CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games TV

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

77 Aces of the Galaxy
61 Alone in the Dark
74 Assault Heroes 2
84 Battlefield: Bad Company
50 Battlezone
56 Beijing 2008
43 Bliss Island
54 Brain Challenge
58 Buku Sudoku
54 Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The
83 Civilization Revolution
73 Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath
81 Condemned 2: Bloodshot
45 Crash Time
72 Dark Sector
63 Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm
56 Don King Presents: Prizefighter
73 Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit
67 Elements of Destruction
69 Enemy Territory: Quake Wars
77 Football Manager 2008
42 Frogger 2
98 Grand Theft Auto IV
87 GRID
73 Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
60 Hail to the Chimp
55 Happy Tree Friends False Alarm
50 Hellboy: The Science of Evil
88 Ikaruga
57 Incredible Hulk, The
44 Iron Man
77 Kung Fu Panda
77 LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
66 Lost Cities
78 Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition
45 Mr. Driller Online
74 NASCAR 09
55 NBA Ballers: Chosen One
xx NCAA Football 09
81 Ninja Gaiden II
42 Operation Darkness
77 Penny Arcade Adventures Epsiode One: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness
76 Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
71 Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy
xx Rocketmen: It Came from Your Uranus
37 Rocky and Bullwinkle
81 Roogoo
xx Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends
63 SBK-08 Superbike World Championship
58 Sea Life Safari
67 Sega Superstars Tennis
81 Soulcalibur
xx Soulcalibur IV
xx Space Chimps
xx Spectral Force 3
57 Supreme Commander
68 Ticket to Ride
58 TiQal
82 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2
xx Too Human
79 Top Spin 3
79 UEFA Euro 2008
66 Universe at War: Earth Assault
86 Unreal Tournament 3
68 Viking: Battle for Asgard
55 WALL-E
53 Warlords
63 Wits & Wagers
65 Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent xbox360 Game Reviews
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent
Critic Score
Metascore: 85 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
8.8 out of 10
based on 59 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 61 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Veteran agent Sam Fisher is back. But he's never faced an enemy like this before. To stop a devastating terrorist attack, he must infiltrate a vicious terrorist group and destroy it from within. For the first time ever, experience the relentless tension and gut-wrenching dilemmas of life as a double agent. As you infiltrate a terrorist organization in its American headquarters, you must carefully weigh the consequences of your actions. Kill too many criminals and you'll blow your cover. Hesitate too long and millions will die. Do whatever it takes to complete your mission, but get out alive. Dual objectives to fulfill: NSA government agents and terrorists will each want you to accomplish opposing tasks at the same time. Discover the tension of being a double agent: Use actual tactics employed by today’s real-life double agents to sabotage the terrorists' plans. Explore a branching storyline with multiple endings: Your choices have an impact on how the story and game play unfolds. Missions from all over the world, from Asia to Africa to the heart of the US. Experience extreme situations: underwater or in a sandstorm, hiding behind the dust or smoke – and even skydiving. Master the latest weapons and gadgets used by NSA government agents in addition to black-market terrorist weapons. [Ubisoft]

PUBLISHER: Ubisoft
DEVELOPER: Ubisoft Montreal/Shanghai/France
GENRE(S): Action, Adventure
PLAYERS: 6
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
RELEASE DATE: October 17, 2006

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...

100
Sydney Morning Herald
Magnificent on the Xbox 360, this could be a contender for game of the year.
Read Full Review
100
Times Online
The result is sweaty-palmed fun, teaming the adult joys of a well-paced thriller with the childish delight of playing hide-and-seek in the dark.
Read Full Review
94
XboxAddict
It's got to be the most fully featured stealth action game to date, so if you like the idea of high-tech espionage, it's certainly going to have plenty to offer you.
Read Full Review
93
GameBrink
One of the major new additions to the series that really sets Double Agent apart from the rest is the branching storyline. Not only is the story eons better than the past games in both presentation and writing, but you actually get to change the course of what happens for better or worse.
Read Full Review
92
GameZone
The movement and animation are as smooth as ever with only a few hiccups on the framerate. Swimming, running, and sneaking around never felt so natural as you are going through all of the various missions. The computer AI on in this game is much sharper and makes it more challenging for all players.
Read Full Review
92
Ferrago
It's the branching gameplay that catapults Double Agent above its predecessors and marks the series as striding forward into a wealth of possibilities.
Read Full Review
91
Planet Xbox 360
The single-player experience is worth this game by itself but throw in the multi-player mode and you have yourself a candidate for game of the year.
Read Full Review
91
AtomicGamer
The only thing that really irritated me while I played were the swimming controls – they just don’t feel right. Otherwise, this is an excellent game that you should, at the very least, rent and play through once.
Read Full Review
91
Gaming Target
Involving missions, cutting edge graphics and an excellent narrative that, while not always living up to its potential, strives mightily to expand the storytelling and emotional connection while maintaining the right balance of fun and adventure.
Read Full Review
91
Team Xbox
Even though you won't have the staggering number of gadgets and gear at your disposal, you'll likely still have a blast. Even those of us who were huge fans of the multiplayer action in Chaos Theory came around after a few games.
Read Full Review
90
Kombo
The game has always looked amazing, and now they’ve taken it up a notch by giving more detail to each character, especially Sam, and environments.
Read Full Review
90
Game Informer
I came for the single-player, which I liked rather than loved, and stayed for the multiplayer, which I used to like and now adore. I have a feeling many other fans will feel the same way.
Read Full Review
90
Official Xbox Magazine UK
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. [Nov 2006, p.8]
Read Full Review
90
Official Xbox Magazine
Just think of Double Agent as the least amazing Splinter Cell yet, rather than the worst game in the series - because it's simply not. It's the gutsiest, and the chances it takes (but doesn't quite nail) give the series room to evolve into something better than could've possibly imagined to iterations ago. [Dec 2006, p.70]
90
IGN
All sorts of improvements have been made to level design, AI, gameplay mechanics (which are simplified yet still require skill), and a meaningful storyline punctuated with directed moments. While some may argue the point, the new Mercs Vs. Spies mode is good fun and should prove to have legs on Xbox Live.
Read Full Review
90
EuroGamer
By giving players a real incentive to be the stealthy super-spy, it's opening the game up to being what it should have been. And by wrapping it in a memorable narrative and giving Sam Fisher the ability to be evil, you actually start to care not only about your actions, but the characters in the game too.
Read Full Review
90
Cheat Code Central
Although there aren’t many significant changes to the gameplay, the game still feels more exhilarating and more immersive because of the improved visuals, better storyline, lack of darkness, and the moral choices Sam if forced to make.
Read Full Review
90
Deeko
There's just so much to the game that I feel this is probably only the second or third 360 game to ever really be worth the extra money: I mean, it's really two complete games on a single disc.
Read Full Review
90
Game Over Online
The only real disappointing aspect of the game is multiplayer. The exclusion of a cooperative campaign is a step backwards in my opinion. Still, Splinter Cell fans are sure to enjoy one of Sam Fisher’s best assignments yet.
Read Full Review
90
WHAM! Gaming
Double Agent's level design and scenarios will keep you on your toes while blowing your mind at the same time.
Read Full Review
90
Games Radar
Veterans of Splinter Cell Chaos Theory may be disappointed with Double Agent's multiplayer. Yet, while some may call this game stripped down, we thought the lack of gadgets streamlined the multiplayer experience and sped up matches online.
Read Full Review
90
My Gamer
The game is very accessible to veterans and newbies alike, and it offers a great single and multiplayer experience.
Read Full Review
90
Game Chronicles
Double Agent is fun, exciting, intense, and definitely a showcase title for the visual elegance of the 360, but if you want a fully fleshed out story, extended levels, more dialogue, and an overall richer Splinter Cell experience, I’d have to recommend the original Xbox version over this.
Read Full Review
90
eToychest
In every sense imaginable, Splinter Cell: Double Agent was meant to exploit the platform on which it was designed, and it excels to an extraordinary degree.
Read Full Review
90
Gamers' Temple
The most unique Sam Fisher adventure since the original Splinter Cell game.
Read Full Review
89
Xbox World Australia
The story is great, the double agent dynamic is unique and engaging, and the set-piece levels and accompanying ‘next-gen' graphics are second-to-none. But with all that said, Double Agent's drift from the stealthy core of Sam Fisher's past travails will no doubt displease many hardcore fans, and this is arguably the simplest and least challenging game in the series.
Read Full Review
89
GameTrailers
If the trial-and-error aesthetic turned you off in the past, not a whole lot has changed in that regard, and the series becomes increasingly less accessible for new players with each entry. But Double Agent is an unforgettably tense experience no stealth fan can afford to miss.
Read Full Review
88
Jolt Online Gaming UK
What we’ve seen here is a more-vulnerable Sam Fisher rather than the near-invincible super ninja of the previous games, which certainly gives Double Agent a distinctive feel.
Read Full Review
87
Gamer 2.0
Splinter Cell Double Agent is a solid game with an excellent multiplayer component. Fans of a gripping storyline which includes intense action and “stealthy stealth” will no doubt enjoy this game.
Read Full Review
86
Games Master UK
Excellent as it is, it fails to match the impossibly high standards set by "Chaos Theory." [Dec 2006, p.96]
85
PALGN
It's not quite the complete package that "Chaos Theory" was, but it deserves credit for trying something a bit different this time around, even if the changes weren’t entirely successful ones. Few games recreate the sense of tension the way that the Splinter Cell games do, and this latest version does it incredibly well.
Read Full Review
85
Extreme Gamer
Playing as a Double Agent is the perfect plot line for a Splinter Cell game; finally we feel a little closer to this world of international espionage.
Read Full Review
85
GameSpot
Agent Sam Fisher's latest assignment turns out to be a fairly routine stealth action operation, but improvements to Splinter Cell's innovative multiplayer mode more than make up for this.
Read Full Review
85
GamePro
The A.I. has also gotten smarter to the point that if you are caught out in the open, you're as hosed as Brittney's post K-Fed career. Sure, you can try to forgo the use of cover and concealment but bloody wounds and humiliation will be your only reward.
Read Full Review
85
DailyGame
The story is better, the trust meters "work," and the gameplay is still fun. Only problem: the next-gen content snub. Had it included online co-op and Ubisoft done more to integrate the single- and multiplayer modes, it would've scored a [90].
Read Full Review
84
Pelit (Finland)
Offers the same outstanding stealth action than its predecessors, but fails miserably on the story department. Also, the much-advertised choice between good and bad does not really affect anything at all. Could we please get the next one with a decent, engaging story? [Dec 2006, p.82]
83
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Splinter Cell still offers the most unique multiplayer around, and Double Agent will keep me happily entertained for quite some time--probably well past Fisher's retirement party. [Dec. 2006, p.121]
83
Game Revolution
We love the immersive gameplay and cool visuals, although we’re starting to get tired of constantly saving and reloading because some guard spotted us picking a lock.
Read Full Review
82
GamerNode
It provides plenty of glorious visuals, the audio is top-notch and the missions are pretty damn fun.
Read Full Review
82
Game Almighty
They want their multiplayer and this is where it shines, though hardcore fans of previous installments will most likely not be very pleased with some of the changes.
Read Full Review
80
G4 TV
Checkpoints are far too infrequent, compelling the player break immersion and save their progress every hundred steps. And the game's level relies too frequently on cliches.
Read Full Review
80
Boomtown
With a good ten hours plus of single player game, even on the easiest difficulty, and the multiple endings the choice system provides adding to that, and a great co-op and multiplayer game on top this should provide you with plenty of enjoyment doe your money and keep you sneaking around for a long time to come.
Read Full Review
80
AceGamez
A great game that's certainly worth playing if you enjoyed any previous Splinter Cell titles, but don't expect to see a huge leap in terms of gameplay, or the ingenious level design of years gone by.
Read Full Review
80
Xboxic
At it’s core, Double Agent is a terrific game and I would definitely recommend it to all action and stealth genre fans, but the stifled campaign and clumsy multiplayer presentation hinder it from being the stellar game everyone was hoping for.
Read Full Review
80
X360 Magazine UK
A worthy continuation of a superb series that is unfortunately over way too quickly. When a game is this great you simply don't want it to finish. [Issue 13, p.82]
80
360 Gamer Magazine UK
A huge variety of settings and missions mean Ubisoft really gets to show off graphically, and we found that the 360’s HD capabilities gave the game a sleek, immersive feel. A few niggles in terms of camera views and accessibility for people new to the series let it down, but overall it’s a must have for Splinter Cell fans.
Read Full Review
80
Total Video Games
The storyline is perhaps one of the most compulsive yet, which is reinforced by the mechanic of working for both the security services and the terrorists at the same time. That said, the Trust mechanic doesn't quite work as well as it should, but it's hard to see how else it could be improved without pushing frustration to the limit.
Read Full Review
80
VideoGamer
The double agent element gives the game a slightly unique feeling, but at times it's hard to shake the thought that you're playing a Chaos Theory expansion pack; albeit a very attractive one.
Read Full Review
80
3DAvenue
Visually the game is stunning however we did have one problem when using lower settings to see how it looked. The game just isn't bright enough, we had to max our TV out with brightness before we could play the game properly.
Read Full Review
80
GameDaily
I'm also a bit disappointed with the AI, which isn't nearly as sophisticated as Ubisoft has claimed. However, the game offers up plenty of intense thrills. This is by far the most diverse collection of missions ever seen in a Splinter Cell title.
Read Full Review
80
Yahoo! Games
For the most part, Double Agent is like slipping on a comfortable pair of shoes. There aren't really any new gadgets, although some of the old ones have evolved.
Read Full Review
80
1UP
Because the co-op missions are just gussied-up versus matches, and because the versus game doesn't have any variations in objectives (spies simply hack at computer terminals to retrieve files to return to the starting base) or modes, multiplayer may start to wear out more quickly than in previous editions.
Read Full Review
80
GameSpy
While it may lack innovation, it makes up for it with narrative effort. Sam Fisher needed a change, and this will suffice. However, it's tough to look at this game and say, "Being on next-gen has allowed this franchise to take itself to the next level." That's just not true.
Read Full Review
80
Edge Magazine
Though the Clancy series entirely consists of such well-rounded packages, it’s Splinter Cell that shines – a game of equally accomplished halves. [Dec 2006, p.82]
80
MS Xbox World
Sadly the popular co-op mode from "Chaos Theory" did not make its return in Double Agent, I’m sure there are reasons but I am and no doubt many other fans of "Chaos Theory’s" co-op mode will be disappointed that it did not make its return in the new game.
Read Full Review
74
GamingExcellence
The single player mode felt short, far too easy and not as predominantly based on the stealth aspects that I’d come to love from the series.
Read Full Review
70
games(TM)
Instead of progressing videogame stealth action, it’s a game gone into hiding – cowering behind a shroud of misguided pseudo-innovation and unbelievable difficulty. [Dec 2006, p.106]
70
Gamestyle
It's a shame that the overall package can't be as satisfying as it is online because, while it still has many things we've always loved about the Splinter Cell series, it's hardly the next generation offering we were hoping for.
Read Full Review
60
NTSC-uk
While single player offers enough to keep things new, the same cannot be said for multiplayer.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 61 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Matt F. gave it a7:
Nice online mode with some cool modes. Great if you have a mate to play it with. Also has some cool parts to the single player mode, but it can be very difficult at times and should not be the decider of a purchase.

J. G. gave it a7:
Not a bad game, but what the heck is going on with not having a splitscreen multiplayer. I know that the playstation version has a splitscreen multiplayer. Xbox 360 is really starting to tick me off with this whole money grubbing Xbox Live crap!!!!!! Why do I have to pay extra money for xbox live when I have two extra control ports on my system. I mean, what's the freaking point of having extra controls?!!!!! I think I'll being switching to another system if this doesn't change soon!!

Sam M. gave it a1:
This game disappointed me, although graphically good and the single player was intense at times, the online multiplayer was horrible. I am i big splintercell fan and loved playing chos thery online but since this newsplinter cell came out it has just lost the fun in online play. Its so easy to hack theres no stealth kills and worst of all your meant to be a spy but the mercs have a blleping thing that goes off when your close!! doesn't that just define the point??? all you have to do as a merc is run round till u here a beep then find which way it goes and wait for him to move. Your motion will pick him up and there we have it. So this game for me was rubbish I never play it even though I got to the top of onix mission 6 but im not there any more but are probably close like top 50 maybe I haven't checked.

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
A fantastic game. They took the splinter cell series in the right direction. Even the game is somewhat short, it is engaging, exciting, and tightly paced. Overall, my favorite of the Splinter cell series and one of the best of the year.

Gingerman gave it an8:
Chaos theory remains to be the better splinter cell game, however couple of the very few levels in this game stand out. especially the congo level and the china levels are quite well. i hated the "headquarters" levels, same old stuff over and over...also, this seemed like a cheap trick to me, to not make more deep levels. It seemed also like, more linear than the other splinter cell games, even though you can make decisions which affect the outcome of the game, there isnt much exploring, or creativity. given the power of Xbox 360, one would expect a deeper, longer splinter cell game. level design is kind of lame, there are 2 ships you need to be on...one is stuck in ice, the other is a moving cruise ship...I would have completely skipped the ice tanker for more attention on the cruise ship. since graphically this is the most attractive level...but you cannot go anywhere cool on the ship...again, bad levels. the swiming is new and very cool...the 5th splinter cell will be amazing no daubt...this 4th one is just a test ride.

Topik gave it a6:
How can people say this game is thousand better time than chaos theory... this is a good game..but Ubisoft made a much more BETTER double agent for Xbox (yes XBOX is Better than 360). I'm talking about Better Plot (story is much more complete) Better Multiplayer (360 mplay is as Pandora tomorrow, on Xbox double agent we STILL have REAL Co-Op Mission ).360 version is obviously far superior in graphic depertment but what we see is a shine game that must demonstrate the better graphics capability of the 360 , and to do that a LOT of mission are played in full day (you still have night goggles.. useless for almost all the game!!).If you want to play real splinter cell I suggest you to try the XBOX version! For me this is a nice version but 360 take 6 and I give 9 to Xbox version.

B Dub gave it an8:
With COD 2, this is my favorite XBOX360 game. I own and have beaten every Splinter Cell and have left the last two campaigns not too satisfied. I had twice the amount of fun than i have had on any of the previous versions and i can equate it to the preciseness of the controls and the interesting boards. For the first time in SC history, once i got past the intial control learning curve i had no problems controlling sam perfectly. For the first time in SC i only screw up from bad decisions, not rolling out into the middle of four enemies by accident. The fact that he can actually creep backwards sounds like a no brainer but this is the first it was available. This is also the first time i played the whole game twice. I went into this game not expecting this greatness. So why the 8? The multiplayer sucks. I looked forward to the cool co-op campaigns they had in choas theory, but no luck.

Read more user comments...

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

Popular on CBS sites: World News | Fantasy Football | Amy Winehouse | Baseball | E3 | Batman | Firefox 3 | iPhone 3G

About CNET Networks | Jobs | Advertise

© 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use