Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC
Genre: Action/Adventure, Stealth
Rating: 16

Back in 2005, the Chaos Theory entry into this particular franchise was very stealth heavy, and action gamers were put off completely. Jump forward a few years and a few more games later, and 2010’s Conviction was the complete opposite, very action-heavy which alienated the core stealth gamers who loved that aspect of the series. Thankfully, Blacklist presents an option that should appease both styles of gamer by giving the options for the best of both worlds.

Dropped right into the action, you play as special agent Sam Fisher who has just barely survived an attack that has completely destroyed your home base. Switching up to a constantly moving, teched-out aircraft that doubles for your missions hub and new base of operations, you jet off around the world in search of the bad guys. But the way you decide to this will heavily influence the kind of game you are playing. The three different types of reward systems - Host, Panther, Assualt - offer a grading scale of necessary stealth, and also a grading scale of rewards, with less payment if you happen to be less stealthy.

With this in mind, it is possible to essentially play the game over multiple times, approaching each of the missions in various different ways, and on a practical level, playing three different versions of the game. You're packed out with an array of weapons and stealth items (the hover-drone is our favorite) to assist you in whichever way you decide to play the game, and the same goes for the online multiplayer mode. Two-on-two, four-on-four and Stealths VS Mercs are all A LOT of fun, and can get very ''Oh, it’s 4 am already?!'' levels of addictive.

Yeah, some of the graphics can get a bit meh, and sometimes the game feels like it's forcing you into a corner that it's impossible to do anything but shoot your way out of, but those are minor, niggling frustrations that shouldn't get in the way of any Splinter Cell fan enjoying the best entry into the series in almost a decade.

Rent Or Buy: Buy
Presentation: 3 out of 5
Gameplay: 4 out of 5
Replay: 5 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5