Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Xbox)

Despite this, the graphics are just tremendous and could not be beaten and the new stealth moves are superb aswell like throwing someone off a ledge or slitting their throat from behind. The missions designs are good aswell such as the Bank and the Penthouse.

Another massive, long-awaited feature is the multiplayer online & offline co op mode. The missions are not the story missions however you will notice that they are linked in one mission and they have been desgined so you need two people to complete them. Also, they have implemented some good co op moves like throwing each other and giving each other a hand up on to ledge then climbingup the other guys legs.

Overall: 4/5

There are now 4 options for each door: open door, open door stealth, bash door, and optic cable. ALso, instead of just picking locks, there is a new function break lock. The open door stealth command allows you to control the opening of the door the entire way through opening it, instead of just getting a sneak peak like the original. The bash door knocks out enemies in close range but creates a lot of noise. One main extra that is apparent in this is the change of tactics. As always, there is an option to stay stealthy, but in this there is an assault load out - another new feature is the ability to select your load outs.

The SC-20k has more functions. There are now only sticky cameras - which act as both camera predecessors, and can be seen from even after they have been exited as long as they have not given out the gas. There are now 4 attachments to the basic SC-20k. The launcher section like in the two prequels, and 3 new - the foregrip (allows a steadier hand and much easier to control without zooming), the sniper attachemnt - which allows zoom in 1.5x, 3x and 4.5x but is very loud, firing a AP round, and the shotgun attachment (devastating at short range but extremely loud). There is now also a noise meter as well as a light meter and sam now has emf vision like the mercs in SC:PT multiplayer as well as his nightvision and his thermal imaging. The laser dot on the pistol has gone, to be replaced by an emp, which stops things like cameras, lights etc working for a short period of time - very useful.

Sam also has a major new tool in his war against terrorism - the combat knife. This can be used in lethal attacks (see below), or to cut material like tents, or to break locks. Also, this is much more terrifying when you grab a character than just sam.

There are many more interactions with the environment - including actually having to hack pcs instead of letting him stand there and do the work - and more with npc's such as the lethal attack instead out just knocking out without a weapon.

The single player story mode has a much better storyline and is much better than SC:PT. Another HUGE improvement is with the multiplayer.

There is a new co-op mode available with 2 players on the same machine or over the internet. Also, the shadownet/merc game is still there, with the original modes replaced by new ones, some the same, some completely original.

There are only a few downsides to chaos theory. Firstly, there is no tutorial, so new players may find it a bit hard to get to grips with. Second, you cannot choose your own load out exactly as i would have liked, but can choose between 3 options: redding's reccomendation, stealth, and assault. I haven't found any glitches in the game, and other than these minor comments i can't find anything wrong with it.

An excellent game!

The demo for Chaos Theory is out and playable in the March edition of OXM (official xbox magazine) get the demo and judge for yourself.

The graphics are slick as you like and importantly CONSISTENT, the textures, weather and soft fabric effect will definitely catch your attention, the level design is rumoured to be 'quite' open and non-linear to a satisfactory degree.

There are tonnes of intuitive and innovative context sensitive moves that just up the quality a good few notches ...there's the "closer than ever mode" which opens up a variety of close quarter moves with or without the new combat knife ...stabs, slashes, upside down neck grabs, metal gear style 'choke' moves, over the edge grabs and then some.

For fans of the series and the genre as a whole this game is a must have, new weapons abound, most notably there's the shotgun attachment and the knife and Sam can now create a network of cameras and cycle through them even after he has progressed beyond the camera (in previous instalments you could only use the cameras once and once you logged out you couldn't view that camera's perspective again)

Another great thing in the series is the option to customise your weapons load-out so you can choose the all stealth approach with stick cameras and all or you can go in all guns blazing with the shotgun and grenades - immense replay value i tell thee.

and as that wasn't enough they just had to add the online co-op mode and updated the Spy versus Mercs ...it is indeed a huge possibility that this will be the best selling XBOX title and if not ...then at least the best looking - for a while to come.

GET IT.