And the game play is the same outstanding stealth action I've loved since the first game ... but my complaints are substantial and I'm emphatic about them.

For starters, the game is short. Nine levels, something like twelve hours of gameplay. The previous four games were all about twelve levels, plus downloadable bonus levels through Xbox live. Just nine short ones this time, however.

Then, there's the game story. I have to admit, I really enjoy the Splinter Cell pathos and I get involved in the story and the characters. This game featured the franchises weakest story ... the only story I'd genuinely describe as just plain weak.

The worst thing about the story, though, is that the whole game is really just a setup for Splinter Cell 5, an upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive.

I do not have an Xbox 360 and I don't plan to buy one, so I'm screwed.

On a one to ten scale, Splinter Cell: Double Agent is a 7 at best.

For the record, the third game in the franchise, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, is the best. The story is great, the gameplay is fantastic, great graphics, great sound, great controls, great, great, great. Chaos Theory is the one to get. It's a solid 10.

Not that you need get just one. The first game and second one, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, are both outstanding. They're nines. They'd be tens if the third game wasn't so flat-out perfect.

So I've spent most of my free time (which is precious) over the past month playing a game that I didn't find fulfilling ... and yet I'm still enough of a Splinter Cell addict that I'm looking forward to the movie.

I know. I'm pathetic.

Labels: Personal, Video Games

Permalink -- Posted by Darrell at 20:26