Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist
" Immersive action-adventure with excellent stealth and AI, but frequent PC crashes disrupt gameplay "
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist Review
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist is a stealth-action game that has garnered a mixed but generally positive reception from players. Gameplay mechanics are praised for their depth, allowing players to approach missions with varied stealth and combat strategies, making it a standout in the franchise. The game features an improved AI and gunplay, with a balance between stealth and action that appeals to both purists and fans of faster-paced gameplay. The storyline, while not universally acclaimed, provides a decent narrative backdrop to the missions.
However, the PC version suffers from significant technical issues, including frequent crashes every 20-30 minutes, persistent bugs, and problems with Ubisoft Connect integration. Many players have resorted to community mods and offline launch options to stabilize the experience. The removal of multiplayer functionality and DLC content due to server shutdowns has also disappointed the community, impacting replay value and completeness.
Despite these issues, the game remains a nostalgic and enjoyable experience for stealth fans, especially when played on consoles or with fixes applied.
Highlights
Players highly praise the game's stealth mechanics and AI improvements, which provide a challenging but rewarding experience. The ability to customize gear and upgrade equipment adds a strategic layer to gameplay. The graphics are considered impressive for its generation, enhancing immersion. The storyline, while not perfect, is engaging enough to motivate players through the campaign. Co-op and side missions offer additional fun and variety, and the game’s pacing balances stealth with action effectively.
Criticisms
The most common criticisms revolve around technical instability on PC, with frequent crashes severely disrupting gameplay. Ubisoft’s server shutdowns have removed multiplayer and DLC support, frustrating many players. The PC port requires mods for optimal performance, which is a barrier for some. Additionally, some players feel the game strays too far from classic Splinter Cell stealth roots, favoring action elements. The story and character development receive mixed reviews, and microtransactions have been negatively noted.
Pros
- • Excellent stealth mechanics providing diverse tactical options for players.
- • Improved enemy AI makes stealth and combat engaging and challenging.
- • Graphics remain impressive and immersive for a game of its era.
- • Customizable gear and upgrades add depth and strategy to gameplay.
- • Co-op mode and side missions enhance replayability and fun.
- • Balanced pacing between stealth and action appeals to varied playstyles.
- • Nostalgic value for long-time fans of the Splinter Cell series.
Cons
- • Frequent crashes on PC severely disrupt gameplay experience.
- • Ubisoft server shutdowns removed multiplayer and DLC content.
- • PC port requires mods and workarounds to be stable.
- • Microtransactions detract from immersion and player satisfaction.
- • Some players feel the game favors action over classic stealth.
- • Occasional bugs and launcher issues frustrate users.
- • Controller support problems on PC limit accessibility.
Rating Criteria
The United States has a military presence in two-thirds of countries around the world, and some of them have had enough. A group of terrorists calling themselves The Engineers initiate a terror ultimatum called the Blacklist - a deadly countdown of escalating attacks on U.S. interests.