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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

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7.0 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 22 critic reviews
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Based on 23 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Ubisoft

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Players: 4

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: June 28, 2005

Summary

In Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, the year is 2008. Citywide blackouts, stock exchange sabotage, electronic hijacking of national defense systems: This is information warfare. To prevent such attacks, operatives must infiltrate hostile territory and aggressively collect critical intelligence, getting closer than ever to enemy soldiers. Through the eight level missions of the single-player campaign — one of which is exclusive to the Nintendo DS — Sam Fisher, the most elite black-ops agent of the National Security Agency, will kill from close range, attack with his combat knife, shoot with the prototype Land Warrior rifle and use radical suppression techniques such as the inverted neck-break to accomplish his duty. The Touch Screen technology allows players to manage the inventory, choose between three visions modes, maneuver the camera and interact with the minigames. The Wireless Communication of the Nintendo DS will be intensely used for the multiplayer modes: Cooperative mode for two players with five levels to explore. Each player can choose between two Shadownet expertises: Assault or Hacker. Versus mode for two to four players with seven maps available. The Versus mode places you in a war of Shadownet spies versus ARGUS mercenaries. While spies try to hack computer devices to steal important information, mercenaries must patrol and guard these stations. [Ubisoft]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Nintendo Power

It's long, and the levels and gameplay are solid throughout. [Aug 2005, p.85]

GameBiz

A first-rate game. Don’t forget that it’s on the Nintendo DS, or your standards might be set incredibly high.

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Play Magazine

Although buoyed by a nice touch-screen look system and a fine series of multiplayer options, the reality is that this theory rests on ground most shaky. [Aug 2005, p.56]

Game Chronicles

The game is virtually unplayable using any of the vision modes and without them you are doomed to play the game in total darkness or not at all.

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Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)

Unfortunately the addition of the excellent multiplayer modes and the surprisingly well executed DS conversion aren't enough to make it a must-buy. [NGC Pocket]

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Cheat Code Central

The console versions of the Splinter Cell series are virtually perfect. It's really hard to accept anything less regardless of what system it's on.

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N-Insanity

I honestly see no real reason to buy this game. Unless you only own a GCN and desperately want to play the Spies vs. Mercs minigame, then I would advise you to get the console version.

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GameSpot

Unfortunately, all of these [features] are dragged down by a poor frame rate and cumbersome controls. The scope of this game is certainly impressive. It's just not much fun to play.

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Worth Playing

A mediocre experience at best. There's a lengthy single player mode that has a lot to offer, but doesn't do anything particularly well. The controls are tedious and the graphics are slow and blocky.

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1UP

There are even certain instances where you can find yourself focusing on your stealth tactics rather than struggling with the interface, and in those instances the game plays out quite well. It's just too bad those are the exception rather than the rule.

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GameSpy

Although far from perfect, this is still shaping up to be the best portable version of Splinter Cell to come out to date.

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Eurogamer

If you're a die hard Splinter Cell fan, you might learn to live with the shonky control system and poor quality graphics. It's not as if the game is completely unplayable, after all. However, it's not varied or involving enough for our tastes, and the ratio of frustration to enjoyment is far too high.

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Sydney Morning Herald

This frustration is compounded by the choppy, stuttering frame rate of the 3D visuals, making the already convoluted controls feel twice as sluggish. Even the menu screens seem slow to respond - a sure sign that the DS is being pushed beyond its capabilities.

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PALGN

Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory tries so much, and yet fails on so many levels. Unless you're a true fan of the franchise, we'd advise you to steer clear.

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Nintendojo

A castrate of its GameCube counterpart, Splinter Cell for the DS lacks many of the levels, abilities, features, pathways, and audio enjoyed in said console version. Bungled load times and inherent slowdown (in simple menu navigation!) is completely unacceptable on such a powerful handheld.

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Armchair Empire

Any way you slice it, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is a poor game and you’d have to be Sam Fisher’s number one fan to grab this rendition of the franchise.

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NintendoWorldReport

Overall, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory for Nintendo DS is just full of problem after problem, but even without the bugs and glitches, the game is simply dull compared to its console counterparts.

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Electronic Gaming Monthly

As a fan of stealth-action in general and the Xbox Chaos Theory in particular, playing the DS version is like reuniting with an old friend...who's gained weight, lost his hair, had his limbs chopped off, his brain sucked out, and been through one of those car-crusher things. And smells. Like cat pee.

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DailyGame

I'm being generous with the 3. That tells you how bad this is.

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Nintendophiles

On one hand, you have gorgeous visuals, tense action-paced music, and a hefty single player mode (8 levels which should take you around 30 minutes to an hour each). However, the other side of the coin features linear missions, sloppy controls, framerate issues and an overall buggy design.

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G4 TV

It's over-ambitious, poorly implemented control setup puts it squarely in the rank of games that tried too hard to utilize the hardware rather than offer a fun, interesting experience.

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Game Revolution

While the DS is a very versatile machine that can adapt to different play mechanics thanks to its stylus and touchscreen, there are some things it obviously shouldn't attempt. This is one such thing. Avoid like a trip-wire.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.0 (out of 10) based on 23 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Chris O. gave it a9:
Ok ive checked around then played friends game....WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE!!!??? its an awsome game! shure it took me a while to learn the controls but HA! its my favourite game portable with me wherever i g o! all those who rated low don't have enough fricken patience i mean really! come on people! have you ever played the other ones? theyre fun right? well this one is just as fun!! you who voted low...suck.

Chris A. gave it an8:
This is a near perfect conversion of a great gamecube game, the one thing that lets it down is the touch screen controls, I hope this is improved in Double Agent.

Ross C. gave it a7:
I quite liked this game. The graphics are fairly decent, even though they're not the best out there. The controls are OK when you get used to them, and the touch screen allows really easy camera movement. There are a few bugs that can be annoying, but if you persevere Splinter Cell CAN be a fairly enjoyable gaming experience.

STFU gave it a1:
This is a true example of what the ds has to offer! The graphics are to n-gage like, the frame rate sucks, The controls are too clunky, and i didnt enjoy it at all. Stick with the console version,Or just wait for it to come to your psp.believe me, this ones a crapper. NINTENDO and UBISOFT can do better. ALMOST as bad as Goldeneye rogue agent but not that bad...

MAX MEYER gave it a1:
This is one of the worst DS games thus far. Don't look at it, don't come near it, don't buy it, and don't rent it. If one of these thing does happen, flush the cartridge down the toilet, and don't worry, the store would not have taken it back because they don't want it either.

Userone gave it a3:
Lousy control method. Dodgy frame rate. Tosh.

Karl M. gave it a5:
Ohh Ubisoft what have you done, you have completely missed the point here. The DS is meant to be a platform for games inconcevable on any other console. This feels like good game, wrong platform.

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Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

Game Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

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