Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent
Developer(s)	Ubisoft Shanghai (Xbox 360 & PC version), Ubisoft Montreal (Current generation & Wii version), Ubisoft Annecy & Milan (Multiplayer & Challenge Mode)
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Designer(s)	Chris Smith (Single Player Xbox 360 and PC), Hugues Martel, Julian Gerighty, Daniel Roy, Mathieu Ferland
Engine	Unreal Engine 2.5
Platform(s)	PS2, PC, Xbox, GameCube, Wii, Xbox 360
Release	October 17 2006 (Xbox 360) October 26 2006 (PS2, PC, Xbox, GameCube) November 19 2006 (Wii)
Genre(s)	Stealth-based game
Mode(s)	Single player, multiplayer

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent is the fourth installment in the Splinter Cell series of video games developed and published by Ubisoft. The series, created by American author Tom Clancy, follows the character Sam Fisher, a "Splinter Cell" employed by a black-ops division of the National Security Agency, dubbed Third Echelon. There was a PS3 version but it is believed to be cancelled.[1]

Tagline: You have no idea what's coming.

Plot summary

Template:Spoiler The game is set shortly after the events of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. While on an arctic mission, Sam learns that a large cache of red mercury has been stolen by a terrorist group, John Brown's Army. As if that isn't enough, Sam's daughter, Sarah, has been killed by a drunk driver. Overcome with depression, he is unable to concentrate on his mission, and is pulled out by his superior, Colonel Irving Lambert. After a few months, Lambert approaches Sam and offers him the rank of an NOC (nonofficial cover) agent. These are agents comprised of CIA and NSA agents who infiltrate organized crime, and are used for HUMINT purposes. As with similar organizations, the US Government denies any involvement. In order to infiltrate the JBA, the NSA turn Sam into a notorious criminal by staging multiple bank robberies and a mock body count. Sam is sent to Ellsworth Prison. He is thrown into the same cell as a JBA member, named Jamie Washington, and with his cooperation, they break out of prison. [2].

Once the two escape, Jamie offers Sam an invitation into the JBA, which Sam accepts. As part of the JBA, Sam must complete objectives set by them, such as shoot and kill the NEWS copter pilot or release all of the prisoners as a distraction, to gain their trust, as well as complete objectives from the NSA. The decisions he has to make will become increasingly difficult as he progresses through the game. Should Sam kill an innocent hostage and save millions? Gain the JBA's trust but fail an NSA objective? If his allegiance remains firmly with the NSA, he will be able to use more advanced equipment, but others at the JBA may become suspicious as a result of his access to more advanced weaponry. If he stays on the JBA side he won't get the high-tech equipment, but will earn their trust more easily, and as a result will be able to move more freely around their headquarters. The overall aim is to maintain a balance between earning the terrorists' trust and fulfilling your mission to help NSA destroy the terrorist organization.

Originally the game was set for a March 2006 release, but Ubisoft moved the release date to September 2006 in order to have more development time. Ubisoft then released their fiscal quarter results for Q1 2006 and announced that Splinter Cell Double Agent would be put back at least 1 month in order to boost Q3 2006 income.

"Double Agent" was released for the Xbox 360 on October 19th. The PC, PS2, Xbox and Gamecube versions will be released on October 26th, 2006. The Wii version, however, will release on November 19.

Features

Template:Spoiler Ubisoft Montreal will be reusing Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory's modified Unreal Engine to create Double Agent for Xbox, GameCube and PlayStation 2, while Ubisoft Shanghai will be developing the game for the Xbox 360 and the PC using a multi-threaded version of this engine. The official teaser website, while short on detail, provides some information on the upcoming features of the game:

• Lambert is kidnapped by the JBA. His possible death is determined by Sam.
• A love interest, named Enrica Villablanca, who is an eco-terrorist.
• Fisher is given objectives from both the JBA and NSA, forcing the player to compromise in order to progress.
• A dynamic storyline based largely on the player's actions, rather than the static series of events in previous games. Ubisoft claims that even major characters may die as a result of the player's decisions.
• Michael Ironside will return to voice Sam Fisher.
• Woodie Mister was the primary covert operations technical consultant for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell series. The former US Navy Seal has served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Panama – just to name a few. Still active as a private military advisor, Mister is the real deal, having both the stories and scars to prove it. Working closely with Mister helped the Ubisoft developers create the most authentic and realistic espionage video game to date.
• Don Jordan will also return as Irving Lambert.
• Current generation and next generation platform versions will both have exclusive features:

• Current generation (PlayStation 2 and Xbox) platforms will feature additional single-player mission with alternate ending, a new Spies vs. Spies online mode (Xbox only), 15 co-op missions playable offline, LAN, and 8 minutes of additional cinematics.
• Next generation (PC and Xbox 360) platforms will feature two additional alternate single-player missions, eight all-new merged versus and co-op maps, interactive mission insertions (e.g. parachute jumps), and new underwater and sandstorm combat. [3]

• Daylight missions in which Sam Fisher does not use his night/thermal vision apparel.
• Locations include Kinshasa, Iceland, New Orleans, Jin Mao Building in Shanghai, New York City, Sea of Okhotsk, Los Angeles, Cozumel, and others.
• One of the early missions in the game is a prison escape with a member of the JBA.
• The Wii version of this game is based on the PS2/GC versions of Double Agent, but will feature improved graphics and enhanced gameplay. It will lack some content from the Xbox 360 version, but the controls will be designed with the Wii in mind (picking locks by shaking the Wii Remote, slitting a throat using a knife motion with the Wii Remote). Downloadable content through WiiConnect24 is still being considered. Double Agent is a launch title for Wii.
• Sam will be faced with several difficult choices in the game. The choices he makes will affect his trust level with the JBA and the NSA. If he continues to make choices that please the JBA, the NSA may begin to think Sam has actually become a terrorist himself. On the other hand, if you continue to make choices that please the NSA, he may blow his cover.
• Trust on either side affects Sam's weapon arsenal. Pleasing the NSA will supply him with non-lethal arsenal, while pleasing the JBA will supply him with lethal arsenal. It is advised that he stay in a neutral level, so he will get an equal share of both.
• There are three endings for "Double Agent". Based on Fisher's actions, one of these endings will occur.

Demo

On August 7 2006, it was announced that a single-player and multiplayer demo would be available for PC, while only a multiplayer demo would be available for the Xbox 360, which was released on October 14. Recently, however, it was announced that a single-player demo for the Xbox 360 would be availalbe within less than a month of the multiplayer demo's release. There is no word yet on an Xbox, PS2, Wii or GameCube demo. The Xbox 360 multiplayer demo is encountering huge problems, with many gamers unable to join games. Ubisoft claims that this is due to inadequate servers and is currently trying to remedy the problem.

Multiplayer changes

Ubisoft has announced that it will dramatically redesign its Spy versus Mercenary multiplayer mode on the Xbox 360 and PC. The game will be much different from the multiplayer in Pandora Tomorrow and Chaos Theory. Now formally titled "Third Echelon versus Upsilon Force," the maximum size of respective teams has been changed from 2 to 3 players each, reflecting changes in both gameplay mechanics and map-size. The spies lose their Sticky Shocker and elbow strike, significantly reducing their direct combat abilities from previous titles. Spies will also move much faster than in the previous two titles and no longer have long delays when interacting with objects or performing acrobatic moves; a Gamespot preview referred to the Spy's new agility and speed as "playing Splinter Cell on fast-forward". Spies have a hacking device to remotely hack objectives, turn off lights,open doors, and otherwise manipulate the environment. Mercenaries will gain a remotely-controlled drone capable of pursuing spies into spaces mercenaries can not access. Mercenaries also gain the ability to rappel down drops and jump over small obstacles. The map size has been substantially increased to accomodate more players.

Multiplayer

Upon joining the game, the player selects one of two sides: The Spies of Third Echelon or the Mercenaries of Upsilon Force. The choice of side affects the player's mission objectives, equipment, and overall playstyle.

The Spies of Third Echelon

The spies of Third Echelon are extremely fast and agile, much more so than their opponents the Mercenaries. The Spies have a variety of almost superhuman acrobatic manuevers that allow them to navigate the map and infiltrate areas that their opponents cannot reach on foot.

Mission Objective

The mission objective of the spies is to retrieve two encrypted files from four terminals scattered around the map. The spies use their wrist computer (see below) to "hack" the terminal. The closer that the spy is to the terminal, the faster it can be hacked. After a period of time, the terminal will be considered "hacked" and the spy will obtain the file. All progress made hacking on any terminal is cumulative for that particular spy until he either a) takes the extracted file to the exfiltration point or b) is killed. Example: Player A hacks the blue terminal and receives 20 percent of the file. He is then discovered by a Mercenary and is forced to flee. He makes his way to the red terminal and hacks an additional 30 percent of the file. He now has 50 percent of the total file.

Equipment

• Wrist Computer - The Spies have a powerful wrist computer which they can use to manipulate their environment remotely. The wrist computer has a range of ten meters and the spies will remain locked on the objective whilst hacking. While hacking, Spies have to remain in a First Person View and cannot use any other movements besides changing the direction in which they are looking. The wrist computer is capable of all of the following:
  • Turning off most lights in a level (there are a handful of lights that cannot be shut off).
  • Breaking glass.
  • Opening security doors.
  • Turning off the "main generator" on some levels, which will knock out most lights and open all doors. The generator can be restarted by the Mercenaries.
  • Hacking security terminals to retrieve the encrypted files and complete the mission objectives.
  • Hacking the Mercenaries themselves. This causes the afflicted Mercenary's torchlight to malfuntion and turn on and off, their drones to fail to work properly, and their EM vision mode to be full of static and useless.
• Vision Modes - The spies have three powerful vision modes:
  • Night Vision, a monochrome vision mode which allows the Spies to see in total darkness. Well-lit areas and bright light sources appear washed out when in this vision mode.
  • Thermal Vision, which allows the Spies to see warm objects (such as Mercenaries, or their footprints if they have been in the area recently).

Wave Vision- Allows the spy to see energy sources clearer or through thin objects to see enemies/

• Gadgets - The spies are allowed to take one gadget from the following selection of four:
  • The Syringe restores the health of the Spy or his teammates.
  • Flashbang Grenades blind any Mercenary who sees them for a short time.
  • Smoke Grenades create a thick cloud of smoke that impairs the Mercenary's movement and vision. The cloud will briefly knock out a Mercenary if he stays in it for too long.
  • The Jammer, which can be dropped on the ground and creates a fake presence on the Mercenary's proximity detector.

The Mercenaries of Upsilon Force

The Mercenaries of Upsilon Force are heavily armed with a variety of ways to neutralize intruders. They have a close-in melee attack that knocks their opponents to the ground and temporarily stuns them. They have the ability to sprint for a limited period of time; however their turning and aiming accuracy is severely reducing while sprinting. Mercenaries can also sprint into a spy; knocking them down and stunning them temporarily. Mercenaries can rappel down certain surfaces; this allows them to move to lower floors quickly.

Mission Objective

The mission objective of the Mercenaries is to defend the four terminals from attack by the Spies. Mercenaries receive a audio and visual alert whenever a terminal is being hacked and also can see which Spy is currently hacking and how much of the file has been retrieved.

Equipment

• Rifle - The Mercenaries have an M16-style rifle capable of fully automatic fire. The rifle has unlimited magazines and each magazine contains 40 bullets. The rifle has a scope capable of 4x optical zoom for sniping.
• Vision Modes - The Mercenaries have two vision modes and one special vision "gadget":
  • EM Vision allows the Mercenary to see all electrically-active devices in the area. This includes spies that are hacking. EM vision works through walls and thus is very effective. However, it is balanced by the fact that the Mercenary using it must move very slowly or stand still, otherwise the range of EM vision is extremely short.
  • The Motion Sensor will outline any fast-moving Spy in white. The spy must be upright and running to activate the motion sensor. This vision mode is always active.
  • The Torchlight is a flashlight attached to the Mercenary's rifle. It has an adjustable beam that can vary between being very focused with a long range or spread out with a short range.
• Grenades are launched from the Mercenary's rifle. They fly out in an arc and thus can be banked around corners or into vents. A Mercenary gets three grenades and can replenish their stock at their command center.
• Drones are remote-controlled cameras that can be deployed by Mercenaries. They are dirgible-style, relatively slow-moving craft with a built-in spotlight. Drones can only move approximately 30 meters from the Mercenary before losing signal and deactivating. A button-press can cause the drone to explode with the force of grenade after a 3 second countdown. A Mercenary gets two drones and can replenish them at their command center.
• The Proximity Detector detects the presence of a Spy within 10 meters of a Mercenary. The detector gives off a "heartbeat" style noise that gets faster as the Mercenary gets closer to the Spy. Spies can hear the Proximity detector as well and thus know when they have been detected. The Proximity Detector is always active.

1080p Support

It has been announced that the Xbox 360 version of Splinter cell Double Agent will support the 1080p resolution on the Xbox 360 console, making it the first game available on the Xbox 360 console to support the resolution. It is unsure if it will implement the support itself, or if it will not be available until the fall Xbox 360 update.[4]

Reaction

In its November 2006 issue, the United Kingdom Official Xbox Magazine gave Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent a score card of 9 out of 10. It stated: "Rupturing quality and oozing tension, this is stealth gaming of the highest calibre, full of imagination and augmented by an excellent two-way Trust system that leaves you pondering every choice you make and then having to deal with the consequences."

The American OXM gave the same 9/10 score to the game on its December 2006 issue (page 70).

IGN has given Splinter Cell: Double Agent an Outstanding 9.0 out of 10 while TeamXbox.com rated it 9.1/10 and GameTrailers.com gave it an 8.9/10 score card, and the Australian issue of oxm also gave it a 9/10.

Screenshots

Xbox, PS2, GameCube

• File:926929 20051213 screen007.jpg

There are more screenshots on Ubisoft's forums.

PC requirements

• Supported OS: Windows® XP (only)
• Processor: 3 Ghz Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon™ 3000 (3.5 Ghz Pentium 4 or Athlon 3500 recommended). Game optimized for Dual-processor-enabled computers.
• RAM: 1 GB
• Video Card: Direct X® 9.0c-compliant, Shader 3.0-enabled 128 MB video card (256 MB recommended) (see supported list*)
• Sound Card: DirectX® 9.0c-compatible (EAX" recommended) - PC audio solution containing Dolby® Digital *Live required for Dolby Digital audio.
• DirectX Version: 9.0c or higher (9.0c included on disc)
• DVD-ROM: 4x DVD-ROM or faster
• Hard Drive Space: 8 GB
• Peripherals Supported: Mouse, keyboard
• Multiplayer: Broadband connection with 128 kbps upstream or faster

Trailer

• Splinter Cell Double Agent @ IGN
• Splinter Cell Double Agent Trailer (XBox360)

External links

• Official Splinter Cell: Double Agent Site
• Spy Ring | The Official Splinter Cell: Double Agent Community
• All you need to know about Splinter Cell: Double Agent (FAQ)
• Double Agent Reviews at Metacritic.com
• Official Delay Announcement
• Official Splinter Cell: Double Agent Teaser Site
• Unofficial Splinter Cell Community Site - WORK IN PROGRESS
• Splinter Cell Retreat
• PlanetrainbowSix: Tom Clancy Community fansite
• Official Splinter Cell: Double Agent Forum
• Interview with Chris Smith on Splinter Cell at Frag Dolls
• Official Splinter Cell: Double Agent Press Release
• Official Splinter Cell Site
• Official Ubisoft Site
• GameInfoWire Splinter Cell: Double Agent screenshot gallery