SPLINTER CELL: DOUBLE AGENT
Ubisoft, GC/PS2/Xbox/PC $49.99, Xbox 360 $59.99
Choices, choices–elite operative Sam Fisher faces nothing but tough ones here. Operating beyond the law (and official government acknowledgement), the game industry’s most iconic secret agent isn’t just out for dolo anymore. Now he’s actually playing both sides of the field: The NSA as well as an avowed terrorist organization. Forget the need to tiptoe through the shadows, stealthily clamber up beams, and assassinate armed guards using the usual ultra-high tech arsenal, though. With multiple paths through every scenario, the hardest challenge you’ll face here is making the right decision–including not freezing up like a little bitch when a dilemma is presented. Murder, torture, acts of depraved indifference, whether or not to let hostages rot and execute innocents is ultimately your call. Darker and grittier than previous installments of the multi-million-selling spy thriller series, Double Agent amuses as much for its dramatic buildup as its superior audiovisuals, punchy battles, and captivating, gadget-laden search ‘n’ snuff assignments. Skydiving, firefights, bursting suddenly from water to drag enemies to a submarine grave… it’s just your average, everyday black ops engagement, not to mention the closest thing we’ve had yet to a proper version of Fox’s hit show 24 (the official interactive spin-off included). We fully encourage anyone with a fondness for suspenseful storytelling and tense engagements (not to mention relatively lax morals) to check it out. As for justifying all the blood on those black-gloved hands, well… you’re alone on that one, champ. Scott Steinberg
www.ubisoft.com

Love: Terse showdowns, amazing presentation, morally-ambiguous excitement
Hate: Waiting for the PlayStation 3 version
Final Word: Spy hard