The year is now 2005 and this being the third time around for Sam Fisher, there would have to be something new and diverse that would make this title still feel fresh (and worth buying). Fortunately for Tom Clancy fans, the story is once again top-notch and those who love the thought of espionage, secret operatives, stealthy gameplay, and black-op missions will no doubt enjoy Chaos Theory and its surrounding parts.

Unlike before, there is no real training exercises (since you’ve probably been down this road before), so those that are completely new to the Splinter Cell franchise would probably find the archive videos useful. These videos show all the moves, weapons, and gadgets that Fisher uses throughout the game. Five minutes into the introduction and you’ll be dropped off beginning your first mission. At first glance not much has changed, and that’s a good thing. Splinter Cell has always been a very complicated game just because of all the buttons, weapons, and gadgets that are used, but with a few years experience and two titles under your belt, the controls and buttons seem to be second nature. This time around Fisher is a bit deadlier and is able to perform silent stealth takedowns or kills (depending on your mood). Performing a few inverted neck snaps and slicing an enemies throat is always a great way to start out your day. Though he’s always been a badass, Fisher seems to be a little bit darker and deadlier on his third outing. All of his old moves are back so those worrying about not getting their daily dose of split jumps, barrel rolls, pipe climbing, and rappelling off of buildings need not worry.

As before you’ll be given multiple scenarios and huge levels to creep around while you complete your objectives such as assassinations and intelligence gathering. Your locations include places such as a bank, ship, and city streets (in particular the NY city streets). What’s been so much fun with the Splinter Cell series is going around and figuring out the many different ways of exploring each level you come across. With Chaos Theory you also get multiple secondary objectives and an open level design that really makes being a black-ops even more fun.

Adding to the multiplayer aspect is a co-op mode that allows for a two player split screen game in which both players must work together in order to complete their objective. Players will be able to perform moves using each other as step-stools and ladders. Also, back from last year are the online multiplayer modes of playing as spies and mercenaries. Each side is given special abilities and weapons to use in order to get the upper hand and overtake your opponent.

Even though Chaos Theory still has the definitive stealth feeling as the first title, it’s a tough choice on whether or not gamers will still be as impressed three and a half years later. Personally, I can’t get enough of stealth games, and Ubisoft seems to have found an equation that works seamlessly over time. Everything that made the first two titles successful has been brought together and just the storyline itself is enough to keep me going. Though some of the “wow” factor has faded, I still think playing out your secret agent fantasy as Sam Fisher is worth it from time to time.

Though not much has changed over the years, Splinter Cell still features some of the best and most realistic lighting and shadowing seen in a video game. The bar for graphics and the overall ambience of the game has been slightly raised. The textures look extremely realistic as simple groundwork such as brick, stone, and wood are done very well. The PS2 version does suffer from the occasional drop in frame rate especially when you use your night vision goggles.

Animation is also once again done in top notch fashion and watching Sam Fisher slither through tight corners and maneuver himself behind enemy lines is always fun observe. Everything that made Splinter Cell a good looking game is back again and although the overall look of the game might not surprise you this time around; there are still some screenshot moments that will impress even the toughest of critics.

Still some of the best voice acting around, Michael Ironside leads the cast once again as Sam Fisher, black-ops specialist and all around tough guy. Ironside seems to have a little bit more to say in Chaos Theory as he’ll interrogate enemies a lot more and do his best to scare the urine out of them. The impressive chit chat and banter between the NSA team and even enemy guards is just as good as before and the voice acting in Chaos Theory really shines as some of the best around.

Sound effects and music, just as before, are of more subtle taste. The aim is tension so expect heavy emphasis on crisp clear sound effects and pressure situation music. Every tip toe on concrete and every step on a shard of glass is recorded perfectly to give players the same type of intense, sweaty palm experience they had in the first two titles.

As mentioned before, jumping into Chaos Theory is a synch if you’ve played either of the past two titles. Even those new to Splinter Cell or the PS2 version will find that after 10 minutes you’ll find controlling Sam Fisher is an effortless task. Changing views, performing movies, switching weapons are all done without delay and as with the gameplay; Ubisoft has found a format that works.

As before your noise and presence radar are on the bottom right corner of the screen as well as the weapon you currently have selected. You’re health pops up at the top of the screen whenever you’re taking damage so there isn’t much in the way of an interface that should confuse or get in your way. The only real gripe I have about Chaos Theory is the map they offer to players. Instead of giving us something easy to read and manipulate (rotate, zoom in, out), they give you this complex 3D diagram that only allows you to rotate and zoom from the current room that you’re in. Even moving around that little space is confusing and I could never really find out where I was with respects to the whole map. You figure with all the gadgets we’re given, a normal, easy to read map would have been included.

It’s a shame Chaos Theory isn’t the first installment of Splinter Cell. The fact that gamers have had there share of Sam Fisher adventures might make some people overlook the third installment. The fact that Ubisoft announced yet another title really makes me wonder what they could possibly have in store for the fan base. Regardless of what the future may hold, Chaos Theory features some of the same addictive gameplay that fans have come to enjoy and yet another stellar Tom Clancy setting to tell it in. Personally, I think hearing Ironside talk like a badass is pretty much worth the price of admission.