longer cause the game to end automatically. Even killing civilians or U.S. soldiers will no longer fail a mission, although doing so will cause Fisher to be seriously chastised by his superiors and cost him significantly in his mission score.

Chaos Theory is also the first game in the series to keep track of mission performance. Missions are summarized upon completion with various statistics such as the number of times detected or the number of guards killed.

Combat

Making a change from the previous titles in terms of combat, Chaos Theory adds a combat knife to Fisher's arsenal. Fisher is also able to knock out enemies from any direction, not just merely from behind. Fisher also now has an option of lethal or non-lethal force when choosing to take down an opponent in close quarters.

Fisher is now able to choose his equipment loadout before each mission from one of three different configurations (Balanced, Assault, or Stealth).

The SC-20k features a number of new attachments: a rifle foregrip that reduces recoil and increases accuracy, an undermount shotgun attachment for close quarters firing, and a 20mm anti-armor sniper attachment for long-range combat. The SC-20k's scope now only zooms to a 1.5x magnification unless the sniper attachment is equipped.

Enemy AI has also been improved, with enemies taking cover, leaning around corners, using squad-based tactics, and even occasionally throwing grenades. Character AI is built around a series of levels. AI will react to changes in the environment. If a light switch is turned off an enemy may become concerned, more so if the light is shot out over their head. AI may even become so frightened by Fisher's presence they may take to firing wildly into shadows.

From an SC-20K, you can fire a variety of attatchments including a sticky camera, a sticky shocker, and an airfoil round. The sticky camera will reveal an image of the area in which you shot it. The camera has a variety of views, it can make a noise, which will attract guards, and it can shoot out a poisonous gas, which will kill any guards in the area of it's effect. The sticky shocker will shock the target. The sticky shocker will shock a group if they are in the water, and you shoot the water. The airfoil round will knock out the target. The target may still die if it falls off a railing that is too high.

There are also grenades. There is the gas grenade, which will provide you with a cloud of smoke which will keep the enemy from seeing you. There is the flash bang grenade, which will temporarily blind anyone within the blast radius. There is also the traditional frag grenade.

Plot summary

The plot of Chaos Theory sees a return to the original Splinter Cell's theme of information warfare, with Fisher on the trail of the Masse algorithms used by Georgian President Kombayn Nikoladze in his attack on America in the original game.

The main focus of the game takes place in East Asia, with tensions between China, North Korea, and Japan following Japan's formation of an Information Self Defense Force (I-SDF), a Black Ops organization similar to Third Echelon. Japan and the I-SDF are allies of the US and Third Echelon, and the US dispatches the Navy cruiser U.S.S. Clarence E. Walsh to the sea of Japan in a show of strength to get China and North Korea to back down.

Meanwhile, in a seemingly unrelated incident, Fisher and Third Echelon are dispatched to locate a pair of missing computer programmers who worked on deciphering the Masse kernels. Apparently, Phillip Masse (whom Fisher assassinated in the original Splinter Cell) was a genius far ahead of his time, and the algorithms he used to launch his attacks on America's electronic infrastructure have been extensively studied by the UN, with the resulting Masse kernels toted as the superweapons of the 21st century. Fisher is tasked with making sure Masse's algorithms do not fall into the wrong hands. Template:Spoilers

Although Fisher assassinates the South American revolutionaries responsible for kidnapping one of the programmers, he is unsuccessful in stopping the release of the Masse algorithms. Unknown parties use the algorithms to black out the Eastern Seaboard, including New York city. Japan has previously suffered similar attacks that crashed its economy, and Admiral Otomo of the I-SDF contacts Third Echelon and warns them that North Korea and China are probably responsible.

Meanwhile in East Asia, the American show of force backfires when the U.S.S. Walsh is sunk by a North Korean missile, initiating a war between North Korea and the United States. Fisher is sent into Korea (including the South Korean capital city of Seoul which is under invasion by North Korean troops) to determine whether North Korea is truly responsible for starting the war, or if the Masse algorithms are involved.

Fisher eventually learns that the entire war has been orchestrated by an American Fortune 500 corporation, Displace International, which used Masse's algorithms to hijack North Korea's ballistic missile systems and sink the Walsh, in order to draw the U.S. into a war with North Korea which Displace could profit from through its status as a leading military contractor. Fisher also realizes the mastermind behind the entire plot is none other than his old comrade and friend, Douglas Shetland, the CEO of Displace. Ultimately, Third Echelon sends Fisher to spy on a meeting between Shetland and Shetland's unknown accomplices, which turn out to be none other than the I-SDF. However, Shetland betrays I-SDF, and a firefight breaks out between Shetland's soldiers and the I-SDF assault troops. Amidst the chaos, Fisher pursues Shetland to the roof where, after a brief battle and tense Mexican standoff, Fisher kills his old friend.

Even after Shetland's death, one loose end remains. Admiral Otomo of the I-SDF has acquired a copy of the Masse algorithms from Shetland and, revealing himself to be a hardline nationalist, attempts to return Japan to Imperial rule by using the algorithms to initiate a North Korean missile strike against Japan, starting World War III. Although Otomo's I-SDF Black Operatives manage to fight off the G-SDF troops sent to stop him, Sam infiltrates the I-SDF's secret underwater base and manages to put an end to Otomo's scheme. Otomo himself attempts to commit seppuku (suicide), but Sam saves his life and captures him. Otomo stands trial at the UN and takes full responsibility for the entire Korean crisis, returning stability to East Asia.

Multiplayer

File:Splintercell3.JPG
European box art.

Like its predecessor Pandora Tomorrow, Chaos Theory includes a competitive multiplayer component. Chaos Theory expands its multiplayer by including cooperative play allowing for two agents to play through a unique 5 mission story mode which parallels the single player campaign. It is playable via system link play or over Xbox Live

The cooperative campaign follows the story of two Splinter Cells in training. Their training is interrupted when a world crisis occurs that requires the Shadownet division of NSA to deploy additional resources, even including agents not fully trained. The missions become a trial by fire for the two new agents.

The gameplay is built on the same design as the single player campaign. It introduces new techniques for the two player gameplay, such as one spy kneeling down to give the second player a boost over a wall.

Though players can operate alone, the level design is such that it encourages teamwork. For example, there may be a switch down a long shaft that will unlock a door. One player will stand atop the shaft and extend a rope down the length of it while the second player will descend the shaft, hit the switch, and then return up the rope.

The cooperative campaign was popular enough that Ubisoft developed two additional levels for download for the PC and Xbox versions. The Nuclear Plant and UN Headquarters missions are meant to end the story for the cooperative component.

The popular Spy vs. Merc game mode returns from Pandora Tomorrow with many improvements.

Awards

Protection and Other Hidden Software

The game is protected with StarForce protection and as of the 17th of January 2006 doesn't work with Windows XP 64-bit Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

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