Impression: Splinter Cell: Conviction – the good and the bad
Microsoft released the demo for Splinter Cell: Conviction recently onto Xbox Live. The small snippet of the game offers players a taste of what to expect from the latest game in the franchise.
After five plus long years in development, Ubisoft is finally ready to drop Splinter Cell: Conviction. The demo released recently gave players something to really get excited about. I played through it several times on varying difficulty. I even played through the whole demo in stealth for the hell of it.
The Good
- The presentation in Splinter Cell: Conviction is pretty good with atmospheric settings and details to animations. In front of the warehouse you will notice the trees and grass swaying in the wind.
- The bathroom interrogation scene was intense as you bash the other person’s head into the sinks several times. Great environmental interaction in the game.
- The way clues and back story is given is through a grainy projection onto a wall. This helps with the immersion factor immensely.
- The “mark and execute†is reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed’s awesome “lock and assassinate†feature.
- Ubisoft’s implementation of the “silhouette†adds some tactical advantage by allowing you to trick enemies into looking at where you were at. This allows you to flank them from behind after circling around. This is similar to Metal Gear’s “tap on wall†move.
The Bad
- Ubisoft’s decision to ditch the trademark night vision goggles for sonar vision was annoying. I didn’t like the fact that sonar vision showed where everyone was located even through walls and buildings.
- Despite the solid presentation, the graphics are rough around the edges. The modified version of Unreal Engine 2.5, which was primarily used for last gen consoles is really showing its age in the game. Disappointingly the game has been confirmed to be running at a sub-HD resolution (1024×576).
Besides these minor niggling issues, the demo was pretty awesome and there really wasn’t much to complain about. The demo seems to have that oldschool Metal Gear/Chaos Theory meticulous and methodical fun factor going for it.
Related Posts:
59 Responses to “Impression: Splinter Cell: Conviction – the good and the bad”
Leave a Reply:
You must be logged in to post a comment. Don't have an account? Register today!
March 20th, 2010
Great article Mike. I would love to see you give the same treatment and cast the same critical eye (“good” AND “bad”, “annoyances”, similarity to previous titles, etc.) to major PS3 titles as well in the future.
March 20th, 2010
God of War III would be a great start.
March 20th, 2010
God of War III vs. Gears of War 3
on PS3 visual battle grounds
*keeps fingers crossed*
March 20th, 2010
Anyone play metro 2033?
Looks like deadspace and halflife.
@article
Does sonar only work through a layer of walls or certain types of walls? My friend goes nuts over these games, been playn coop with him since 2.
March 20th, 2010
I do wish coders would start using something other than the unreal engine for the 360, otherwise they might as well just re-label the console the unreal 360.
March 20th, 2010
PS3’s God of War III: Mature content brings $33m in 1 day
http://www.product-reviews.net/2010/03/20/ps3s-god-of-war-iii-mature-content-brings-33m-in-1-day/
March 20th, 2010
“Disappointingly the game has been confirmed to be running at a sub-HD resolution (1024×576)”
lol….
March 20th, 2010
@Gunstar
by the time Gears 3 is out, KZ3 or Uncharted 3 will be there to reclaim the crown in the graphical department
March 20th, 2010
Carl cracks me up lmao.
March 20th, 2010
Roca.:
There’s no need for those game since Gears of War 2 uses about %90 of the Xbox 360 power. So improving Gears of War 3 the last %10 won’t do much. KILLZONE 2, UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune, UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves and God of War III will still we always be better then all Xbox 360 exclsuives at everything especially in graphics.
March 21st, 2010
they said the new Unreal Engine with Gears of War 3 game was tested on PS3, was this true?
March 21st, 2010
gunstar:
The Unreal Engine is multi platform so i can see this being a trying to see a demo. But weird hopefully Gears of War series goes like Ninja Gaiden 1 & 2.
March 21st, 2010
@CarlB
The only “Bad” thing about GoW3 is, apparently, the game is just too short. Graphically, NOTHING on the 360 can even touch it, heck, NOTHING on the 360 can touch Uncharted 2 or even Killzone 2 for that matter…
Nice try though, trying to bring down GoW3′s steam…gonna take a helluva more than that!
March 21st, 2010
jojo29:
The only bad thing for Xbots about God of War III is they cannot play it.
March 21st, 2010
I loved the demo, played through it a couple of times now. Looking forward to the full game.
Speaking of games coming out, now that GOW3 is done, what is the next big title coming out on PS3? I know GT5 is due out this year sometime, but I don’t know anything else that has been announced. I know 360 is getting SC, Alan Wake, Crackdown 2, Reach and Fable 3 this year still.
March 21st, 2010
harry
modnation racers is the next game out i think.
March 21st, 2010
Loved this,
I actually like the sonar better than the standard night vision. I dunno, it just seems like it offers more.
@jojo29
If the only thing you care about is graphics, thats fair enough. I’m more concerned about gameplay myself, considering the game at least looks presentable.
This is prolly gonna be a day one purchase for me.
March 21st, 2010
@Harry
the PS3 is getting
ModNation Racers, Socom 4, FF14 and GT5…all confirmed for 2010
here are a few announced/unannounced titles that might be released this year:
Last Gardian
DC Universe
Resistance 3
Starwhak
David Jaffe’s game (most likely Twisted Metal)
there might be a few more titles coming up this year that has not been reveal yet, Sony wouldnt want to go into the Holidays with a weak lineup.
March 21st, 2010
Roca.:
I hope you right about Resistance 3, The Last Guardian and DC Universe. I hope you wrong about David Jaffe’s car combat racing game Twisted Metal i hope he’s making something better then that. And Starhawk if is real it might suck in space WTF i hope they making a new game Lightbox Interactive. You forgot The Agency, Free Realms, EyePet and Yakuza 3.
March 21st, 2010
@ roca,
Thanks. I am assuming E3 will have some announcements for games coming into christmas. My fear is that both MS and Sony were investing their motion controlling gizmos into christmas more than real games.
March 21st, 2010
harry
thats what im worried about aswell, i dont want a load of gay mini games comin out for christmas, i want games where i kill people, not drawing fucking triangles! . . . i wish sony and MS would just stick to the hardcore gamers. . .
March 21st, 2010
same here liquid. Unfortunately both companies saw that the Wii prints money and they want to be in on it.
Anyone played Borderlands? Brother in law brought his copy over last night and we did some split screen. It’s a really good game. May need to get my own copy one day.
March 21st, 2010
@harry
borderlands is a very fun game.
with that said be cautious of getting the ps3 version, there has been several people that have had online mic issues.
http://gbxforums.gearboxsoftware.com/showthread.php?s=6b03879464909aa3f0037b046018c17a&t=76879
they have been trying to fix this since Nov2,
I recommend pickn up the xbox version.
March 21st, 2010
Microsoft stretching the 2010 year trying to get a exclusive game every month. Sony is raping this list LoL. No fanboy here. Maybe at E3 they might announce new games releasing after June but this year as exclusive to Xbox 360, Xbox 360 owner better hope I’m right.
January – Mass Effect 2, Divinity 2: Ego Draconis
February – Tropico 3
March – Metro 2033, Supreme Commander 2
April – Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction
May – Alan Wake
June –
July – CrackDown 2
August –
September –
October – FABLE III
November -
December –
Dawn of Fantasy, Halo: Reach, Hydrophobia, Portal 2 no month yet.
Project Natal It is scheduled to be released in time for Christmas 2010. With these games so far Ricochet, Ricochet, and Milo and Kate for now.
Sony still looks way better this year again sweet.
March 21st, 2010
@ivan
have you checked out metro 2033?
March 22nd, 2010
RomasantaMC:
Not yet i read some reviews they are a little bit below average. I might download it later.
March 22nd, 2010
harry
have you played god of war 3 yet?
March 22nd, 2010
@ roma,
I probably would get the 360 version anyway, I don’t have a headset for the PS3. I might keep an eye out for it on the cheap.
Liquid,
Not yet, I am still waiting on my copy to arrive in the post. I did get FFXIII (Traded Heavy Rain in for it and only had to pay an extra $20) and am starting on that, so I don’t mind if GOW3 takes longer than usual to arrive.
March 22nd, 2010
@ aussies here,
If you trade your games in, I would suggest using GAME rather than EB or JB. They price match anyone, their trade in values are a bit higher than the other 2 and you get points each time you make a transaction towards discounts, free games etc.
March 22nd, 2010
Just fin GOW3, fucking epic in every way! Loved every second. My favourite game of all time.
1. God of War 3
2. Uncharted 2
3. Mass Effect 2
Just thought I’d share that lol
March 22nd, 2010
Mass Effect 2 not in this entire lifetime.
March 22nd, 2010
“Anyone played Borderlands?”
Hell yes. This game rocks on every level even single player. Definitely worth playing and perhaps purchasing considering all the great DLC out for it (Mad Moxie isn’t one of them though).
March 22nd, 2010
@Carl
I have a few friends on Live that are bouncing back and forth between Borderlands and FFXIII now.
Borderlands just sounds so fucking awsome and I have been thinking about getting it. Not to mention you can also get that disc now that has all the DLC on it for only $20.
I just beat FFXIII on sunday but I st ill have a ways to go to really finish it off lol. Too much shit to do AFTER you beat the game. FF has never been like that before… Its kinda ridiculas cause I had no trouble beating the final bosses but yet some of the se enemies I am fighting now just sneeze and I die lmao. Its fucked up. And they are just regular enemies.. not even bosses or anything lol
March 22nd, 2010
Borderlands seems like one of those games that has ‘legs’. I.e 4 months since it’s release and it’s still going solidly.
March 22nd, 2010
@Harry
“Speaking of games coming out, now that GOW3 is done, what is the next big title coming out on PS3? I know GT5 is due out this year sometime, but I don’t know anything else that has been announced. I know 360 is getting SC, Alan Wake, Crackdown 2, Reach and Fable 3 this year still.”
I look at it slightly different.
With FF13 and GOW3 just coming out, they represent last gen games that finally got the next gen err..this gen treatment.
Whats left? Well, you can hardly call GT5P a full release so there’s GT5.
SOCOM confrontation was another, not full game so there’s SOCOM 4.
The Shadow of the Colossus sequel, The Last Guardian also makes a debut.
Potentially Twisted Metal which has yet to see an update this gen.
Rumors are flying around about a new Syphon Filter as well.
Now when looking at the 360′s lineup I only see this gen sequels and only one new IP. Alan Wake would be the game I’d be looking forward to the most even though it sounds like an updated Fatal Frame.
Are there any original Xbox games that have not made the jump to the 360? Being a Xbox fan, what game would you be looking forward to?
March 22nd, 2010
anyway.. I played SC at my buddies house. It wasn’t bad at all. Some clipping issues at the beginning during the interrogation but other than that, it looked like its running on Assassins Creed 2′s engine which is fine and has held up.
March 22nd, 2010
“it looked like its running on Assassins Creed 2’s engine”
just as I thought
March 22nd, 2010
I don’t see any of the graphics hip cups being ironed out prior to its launch unless it was an older build demo. That’s possible. Look at GOW3 for a great example there. I recall being more impressed with what I saw at E3.
March 22nd, 2010
this game doesnt look graphically impressive at all.
I watched the new Prince of Persia trailer yesterday…and after after the graphical achievement that GoW3 is, I can honestly say the new Prince of Persia look like shit
March 22nd, 2010
I think we’ll be saying most games look like shit after playing GOW3. I don’t expect it’s benchmark to be passed this year. And depending on the modifications to Killzone and Uncharted, possibly not next year either.
March 22nd, 2010
Yeah,
GOW3′s graphics are just are just incredible.
March 22nd, 2010
yet we might still hear those delusional xbot claiming “it can be done on the 360″
March 22nd, 2010
Roca,
Lol. “It can be done on the 360.”
My response to this is always the same. Until Xbox360 produces graphics this good, then there is nothing to talk about regarding Xbox360′s graphics.
March 22nd, 2010
I know two games that will pass God of War III graphically UNCHARTED and KILLZONE 3 i just have a feeling they will. God of War III looks amazing.
Xbox 360 is tapped out already.
March 22nd, 2010
@ phranctoast,
Having both systems, I am looking forward to seeing;
- SC
-AW
- Reach
-Fable 3
-Crackdown 2
- Twisted Metal (never played it before but I do like the action/driving type of game)
I can’t say that GT5 excites me. I don’t know enough about SOCOM 4, i’ll have to wait till it comes out. Last Guardian, I saw the trailer last year and it’s another one of those games that I am not sold on yet. It’s another ‘wait and see’.
So basically, I’ll be finishing GOW3 and FFXIII, and for the next few months the PS3 is going to take a back seat while the 360 games come out. Multiplats I will be getting on 360 (unless there’s a big difference in quality i.e FFXIII) as I play online a lot with people in my friend’s list and I personally like the 360 controller better than the PS3 one, it just feels more comfortable in my fat hands.
And I might try to finish Dead Space in the meantime. Am up to chapter 6, which is only half way!
March 22nd, 2010
aLL BELOW AVERAGE
March 22nd, 2010
@harry
If your truly a fan of the 360 controller check out this adapter.
http://www.consoleshop.com/product.php?productid=21074
You can find them as low as $30 on amazon.
March 22nd, 2010
RomasantaMC:
LoL.
March 22nd, 2010
@ roma,
Holy crap, someone invented that?
Hey what’s your PSN ID? I don’t think I’ve added you yet.
March 22nd, 2010
I guess that’s how far the love of the 360 controller goes.
LoL.
March 22nd, 2010
That is really neat. Some people that have larger hands tend to prefer the Xbox360 controller.
March 22nd, 2010
Xbox 360 Console Spammed With Child Pornography
kotaku.com/5498698/xbox-360-console-spammed-with-child-pornography
March 22nd, 2010
@ CharlieB,
Now if only I can find a Genesis/Megadrive emulator that accepts the 360 controller directly I’ll be happy. I tried using an interface which translates the controller presses to the emulator but it was not reliable.
March 22nd, 2010
Theres several things to substitute the 360 triggers
http://www.amazon.com/PS3-Dual-Triggers-Playstation-3/dp/B001IAOEXU/ref=pd_sim_vg_3
gonna try these out sometime, but in the end the 360 triggers are the best.
@harry PSN Romasanta_mc
March 22nd, 2010
@ roma,
Cool, i’ll add you next time I turn my PS3 on.
March 22nd, 2010
@ivan
thats fucked up, probably from some russian satellite state where the law can’t touch the pedo. At the very least MS will ban the queer.
March 22nd, 2010
RomasantaMC:
My name is genuine Russian but not me.
March 23rd, 2010
@Harry.
Are you looking forward to any original Xbox franchises that have yet to make the jump to the 360?
All I see in maybe..Conker.
My point was, I treated those games with a different level of anticipation because the PS3 system has been out for almost 3-1/2 years and the “next gen” title is still on the horizon.
When you look at anticipated titles, I believe those titles are more on peoples “wish list” because we have yet to see one.
Splinter Cell: cool…there’s Double Agent this gen.
Halo Reach: Halo 3, Halo ODST.
Fable 3: Fable 2
Crackdown2: Crackdown
The only anomaly is Alan Wake (which looks cool), but if we’re to get technical, The PS3 still has it’s share of new IP’s, just released and upcoming.
Heavy Rain and MAG being the latest and most risky.
March 23rd, 2010
im still looking for this franchasis to make a jump to the next gen era.
-Syphon Filter
-Twisted Meta
-Kindom Hearts
-Getaway
-Dark Cloud
-Rogue Galaxy
-GT
-Ico/SotC/LG
-Socom