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By Brad Cook

At least your boss won’t disavow any knowledge of your existence if you screw up on the job. That’s the situation faced by Sam Fisher, member of a secret National Security Administration (NSA) sub-agency that requires him to leave no trace of his existence during missions. Then again, your boss probably never required you to sneak around a foreign country and steal vital information or interrogate shady characters. And your last performance review likely didn’t require you to hide unconscious security guards where they wouldn’t be found.

But if you’d like to try all that and more in your spare time, take a look at Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, published for the Mac by Aspyr Media. Inspired by Clancy’s novels full of government conspiracies and the larger-than-life heroes, the game places you in Fisher’s shoes. He’s a Splinter Cell, a lone operative who slips into trouble spots and accomplishes his tasks undetected, unable to even receive public recognition by the U.S. government, which denies that the NSA sub-agency he works for, known as Third Echelon, even exists.

It’s a thankless job, but someone has to save the world. That person is you.

Never Seen, Never Heard

Unlike many action/adventure games, Splinter Cell doesn’t require you to blast away your enemies to succeed at its nine expansive missions. In fact, you can make your way through many of them without firing a single shot. Instead, your ability to sneak around, avoiding guards and security cameras while judiciously hiding the unconscious bodies of those you can’t get past, will dictate whether or not Third Echelon pulls the plug on a particular mission.

Splinter Cell’s storyline opens in the present day. Amid growing tensions with the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a CIA agent named Alison Madison disappears. When a second operative, Agent Blaustein, also vanishes after entering the country to find Madison, the NSA activates Fisher. He must not only discover what happened to Madison and Blaustein but also get to the heart of the problems plaguing Georgia before they affect the world.

Fisher sneaks through each mission with an arsenal of tools on his side. Unlike the tongue-in-cheek nature of James Bonds’ gadgets, these real-world devices are key to his survival. A laser microphone helps him pick up vibrations off windows and walls so that he can eavesdrop on important conversations. A camera jammer emits microwave pulses that disrupt surveillance cameras. An old-fashioned lock pick opens doors. And when necessary, grabbing a guard and interrogating him or forcing him to reveal the code for a door secured by a keypad comes in handy.

The game also breaks away from many other games in its genre by not placing you on rails, a game development phrase that means you’re guided through each level by pre-scripted actions. There are multiple ways to succeed in each mission, and every non-player character (NPC) features robust AI that realistically reacts to you. A guard may run and set off an alarm when he sees you, or pull his gun and begin firing. Turn on a light and a guard may enter the room to find out who’s in there. Even random civilians can spot you and call the police, fearing a burglar is prowling their neighborhood.

Like Living Inside a Movie

If realistic AI, real-world scenarios, high-tech gadgets and old-fashioned spy work aren’t enough, Splinter Cell adds to the experience by immersing you in one of the most movie-like environments you’ve likely ever encountered in a game. Its cut scenes feature dynamic camera angles and intriguing plot points. NPCs reveal intense dislike for their bosses and revel in little ways to get back at them, if you pause and listen to their conversations. Even the animation enhances the mood, with autumn leaves that lazily zig-zag to the ground and rays of moonlight that slip through trees or latticeworks, splaying patterns across a motionless Fisher’s face as he watches a guard on a balcony, waiting for him to turn away just for a second or two.

But you probably expected as much from a game inspired by the works of a novelist who has seen his books turned into several action-packed movies. The difference, of course, is that you are the star, and you decide how the film ends.

In the Shadows. Atmospheric lighting adds to the tension.

Game Media

View QuickTime trailer

Mission Not-So-Impossible. Make sure you check every computer you come across for important mission-related information.

Pretty Sneaky. Sam rappels down a building to access an open window.

System Requirements:

Mac OS X version 10.2.8
867MHz PowerPC G4 processor or higher
256MB of RAM (512MB recommended)
32MB ATI Radeon/Nvidia GeForce 2 or better graphics card
1.7GB of hard drive space
DVD drive required to install and play

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The Weapons and Gadgets of Splinter Cell

Every operative needs to know what weapons and gadgets he’ll find in his bag of tricks and how he can best use them.

OPSAT (Operational Satellite Uplink): Fisher wears this on his wrist at all times. Remember to check every computer you come across; many of them contain data sticks with vital information that you can load on the OPSAT. The device also keeps track of each mission’s goals and lists the clues and other tidbits that you pick up along the way, such as a keypad code gleaned from a guard interrogation. In addition, OPSAT displays real-time images from Sticky Cameras, which are covered in the next item.
SC-20K M.A.W.S. (Modular Assault Weapon System): While used sparingly in the game, this assault rifle provides all the firepower Fisher needs during those times when sneaking around isn’t enough. The SC-20K features a flash/sound suppressor to minimize light and noise while firing, a sniper mode for long-range targets, and a multipurpose launcher various items:

- The Ring Airfoil Projectile is designed to knock out your enemies, rather than kill them. It’s very effective when it hits someone in the head.

- Sticky Camera is a miniature camera that you can fire at a remote location and use to pan around it or even zoom in on anyone nearby. Its night and thermal vision modes enhance its abilities in the dark, or when warm bodies are obscured.

- Diversion Camera is a Sticky Camera modification that creates a loud noise and releases incapacitating gas when enemies wander by to see what’s going on.

- Sticky Shocker delivers a high-voltage charge that knocks out opponents. It’s a perfect way to eliminate multiple enemies standing in pools of water.
- Smoke Grenades leave guards gasping for air, allowing you to wait until they fall unconscious or take them out while they’re struggling.

SC Pistol: A standard-issue NSA sidearm, this gun features a sound/flash suppressor and rounds that can penetrate modern body armor. It’s also good for taking out surveillance cameras. Watch its use against civilians, however: kill too many of them and Third Echelon will terminate your mission, so you’re better off knocking them out.
The SC pistol also features a laser microphone that picks up vibrations off walls and windows so that you can hear what’s happening on the other side.
Lock Pick: This will help you open any locked door in the game, except the ones secured by key pads. When using it, randomly press the W, S, A and D keys until you see a pin in the lock jump. Keep pressing that key until you push it out of the way. Repeat until you unlock the door.
Disposable Pick: If you need to get through a locked door quickly, this lock pick will deliver an explosive charge that shatters the lock pins.
Camera Jammer: Sometimes you don’t want to shoot a surveillance camera, especially if a guard is standing near it or you know that someone in the building is monitoring it. Use it to disrupt a camera’s circuitry, making those nearby think it’s malfunctioning. It has to recharge after use, though, so plan carefully if you come across a series of cameras.
Optic Cable: Slip this flexible cable, which contains a miniature camera, under a door so that you can see what’s happening on the other side. It features night vision capability so that you can use it in the dark. (And many of the environments in Splinter Cell are dark, which helps you move around undetected.)
Wall Mine: Attach it to just about any surface. It will explode when it detects motion. Handy for eliminating pursuers, but it draws plenty of attention.
Chemical Flare: You’ve probably used one of these before, not realizing its usefulness in the Splinter Cell world. Chemical flares are lightweight plastic sticks that glow when you crack them. They’re good for luring a guard into a darkened area, where you can knock him out, or leaving behind to distract pursuers.
Emergency Flare: Another one you’ve likely used before, this is your basic road flare, which gives off a lot of heat. That makes it good for confusing heat sensors such as the ones you’ll find on automated turrets.
Frag Grenade: Your basic M67 fragmentation grenade. Useful for taking out a room full of enemies, provided you don’t mind making so much noise.
Medical Kit: You’ll find this in various spots throughout every mission. Grab it to heal from bullet wounds or falls.
Bullet Box: Another item you’ll come across if you hunt, this contains extra ammo for your weapons.