Unlike MGS V, which managed to skirt by on franchise reputation alone after losing the veteran voice of its main character, swapping out Michael Ironside as Sam Fisher after a couple of fairly average Splinter Cell games only served to completely bury Blacklist in the public conscious. It didn't matter that Sam was back to dissolving into the shadows across its duration, it didn't matter that you had more gadgets and infiltration options than ever - it didn't even matter that gameplay was slicker than ever, and built on everything Chaos Theory so expertly laid out through additional animations and kill opportunities. The public turned their nose up at newcomer Eric Johnson slipping on the iconic three-light goggles, and that was that. But it doesn't have to be; Blacklist still remains the finest stealth game that side of The Phantom Pain, one that comes replete with a 24-style thrill-filled storyline reminiscent of the Mission: Impossible movies, setting up a globe-spanning series of missions that are all expertly designed, encouraging replayability through sheer experimentation. You can play Sam as a gung-ho bullet-lover if you like, or you can hang back, pick off enemies one by one, charge up a chain-kill special move and wipe out the remaining group in one fluid motion. When it all comes together, SC: Blacklist is right up there with Chaos Theory, and that's a sentiment not anywhere near enough outlets have put out. What's the most underrated stealth game of all time? Let us know in the comments!
