From GDC: Hands On Preview Of Gameloft's Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction

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Gameloft showed us three upcoming games at GDC with the biggest name being Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction which is going to be very similar to the console version of the same name. If you're unaware of the franchise it centers around Sam Fisher who after all the different games through the years has gone from being part of an elite NSA team called the "Third Echelon" to pretty much a rogue agent trying to save his kidnapped daughter. In the upcoming iPhone version the game plays like the entire franchise where the goal is to be as stealth as possible. You can go in guns blazing, but more often than not you will be killed. The game is a third person shooter where you move in the shadows targeting enemies. You can also open up the action firing your way through levels, and a few levels are made that way. The game features 10 levels across the globe, and I got hands on with the docks at night, and in the middle east. The default controls have a virtual stick in the bottom left, and action buttons on the right. In the top right corner there is an eye that shows how much you're spotted. Being a stealth game it gives you the opportunity to sneak up on enemies, and snap their necks, or shoot out the street lights, or even target multiple enemies from cover. Playing as Sam Fisher you know that you will have weapons, but more importantly you use all types of gadgets to get through. From playing the game you instantly see how well it's designed with the same 3D engine as NOVA, and runs smoothly on a 3rd gen iPod Touch. Gameloft knows how to make great looking games in a cookie cutter mold they've been given. The gameplay though for the most part has lacked that fun engaging experience giving you a pretty package without soul. In limited play time with Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction it feels more of the same just going through the motions. Stealth type games are few and far between on the platform, but having great production values doesn't make a great game. In only minutes with the game it was just moving from cover to cover tapping the multi target action button, and then tapping fire. We'll have a full review once it hits the App Store, and put the game to the test. The console game is coming April 13th, but we don't have an exact release date for the iPhone version though it should be close to that time.

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