In fact, the plot of Splinter Cell, involving international terrorists, had to be altered in the wake of 11 September.

BBC: Splinter Cell

There is plenty of plot and dialogue in Splinter Cell, which was left to screen writer JT Petty, who had to follow Clancy's strict rules.

BBC: Splinter Cell

" In recent years, the old-school "Thief" games have been eclipsed by other titles that have improved upon the genre, including Ubisoft's "Assassin's Creed" and "Splinter Cell" series and Arkane Studios' "Dishonored.

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That game and other previewed titles like "Splinter Cell: Blacklist" and "Madden 2013" will use the Kinect system's voice controls to let players speak, instead of fiddling with buttons, to give certain commands.

CNN: Microsoft hopes to enhance games, TV with Xbox SmartGlass

The game combines elements of first person shooter gameplay, stealth mechanics a-la Metal Gear Solid or Splinter Cell, and a touch of free roaming exploration, even if its world is relatively small compared to say, Skyrim.

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The control mechanism of Splinter Cell remains largely intact - the developers have also worked hard to ensure that the fancy moves and cool equipment get used and while the signposting might irritate some, it does make the game feel more rounded.

BBC: NEWS | Technology | Sam Fisher keeps spy game fresh