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Splinter Cell Conviction: Extra Modes Revealed


We delve into the hefty feature set,
checking out the different solo and co-op gameplay modes.



March 10, 2010 -
Splinter
Cell Conviction has been in the works for a long time, but it's
finally almost here. Set for an April 13 release date for Xbox 360 and
PC, Conviction is reinventing the entire series with a faster pace,
all-new cover system and the ability to upgrade weapons. Judging by the
four levels I played, gamers will be able to make it through the
single-player campaign in 5-7 hours. But there's much more to the game
than that.




No matter what mode you play, you earn points for your actions which can
be used to upgrade your armor, weapons and gear. You can max out your
goods through co-op play and then take them into the single-player
campaign or vice versa.




Here's a breakdown and impressions of the modes available in Splinter
Cell: Conviction.




Campaign


Follow the main story of Sam Fisher as he hunts his daughter's killer
and attempts to stop an attack on Wahington D.C. While story may not
seem important in a Splinter Cell game, it does make a difference in
Conviction. Sam is a real bad ass this time around. I mean, you really
feel like the ultimate ass-kicker from the get-go.






Contributing
to that sense is how Sam's rage is showcased in his move set. When you
sneak up behind a baddie and take them out, it's not just a simple knock
on the back of the noggin. Takedown moves are weapon-specific and they
can get pretty brutal. Double-tap to the dome with a silenced pistol?
Yowch. Everything Fisher does is with a purpose. He's more Jack Bauer
than Sam Fisher, and that's fine by me.




Co-op Story


Play online or split-screen with a buddy and you'll experience a
completely different storyline. A prequel to the single-player campaign,
the co-op story takes place over four levels with you and a friend in
control of Archer and Kestrel, American and Russian operatives,
respectively.




If your friend stealth kills someone, you both earn the ability to mark
enemies for execution. In fact, if you both have line of sight on a pair
of enemies, you can perform dual executions. There's nothing complex
about this. If it makes sense in the context of the moment, you both get
to pop the heads of some baddies in a stylized cinematic. But there's
none of the tedium of having to press a button at the same moment. There
are no co-op moves like turning two keys at the same time or boosting
someone over a wall. Instead, co-op is about flanking enemies and
watching each other's back.




And you will need to watch over one another. Get careless and the enemy
could get the drop on you and take you hostage. Then it's up to your
buddy to come to the rescue. The catch? The enemies know this is going
to happen, so they converge in a defensive wall. The longer you take to
free your friend, the more baddies surround him waiting for you to come
charging in. Oh, and if one person dies, you fail the mission.




Hunter


Available for both co-op and solo play, Hunter is Conviction's version
of Terrorist Hunt. There are 10 baddies on the map and you need to clear
them out. Get spotted and they call in for back-up, adding another 10
enemies to the mix. Hunter is available for all of the co-op locations,
along with two bonus locations.




Hunter is, for me, the most fun of all the modes. It's satisfying to be
tossed into an environment and given one clear mission -- take everyone
down without making any noise.




Last Stand


Either solo or with a friend, you must defend an EMP device from
continuous waves of enemies. This is horde mode from Gears of War 2 or
Firefight from Halo 3: ODST. The twist is that not only must you and
your friend survive, you have to protect the "health" of the EMP. Every
shot it takes does a bit of damage. After each wave, it gets a slight
repair, but sooner or later it's going to be too much. Then it's game
over.






I'm
a big fan of these types of modes, but it is a bit of an odd fit for
Splinter Cell. Normally you're making your way through an area, taking
out enemies in your way or sneaking past them. But in Last Stand,
you're guarding one area. It's fun, but it's not quite right for
Conviction.




Face-Off


Yes, there is competitive multiplayer in Splinter Cell Conviction. But
it's 1-vs-1. While that might sound a little boring, there are enemies
on the map as well. They want to take you both out. Not only must you
avoid being capped by your opponent, you have to watch out for AI
baddies.




You can use these enemies to your advantage. Cause some noise near your
opponent to attract the attention of other enemies. Then lay a remote
mine nearby and try and use the AI to flush out your opponent right into
your trap.




Infiltration


This final mode is unlockable. Unfortunately, the preview build only has
a few of the maps so I'm not able to get it. What I can tell you is
that this is a more realistic version of Hunter, where any detection
automatically ends the match.