The Splinter Cell video game series is the greatest video game series of all time. It qualifies for that honor by having met these important criteria:

• I've played all four Splinter Cell games all the way through.


• I dearly loved all four games, with the third one being the greatest single game ever made.


• Even though the third one is the best, the other three games have been damn fine, too.

Therefore, since I have enjoyed these games more than any other games ... more than most other things, in fact, including ice cream and respiration ... I am proud to name Splinter Cell the greatest video game series ever. So let it be written, so let it be done.

Now comes advance hype for the fifth game in the series, Splinter Cell: Conviction, and my heart is all aflutter.

The amazing thing about this game is that Sam is no longer in the dark. Over the course of the last few games Sam has gone from special agent to double agent, and now to fugitive from justice, hunted for crimes he didn't commit. Now, without his ubercool spy gadgets, Sam has to move by day, finding new ways to be stealth. The new Splinter Cell game will not be about finding shadows and staying hidden. Now, as Sam, players will have to hide themselves in crowds in broad daylight, create diversions and use their environment for defense and offense. Sam's access to spy tech is gone. It's all about wits now.

This video shows that some of the game will still take place in the shadows, but Sam no longer has night vision goggles, heat sensors or toys. The enemy has the same advantage and disadvantage as Sam now:

I didn't watch too much of that video, I don't want to see too much of the game yet. It's like peeking under the wrapper at the present, you know? But one thing got my attention: practically no HUD. It's all about paying attention now. Sam is really on his own.

I'm thrilled to see, though, that some of the game takes place in one of my favorite places in the world: the elaborately reproduced National Mall in DC.

I want this video game so much I can practically feel it in my hands ... but it won't be out until first quarter '08; and, besides, it's exclusively for the Xbox 360, which we do not have and can't afford.

But someday... someday... Meantime, I guess I'll have to plan a trip to the National Mall and spend a day sneaking around, playing pretend Sam Fisher, like an idiot.

Labels: Personal, Video Games