Miles Quaritch
Member
Hmm, that's a bit of a bummer. Is the stealth at all like that in pre Conviction titles?
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Splinter Cell: Blacklist |OT| Warning: May Contain Trace Amounts Of Stealth
- Thread starter Sober
- Start date
Hmm, that's a bit of a bummer. Is the stealth at all like that in pre Conviction titles?
I'd skip it. I did. It'd have to be 19.99 for me to pick up this filth. Even if the game is good, I can't support a broken product and one skimped on features.
AHA-Lambda
Member
Urgh, f*ck that then, and this game seemed to have gotten a pretty good sentiment from gaf lately as well.
Unfortunately i never played CT, but i think it's several orders of magnitude better than Conviction, especially regarding Stealth.
Much less linear level design and more option to your disposal.
It's still fairly fast paced and forgiving, but you can raise the difficulty and have things be tougher if you so desire.
Much less linear level design and more option to your disposal.
It's still fairly fast paced and forgiving, but you can raise the difficulty and have things be tougher if you so desire.
NullPointer
Member
Its way, way, way better than Conviction. The stealth, the movement, the player choice and yeah, even the combat. Its neither Chaos Theory or Conviction really, as its larger in scope and presents far more opportunities than both, but it can easily stand alongside Chaos Theory for quality.
Its also one of my favorite games this year, for the single player and co-op. Never tried the competitive, nor am I ever planning to. So yeah, I'd say go for it if you're a Splinter Cell fan.
AHA-Lambda
Member
Damn, k I may have to get this on a steam sale.
I thought the stealth was better than in Conviction, but it's nothing like Chaos Theory really. You can already tell by the fact that you can't really walk slowly like in CT.
This is more 'fast stealth'. It's fun for a while though
Miles Quaritch
Member
Thanks.
So it's essentially its own game but with cues from past titles? That sounds pretty great to be honest. Think I'll pull the trigger. I'm a huge SC fan but Conviction really soured me on the series.
I thought the stealth was better than in Conviction, but it's nothing like Chaos Theory really. You can already tell by the fact that you can't really walk slowly like in CT.
This is more 'fast stealth'. It's fun for a while though
If it's better than Conviction, that's a huge plus in my book. Sounds like it could be a semi worthy successor to Double Agent. A true sequel to CT will likely never happen, but if the series is slowly moving back in that direction of actual stealth and not the godawful garbage we got in Conviction, I literally couldn't be happier.
Blacklist feels a lot closer to Chaos Theory and the original Splinter Cell than any other game this generation. If you can overlook the handful of short, forced action moments and the lack of Ironside, you should really enjoy it.
There's no interrogating enemies (outside of cutscenes), and no lockpicking or door codes. However, the dedicated distraction button has returned, you can move bodies, the old gadgets are back, and most areas can be ghosted without resorting to any combat at all.
It's not like Conviction, where nearly every area was designed to be cleared of enemies before you could proceed. Although playing "Panther" style is still an option, there's more to it than there was in Conviction. A full assault approach is also possible, but amazingly doesn't compromise the design of the game from a stealth point of view, as you can still complete the entire game without killing anyone
(as Sam)
Playing on the realistic difficulty is what people seeking the traditional Splinter Cell experience should do; the sonar function of the goggles is removed, and so is the mark and execute mechanic (though you can still tag up to 3 enemies with it, to keep track of them).
Can't recommend this game enough, I loved it. This is coming from somebody who thinks Conviction was mainly garbage.
It can be, if you choose play it that way, but even then the level design is far more open and encounters more varied than in Conviction. There are just more enemy types, and many wear helmets that make mark and execute far less powerful than it was previously.
Near launch I remember reading that Ubisoft Toronto was currently working on additional content for the game. Hopefully the low sales won't lead to Ubi cancelling everything.
Miles Quaritch
Member
Okay, I'm sold. Just ordered the 360 version, even though I can ill afford to add yet another game to my backlog, I think I can make time for this...
JacksUsername
Member
Finally got around to beating the main campaign tonight. I enjoyed it for the most part, and it sucks that the generally bad buzz leading up to the game probably pushed people away, when it's actually a really strong Splinter Cell entry.
My only regret was picking it up on the Wii U. The load times are just so atrocious and really put me off starting a new game. If I wasn't continuing from a checkpoint, it would take over a minute to load the Paladin and then over a minute to load the mission. Add that with the time from launching the game and it could take up to 5 minutes just to really start playing most of the time. It's not a bad port otherwise (not sure if the online connection issues are still happening), but that really hurt the game for me.
My only regret was picking it up on the Wii U. The load times are just so atrocious and really put me off starting a new game. If I wasn't continuing from a checkpoint, it would take over a minute to load the Paladin and then over a minute to load the mission. Add that with the time from launching the game and it could take up to 5 minutes just to really start playing most of the time. It's not a bad port otherwise (not sure if the online connection issues are still happening), but that really hurt the game for me.
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
I've been enjoying this game, but I'm looking for people who would like to do some co-op missions together. If anyone still plays this add me on XBL: Dance Inferno.
As far as the stealth qualities of the game, I'm only two missions in but I already love the stealth aspects of the game, and while I'm playing Panther style right now I intend to go back and beat the game on Realistic with Ghost style once I'm done.
As far as the stealth qualities of the game, I'm only two missions in but I already love the stealth aspects of the game, and while I'm playing Panther style right now I intend to go back and beat the game on Realistic with Ghost style once I'm done.
vasametropolis
Member
You will probably like it quite a bit.
How low were they?
In another thread someone said 300k, which seems low, granted I think SC has kinda fallen out of tentpole status for a while, which I kinda expected, but 300k is questionably low. It could have a long tail on something like Steam over time though, through word of mouth, but that's about it I think.
Although I did read news that a next-gen version was already in pre-production or something even before Blacklist released. Dunno if it's going anywhere right now though.
But is Brigg's mission 4 fixed?
I keep asking this and no one has given a response. I'll replay the game when I know getting to the end of that mission isn't broke.
The patch is only 444 MiB via Uplay, maybe it just modifies 1.4 GiB worth of files which I think is what Steam actually shows in the download. Anyway looks like SvM-wise it mixes up spawn points and prevents spawn-killing with drones and "Team assignment balancing".
All platforms combined? Worldwide?
(I would wildly guess, that Ubisoft expected even more from just the WiiU version)
Pros:
Nice gamepad implementation
No tear up
Offscreen playing (and looks good)
Cons
Broken online that Ubisoft patched just partially
Big loading times (from starting the game to actually playing almost 2 minutes)
Some framerate drops in cutscenes
If you want to play it single player it runs nice once you pass the loading screens. You can play some EU during that.
Pros:
Nice gamepad implementation
No tear up
Offscreen playing (and looks good)
Cons
Broken online that Ubisoft patched just partially
Big loading times (from starting the game to actually playing almost 2 minutes)
Some framerate drops in cutscenes
If you want to play it single player it runs nice once you pass the loading screens. You can play some EU during that.
Haha, yeah I dont care about the multiplayer much, however I have heard that the spies vs mercs or whatever its called is surprisingly decent, so I guess it would be fun to check it out, but whatever. Probably getting the Wii U-version anyways then as it will be interesting to see the gamepad implementation (and use offscreen play in my bed). Oh, and as you said, its always nice with some EU4 during cutscenes and loading screens
NullPointer
Member
Only the Briggs missions are co-op only. All the other side missions are co-op optional.
Did anybody play this?:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubisoft.splintercell.blacklist&hl=en
SC Blacklist: Spider-Bot
Ubisoft Entertainment - September 6, 2013
Arcade & Action
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ubisoft.splintercell.blacklist&hl=en
SC Blacklist: Spider-Bot
Ubisoft Entertainment - September 6, 2013
Arcade & Action
On top of what KingSnake listed, the WiiU version is also lacking local Co-Op, as is the PC version.
Really big missed opportunity, imho.
Also see this: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-splinter-cell-blacklist-face-off
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
You can play all the co-op missions solo if you so desire, with the exception of the Briggs missions. I've found that they're not really all that fun solo though, and they seem to be made for co-op. If you're playing on 360 and are looking for a co-op partner send me a friend request on XBL, I'm looking for someone to play through these missions with.
An excellent writeup of game mechanic differences between CT and BL here:
http://depthoffield1.wordpress.com/...theory-2005-and-splinter-cell-blacklist-2013/
http://depthoffield1.wordpress.com/...theory-2005-and-splinter-cell-blacklist-2013/
Kvikmyndahús;85952194 said:
No offense, but outside of forced-action moments: What? I played the game undetected 80% of the time. The 20% being 10% forced action and 10% being tired of an area like him. HOWEVER to say it's impossible to do after saying "there's obvious stealth routes" is a little... "what?"
NullPointer
Member
Kvikmyndahús;85952194 said:
What? I ran into the opposite of this problem. Being spotted when I was still in cover and shadows. Even then though, being spotted seemed intuitively correct.
And moving from shadow to shadow is now something to hold against a game? I don't remember following strict "shadow paths", but I kept mindful of shadows, line-of-sight breaking cover and guard movements and sight-lines, like you would in any stealth game.
Yeah, lets just say I disagree with all of it, except for pointing out that there's no sound meter, fewer movement speeds and you can't quicksave whenever you want. Thats all true, and streamlines some of the game's aspects.
Nostalgia goggles much?Kvikmyndahús;85952194 said:
Haha what AI is dumber in Blacklist? You mean the guards that if they get a whiff of you will almost never revert back to neutral stances or work together to look for you where as CT, as good as it was had pretty dumb AI to be fair.
I don't think he paid much attention with visibility because 1) guards can see you in the dark if you are too close with none of that "hug cover, let them walk right by you" AI that was in CT and 2) he does not notice the subtleties in the the detection arc (or even the obvious parts like how fast/slow it fills up). Also I don't know if he realized but the game plays as almost the same as previous games but makes the visibility of reading it easier than previous games. Perhaps notice the lack of needing NVGs on the whole time during the game (whereas in most of the situations you get placed in you probably do).
Let's see, does not talk or compare about the gadgets and their applications in stealth (i.e. the entire basis of Splinter Cell)? Stealth is linear because a tutorial message tells you to stay in the shadows, and therefore he suddenly notices there are shadows in the levels? Hah. All Splinter Cell games are dreadfully guilty of having "shadow paths", let's be honest here.
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
I played one match of the Spies vs. Mercs this weekend and it was a clusterfuck of Mercs constantly murdering Spies. I feel like there is a massive gear barrier between newcomers and veterans, and I just do not have the patience to work my way through that.
The co-op is legitimately fun though, with pretty long and intricate levels.
Pros:
Nice gamepad implementation
No tear up
Offscreen playing (and looks good)
Cons
Broken online that Ubisoft patched just partially
Big loading times (from starting the game to actually playing almost 2 minutes)
Some framerate drops in cutscenes
If you want to play it single player it runs nice once you pass the loading screens. You can play some EU during that.
Can we chat on the WiiU version?
If yes, do i need an headset or this work with the gamepad like Monster Hunter?
Solo Act
Member
You can chat through the gamepad no problem.
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME WITH THIS FUCKING BULLSHIT UBI?!!
What in the FUCK were they thinking with this fucking BULLSHIT
mission? I'm minding my business then all of a sudden I'm thrown into a fucking bullshit ambush where there is no fucking way to get through this thing stealthily. I just died 5 times in a row trying to ghost this section and I got spotted and killed every single fucking time.
I had to pull out my assault rifle eventually and just murder everyone, which is NOT how I wanted to approach that situation. Fucking bullshit.
Edit: Just beat the level. I'll say it again:
FUCK
THIS
LEVEL
There is no way to ghost this level without some SERIOUS trial and error. That is the number 1 sign that this is a shitty fucking stealth level.
What in the FUCK were they thinking with this fucking BULLSHIT
Iran
I had to pull out my assault rifle eventually and just murder everyone, which is NOT how I wanted to approach that situation. Fucking bullshit.
Edit: Just beat the level. I'll say it again:
FUCK
THIS
LEVEL
There is no way to ghost this level without some SERIOUS trial and error. That is the number 1 sign that this is a shitty fucking stealth level.
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
Just beat the
level.
Come on Ubi, what the fuck is wrong with you? You create an amazing stealth game with great mechanics and levels that have multiple paths, and then as soon as I get to the second half of the game you throw shitty linear levels at me which are engagement-heavy and require me more often than not to "neutralize all hostiles." And neutralizing them isn't easy when your TPS mechanics are complete and utter shit.
For fuck's sake. Way to take a game that I was thoroughly enjoying and completely screw it up.
Philly
Come on Ubi, what the fuck is wrong with you? You create an amazing stealth game with great mechanics and levels that have multiple paths, and then as soon as I get to the second half of the game you throw shitty linear levels at me which are engagement-heavy and require me more often than not to "neutralize all hostiles." And neutralizing them isn't easy when your TPS mechanics are complete and utter shit.
For fuck's sake. Way to take a game that I was thoroughly enjoying and completely screw it up.
You mean after the
iran govermnet
That's easy to stealth, no need to assault.
I guess you can even do it with everybody undisturbed.
Dance Inferno
Unconfirmed Member
How exactly do you ghost that section? I take one step in any direction and I'm immediately spotted.
if you have a 360 controller or something similar: hold forward and a
climb up the pillar in front of you, then there are pipes. you may have to be fast
You rant from yesterday gave me a good excuse to replay that level, thanks for that.
now I will go for
philly
for some reason I got Panther evade, instead of Stealth evade points at the end of a section, don't know why?
I mean a Sam section, it's unfortunate, but understandable, that I get Panther at the end of Briggs segment.
Did the first Briggs segment without killing anyone this time, and almost succeeded on doing it on the second
Did the first Briggs segment without killing anyone this time, and almost succeeded on doing it on the second