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A Game of Surprises

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 16 / 19
Date: March 23, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Picked up the game yesterday at a local Gamestop. Here are some initial impressions after the first hour of play.

Gameplay (7/10)

This is probably the most important department, and SC disappoints. It was clear from the start that developers had trouble mapping all the controls for Fisher onto the PSP due to the absence of a second analog stick, as well as the two fewer shoulder buttons (L2/R2). Movement is severely hampered by this physical limitation. You cannot rotate the camera while moving, which severely limits your ability to get a feel for your surroundings. In order to rotate the camera, you must come to a complete stop, hold the "O" button, and pan using the analog stick. On the positive side, Fisher has all of the classic moves from jumping, rolling, split jump, SWAT move, and more. I haven't tried all the moves but most seem to be there. Knife attack is also included. Another positive is that you can save anywhere; no need to wait till you reach a checkpoint. For some reason, there are no maps for you to follow, which forces you to run around quite a bit especially in dark areas.

Graphics (6/10)

The graphics were also disappointing, seeing how Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (SC:DM) was able to leverage the PSP so effectively. In the initial levels, the environment is really, really dark, so dark that it forces you to use the night vision goggles, which is fine except this view is extremely grainy (almost PS1 quality!) and does not enhance your vision much at all. Even at the highest brightness setting (PSP setting, not game; game does not provide brightness adjustment), it is STILL very dark. I cannot imagine playing this game in a bright room. I was in a relatively dark room, and had issues seeing most elements without using NV goggles.

There is noticeable tearing of the graphical elements such as walls; if Fisher moves too close to a wall, sometimes you can see right through it. In certain positions, you can even see through the back of Fisher's head and see his eyes! This was quite a surprise. I know a 6 out of 10 is harsh, but this is a Splinter Cell title; we have come to expect more than this!

Story (?)

Story in SC series has never been all that important or logical. This one is a bit different in that it takes place in the past when Fisher was a Navy Seal. I have not completed enough of the game to see the rest of the story line just yet.

Sound (8/10)

There was little music in the levels I have played so far; I expect it will improve. The sound volume seemed to be a bit low. The enemies whistle the same tunes that were heard in SC Chaos Theory or Pandora Tomorrow, which irritated me. I know this is a pseudo port to the PSP, but some new tunes would have been a nice change.

Replayability/Online (6/10)

As far as I am aware, there are no unlockables such as SC:DM offers, which limits replayability. There are 3 "bonus missions" in the main menu, but I have not tried these yet; these may require completion of standard missions first. Multiplayer is limited to ad-hoc only, and I do not expect to find much fun in this mode due to the quirkiness of the controls.

Final Score (7/10)

To sum up, this title failed to meet its potential. The SC series had set a high bar for the gaming industry, but this title failed miserably to meet its own standards. Do not get me wrong; there is much fun to be had here, despite the fact that the game feels rushed to market, is very much unpolished, and includes so many annoyances discussed previously. When compared to other action/shooter PSP titles in the market today, such as SOCOM and Syphon Filter, it simply does not compete. The absence of a playable demo also reinforced my original suspicion that this title was not quite ready for prime time.

Buy or Rent? First time fans should definitely opt for Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror instead. Long-time fans and/or SF:DM owners may consider renting first (if you can find it), or buying/selling after beating it/reaching end of patience with the bugs.

Update from March 27
After 3 or 4 hours, this game surprises you by getting much better. Once you get past the control issue, the game sucks you in with a high production value. I shall upgrade my rating to 8/10. A nice addition to the PSP collection.

The best psp game ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 16
Date: March 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is the best. The story line expands from all the splinter cell games. The graphics are the best. In this game you are revisting Sam's past to clear his name. There are all new exclsivley designed levels only on the psp. This game plays like all of the splinter games, but it will be on the psp. If you want to play splinter cell on a portable video game system you should get splinter cell essentials.

MUCH BETTER THAN METAL GAER AC!D

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 36
Date: March 28, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I don`t like AC!D or even MGA2-the Metal Gear AC!D games suck hell-although back on the home consoles i prefer MG SOLID to Splinter Cell(I still like SC though).

But i have to say SC wins the bout on the handhelds-But will the Metal Gear SOLID game for PSP beat it?

well Hideo Kojima said that the GP "only possible on PSP" so WK?

bye

FUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: June 01, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I got this game assuming that the graphics and the language would be bad. But when I start to play the game I was proved wrong. The graphics are better than all of the PS2 splinter cells combined! The language is almost nonexistant! I just don't get why the heck ubisoft rated this game for strong language! The missions are pretty hard if you haven't ever played splinter cell before.
MY RATING
1 fun:5 stars
2 educational:5 stars
3 violence: 5 stars
4 language: 0 stars
5 strategy use: 5 stars
6 weapons: 5 stars
7 ammo use: 3 stars
I hope my review has helped you! Thank- You for reading my review!!!

From a first time PSP gamer.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I just recently bought Splinter Cell Essentials. Bear in mind that I'm a Splinter Cell fan so my review tends to be pretty favorable of the game. I'm not too far into the game unfortunately, but the game seems to be relatively fun. I'm definitely liking the heat/night vision goggles (better than the console versions). The missions seem to be long, but with plenty of checkpoint as well as a "save anytime" feature. This helps to reduce those moments where you go "Oh crap." when you turn the game off to run to a class. So far my only complaints are the game is very dark so the NVG/Heat becomes almost mandatory for the entire game. Other than that, I love the game. Pick it up if you're a Splinter Cell fan, otherwise just wait around till it goes down in price.

BEST GAME EVER!!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: July 09, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Now......anyone who thought this game would be rubbish, think again. This new splinter cell game offers maximum enjoyment action and loads more! I can now tell you people who are not alowd to get thisgame because your not over the age rating, i now give you permission to get it. The violence is no worse than any of the other Splinter Cell Games! There is no strong language and my littel bro, he's 7 and my mum bought it for him because it was fine! No strong blood or vioence, no strong language and the graphics will blow you down! One more tip when your playing this game. Do not have the volume up to loud AND don't!!!!!!! I reapeat DONT!!!!!! Try any of the flips and stuff they do in this game eg. Backflips, Triple Jumps Off Houses! Because i know someone who tried to do one of Tom Clancy's " Jump Off A Bar, Then Do A Spin Kick In The Air And Then Do A Front Flip And Land Doing A Rolie Polie" And He Broke His Arm so dont try any of the gymnastics! I hope all of you gamers out there get all the maximum enjoyment out of this game just like i did!

Disapointing veterans but ok for newbies on SC

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 20, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I must disagree with the other reviewers. The game isn't designed for the PSP, the gameplay and story aren't bad at all, but there are very important features Ubisoft dev team didn't had in their mind and they should. The PSP isn't a game console with a good "outdoors" screen and this game should came to players with "Game Brightness Level" as option, and there isn't nothing, that makes very hard (impossible) to play outside (unless at night) only if you use Sam's night vision (but not always avaiable during the game). Joining this with the dificult game camera movement, makes the gameplay dificult. We know Splinter Cell relays on Sam's missions "on the shadow" but the brightness are essencial on the PSP and this game don't make the PSP fun to use. For that big mistake I give only 2 stars and I advice to try the game before you buy it.

One of the best games available for PSP

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 27, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Splinter Cell: Essentials is exactly what the title says. Splinter Cell veterans (such as myself) will be dissapointed if they expect this game to be Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory all over again. However, if you think of this game as Splinter Cell 1 for the PSP, you will be pleasantly suprised. And, of course, this game is 100% Splinter Cell, so rookies looking for a fun game will also be happy with this.

Gameplay- 9/10
The gameplay isn't perfect, but it isn't in any of the splinter cell games. The lack of an extra analog stick makes your reaction time in tight situations a little slower than in the Xbox or PS2 versions. Some of the 'flashback' missions are almost exact duplicates of SC1 missions, but with added CT features (like knife attack, upside down shooting, etc). SC:E definintly has the feel of Splinter Cell 1, with many of the things that were improved on in the later games (for example, there is the noise meter, which is even better than in chaos theory- the noise you make is more realistic. Also, the way you use a medkit is more realistic as well.)

Controls- 6/10
This is where SC:E dissapoints most. Although the controls are tolerable once you get used to them, they could have obviously been more cleverly designed. The analog stick on the PSP is much less precise than on the Xbox or PS2, and the game doesn't compensate for that. Shooting is much harder to do, because of the less accurate analog stick. Nevertheless, once you get used to it, the controls are definintly tolerable.

Graphics- 7/10
Although not the best I've seen in PSP games, the graphics are definintly good. The lighting is beautiful, and although night and thermal vision are less accurate than on the console versions (night vision doesn't glare in lit up areas), the graphics get the job dones.

Sound- 6/10
I'vce never cared about sound much in Splinter Cell games. The music (like when in a battle) is good, especially when you attack someone, and the music breifly plays. The guards all whistle the same tune, though, which gets annoying. And gone is the 'What was that?' and 'I think I heard something' that was so well done in Chaos theory.

Overall, Splinter Cell: Essentials, although it has some flaws, is a game definintly worth owning for PSP.

Note: After beating the game, and playing other PSP games like SF:DM, I realized that this game's flaws really do affect the overall game experience. I am changing my review from 5 stars in each catagory, to 4.

Very disappointing game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: September 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have never played any games in the SC series, which I think might be part of my problem. If you have some familiarity with the series (I had read that some missions in this game were taken directly from the console versions), then you probably have some idea of what is going on. I found myself struggling with the awkward character movement and unclear objectives. Also, (and this might be my fault for not reading the instructions) I could not save in the middle of a level and return to that point later. When I saved and turned the game off, it always started me at the beginning of the level instead of where I left off.

I found the game controls to be very clumsy, particularly when trying to manuever Sam near the edge of a cliff or dropoff. It is really easy to send him falling.

As some other reviewers had pointed out, the settings in this game are very dark. You will need to use the night vision goggles most of the time, which gets annoying.

I played Syphon Filter before this one and found that game to be much betterr. If you are looking for a shooter, I would stay away from Splinter Cell and go with something else. If you're a Splinter Cell fan, you might enjoy this game, if you can get past the annoyances.

A GREAT GAME

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: January 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

A very special game, with many situations and challenges that make it a GREAT game.

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