Splinter Cell Double Agent

By Ellie Gibson Published 14 December, 2005

We get the lowdown on Sam's latest adventure.

Poor old Sam Fisher. Anyone would think the Splinter Cell developers don't like him much, judging by the amount of danger they've put him in over the last few years. And now things are about to get a whole lot tougher, since the latest instalment in the series, Splinter Cell Double Agent, is all about pushing Sam to his limits.

That's according to Julien Gerighty, co-producer of the Xbox 360 version, who's on hand to answer all our questions about the game and its newly announced subtitle. There's more to it than meets the eye, as Gerighty explains: "At first glance, “Double Agent” is meant to refer to Sam’s role as an undercover agent in the terrorist organization called the JBA.

"But there are other meanings: a lot of Splinter Cell Double Agent’s themes are about duality and difficult choices. Throughout the game, Sam will be constantly forced to choose between his sense of morality and his duty, between the people he cares for and the mission ahead of him."

According to Gerighty, the game's storyline will branch in different directions depending on the choices you make. "These are tough choices, and as a result, consequences are not as simple as ‘good’ or ‘bad’; but they have a dramatic impact on the course of the story, and major characters can live or die based on your decisions."

So what kind of choices will Sam be faced with, exactly? Gerighty won't go into specifics at this stage, but he does reaffirm that they won't be easy to make: "The moral decisions which Sam will have to face are about the snap-decisions an undercover agent must make in the heat of the moment.

"Let’s say you have to sacrifice an innocent in order to save thousands. Can you kill an innocent man for the greater good? Sam remains a ‘good guy’, but his options are much less clear than before."

Dark days

'Splinter Cell Double Agent' Screenshot 1

'I thought you were supposed to pack the toilet roll?'

A good guy he may still be, but there's no question that we're going to see a darker side of Sam in Double Agent. But Gerighty is quick to calm our fears that we're in for another Angel of Darkness, Warrior Within or Shadow the Hedgehog...

"Sam Fisher has always led a dark life, so for us it’s not a question of spinning the franchise on its head to give it an edge," he says.

"Rather, we are taking the character of Sam Fisher, and pushing him a little, see how he reacts. Sam is going through very rough times and entering a dangerous world. But Sam is still Sam."

And we'll get to know him a little better, too - Double Agent reveals a lot more about Sam's personal history, the people close to him and how he manages that difficult work-life balance.

"This time around, we decided to take away Sam’s personal life, push him out of his comfort zone, and see how he reacts," Gerighty explains.

"You might say that his professional and personal lives are about to become irredeemably mingled."

Going underground

'Splinter Cell Double Agent' Screenshot 2

It's not easy to look this hard in a woolly roll-neck jumper.

In keeping with this new, more troubled Sam, the look and feel of the game will be different. You can expect to see him working undercover in environments "where normal stealth wouldn't have worked before, such as jail and the terrorists' HQ," Gerighty says.

"His undercover work will also take him to environments where you don’t expect an NSA infiltration expert to go…"

Sam will be doing an awful lot of travelling, by the sounds of it. Mission locations will include Iceland, Mexico and Africa, and "a good part of the action takes place in America," Gerighty confirms - but that's all he'll say about it for the time being.

Naturally Sam will get loads of new gadgets to play with, and new equipment to help him out with missions which involve skydiving, scuba diving and the like. However, there he will also find himself in some situations where he's gadgetless - like the jail level, for example.

"What makes it interesting to play is that Sam will have to rely much more on his environment than ever before to achieve his goals," says Gerighty.

Thrills and spills

'Splinter Cell Double Agent' Screenshot 3

Can you guess what's going to happen next?

Time for one last question: what should Splinter Cell fans be most looking forward to from the latest instalment in the series? "They can look forward to the next evolution of the groundbreaking, exciting gameplay they know and love, wrapped in an exciting storyline that has much more emotional impact than before," Gerighty says.

"We’re turning Sam’s life upside down in this one: trust us, it’s gonna be a thrill ride!"

Oh, and by the way: if you've got strong opinions on the direction the Splinter Cell series should head in next, you might want to drop Gerighty a line - via the Eurogamer forums.

"I read Eurogamer all the time. It's the only European site I read," says Gerighty, adding that he regularly checks the forum to get an idea of what SC fans are thinking.

"Eurogamer is my favourite website," Gerighty concludes. And you're our favourite Splinter Cell Xbox 360 co-producer, sir.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 6 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • funkyd #1 6 years ago

    2nd :(

  • w00t #2 6 years ago

    /waves at Ubisoft

    Don't 'Warrior Within' this one up, eh lads?

  • jellyhead #3 6 years ago

    Please don't make it artificially saccharine sweet at the end just to have a happy ending, if i've been a git throughout the game i want the ending to be dark as well.
    No deus ex machina popping along and suddenly the world is all happiness and light.

    Aside from that it looks interesting for sure, i hope we'll be able to abseil or perform special moves anywhere not only where the stripey tape marks the spot.

  • Teeth #4 6 years ago

    Can we have the "Review:" "Interview:" thing back on the RSS please.

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #5 6 years ago

    It's on the todo list, Teef :)

  • Teeth #6 6 years ago

    Word.

  • Zuiyo #7 6 years ago

    Yawn. I want Gradius VI already.

  • bootsy_NL_30 #8 6 years ago

    wow fantastic idea and the screenshots look great!

    I'm definatly a splinter cell fan and have really enjoyed the series up until now , my only worry is .....heavy metal

    Its not that I have anything against the genre as such its more of a PoP related nervous twitch that I have. Leave speed metal,thrash, death metal out of the prison scenes ...please! And one more thing for gods sake dont replace it with hip hop beats (as Ali-G would say dat is well racialist) just stick with the Marco Beltrami stuff.

  • Eighthours #9 6 years ago

    All the screenshots are PS2, apparently. Impressive.

  • Universal_Hamster #10 6 years ago

    "I read Eurogamer all the time. It's the only European site I read," says Gerighty, adding that he regularly checks the forum to get an idea of what SC fans are thinking.

    NO MORE CHEWING GUM COMMERCIALS PLEASE.

    I could add "for the love of god and everything holy", but I hope Ive made my point.

  • Yossarian #11 6 years ago

    All the screenshots are PS2, apparently. Impressive.
    yeah, but this better not cripple or in any way hold back the 360 development

  • cardboardMonster #12 6 years ago

    All the screenshots are PS2, apparently. Impressive.

    yeah, but this better not cripple or in any way hold back the 360 development

    According to IGN:

    Three of Ubisoft's studios, Montreal, Shanghai and Annecy, France, collaborated on the development of Splinter Cell Double Agent, resulting in exclusive content across the various platforms. While the game will carry the same overtones and overall mission structure, gamers will find unique experiences on each platform, such as unique levels and other content. And of course, online play will be available for each applicable platform.

    Edited by 1 at 14/12/05 @ 19:49

  • stonedben #13 6 years ago

    "This isn't a videogame, Sam"

    Please please please...NEVER do that again. It's not big, it's not clever, it's not ironic.

    It almost made me stop playing the game all together.

    But it wasn't as bad as having those guards in Pandora Tomorrow talking about how great Warrior Within was going to be, because not only was that cringe-worthy advertising, it was also A GODDAM LIE.

    Ubi: you've made some truly fantastic games - you're better than that.
    Edited by 1 at 14/12/05 @ 20:12

  • TedBaker #14 6 years ago

    @ cardboardMonster

    "All the screenshots are PS2, apparently. Impressive.

    yeah, but this better not cripple or in any way hold back the 360 development

    According to IGN:

    Three of Ubisoft's studios, Montreal, Shanghai and Annecy, France, collaborated on the development of Splinter Cell Double Agent, resulting in exclusive content across the various platforms. While the game will carry the same overtones and overall mission structure, gamers will find unique experiences on each platform, such as unique levels and other content. And of course, online play will be available for each applicable platform. "

    Is this the same exclusive content that makes the 360 version of King Kong look far inferior to the PS2 version? eg. The Jack Black model and textures look completely different on PS2 to 360.

  • OllyJ #15 6 years ago

    FFS I HATE STEALTH GAMES!

    But I love Splinter Cell! Seriously it's the only stealth type gameI can tolerate and that's because it's just done so well, if you're going to play a stealth game you may as well play the stealthest!

    One thing I love about Splinter Cell that often gets overlooked is the sound design, it's as important to the experience as something like silent Hill, yes it's that good! I would love to hear more bit's like the subway section in PT where you could kill loudly when the train went past. there was a bit of that in CT too, so yeah Splinter Cell Sound designers pat yourselves on the back!

    One really annoying thing though! DOUBLE AGENT IS A SHITTY NAME!

    honestly, it's a bit naff isn't it? It's better than SC:Underground but it's a weak name all the same, c'mon give us something gritty!

  • captain-future #16 6 years ago

    how about Splinter Cell "The Suffering" Double Agent?

  • Kingsadist #17 6 years ago

    Indeed, the self-refencing humour really was terrible in the last games. Sam's dark and bleak sense of humour was always spot-on, but when it turned in on itself, it was just weak. See to that.

    Also, this time, do more than just say 'You have more freedom. You have to make choices.' and actually give it to us. SCCT just featured small branchings off of the main path, not the 'total freedom of movement' that was said to turn the gameplay on its head. I feel we need some actual replayability, where it is simply impossible to see it all in one go. Examples: make the branching-storyline a binding feature, so you cant just go back and take the other path. Also, give better players some actual rewards instead of a weak 100% score.

    Lastly, make killing more difficult. The knife-kills only satisfied for the first few times, afterwards, it became a boring button-stabbing mechanical process as soon as danger showed.
    ---
    Meh, it was worth a try...

  • NAC #18 6 years ago

    Gerighty if your tuning in right about now heres my requests. Ahem.. /clears throat

    Tone down the AI its not fun that stupid guards turn into rambo on a bad day when
    slightly alerted. They react far too quickly.

    Sort out the hand to hand combat. Its a seriously flawed compared to MGS3.

    If there are any action styled missions let the player use enemy weapons. Obviously most the game is stealth but if there are some action sections give the player freedom. ie in Chaos Theory on the korean level in a warzone you could not use any of the enemy weapons AKs etc.

    When you peek round a corner whilst up against a wall in Pandora Tomorrow you could pop your gun round the corner and shoot. Bring that system back but still keep the 'switching gun arm' system of chaos theory for when not against walls.

    Also why are some of the moves brought in from Pandora Tommorow, ie Wall hug and spin from wall to wall gone? Moves should be added not taken awayas it gives the player more options.

    Also on this note add a rappelling move so Sam can run down walls face first like in Universal Soldier that would be cool.

    Ahem... Ok request section over. If you use any of my ideas please don't forget to drop my name in the credits of Double Agent.


  • morriss #19 6 years ago

    "NO MORE CHEWING GUM COMMERCIALS PLEASE.

    I could add "for the love of god and everything holy", but I hope Ive made my point"

    +100

  • cardboardMonster #20 6 years ago

    Is this the same exclusive content that makes the 360 version of King Kong look far inferior to the PS2 version?

    Now, now, we both know that's a bit of a filthy lie. 360 Kong may be like playing in the dark, but it's certainly prettier. *looks at nearest 720p, nicely lit, damp wall.

  • #21 6 years ago

    i suspect these screenshots are from the xbox version.

    they are.

  • b33rl0v3r #22 6 years ago

    I would love to know why both myself and the first posters comments have been removed!

    Have I somehow wondered into a 'Police State'?

  • ruckus #23 6 years ago

    "And we'll get to know him a little better, too - Double Agent reveals a lot more about Sam's personal history, the people close to him and how he manages that difficult work-life balance."

    pukes... does this one feature his full S&M wardrobe? Not much point in playing this since I'd rather just see those crazy JBA knee capping or beheading Sam anyways...

  • Talha #24 6 years ago

    Looks fantastic, but then, SC games always have. Ubi, for the sake of stealth games, please remember that there has to be some STEALTH in such games, a point which was clearly forgotten by the Chaos Theory team, turning the game (optionally, granted) into an run and gun shooter with a bad camera.

  • space_ace #25 6 years ago

    guards don't notice shadows
    guards don't hear anything when you interrogate a captive
    etc

  • oerhoert #26 6 years ago

    Actually, I only have two requests.

    First, please try to make more interesting levels, broaden the array of interactions possible, make it so that we actually need to <em>use</em> all those fancy gadgets, and please stop telling us when to do it. Rapelling down walls isn't as much fun when you can only do it on "rapelling chimneys" clearly marked. Let us make our own strategies!

    Secondly, please try to make a better story than the absolute generic terrorist fare that was SC and SCPT.

    Thank you!
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/05 @ 10:07

  • SlackMaster #27 6 years ago

    It's good to see that they are trying something new with the SC series as it was beginning to get a bit stale but maybe this wasn't the direction to take it in... Who cares about morality SC was all about the gadgets, playing a SC game without them would just be boring a a step back IMO.

    Why not introduce new elements to the game play and maybe more action based senarios such as MGS4 where you're trapped in a war zone. Adding traps such as C4 with tripwire triggers or setting Anti-personel mines and stuff like that would be cool.
    Edited by 2 at 15/12/05 @ 11:12

  • asphaltcowboy #28 6 years ago

    I'm always skeptical when people talk about "branching storylines" and "what you do will have a big impact on what happens" - it's been accomplished well in only a couple of games I can think of... hopefully that'll work out well - Regardless, I love the SC series and I really must finish of Chaos Theory before this comes out...

  • asphaltcowboy #29 6 years ago

    SlackMaster - pretty sure there were traps (certainly tripwires) in Pandora Tomorrow.

  • OllyJ #30 6 years ago

    "Why not introduce new elements to the game play and maybe more action based senarios such as MGS4 where you're trapped in a war zone. Adding traps such as C4 with tripwire triggers or setting Anti-personel mines and stuff like that would be cool. "

    I guess that's because Splinter Cell is splinter Cell, why would they want to turn it into something else?....I can't tolerate SC and MGS being lumped together, they are vastly different experiences as far as I'm concerned! the further it seperates itself from MGS the better, I personally never got on with MGS, I haven't got the patience but SC I find really rewarding.

    You can set wall mines in all of the Splinter Cell games and yeah trip mines and other traps would be cool too.

    I agree with the person that wondered where the S.W.A.T move went, please bring it back!!!

    Also in all of the splinter cell games there a very few places where you actually need to use the split jump at all! I'd like to use this a lot more.

    I've also got a name for it: Splinter Cell: 24 season 3. ;D
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/05 @ 11:37

  • bunglebonce #31 6 years ago

    A darker Sam, worldwide travel, new gadgets and tricks - all say to me that there's the potential for a Tomb Raider-esque lack of focus on what makes the game good.

    Just please make sure the atmosphere's right, the sound's good, the set-pieces are memorable, and PT's multiplayer's there somewhere. Oh, and the original's mouse-look would be fantastic too, please; I don't particularly like the more sluggish restrictive mouse-look in the later titles.

  • Glitch #32 6 years ago

    Dont forget Live and Linkup, Splinter Cell is fookin sick on Linkup, the mercs suck but the fact I can dangle upside down and take out my mates by breaking thr neck is sooooo good! I have had many 12hour sessions on linkup playing Splinter Cell!

    Please improve it! Spy vrs Spy or summat :p

  • toetemitus #33 6 years ago

    the splinter cell games were the best games in the world they shouldnt let this one become too manhunt or like grand theft auto they should keep the gameplay similar to chaos theory...improve it but dont like completely change the gameplay chaos theory was sick so try not to let these dudes kill it

  • toetemitus #34 6 years ago

    keep the same camera angles no funky shots or nothing

  • Duckers #35 6 years ago

    Yeah... I can't believe how many times 'Warrior Within' was referenced during this comments section. I mean, come on! It wasn't that bad!

    Well... OK, maybe it was. Yet, I have a QUESTION.

    Does the story follow on from the last one? Because the only SC game I played was Pandora Tomorrow, and I missed the ones after that. Looking good, though.