I received a rude wakeup call once I hit in-engine gameplay: The game frequently runs at anywhere between 10-20 FPS. The 6th generation of consoles was not kind to the PS3, something most noticeable with multiplatform titles that released early in its life. Listen though, I'm something of a pro gamer. I've 100%ed Metal Gear Solid V on the PS3. It takes more than a kinda shitty framerate to scare me away from a game. Just know that the game runs fairly consistently on the Xbox 360.
The gameplay feels noticably different, or perhaps I should say "unpolished". It's no Hitman, nor is it a Metal Gear Solid, and it barely feels like the original Splinter Cell games at times. The HUD is extremely minimal, meaning you have almost no indicators of how hidden you are. The only indicator you get is a light that's green when you're "hidden", yellow when you're exposed, and red when you're detected. The difference in "light" and "dark" is nowhere near as distinct as it was in previous titles, constantly giving the unfulfilling sensation of hiding in plain sight. There is no darkness in this stealth game about hiding in the shadows. You also have regenerating health, which I would be more frustrated with if Sam didn't die in 4 bullets anyways.
Ubisoft Shanghai's level design mentality finally clicked with me while playing this title. Not only are their stages more linear than Ubisoft Montreal's, it often feels like they're built with a specific play style or route in mind, a definitive solution to the puzzle. The times when that proverbial linearity leash comes off is at JBA Headquarters, where the game does take on more Hitman-styled stealth, to a degree. You're given a singular task to do from a JBA member, and they leave you alone for the next 25 minutes, trusting you to work diligently at your task. That's more than enough time to go snooping around where you're not supposed to. These parts would probably be cooler in a game with actual meaningful stealth mechanics.
Now that I've played both versions, I can safely say that the version on 5th generation consoles is superior, if only by virtue of sticking to what worked before. This? This is a mess. It's barely a stealth game. It's barely a Splinter Cell game. It's barely fun.
The gameplay feels noticably different, or perhaps I should say "unpolished". It's no Hitman, nor is it a Metal Gear Solid, and it barely feels like the original Splinter Cell games at times. The HUD is extremely minimal, meaning you have almost no indicators of how hidden you are. The only indicator you get is a light that's green when you're "hidden", yellow when you're exposed, and red when you're detected. The difference in "light" and "dark" is nowhere near as distinct as it was in previous titles, constantly giving the unfulfilling sensation of hiding in plain sight. There is no darkness in this stealth game about hiding in the shadows. You also have regenerating health, which I would be more frustrated with if Sam didn't die in 4 bullets anyways.
Ubisoft Shanghai's level design mentality finally clicked with me while playing this title. Not only are their stages more linear than Ubisoft Montreal's, it often feels like they're built with a specific play style or route in mind, a definitive solution to the puzzle. The times when that proverbial linearity leash comes off is at JBA Headquarters, where the game does take on more Hitman-styled stealth, to a degree. You're given a singular task to do from a JBA member, and they leave you alone for the next 25 minutes, trusting you to work diligently at your task. That's more than enough time to go snooping around where you're not supposed to. These parts would probably be cooler in a game with actual meaningful stealth mechanics.
Now that I've played both versions, I can safely say that the version on 5th generation consoles is superior, if only by virtue of sticking to what worked before. This? This is a mess. It's barely a stealth game. It's barely a Splinter Cell game. It's barely fun.