What Splinter Cell MUST Learn From Metal Gear Solid 5

Adding More Scope, And Not Just To Rifles

So, what can Splinter Cell learn from series that brought us "Tactical Espionage Action"?

I'm not suggesting Splinter Cell go full open world, no. That's what Ghost Recon tried, twice, and failed to pull off. That, and it'd be a bit against type to have Fisher hijacking cars and helicopters to get to new areas. Kinda the antithesis of being a covert operative, really.

Instead, in keeping with the hub-based nature of Blacklist, give us larger areas to play in. Much like Hitman too, give us bigger levels that we can approach in a variety of ways. Drop the linear, corridor nature of preset sneaking routes and let us determine how we want to scale this government building or militia stronghold.

Just imagine being given your objectives, either via OPSAT or projected onto walls again, and being allowed to tackle them however you see fit. Sniper Ghost Warrior: Contracts allows this; a big level for you to complete then in any order. You could even keep the awareness factor from Chaos Theory in it: if you mess up in one part, by the time you reach the next the guards are already anticipating something.

Splinter Cell did try something open world-ish with early footage of Conviction, but it looked too much of a deviation from the series. Yet, they could be on to something if they went back to it. I don't mean the grizzled, hobo-looking Sam, but the nature of a more dynamic world for him to infiltrate.

Alpha Protocol had a similar concept, allowing you take on missions in a different order. You could do something in one that'd affect the outcome of the next, for instance. Apply that to a new Splinter Cell, much like MGSV does with how it kits bases out with guards depending on how you play.

Add a level of constant, lived in world that changes depending on Fisher's actions, rather than unconnected levels.

Of course, it's not just the world that needs improving on. Fisher himself could stand to learn some new tricks.