SPLINTER CELL: BLACKLIST Impressions
Time definitely moves backwards in the Splinter Cell universe. Sam Fisher looks younger and is much more agile, and Grim looks even younger! While playing a demo of Blacklist I pointed this out to one of the developers. He said this is basically a reboot of the series, we're just not calling it that.
From what I played I really enjoyed it, although I desperately want them to get Michael Ironside back. The game does an incredible job of combining stealth and action. Most levels give you the option of bypassing every enemy, you just have to be careful and be smart.
Points are currency used to buy upgraded tech and weaponry. A non-lethal approach gets you more points. There will be segments, the developer told me, called exotic stages, where you'll be on a turret or go full confrontation mode, but the demo I played had the exact opposite. Towards the end of the demo I had to get from point A to point B without being detected AND without killing/knocking out any enemies. I only failed once... I'm pretty proud of myself.
The mark and execute feature from Conviction is back, although I didn't rely on it as much as I did in the previous installment. The graphics are nice, but I felt they could have been better. Hopefully that will change in the final product.
I am looking forward to Blacklist. Splinter Cell has changed, there is no denying it. Some say for the better, others for the worse, but I had fun regardless, and I plan on getting it on release on August 20, 2013.
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