Splinter Cell Chaos Theory (Xbox)

[Corrupt Rose]

I am not convinced by the graphics, though. It looks nice, but did the developers think that by adding a layer of gloss and glitter to every surface, it would make the world more believable? I prefer the gritty realism of the first game.

I agree. I switched off the HDR Shaders on the PC version, since everything was looking excessively 'glossy' as you put it.

[SummAh]

Akira : u mean when u climb up to the roof n the frame sorta....starts coughing while u are running ?

If so, yes...I've had the same happened to me.

[Richard.John]

I could'nt be more impressed with this game visually.It is without a doubt the most graphically intense title available for the xbox right now,and like you said,it will probally stay this way till the end of it's cycle.

Granted i'm only on level 3 but everything i've seen so far look's so damn realistic,it's scary at times.The texture's look so good you could almost reach out and touch them.Like the flooring on the inside of the maria narcissa.You know it's plastic flooring,'cause the textures represent it so well.Wet brick's,moss covered concrete,damp floor's,water running down a slope,everything just looks stunning and utterly realistic.More so than any game i've played.

Like so many people have stated.These are the kinda visual's you'd expect from the next generation of consoles,definitely not the xbox imo!

I do agree that the visuals are amazing, the best on the 'box, just a bit to glossy for my liking. Sam is particularly impressive with his superb animation.

[Mardigan8]

Cant quite measure how good this game feels to play sometimes. Playing co-op on live last night after getting my ridiculous 300k NTL connection sorted to a 1MB (Was free so they were trying to be fly not giving customers something they should have unless they ask.... RATS!!)

Anyway, done a fantastic mission last night in Seoul. Stand out moment... my buddy Rappels down a wall using me as the anchor up top to scout the area below while I keep a birds eye. At first we only see one guard so he proceeds to knife him... it all looks fantastic from my perch by the way THEN, another guard appears from a door to my mates right, spots him and opens fire... he is down!! Now this is where the smile errupted on my face and I couldn't stop saying "This game is amazing!!"... I have to think fast, I am about 70 yards away from the guard so have no shot with the standard rifle... I fire a few rounds to try take him down but am too far to be accurate or powerful. I arm my sticky cam and fire it as close to him as possible. The gas goes off instantly knocking him out (think it does this if you are too far away to get a connection or something??). There is a zip line to my right so I quickly grab on and slide down to my mate... the music is playing telling me he is about to die... I drop 10 feet before the zip line end, land and roll clear, run round to my mate and just as the death music is reaching its crescendo get the syringe into him... PHEW!! It all added up to my best Splinter Cell moment so far!! Thinking and moving fast to save him in such a class way left me with a big **** off smile on my face!!

There were some great bits after this, namely using a grenade to send a guard flying from a balcony above, 20 feet over my head, hehehe, looked so good on the thermal vision to

The co-op is an absolute master stroke and should be available in every game on live. It works perfectly in Splinter Cell and I just hope they make plenty of downloadable co-op maps available soon... I would pay for them no bother!!

Chaos Theory reeks of class and has so much to offer the player... the above being only a 20 second example of this!! Find a partner and get on co-op, it compliments the fantastic single player campaign beautifully!!

Also, the links between missions in Single player and co-op are genius. Really make the co-op stuff feel part of the whole operation and not just bolted on!! Going in again tonight for around 5 hours of co-op action. Cant get enough of this beauty right now!!

[Richard.John]

What I like is the way they give you the tools and leave it up to you. There are so many ways of playing the same mission. Do I opt for stealth or all out violence?

[Mardigan8]

What I like is the way they give you the tools and leave it up to you. There are so many ways of playing the same mission. Do I opt for stealth or all out violence?

Precisley... each map is a playground where you mould the mission as you please. Co-op is massivley open ended and adds up to one the best live experiences going right now!!

[Richard.John]

I haven't even touched multiplayer. I am currently on the fourth SP level.
My only complaint is that the quick save is too tempting at times. It would be better if they had a limit of say three per level, as it would　add to the tension.

[Mardigan8]

I haven't even touched multiplayer. I am currently on the fourth SP level.
My only complaint is that the quick save is too tempting at times. It would be better if they had a limit of say three per level, as it would　add to the tension.

Speakng from experience of old Splinter Cells, I would say it adds to the frustration rather than tension having scripted quick saves. I agree it is too tempting but beats the hell out of doing an area you just aced over and over again!!

Any time I have died and had to replay a section I aint really minded TBH, as replaying sections means I can use a different technique to do it. IMO the save options are spot on!!

[Richard.John]

It just makes it too easy to save before a hard section or computer hack, etc.
I understand that they had to balance it, that is why a compromise of a max number per level would be good. Either way it is still an outstanding game, that I enjoy.

[MJ]

I've played split screen co-op and that was brilliant, I haven't tried online yet.

Voice proximity that the computer AI is sensitive to is a great idea. How do you talk to your team mate though, does it require pressing a button first?

I have a tendancy to knock people out and not kill them, but then that adds to the replay value because I can go through it again as an aggressor.

The rag doll effect are great, I crept up to the side of someone that was near a railing and pulled left trigger and Sam did the palm punch and the guy hit the railing and tumbled over it and landed in the corner of the garden at the bottom, which worked out great because he was in the dark, hidden and the fall didn't kill him.

[Richard.John]

That is what makes the game so great. You can play it at your pace and spend hours on one level or breeze through killing everything in sight.
What a fine sandpit.

[Rossco]

Yep, all the little things like that make it a great game. I think I'm on the 7th level now, and I've finished 3 co-op missions with my mate and we are absolutely loving that too.

You don't need to press a button to talk, you just talk and they hear you. Which is better as it forces you to be silent when you need to, like theres 3 or 4 guards around you, you HAVE to whisper and be careful not to make noises.

The old 'mum walking in with the hoover just as your about to kill a guy' is always a classic too!

[Paleface]

Well, I was quite impressed with the demo in terms of being much more open-ended than prior games, and also more fun and less punishing if you screwed up the stealth. This could will be the SC game that works for me.

Quick question - I was never too hot at SC:PT multiplayer, mainly because I started too late in the game's lifespan. If I pick it up right now, will I stand a chance in multi, or meet people of a similar level?

Also, are you guys playing co-op with friends or people on found servers? It sounds fabulous from Mardigan's description. I'd be well up for some of that...

[Sgalla]

This co-op sounds fantastic.

I'm trying to convince a mate to get this for some system link. More co-op tales please!

[Mardigan8]

This co-op sounds fantastic.

I'm trying to convince a mate to get this for some system link. More co-op tales please!

Ok each room, area and guard has so many ways of being beaten, it just depends how inventive you are with your arsenal and moves!!

Last night I spotted 2 guards on the other side of a door to my left talking to each other... about 10 feet North West of my position plan of attack with my boy... I stealth open the door while he readies a flash bang. I to take out right guard while he goes for left guard after flash goes. This has to be carried out with immense accuracy as they guards are still a fair wee bit from our entry point. The manouvre was fantastic. I knifed my guard in the chest, half a second later my mate had his knife in his guards back, they didnt have a chance to retaliate!! They were both stunned as I got to my guard and the whole move took around 4 seconds!! co-ordinating your attacks is the key to getting the most out of the co-op. Everyone has to get into it!!

Also, the site of seeing your mate knife a guard in the back who has been firing at you is great. Many times I or my mate has been pinned down by enemy fire, while the other person drops down from a vent to kill the firing guard. Looks and sounds great... gun fire pinning you down one second, then you hear a short struggle and silence... the guard is down the enjoyment you get out of working together and saving / helpinf your mate is immense.

Its great wee moments like that that put ake the co-op on a different level from other live experiences!!