Splinter Cell: Double Agent is great for its story and stealth gameplay, but the Steam port’s crashes and lack of controller support are extremely annoying. For the best experience, I recommend playing it on consoles or using an emulator, as the controls and performance are more reliable. It’s a much smoother way to enjoy the game!

So, this port is TERRIBLE!

I'm a LONG TIME Splinter Cell fan, been playing since the PS2 releases, as those are what I grew up with. That being said, I was finally shown the truth behind this entry, Splinter Cell: Double Agent, having 2 versions... Thanks to the likes of Critical Nobody on YouTube. Because of this, I found out that there was a version beyond the PS2/Xbox/GameCube/Wii version... So, as someone who has been waiting for Ubisoft to release a new Splinter Cell(IF they can before they're sued and bankrupt now, and those piles of garbage deserves it if ya ask me), I REALLY wanted to play this other version. Thing is, I couldn't find a copy of the PS3 version, and I never cared to own Xbox consoles by ANY means, so... I thought this PC version was the next best thing. I, however, wasn't ready to realize that this game is beyond bugged on PC especially.

This port was clearly handled by a company that didn't give a damn that their customers would be beyond disappointed that the game was like this, but they released it and seemingly only fans have tried to fix any and all bugs now. There are about 3 patches, 2 of which are officially from Ubisoft, and the last one being from fans. Will there be other patches in the future by fans? Who knows... That being said, as this game currently is, it is RIDICULOUS how many crashes and bugs you gotta work around to play it from beginning to end. It never seemed stable on Xbox 360 from what I've seen, and it is somehow worse with these crashes alone being so prominent.

The bugs and crashes range from being unable to hear the majority of audio(including dialog) without restarting the level entirely, to crashes for the Shanghai level crashing on you whenever you save or save too much, to random crashes in general with no seemingly obvious cause to each one. With all of these considered, you would need to open the game back up and keep going, being VERY frequent with quick-saving(unless it's the Shanghai level), and you COULD see the end of the game if you keep this up. That being said, it sure ruined what fun the game itself had...

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This all being said about the port specifically, the game itself is still a good time, and whenever it wasn't unstable... I was having a good time, given that this is the last-hurrah of CLASSIC Splinter Cell gameplay and structure, aside from the trust system that felt not really... Needed in the franchise? It was a good idea though, the concept of being a double-agent and having two sides you need to work for and keep happy, to thwart the psycho terrorists involved in this plot.

As far as this version goes, it does make the trust system more believable, given that you cannot actively lose trust by the other side without them knowing you're betraying them, as there is 2 trust meters involved in the game as a whole. It is, however, extremely easy to keep both meters full and happy, so this concept feels more like a way to just narrate the plot here.

That being said, I do like how this version has undercover missions at the JBA headquarters, where you sneak around security and do stuff under the noses of everyone there, while doing tasks they expected you'd have done for the terrorist's sake. You can't knock anyone out, and you need to not be seen by anyone, sneaking around with no night-vision at your disposal, let alone the pistol with the EMP for lights and cameras. The last-gen version made use of more normal missions in place of the undercover missions, where you are sneaking around with at LEAST more equipment to use, but you're able to knock people out freely and even hear two guards talk about the silly rumor of someone knocking out others... Feels less believable in the last-gen version for sure.

The plot as a whole can be relatively engaging, given the pressure of keeping both the NSA and JBA happy, on top of ensuring you're never caught outright; that being said, while this version has the terrorists more fleshed out, they have archetypes that you get quickly familiar with, and that is it... There is no real breakdown of WHY they're doing what they're doing, no real in-depth exploration of their motives, and it leaves them just as faceless as they were in the last-gen version I played. It is also extremely easy to tell that the last-gen version was clearly the original one planned, down to how the cutscenes in the game leans more into the design of levels as well as how the plot is executed in the last-gen version.

For example: the first mission in Iceland had nothing to do with the main plot in this next-gen version, and Sam finishes the mission being told his daughter is dead; meanwhile, the last-gen version connects the mission into the bigger JBA plot with the Red Mercury bombs, as well as how it is far more built-up with Lambert calling for a sudden abort of the mission in telling Sam "somethings happened" to his daughter Sarah, leading to him going outside and running to the chopper like the cutscene portrayed properly, while the next-gen version sees him climbing a rope to a helicopter before the cutscene plays with him running upto the chopper. It feels as though the last-gen version was what was in development to begin with, while the next-gen version came about as the Xbox 360 and PS3's relevance was pushing for its own necessity in being made.

You also had this strange sub-plot with Sam falling for Enrica in the last-gen version, where it is what pushes him to go rogue after she was killed by a Splinter Cell agent; meanwhile... The next-gen version only has him seducing Enrica in the end of one of the undercover missions, so she won't rat him out, as well as how she could end up dead if you don't let the bomb on the ship blow up, compared to how the last-gen version showcased her and Sam being tortured for the bomb not blowing up simply.

Hamza being also utilized more in the last-gen version is something I think gave the less technically impressive release more effort in my eyes. Given that he is a mission later on, in needing to save him from the JBA killing him, seeing him as the partner in the Iceland mission is a better build-up, in comparison to him just being someone you start to talk to with the Shanghai mission as a new contact for the NSA objectives. It makes the last-gen version truly feel more planned-out properly, despite some of its own issues.

In the end though, the biggest thing the last-gen version has over this one, is a TRUE HUD, giving a real light-meter and sound-meter again, instead of how the next-gen version has a binary way of hiding from threats that feels far too finicky to take seriously in comparison. The lack of a HUD here definitely ruins this version from being more fun, as it is beyond frustrating dealing with the issue of being hidden in a moment's notice.

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If you're wondering how I feel, I'd say the last-gen version is better, with exclusive missions on the PS2 version as well, on top of a more thought-out plot execution in the last-gen version. The lack of truly understanding WHY the JBA is even trying to set-up bombs and use them really bites the plot in the butt either way, but the last-gen version cared to set-up so much more, cared to think about the whole plot so much more. I just wished the PC version ran better, because I did still enjoy my time, but WOW does the glitches and crashes get in the way of enjoying it as much as you'd wanna...

Didn't help Conviction's plot being set-up as much as Essentials, however, and THAT is embarrassing that a PSP entry can set-up the next entry better...