9 Great Video Games That Did Not Deserve The Hate

Blacklist found itself in a tough spot: it was burdened by having to make good on a poor game (Conviction) while living up to one of the greatest of all time (Chaos Theory). It did not help that the protagonist’s signature voice actor did not reprise the role, nor that it retained an option to take an action route through a game traditionally seen as stealth orientated.

Indifference followed.

And yet, both the action and stealth options were equally catered for. Add in the extensive armour and weapon customisation and the game could be played in whichever way the player wished: even the first person section could be played in a stealthy manner. It was Chaos Theory 2.0 and Conviction 2.0 blended seamlessly into one, and so, everything a Splinter Cell game should be and could be.

While it is true that Sam was not the same, trying to recreate Michael Ironside’s interpretation of the character would have been jarring. Instead we got a new cast, with Blacklist’s pig-headed, bulldozing Sam brilliantly matched by an intense, tough-as-nails Grimsdóttir. Watching the sparks fly between them was enthralling. And while the story might not be particularly original, it is fast-paced and gripping enough to live up to the Tom Clancy name.

Blacklist was polarizing, yes, but in the years after its release the positive reviews began to overshadow the bad. It remains an outstanding game that, inexplicably, never got the sequel it should have. Get on it Ubisoft.