1. Sam Fisher
The ultimate master of stealth. The silent assassin who can sneak up behind you and snap your neck before you even know hes there. The only thing sharper than his knife is his wit. Sam Fisher has been a household name in gaming since Splinter Cells inception back in 2002. The very first agent of Third Echelon, Fishers sarcastic and impatient approach to each and every mission makes killing bad guys that little bit more fun. Lets face it, shoot the bad guy from cover or silently grab him from behind and torture him with one-liners before you dispose of him in a flurry of hand-to-hand combat. I know which one I prefer. Its not just mindless destruction either - hes a resourceful guy, often using surrounding objects to do some serious damage to his enemies. Whilst he has no mercy for terrorists and no time for politics, he always keeps it light with his colleagues. His relationship with his boss, Lambert, is especially entertaining as Lambert knows exactly what to expect from Sam and is always one step ahead. But theres more to Sam Fisher than his deadly skill and dry humour. Theres a very human side to this killing machine that makes him truly stand out amongst gaming protagonists. He goes through very trying emotional events that see him develop as a character as the series progresses. When were informed that his daughter, Sarah has been killed at the start of Double Agent, Sam is devastated and whilst yes, we dread to think about the impending fate of the poor sucker who drunkenly mowed her down, it is clear that Sam is never the same again. He loses what little regard he had for himself and, as he goes undercover deeper than he ever has before, he literally loses his own identity. In Conviction, when he feels deeply betrayed by Grimsdottir, their relationship is disfigured. As Blacklist opens, Sam has a strong reluctance to work with her and their audio exchanges throughout the missions are hilariously antagonistic. Im deliberately avoiding the Michael Ironside versus Eric Johnson debate because really what were talking about is more than the voice actor and having completed Blacklist, the addition of Johnson really doesnt detract from the infallible coolness of Sam Fisher. Okay, Ironside may have delivered those lines with that extra dry and sardonic tone, but Eric Johnson gets the job done and we still love Sam Fisher all the same. We salute you, Sir! Game on! So there you have it. Tom Clancy has left a great and influential legacy and his work has led to some of the best gaming titles of this generation. Always true to his narrative style, his games require a tactical mind, a sharp eye and a sense of humour and hopefully with the help of Ubisoft, his franchise will live on as a memorial to his great work. What have I missed? What should be ranked higher? Share your own favourites below