Splinter Cell

Splinter Cell is a stealth-based video game released in 2002 and developed by Ubi Soft Montreal. It marks the first installment in the Splinter Cell series and is endorsed by the famous author Tom Clancy. The story follows Sam Fisher, an NSA black ops agent (voiced by Michael Ironside in English and Daniel Beretta in French), as he embarks on covert missions. The game drew inspiration from both the Metal Gear franchise and titles developed by Looking Glass Studios and was built using the Unreal Engine.

In August 2004, Fisher joins the National Security Agency, becoming part of its newly established "Third Echelon" division, led by his friend Irving Lambert. Shortly after, he is dispatched to Georgia to investigate the mysterious disappearance of two CIA agents. Fisher uncovers that both agents were killed on the orders of the Georgian president, after revealing that Georgia has been secretly engaging in an ethnic cleansing operation in Azerbaijan, carried out by Georgian commandos.

The core of Splinter Cell’s gameplay revolves around stealth, particularly the use of light and shadows. The game encourages players to remain in the dark and avoid detection by enemies whenever possible. A "light meter" tracks how visible the player is, and the game also provides tools like night vision and thermal goggles to assist in navigating low-light or obscured environments.

Stealth is prioritized over direct combat in Splinter Cell. While Sam Fisher is armed, his ammunition is limited, and additional supplies are scarce. The game emphasizes versatile movement, allowing Fisher to sneak up behind enemies for silent takedowns, interrogations, or to use them as human shields when necessary.