Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (Game Boy Advance)

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a stealth game developed by Ubi Soft Montreal and published by Ubi Soft and Microsoft Game Studios originally for the Xbox. It is the first installment in the Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series, a part of the Tom Clancy's branding.

Gameplay
The game shows Third Echelon agent Sam Fisher sent on several secret operations which purpose is to foil Kombayn Nikoladze's terrorist plan against the United States of America and Azerbaijan. Despite being a port of a stealth game, this version also features differences from it due to the more limited system of the Game Boy Advance.

Why It Rocks

 * 1) Interesting story branded with the unique fanta-political Tom Clancy's touch.
 * 2) Detailed graphics, for example Sam Fisher's spy suit is properly depicted even on this obviously less powerful handheld console. The backgrounds are also very well made, often with the same details of the Xbox version that make each level look like a "mini version" of the original missions.
 * 3) Excellent, fluid animations for every character.
 * 4) There are several objectives to complete in each mission that are never repeated through the game.
 * 5) Extremely responsive and intuitive controls. You can prompt the control used for running while walking, entering a room or climbing a ledge, meaning you can immediately start to run if needed, for example.
 * 6) It features all the iconic content of the original version that was possible to transfer to a 2D video game, like climbing poles, hanging from and moving on horizontal tubes, traveling on ziplines, hijacking stationary automatic turrets, accessing computers and the mission briefing screens.
 * 7) It features additions to the original gameplay that are suitable for the handheld nature of this game, like some platforming, a few FPS sections and a part where you need to take photographs of people for investigation purposes.
 * 8) The stealth gameplay is very satisfying thanks to a well made adaptation of it to the 2D gameplay, with the ability to hide from enemies in dark places put in the backgrounds.
 * 9) It features the classic and iconic special vision goggles (night vision and thermal vision goggles) that create charming visuals of the levels.
 * 10) Since you only have non-lethal weapons at your disposal (a tranquilizer gun and a smoke grenade), the enemies are never killed making this game suitable for every gamer.
 * 11) Well built gameplay that offers you the useful possibility to scan the areas using a microcamera and an indicator that informs you of nearby enemies. This two features also have the same appearance of two from the original version but operate in a different way, which is a nice touch.
 * 12) Simple mini-games are required to unlock doors and safes.
 * 13) It features some voice acting, although limited to the enemies' surprised exclamations when they spot you and Sam Fisher's sound effects when getting hurt.

Reception
Like the original Xbox game, the Game Boy Advance version was met with positive reviews from critics and gamers.

Nintendo Power gave the GBA version a 3.8/5, stating that "the game has great graphics with terrific effects and smooth animation."