Splinter Cell Remake Wishlist
With the Splinter Cell Remake still in developmental hell at Ubisoft, I look at a wishlist of things for the remake if it does come to fruition
Sam Fischer first appeared on gamers’ screens in the 2002 title Splinter Cell. He would go on to star in the five sequels over the next eleven years as the series evolved. Now, a remake has been in developmental hell since the studio announced in 2021 that one was in the works. With the remake having the original Game Director, David Grivel, back at the helm and development reportedly still underway, I present my wishlist of items for the remake.
As a long-time fan of the series, I am excited about the prospect of stepping back into the boots of Sam Fischer and sneaking my way through different levels, avoiding detection and leaving no trace of my presence behind.
A Splinter Cell Remake Wishlist
The Original Voice Cast Brought Back
Part of what made the original games (and most subsequent games, minus one voice swap for Irving Lambert) was the gravely rugged voice of Sam Fischer, provided by Michael Ironside, and the no-nonsense, authoritative voice of Lambert, provided by Don Jordan.
Sam Fischer is an elite stealth operative and ex-Navy SEAL with extensive military insurgency experience. Ironside provided a voice that made the gamer believe that this character had been through extensive training and military operations and was a true veteran who could be trusted with the high-stakes missions that gamers played through.
On the other side of the mission was Iriving Lambert. Sam’s handler and main point of contact while out in the field. Lambert monitored the missions from the National Security Agency (NSA) headquarters and gave Sam important updates as gamers progressed through the level. Lambert was known for being brief and direct. Sam did not have time to waste in the field, and Lambert did not waste any time. Don Jordan brought a serious and intense voice that immersed gamers into a world where national security was at risk.
Other characters, such as Vernon Wilkes Jr. and Anna Grimsdottir, play background roles in assisting Sam in the field, but Lambert is his main contact.
The return of Ironside and Jordan as Fischer and Lambert, respectively, would set the tone of the remake early. Their voices are synonymous with the characters, and the remake would not feel right without them in it.
Even if they are not available to lend their voices, they could always go the route of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater and use the original audio to keep the voices intact.
A Fully Definitive Version Combining The Content From All Versions
The original Splinter Cell was released on Xbox, PC, GameCube, and PlayStation 2. Although the core story and content stayed the same, there are a few differences between the different releases.
The Xbox and PC versions include three downloadable missions that center around a Russian nuclear submarine.
In addition, the Xbox and PC versions have a more difficult start to the CIA mission. Fischer must sneak in through an open air-conditioned vent to gain access to the CIA headquarters. The PlayStation 2 version has gamers walking in with a fake ID card to gain access to the facility.
The PlayStation 2 version featured a new intro cutscene that gave more context into the disappearance of agents Robert Blaustein and Alison Madison, which sets up the first in-game mission, as well as a playable mission in a nuclear power plant in the Kola Peninsula. The GameCube and PlayStation 2 versions also gave gamers binoculars to use in the field.
A remake with the additional levels and CIA mission start from both the Xbox/PC and PlayStation 2 versions, along with the in-game features such as the binoculars and sticky grenade that are only available in the GameCube version, would make the remake feel complete. The remake could be marketed as the first “complete version” with all content under one disc in a way that has never been released before. Gamers who only played one version of the game can see what they missed out in other versions.
The intro cinematic that was featured in the PlayStation 2 version would look great upgraded into modern graphics.
The Full Graphical and Environment Update
Of course, a remake would not be complete without a full graphical and environmental update to today’s standards. The game came out in 2002 and was cutting-edge for its time. 24 years later, however, technology has changed rapidly, and the many different environments seen in the game, such as fire, trees, snow, water, and more, would look life like.
The game was built upon using darkness and shadows to stay hidden from the enemy. Only using a weapon as a last resort (to quote Lambert). Stealth was monitored by an on-screen sliding bar that moved left to right depending on how visible the player was.
With today’s graphical updates and utilizing technology like ray tracing, gamers could experience stealth in a whole new way. Gamers would be able to more easily find dark spots to hide from enemies, adding to the realism of the game.
The Core Story Left Untouched
The original Splinter Cell put gamers into the middle of a geopolitical conflict that rested on the shoulders of Sam Fisher. If Fisher had not completed his mission and completed it the right way, the world would have quickly headed for a world war. The high stakes of every mission taken on by Fischer and team made the game challenging and all the more enjoyable.
The remake should keep the majority of the original story intact, with the linear mission-based system at the core of the game.
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Did you play the original Splinter Cell? What would be on your wish list for the remake? Sound off in the comments below.
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