Splinter Cell Blacklist: I'm done.

[Longstreet]

Game looks good. And it seems as you, in fact, CAN play it stealth wise, if you chose to. or you know, not do that.

this interview [http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/11/maxime-beland-on-the-ghosts-and-panthers-of-splinter-cell-black/],

Here it is also said that you do not HAVE to use the airstrike. Just gonna have to take his word on it until the actual game comes out.

The video to me seems like stealth (runny-climby knock someone out, get guards to investigate knock them out too) until you get seen and you have the option of shooting your way out to survive.

Also according to that video you can play it full stealth, maybe even without killing. Apparently the guy playing "Sam" just didn't have his stealth mojo on that day.

 

[Bradeck]

I loved Conviction, and this game looks fucking AWESOME. I can't wait to get it! It sucks to lose the amazing voice of Ironside, but that's not a game ender for me. I can't wait to see Grim in more skin tight uniforms again too!

 

[Sexy Devil]

That's not really an explanation. I get that they wanted to use a new technique for the animations, but why not use Michael's voice instead of the mocap actors'?

Because that would be an unreasonable sum of money to spend on something that most people don't care about? Why would they hire two actors?

Anyway imo Splinter Cell peaked at Chaos Theory so I don't really have a problem with them changing crap at this point. As long as it's fun to play in its own way I'll live.

 

[5-0]

You know, I'm not going to straight-up say I'm not going to play Blacklist- if it's a good game, it's a good game. But this whole thing has surprised me. I really enjoyed Conviction, but I viewed it as a sort of experiment, a momentary change. I thought the fast brutal and less stealthy gameplay worked well with the whole Sam off-the-rails thing- after all, if he no longer has a proper agency to answer to, why would it matter who he kills and KO's? And to be honest, the gameplay was getting a bit stale, so it was good to change it up. On top of that I believe it had some of the best moments of Ironside's voice acting ever.

I thought the only direction after it would be back to basics. Instead we have the interface of Conviction combined with generic looking Middle East missions, and a shitty new voice actor. It might be a perfectly competent action game, but it doesn't look like the series I know and love.

 

[AdamRhodes]

It's a sad state of affairs for my favourite pasttime when two of my favourite series (Splinter Cell and Hitman) have been dumbed down and needlessly meddled with to the point that they are now the exact same game, and it's not one I want to play.

What do you guys think? Will you be buying Splinter Cell Blacklist, or for that matter Hitman: Absolution? Do the changes bother you? Do you think they still look fun?

I had to stop the video at 1:14. As soon as he spoke, after watching that gameplay, no, I will not be buying this. Conviction was really only just a good game compared with its predecessors and this looks like a military shooter with third-person view and a Sam Fisher clone in place of a nameless mute. Conviction's mark and execute seems to have made a return too, I really want to know why any developer believes it's fun to remove gameplay from the game and have the game play itself for us.

As for Hitman, it's basically Splinter Cell: Conviction with 47 instead of Fisher. And this time he has magic vision. Yeah, I'll get right on that.

On the subject of Absolution, have you even seen gameplay footage? It plays exactly like Blood Money. And do you prefer the omniscient satellite that shows where everyone is at any moment?

OT: I liked Conviction because I thought of it as Sam not caring about hiding bodies or being non-lethal because REVENGE. But the point of a stealth game is stealth gameplay. The greatest moments of stealth games is ghosting through each level. In, out, didn't even know I was there. But assaulting a compound in the middle of the day? While killing everyone you come across? AND AIRSTRIKES?!

 

[Dryk]

It's a sad state of affairs for my favourite pasttime when two of my favourite series (Splinter Cell and Hitman) have been dumbed down and needlessly meddled with to the point that they are now the exact same game, and it's not one I want to play.

As long as everyone wants their game to have a massive budget and make a profit, this will just keep getting worse.

 

[Slycne]

Not to mention the fact that Michael Ironside, who has up till now been the voice of Sam in every game, has inexplicably been recast.

It's not all that inexplicable. Ironside's interest in the role has been waning. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/99686-Splinter-Cell-Voice-Actor-Doesnt-Like-Violence And if some rumors are true he was becoming "egotistical" and asking for "shit loads of money" to continue.

 

[oplinger]

I.... I kinda like it.

It's kinda like new metallica. If you don't think it's metallica, it's not bad.

So if i believe hard enough that this isn't Splinter Cell, it'll be good.

Plus it's just a trailer, I'm assuming it's misleading anyway, showing high action to get your attention. Since they're using a heavy machine gun, a mission prior, you fucked up or something, and they know you're coming. And it's also a gameplay trailer. You probably can stealth through everything, the guy playing just..decided to be cool.

I won't be buying the game on release, because Chaos Theory was sexy as hell. After that it just wasn't as good..and conviction was the end. So I'd say, good game to buy on sale.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

They already explained why Michael Ironside isn't returning to voice Sam.

Aye, but if that reasoning was legit, EVERY mocap actor would also have to be the voice actor for any given character.

I know Andy Serkis likes to play it that way, but other than him it seems to be a pretty weak argument.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

Not to mention the fact that Michael Ironside, who has up till now been the voice of Sam in every game, has inexplicably been recast.

It's not all that inexplicable. Ironside's interest in the role has been waning. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/99686-Splinter-Cell-Voice-Actor-Doesnt-Like-Violence And if some rumors are true he was becoming "egotistical" and asking for "shit loads of money" to continue.

That sounds more like the real thing, but it could cost them sympathies and it could lower sales... so that one specific truth has to be avoided at all costs, methinks.

 

[Tohuvabohu]

Not to mention the fact that Michael Ironside, who has up till now been the voice of Sam in every game, has inexplicably been recast.

It's not all that inexplicable. Ironside's interest in the role has been waning. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/99686-Splinter-Cell-Voice-Actor-Doesnt-Like-Violence And if some rumors are true he was becoming "egotistical" and asking for "shit loads of money" to continue.

Seems like more evidence to retire Sam Fisher and introduce a new character.

This sort of fast paced run-and-kill gameplay suited Conviction due to Sam Fisher being really fucking pissed off. I don't see why they bother making him return AGAIN after the ending to Conviction (To which Sam Fisher clearly states: "I don't want to do this anymore.")

Let the poor old bastard retire instead of reverse-aging him and making him come back with a new voice actor. Why even go through this nonsense? I think the change of gameplay would be easier to accept if we were controlling a new less-experienced field agent.

 

[Extragorey]

They already explained why Michael Ironside isn't returning to voice Sam.

Still a shitty reason. Michael Ironside is a big part of what made Sam Fischer such a great character. This new guy may be a good actor, doesn't mean he's a good Sam Fischer.

Hehe, "Fischer". Way to show how much you know about it.
On topic: I've only ever played Chaos Theory and a tiny bit of Conviction, but Sam Fisher did seem to have the most awesome voice. It's a shame the same voice actor isn't returning.
Also, from watching the E3 gameplay videos for Blacklist, it does look awfully like a generic action game.

 

[Extragorey]

They already explained why Michael Ironside isn't returning to voice Sam.

Still a shitty reason. Michael Ironside is a big part of what made Sam Fischer such a great character. This new guy may be a good actor, doesn't mean he's a good Sam Fischer.

Hehe, "Fischer". Way to show how much you know about it.
On topic: I've only ever played Chaos Theory and a tiny bit of Conviction, but Sam Fisher did seem to have the most awesome voice. It's a shame the same voice actor isn't returning.
Also, from watching the E3 gameplay videos for Blacklist, it does look awfully like a generic action game.

How dare I have a type on the internet.

Ha, I see what you did there.
But seriously, a 'typo' would be if you misspelled it once; since you wrote "Fischer" twice, I figured you probably didn't actually know the correct spelling.

 

[Slycne]

Let the poor old bastard retire instead of reverse-aging him and making him come back with a new voice actor. Why even go through this nonsense? I think the change of gameplay would be easier to accept if we were controlling a new less-experienced field agent.

Granted, that didn't work out so well in Metal Gear Solid 2. People want to continue to be Sam or Snake, not Raiden or Lt. New Face 4th Echelon.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I agree. They should have just made a new character since they're trying to reinvent the whole franchise. Sam is old, yet in the newest demo and trailer he looks younger, he is taller and even a acts like he's 20+ years younger. When you can't get the iconic voice to return you really should make a new character. I wouldn't mind it. Sam has been through a lot. It's time for him to retire.

 

[Doclector]

That looks like fun. But it doesn't look like splinter cell. Matter of fact, it seems pretty reminiscent of Ghost recon future soldier, except...less stealthy.

So, yeah, it'll probably be pretty good, but it sucks to be a stealth fan right now. Why didn't they go with a new IP for it? Oh wait...the name alone sells. Grrr...

 

[Tohuvabohu]

Let the poor old bastard retire instead of reverse-aging him and making him come back with a new voice actor. Why even go through this nonsense? I think the change of gameplay would be easier to accept if we were controlling a new less-experienced field agent.

Granted, that didn't work out so well in Metal Gear Solid 2. People want to continue to be Sam or Snake, not Raiden or Lt. New Face 4th Echelon.

I'll give you that, but Raiden was handled ALL wrong in MGS2. People seem to respond well to Assassins Creed and it's new Assassin Ancestors, although this might not be a great example either as neither character has had the iconic identity of Sam.

It seems to me like a lot of people are pretty pissed about it as soon as they realize that Mr. Ironside is no longer voicing Mr. Fisher. Might just be that very loud vocal minority though.


Blacklist makes a whopping 6 games starring the already-too-old Sam. I think it's bothersome that they seemingly abandoned the recurring Sam-is-too-old plotpoint by now. Even Chaos Theory featured 2 trainee Splinter Cells who were being trained for the purpose of replacing Sam. Whatever happened to that?

 

[Crazy Zaul]

Probably not. Chaos theory was the best Splinter cell. Double agent was decent. Conviction was the death of the series. Ubi have pulled an EA and made Blacklist generic. Maybe they knew the stealth audience had already given up on it a decided to aim for a new one.