Ok, for a kick-off this simply isn't a run-and-gun fanboy shooter (COD: Black Ops anyone?). You *can* go in all guns blazing (even using un-suppressed weapon systems), its not like the older Splinter Cell games, things have evolved for the better, however; if you do, its only going to bring more badguys, more alert.
The gameplay is good, the story is also equally good. The graphics and scenery really add to this game. There are plenty of weapons, suppressed and un-supressed and if you're able to modify and add attachments to the weapons for all the gun lovin' mentalists among us.
There are also plenty of extra 'maps' to play through that aren't in the singleplayer story-mode and these are just as fun.
I've not played multiplayer that much, its still good, just quite hard and I didn't buy the game with the mulitplayer in mind. An added extra for the truely dedicated/unemployed is a co-op story mode mission!
Ok, so the game is brilliant, as is the Sam Fisher model that comes with the game, don't be a geek, keep it in the box, keep it on the DVD shelf and just relax.