Things I Like: Splinter Cell: Conviction
Posted On Tuesday, May 4th, 2010 By Jay
It isn’t often that I play and enjoy stealth games. I haven’t seriously returned to this genre since the original Splinter Cell. Even though stealth isn’t my preferred genre, I suggest this title to gaming fans everywhere! The folks up at Ubisoft Montreal have outdone themselves.
Below I illustrate systems or concepts I found interesting while playing Conviction.
- Michael Ironside is Sam Fisher
- Cover Mechanic and Resource Management.
- VO, or as the AI like to say “asshole this, asshole that! Think that will work asshole! Asshole! Asshole!”
Michael Ironside is Sam Fisher
Not system or even design related I know. At first I was taken aback and wondering how his arms grew back after that dreadful fall from that mars elevator. I realize his voice is not new to Splinter Cell fans. It was however new to me. His voice acting, coupled with excellently written dialog made Sam’s many cut-scenes and quips quite bearable. To celebrate, for the first time on GToB, I’ve embedded a youtube video. Watch it.
O that’s nice!
Cover Mechanic and Resource Management
Normally I wouldn’t bother covering the basics of the stealth genre. I feel that it is the responsibility of the game studio to create a set of systems that facilitate the switch from stealth game play to action/combat game play to exploration. Being the fifth version of Splinter Cell from Ubisoft Montreal, they’ve had a lot of practice and have done a good job of the systems IMO.
I found the execute mechanic to be an excellent example of the system inter-relation I mentioned above. This specific mechanic is highlighter beginning at 3:22 of the below video. The player can choose to leave “being hidden” to attack the AI, then quickly restore that state using execute. However, to use execute efficiently, the player must observe the AI from stealth. When playing Conviction, you will do this constantly.
Reconnoitering is important. Run and gun is not the name of Conviction.
VO or the Asshole Extravaganza
Ugh. I couldn’t find an example of what I’m referring to here. You’ll know what I mean when you fire up the game.
The enemies are almost constantly spouting the same inane vulgarities. There is some mix up, more then most studios are willing to create. I would have preferred less swearing. It’s comical in a sense. I hear “asshole” about a thousands times throughout the game. That’s ridiculous.
I would challenge you to count each time you hear ass hole during your play through and post it in the comments.
Summary
I really liked Conviction. The story, solid. The environments, solid. The core, solid. Go play it.
