As someone who has followed the Splinter Cell franchise since its inception, I've always hoped it could stand shoulder to shoulder with Metal Gear Solid. While I realized early on that the two are almost entirely different beasts-one focused on narrative depth and world-building, while the other thrives on stealth and tension-I've still stuck with Sam Fisher through thick and thin. The earlier titles, particularly on the Xbox and PS2, were plagued by clunky controls that kept me at a distance, but then came the resurgence with Conviction, and now Blacklist.
In Blacklist, you find yourself hunting down a terrorist group with your trusty crew. The game is structured around levels, offering a somewhat linear experience with the freedom to choose action, stealth, or a combination of both. In many ways, I'd say Blacklist is the best installment in the series, yet it's also the most disappointing for me personally. More often than not, I leaned towards the combo style during my playthrough-because who doesn't love a little chaos alongside precision?
Right from the start, the game pulls you in with a promising tutorial level. For a moment, I was back in the thick of it, feeling like the agent I had long admired. However, as I moved on to the second level, I began to notice a couple of quirks. The optional levels felt more like arenas-some mission types focused on survival while others leaned heavily on stealth. The difficulty in those side quests kept my adrenaline pumping and made me truly feel like a tactical agent. But when I returned to the main missions afterward, I couldn't help but feel they lacked that same intensity and thrill. They almost felt too easy, which was a letdown.
The controls? Major kudos to the developers here-they've made noteworthy improvements. I used to falter with basic maneuvers in earlier games, but that was a non-issue in Blacklist. The AI is decent; nothing groundbreaking, but it serves its purpose. Weapons felt responsive too, equipped with satisfying animations and clear sounds, even though I didn't explore many of them during my playthrough. The main campaign levels were well-designed, but again, after tackling the optional content, they felt a bit lacking.
The audio design enhanced my experience without overshadowing it. The ambient music set the tone well, although character development wasn't the game's strong suit. The new voice actor for Fisher had a slightly grumpy vibe, which worked okay but lacked the nuance I expected. The antagonist? Generic, to say the least. I found the final confrontation a tad anticlimactic, leaving me wanting.
I'd be remiss not to mention the co-op feature, but I skipped that since I prefer to tackle my games solo. I've often found that I want to play at my own pace, with no added pressure from another player.
Upon completing Blacklist, I found myself in a strange place emotionally. While it wasn't a bad experience by any means, it felt like the game never quite soared to the heights I wanted. It's a solid addition to the franchise, but I'm saddened that it didn't meet sales expectations. As a long-time fan, I can only hope for more adventures with Sam Fisher in the future.
**Rating: 7/10**
