TheSplinter Cellgames have primarily been linear experiences since their inception. The protagonist Sam Fisher is an experienced covert operative, and it makes sense for him to sneak about in tight corners. The meticulously constructed levels featuring multiple paths to success are part of the reason whySplinter Cellgames are some of thebest stealth games of all time.
TheSplinter Cellfranchise has remained dormant for quite some time now, with the last entry in the form ofSplinter Cell: Blacklistin 2011. With therecently announcedStar Warsopen-world game, Ubisoft seems more focused than ever to keep making its games open world. In the same spirit, it’d be particularly interesting to imagine theSplinter Cellgames set in an open-world backdrop regardless of whether it happens or not.
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Could Work Like Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
An open-worldSplinter Cellgame would probably workin a similar fashion toMetal Gear Solid 5for the most part. Released in 2015, this entry in the long-running tactical espionage series transformed what was once a linear, story-driven experience into a richly realized world. The convoluted and fantastical storylines took a backseat to a fun and engaging open-world experience. It may be hard to understand how it manages to make its stealth and open-world elements work in a cohesive manner, but it does all of that quite beautifully.
The open-world structure provides a lot of different paths to success, and experimenting with these tactics is encouraged in subtle ways to keep the gameplay fresh and ever-exciting. An open-worldSplinter Cellgame would need to nail these aspects in a similar fashion in order to make its otherwise slow-paced and methodical mechanics feel at home in a huge open-world space. In addition to this, the game could also include clever co-op missions for a unique feature. Ubisoft already has experimented with this in itsAssassin’s CreedandWatch Dogsseries of games, among others, so it isn’t entirely new territory for the developer. However, there are a couple of problems that could occur when transferring over these mechanics to an open-worldSplinter Cellgame.
Contrary to something likeMetal Gear Solid 5, the narrative and gameplay are grounded in reality which makes the prospect of turning similar mechanics and tools cumbersome. While something like Fulton extracting soldiers and summoning gunships feels at home forMetal Gear Solid 5, it wouldn’t so in a game likeSplinter Cellwhich relies too heavily on strict-stealth and realism. That being said,Splinter Cell: Conviction’s PEV(Point, Execute, Vanish) system could do wonders if the series goes open world. It would require a bit of refinement to suit the newer structure, but it would make for a highly customizable set of playstyles where players get to choose the pace at which they would like to take enemy encounters.
Does The Series Really Need An Open-World?
As much as the thought of seeing such a transformation seems tantalizing,Splinter Celldoesn’t really need to venture into the open-world territory. For starters, it would be tough for such a game to survive in today’s market, where its biggest competitors are being developed by the same company. Again, anySplinter Cellgame, whether it stars Sam Fisher or someone else, is best suited to threat-filled mansions, lighthouses, and banks.
If aSplinter Cellopen-world game would be developed someday, it’d be really hard to imitate the feeling of intimacy that these games offer when players creep along with the meticulously designed levels, the best of which are curated for being a ghost. In an industry that seems to be moving towards bigger and grander things, it’d be for the best ifSplinter Cellremains the way it is instead of chasing trends, if a new entry is due any time soon.
