Back when Arkham Asylum was but a twinkle in a developer's eye, Sam Fisher and his triple green-light goggles were doing stealth encounters and takedowns on a masterful level already. It was the first Splinter Cell that proved there was another way to do stealth gameplay outside of Metal Gear Solid's more humorous and playful style, and though each SC game has garnered a devoted following, it was with Chaos Theory that Ubisoft really upped their game and delivered a quintessential genre experience that remains the series' high point - and that of stealth games overall. With a newly-built graphics engine that managed to be the best-looking on any platform way back in 2005, the introduction of a two-button non-lethal/lethal takedown system was all the previous games needed to really allow you to feel powerful when stalking from the shadows. Add to that another overarching plotline of nuclear warfare and hidden dealings going down left right and centre, along with some of the most enjoyable level design in any stealth game, and Chaos Theory easily holds up today.
