Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist Critic Reviews

Blacklist successfully continues on the road taken by Conviction, keeping the core gameplay choices and expanding everything with a more open mission structure, greater focus on stealth gameplay, great replayability and a strong co-op and competitive multiplayer support. Dismissing it as another action-oriented Splinter Cell will be an error: it can be as stealthy and challenging as you want it to be.

A sweet middle ground between the Panther-like action of Conviction and the Ghost-like stealth of Chaos Theory. The delightful improbable success of this compromise is a testament to game design that always has choice in mind.

The melding of Conviction’s third person shooter elements and more traditional Splinter Cell gameplay are more than the sum of their parts here. No doubt about it, this is the definitive Splinter Cell experience. I’d even go as far as to say it’s the best stealth game of this console generation. Sorry, Kojima.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is a beefy game, and its well worth your time to explore all it offers. While a lot of stealth titles reward you for memorizing enemy patrols and choosing your movement carefully, Splinter Cell gives you the flexibly to be the kind of think-on-his-feet spy that Jason Bourne would idolize.

While the new Splinter Cell: Blacklist is definitely not an open-world game – it’s actually hard to imagine the franchise straying that far from its roots – it is a fantastic hybrid of sorts that throws so many options and choices at the player that its linear nature is thoroughly hidden if not forgotten entirely.

Blacklist’s bitingly topical campaign, huge selection of co-op missions, and wildly enjoyable update of the Spies vs. Mercs multiplayer make for the best, most ambitious Splinter Cell of this generation.

A game which excels by making all of its moving pieces work together in unison. There are some rough patches, such as my beforementioned somewhat squiggy reaction to the storyline and the fact that the graphics sometimes seem to be pushing against the limitations of the current console generation, but it would be difficult for me to think of a more versatile or playable stealth game.

Bringing back classic Spies Vs. Mercs is a smart move that will please many, whereas offering a decent length single player adventure that is open enough for all play-styles and all-comers, whilst offering an optional challenge for the veterans, pays off. Blacklist really is a game all about options, and as such, is one not to miss.

Blacklist is made with great care and full of content, whether online or not, for countless hours of fun. A package that's truly commendable, although slightly reduced by not very exciting AI, a factor that prevents the Ubisoft production from becoming a classic.

Blacklist features an enjoyable gameplay that can be appreciated by both the longtime fans and the newcomers. If we add to this a strong multiplayer mode that really deserves to be played, the overall quality of the package rises dramatically.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist both rewards players for focusing on one infiltration style while also encouraging experimenting with others. This kind of play-as-you-like approach isn’t new, but it’s hard to think of another game that means it with such certainty as Blacklist.

Single player and multiplayer are mixed in an unexpectedly convincing and functional way in Splinter Cell: Blacklist, making it one of the most successful episodes of the saga.

Ubisoft has outdone itself with this one, producing a game that serves up quality and quantity in spades. Splinter Cell: Blacklist can be a demanding and sometimes harsh game, but it only serves in strengthening your resolve to do better, and explore different approaches and avenues to achieve perfect stealth. Whether you're a Ghost, Panther or Assault player, Splinter Cell: Blacklist has something to offer, regardless.

The most hardcore Splinter Cell-purists might still be a little miffed, but otherwise Blacklist is by far the best outing the series has had on this console generation. Even if the new Sam Fisher is a bit dry.

Fisher is back more than ever. Play stealth, kill people without making noise and more important: have some fun.

Blacklist has it all. Perfect controls, highlights from all the previous games, a perfect focus on multiplayer fun without sacrificing the enjoyment of the single-player and a great presentation to finish it all off. It has it all, unless you’re looking for innovation. You won’t find that in this best of compilation that manages to feel like a new product.

If sneaking is your speed, you can rest easy – Sam Fisher is back, and Splinter Cell: Blacklist is among the very best stealth titles you’ll play this generation.

The best Splinter Cell since Chaos Theory, Blacklist is a gritty and intense entry into the series that offers an unbelievably robust package.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist offers a complete and balanced experience. Its campaign and multiplayer modes are filled with fun and addictive gameplay, specially Mercs vs. Spies. The stealth mechanics are great and they make this game the best Splinter Cell of this generation.

Surprisingly, Blacklist "ticks every right box" as a really good, modern game ought to do. It has an interesting single player campaign with great structure, superb co-op missions and an engaging multiplayer mode.