Not only is this just peak Splinter Cell, this is peak stealth action gaming period. I can't overstate how well designed this game is an how much it refined the genre.

Firstly, this is a pretty good looking game for 2005. The dynamic lighting and shadows were very crisp and clean and added so much atmosphere to even the simplest looking room. The reason why I bring up visuals is because of the way they add to gameplay mechanics. Just like the original Thief series, you stay hidden from enemies in the dark and can be easily seen in the light. The clear, crisp shadows really adds to the consistency of whether you are hidden in the dark or not. I wish more games had visuals that impacted their core mechanics like this.

So the gameplay is good, it's really good. But what I really want to talk about is the soundtrack. This is, honest to god, one of the most refined and creative soundtracks I have ever heard from a videogame. Written and produced by electronica artist, Amon Tobin, the music mostly consists of heavy bass and percussion, and eerie, droning synth instrumentals. It's the perfect infiltration music and really goes the extra mile to pull the player into the world of Splinter Cell.