Sam's Back! Ubisoft unveil Splinter Cell: Blacklist trailer - E3 2012

Ubisoft dropped a stealthy, green-eyed bomb on us all during Microsoft’s E3 press conference by announcing the return of US super-operative Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell: Blacklist.

The titular Blacklist is a countdown of terrorist attacks promised by a global terror cell in response to America’s growing military presence around the world. As leader of the newly-formed 4th Echelon, Sam Fisher and his team must hunt down the terrorists and end the Blacklist before the countdown reaches zero.

The best thing for us, oddly, is that Sam is back to how we remember him, in full tactical suit and NV goggles, dropping from the shadows and using cutting edge tech like some anti-terrorism Batman – but there a host of new features and gameplay improvements over 2009’s Conviction.

For a start, Sam is able to “kill in motion”, which sounds – and would appear to be from the demo – like a more fluid Mark & Execute ability, popping multiple enemies in a single motion while on the move. “Active Sprint” allows him to traverse the environment swiftly and smoothly, possibly taking cues from Ubisoft’s own Assassin’s Creed franchise.

Gadgets and gizmos get an upgrade, too, such as the improved Snake-Cam and the micro-trirotor drone – and that awesome little spider-bot from the trailer. There’s a new cash for upgrades system in the form of the Strategic Mission Interface, which keeps Sam and the team aware of the Blacklist’s progress in real time – completing missions via this will earn money to buy new upgrades, weapons and gadgetry.

In addition to the tools of the trade, Sam has a dedicated support team in the form of 4th Echelon: one-time 3rd Echelon Operations Director Anna Grimsdottir acts as Sam’s technical operations manager, hacker Charlie Cole delivers intel and bypasses terrorist mainframes and CIA operative Isaac Briggs provides extra firepower (as seen in the trailer).

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is looking like a return to the series’ roots: Sam in the suit, hugging the shadows, using his gadgets, fighting the good fight on the right side – with altogether less political manoeuvring, double-crossing and family issues. This is a good thing – and we can’t wait to get back in the field with Sam.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist is being developed by Ubisoft Toronto and is due for release in Spring 2013.

Words by Mick Fraser (Twitter: @Jedi_Beats_Tank)

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