10 Phenomenal Games With AWFUL Stories
6. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series is an iconic take on the stealth genre, rivalling industry giants like the Metal Gear Solid franchise. When it comes to ranking the games, many will point to Splinter Cell: Blacklist as a highlight, thanks to its innovative blend of clever stealth and efficient action, which dialed down the more action-oriented nature of the previous entry, Splinter Cell: Conviction.
Sadly, the lacklustre story does not match up to the standard set by the gameplay.
In the campaign, you control the beloved series protagonist, Sam Fisher, as he takes charge of the newly formed Fourth Echelon. In typical Splinter Cell fashion, Fisher goes head to head with a terrorist organisation hellbent on bringing chaos to the USA, this time inciting conflict with Iran. It's full of all the military power fantasy tropes you'd expect and sticks so closely to the formula that it barely makes an impact.
Making all of this worse was the unfortunate recasting of series veteran Michael Ironside, the voice of Sam Fisher, due to health issues. Ironside was synonymous with the role, bringing charm to Fisher's stoic demeanour with his deep tones and nuanced acting choices. Losing that iconic voice made it harder to connect with the character, casting a shadow on what was otherwise the best Splinter Cell game in years.