Though it obviously cannot compete with its graphically intense brethren on the home consoles, the GBA Splinter Cell is a top-notch title that truly takes the limits of 2D gaming to the next level. And while the exploits of mini-Sam are a bit on the short side, that may have more to do with the fact you'll be playing it nonstop than with lack of running time - I can't remember the last time I was so hooked on a GBA game.
To state the obvious, the Game Boy Advance does not possess the technical power required to make even a watered down version of the console Splinter Cell experience possible. However, the end result is just as fun - if not more so - as the "original" from which it is derived. A side-scrolling shooter that combines superbly designed platform sequences with stealth mechanics, Splinter Cell has a very unique style of play from the legions of 2D action titles on the GBA market, and from beginning to end, it stays fresh – even the lockpicking/safecracking/turret/sniping minigames are entertaining and well done, primarily because they do not last too long or try your patience. They are a nice break from the main action that gives the game a little variety, nothing more. More titles on all platforms should take a hint from this design choice.
Given the limited number of buttons on the GBA, you'll be happy to know that most of Sam's tech-ninja functions are intact, and surprisingly, more intuitive to use than ever – the only notable omissions being the ability to split jump and take human shields. You'll also find that there is significantly less story information and violent content – enemies appear to be sleeping when you shoot them, with "zzz" appearing overhead. One level that had you rescuing soldiers taken hostage, slated for live internet executions in the console version, now has them slated for a webcast where they will be "forced to denounce the United States." It's a bit of a copout, but it doesn't affect the core gameplay, and that is where things count most. Whether or not it was used to avoid drawing the wrath of parents is up for discussion, but the idea of using nonlethal "stealth" weapons in a game like Splinter Cell is a means to an end that the developers can get away with utilizing, and it seems well implemented here, rather than blatant censorship catering to the younger GBA crowd. (See: Duke Nukem Advance)
A gorgeous game to be sure, Splinter Cell is crisp and fluid on the GBA. If the game could be summed up in one word, it would be "detailed." Backgrounds are varied and diverse, sprites move with fluid animation and are well designed. Even the "special effects" are well done, as Sam is equipped with GBA-ized versions of his night and thermal vision that look particularly impressive on a backlit SP screen. This superb art direction goes a long way in making the GBA "port" of Splinter Cell feel like a separate, polished product that capitalizes on the series' strengths, rather than a quick rush-job that only exploits the brand recognition. And despite the fact that it is inferior to the PC and Xbox titles, you'll most likely want to give the GC port a run through in order to unlock all the hidden GBA/GC linkup levels, should you find yourself as hooked as I am. Overall, Splinter Cell stands as one of the freshest games on the Game Boy Advance, and anyone looking for a solid title to play on a long car trip, or just a change of pace, would do well to pick this up.
-George
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