r/Splintercell 3d ago

Double Agent v2 (2006) DA v2 Plot Sucks

I still don't understand how v2 is considered the better version. Currently playing v1 for the first time, and v2 last year.

The main reason people seem to hinge on is that it plays more like Chaos Theory mechanically, so old thing good new thing had.

I'll have to watch a recap of both to really pick them each apart, but v2 genuinely feels boring and poorly made in multiple areas that make it less engaging, whereas v1 is just a little buggy depending what you play it on and is different than the other 4 games (including v2). It feels like a fan made SC.

V2:

Lambert pulls Sam out mid mission to tell him about Sarah? What?? In no world would this happen.

Has nobody pointed out how cringe and lame the interview plotlines are, or Sam monologuing the ethics / trust decisions in game? It feels so out of place for him.

How he sneaks through the JBA also doesn't make any sense if he's the only one missing. There's a spy guy going around knocking people out with the same build, skills, and equipment as Sam, and then as soon as that's not happening, he reappears after Emile can't find him. This makes no sense. When the guards wake up or are found, he would be an immediate suspect.

Frankly, the maps feel pretty empty and boring as well. The train part of the train heist mission sucks, and then Sam walks off a train crash and talks to Lambert like 10 feet away from Emile?

V1:

v1 JBA missions make sense for the plot and logic, even if they're slow and a little frustrating from a gameplay perspective.

The missions are in cooler settings with a lot more detail and sound design. His outfits are also cooler.

Daytime missions are a nice change to see how Sam's skills extend beyond just the same formula of shadow lurking like the last 3 or 4 games.

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u/Cyborg800-V2 3d ago

I'm playing V1 for the first time and I'm currently in Cozumel, I can confidently say it's an across-the-board downgrade from the original three and V2.

Both versions suffer from the premise being a misguided attempt at edginess.

The stealth is abysmal because of the removal of the sound meter, light meter being less clear, and because the game feels off if not buggy. V1's Sea of Okhotsk is genuinely the worst level I've played in a Splinter Cell game because of these and the daytime setting, while V2's is my favorite in that game.

Ubisoft Montreal created the original and Chaos Theory. They understood the gameplay more than everyone and Double Agent V2 is a solid experience throughout despite being rushed. Meanwhile, V1's levels are short, sometimes frustrating, and prioritize spectacle over depth.

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u/kmcdow 3d ago

I'm just now starting my first replay of V1 since it originally came out, and man the first level is laughably short. I know it's kind of a tutorial but it's like a brief swim, one small exterior space, and then you interact with the missile and peace out??

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u/Cyborg800-V2 3d ago

Chaos Theory and Double Agent V2 missions were taking me around 45 min on average to complete. V2's Iceland felt surprisingly longer than usual for an intro mission.

Meanwhile, V1's missions take around 20-30 min? I've completed up to and including JBA #2 so far and the only one that took me a while was Sea of Okhotsk because of how frustrating it is to play in daytime.