Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Despite the fact CT is recognized as the goat in the splinter cell series, I beg to differ. I had played the 360 version way back in 2006 and thought it was good but nothing special. Im just now playing the original Xbox version of DA in 2023 and all I can say is WOW it's a fantastic game. I tried replaying CT(first time in 15 years) right after I beat DA and it just didn't do it for me. I personally found the story of infiltrating the terrorist group(JBA) to be more engaging and with the critical choices you have to make in the game is outstanding. The hit detection while shooting is also 100% better than CT. For whatever reason, you constantly miss headshots at point blank range repeatedly. Nevertheless, I know I'm in the minority but Double Agent(ver 2) is my personal pick of best Splinter Cell game.

Having played all Splinter Cell games, I find Double Agent the most intriguing, but definitely not the most challenging in terms of difficulty. (I still think Pandora Tomorrow is the most difficult to date.)

There are some very challenging moments, but those shouldn't be a problem, because you can save at any time. This is really handy if you're playing in Elite mode. The 2 most challenging levels are (to me) Kinshasa, in which you start off with no gear at all, not even night vision and you have to deal with very smart guards. Then there's New York, in which you have to deal with guards equipped with night vision. Unlike the guards with thermal vision (Chaos Theory > Bathhouse level > shower room) there's a simple way to take out these, once you've figured it out.

I finished the 9 levels (+ 2 bonus maps) in a day and a half, so I was quite disappointed that it was all over so soon. (That's what happens when you play day and night, lol.) One of those bonus maps is definitely the weirdest level in Splinter Cell history!

The replay value is VERY high, since you can change the story as you choose for either JBA (the terrorist group Sam has infiltrated) or NSA (the government agency that Sam works for). After every completed mission, you'll find out which side is suspicious of you and who is confident of you. It's up to you to keep both sides satisfied. For example: you can choose to disregard opportunity objectives for the JBA in order to keep the NSA satisfied.

The enemies have gotten smarter. Guards patrolling in dark areas almost always have a flashlight. If they don't, then they probably carry a torch. They have also invested a serious amount of money in security cameras, lasers of different kinds and non-lethal ammunition. From the moment your visibility meter lights up even a little, they'll check out what they saw. (And sometimes they notice your presence when you're completely covered in shadows.) Their hearing has gotten a lot better too, so you should always be sneaking, if you didn't do that already. You'd better not take your gun out if an enemy is standing a few yards further, because they'll hear it. These enemies are very sophisticated and smart and that's what makes them so cool. The interrogations are always worth listening at, not always to collect information, but also for fun. The real challenge will be on the day that Ubisoft will create enemies with random patrolling routes.

A new, and I must say a very satisfying difficulty is Elite. You unlock this difficulty by beating the game. You have no weapons, no gadgets. Only the OCP to jam cameras/lights, a knife and the ability to whistle. You have to rely on your map and your sneaking skills. It's so much fun, but might get the unexperienced 'splinter cells' extremely frustrated. Be sure to keep your eyes open for flash bangs and smoke grenades in dark corners, because if they're there, you bet you need them later on. The whole game can easily be played in Elite mode, when you decide to game on a lazy Sunday afternoon. You have to take your time to do this, thinking about the different routes you can take, memorizing patrol routes of guards, etc. You'll start to appreciate it more and more every time you play it. Another improvement is that you can't accidentally whistle by pushing the wrong button.

There are also levels in which you have a teammate. You can tell them to wait or follow, which comes in handy if you want to explore the environment and take out the hostiles before they open fire on one of you. (Sam carries an adrenaline syringe, just in case.)

The controls are the same as in Chaos Theory, so it's easy to catch up on that, if you played it. The voices are again very well done and very realistic, maybe even better than in Chaos Theory. Sound and graphics are as good as always. The music alone is worth listening at. If there should be a soundtrack coming out, I'm definitely gonna buy one.

I wouldn't recommend this game to those that haven't played Splinter Cell games before. You always can, of course. It's not that hard to get to know the controls and the people. It's just more fun to play this game after you know what missions Sam has done in the previous games.

I'm going to rate it 10/10, because of the great time I had while playing. I have to say though that 2 levels take place in the same environment, which narrows the adventure down a bit. And also that it can be finished in no time. It's very different from the other Splinter Cell games, but I like this new approach. (I do miss Sam's haircut though :) Aside from that, it's worth every cent and minute of your time.

When I first played it, it was hard but then I got into it. I completed the first mission in about 20 minuets. The second level where you have to escape from prison was my favourite because there is a massive riot and most of the prison is on fire. You have a trust meter at the end of each mission which rates you on what you did. You have primary objectives for both NSA (your agency) and JBA (terrorist agency. YOu need to do objectives for both agencies. You also have opportunity objectives. If you do non your trust meter stays neutral, do more Nsa than Jba it will go to NSA leaving the JBA with less trust for you and the same will happened if you do all of the JBA missions. If the trust meter goes too far to one side (mine went too far to the JBA three times)anyway if if it goes too far you need to get access to a computer before the timer runs out and when you do get to the computer you need to send some crap to the JBA or NSA to gain trust. Sometimes you need to hack computers to complete and objective. 10/10 is my rating. Good game. I loved it.

*NOTE: This is a review of the XBOX 360 version of Double Agent.

Splinter Cell: Double Agent is a welcome change to the normal strictly stealth based game-play of old. This time its far more action-packed, the graphics of course have improved and the story is far more deeper, involved and intriguing. But there is one element of the game that truly sets it apart from the series and video gaming in general; the captivating integration of working for two organizations and the decisions Sam is left with, creating a dynamic and original form of game-play, to which you can choose whether to turn your back on the NSA by adapting to the terrorists way of thinking, or stick with your primary objective of successfully infiltrating and destroying the terrorists organization from within. For every objective in each level, there is a possibility of losing or gaining trust from either the NSA or the JBA. These such elements makes this game slightly in contrast with the previous editions, mainly due to the fact that the first 3 had a mildly involving story, while Double Agent couldn't be any more interesting.

This being said, the game is not without it's flaws. Firstly, the style of graphics may not suit some and frankly, I for one preferred the old. The new style indeed has more details and such, this is a given considering it's on a more powerful console, but this does not necessarily mean it's an improvement. The familiar style of the first 3 had amazing lighting effects and a slight contrast between dark and light, which was visually original and fresh, while Double Agent loses this imagery somewhat. Secondly, the camera angle can be a nuisance, it is very close up and take a bit of getting used to and sometimes gets in the way of things, for instance, seeing nearby enemies while hiding behind a wall etc.

But the quality outweighs the flaws by a mile, this game is a fantastic, intense tour de force and a revolution in gaming storyline. Double Agent is an essential purchase and sits proudly at the top of the not-so-populated Stealth Genre and is a fantastic edition to the ever-so-great Splinter Cell franchise.

10 out of 10 - A Gritty Masterclass in Morality, Espionage, and Player Choice

A Turning Point for Sam Fisher and the Franchise

Splinter Cell: Double Agent isn't just a stealth action game-it's a defining chapter in the evolution of both Sam Fisher and the series as a whole. This time, the stakes aren't just about national security-they're personal, psychological, and brutally complex. Sam is deep undercover, infiltrating a domestic terrorist organization in order to destroy it from the inside. And with that shift comes a bold new gameplay direction: moral choice.

You're not just sneaking past enemies or disabling cameras-you're balancing loyalties, earning trust from both your handlers and your targets, and deciding how far you'll go, and who you're willing to sacrifice, in the name of duty.

Gameplay: Two Worlds, One Man

In Double Agent, Sam Fisher walks a razor's edge between two opposing worlds. On one hand, you're executing covert missions for the NSA. On the other, you're living with and working alongside a dangerous terrorist group who'll sniff out weakness-or betrayal-at the slightest slip.

The brilliance lies in the balance. You're often forced to choose between your orders and your cover. Should you save innocent lives and risk blowing your identity? Or sacrifice civilians to stay embedded? Every decision alters the story, shaping who trusts you, who lives, and how the game ends.

This dual-loyalty mechanic transforms the stealth genre from a tactical experience into a narrative and moral minefield.

Atmosphere: Tension You Can Feel

The tone of Double Agent is darker and more personal than any previous installment. Sam's usually calm, calculated demeanor is tested by grief, anger, and isolation, making him more human-and more dangerous-than ever.

Missions take place in icy Arctic bases, crowded urban centers, and claustrophobic safehouses. The environments are meticulously designed for vertical movement, gadget-based tactics, and smart improvisation. You feel the weight of every footstep, the consequence behind every action. Tension is not just built-it's earned.

The Emotional Core: Sam Like You've Never Seen Him

This is not the same Fisher who always had the upper hand. This Sam is weathered, wounded, and walking through moral shadows. He's not the voice of absolute justice-he's a man who's seen too much, lost even more, and is still willing to throw himself into the fire if it means protecting the innocent.

It's raw, real, and emotionally potent in a way that few stealth games have ever dared to go.

Verdict: Legendary Stealth with a Conscience

Splinter Cell: Double Agent pushed boundaries in all the right ways. It kept the tight, intelligent stealth mechanics fans loved, but layered in a complex web of morality, trust, and emotional weight. This game made you feel every decision-and it never let you forget the cost of doing the right thing.

10 out of 10 - A haunting, brilliant spy thriller that defined what Splinter Cell could be: not just a tactical operation, but a psychological reckoning.