 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction
- Xbox 360, Windows
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Action/Adventure
Common Sense Media says
Mature spy game with a hero who kills with his bare hands.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction is rated Mature because it contains plenty of violence and other themes not suitable for kids or young teens, including profanity, sexuality and drugs. Violence includes shooting enemies in a realistic fashion (and with realistic visuals), seeing blood spray out of enemies (though it's never over-the-top), and using your bare hands to inflict damage, whether it's pulling an enemy out of a window, smashing their head into objects to make them talk, or sneaking up behind an enemy to twist his neck. Parents should also note that this game facilitates open communication between players in online play. Common Sense Media does not recommend open online play for children under 12 years of age.
What's it about?
One of the most famous secret agents in video game lore is back for more in TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL: CONVICTION, a gritty third-person adventure starring super-spy Sam Fisher. This time around, however, the former member of the elite Third Echelon, a secret division within the National Security Agency, is out for vengeance as he vows to track down his daughter Sarah's killer. Fisher soon stumbles upon something much bigger than his own personal vendetta, but revealing more of the game's well-told story would spoil it (especially as it contains a few plot surprises and familiar faces from past games). While he's now playing by his own rules, Fisher still relies on his core skills as a solo field operative, including stealth (lurk in the shadows and scale buildings), gadgetry (such as sonar goggles and a broken car mirror to peek under doors) and combat (both hand-to-hand and weapon-based). This fifth Splinter Cell game is more action-oriented than its predecessors.
Is it any good?
Yes -- for adult gamers. Fisher has acquired some new "Mature"-rated tricks, such as the power of persuasion, which lets players "interrogate" suspects and other thugs by slamming their head into tables, walls, toilet bowls or windows. Players can even complete side challenges for being creative in their interrogation techniques. Fisher can also tag enemies in the "mark and execute" feature, which allows him to take out multiple enemies at the tap of a button.
It would be remiss not to mention the outstanding production values in this third-person adventure, including the cinematic way it introduces mission objectives and Sam's thoughts by splashing words and images onto the environment itself. Some of the documentary-style "shaky" camera angle effects might bother some, though. Toss in multiplayer play, including a thrilling co-op mode with its own unique story, and it's easy to see why Splinter Cell: Conviction will likely be the must-play action game of the season.
Online interaction: The game offers many multiplayer modes including a much-hyped co-op mode. Gamers can talk over Xbox Live while playing so it's possible for players to hear profanity from other players (though we didn't hear any), exchange personal information, and be exposed to abuse.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about whether games like this -- those that let you live vicariously through a tough-as-nails agent -- are healthy entertainment for mature adults. Do they desensitize us to violence and make us more susceptible to act out in real life? Is this visceral entertainment a temporary, virtual getaway from our ordinary lives and a way to unwind after a long day, or is it whetting our appetites for real bloodshed?
Families can also discuss Sam's character in this game as opposed to previous games in the series. Is Sam a hero by avenging his daughter's murder? Or has he become a murderer himself?
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AGE
if you havent played a SC game b4 you should just rent it but if you have then its a must buy
the game is great but its violent
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AGE
I liked it, but a lot of kids may think that it is a pain to play, because of the awkwrd controls. But if you are a fan of the originals, than the series just cooked a good game.
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AGE
Language: Awful for anyone.
Way too many F Bombs being dropped. Every 2 seconds, a mercenary will shout "f-ck me!". I'm tired of the language to the point where I sold the game; it is too annoying to hear it.
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AGE
Good old Sam is back... with a vengeance.
A fast paced third person stealth-action hybrid with Sam is here, and it's just how I wanted it to be. To start, you're not slowly advancing. Think cheetah- fast, deadly and precise. Like any other SC game but bloodier, brutal and a little more colorful a vocabulary. It's pretty violent but is a worthwhile experience online and off
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AGE
Probaly the best Espionage I have ever played.
There is bad language (f**k, a*s, sh*t, d*mn, etc.), intense violence (some blood splatter, brutal interrigation scenes, head smashing, punching, shooting, wacking people's throats, and more all with some blood), bad messages (the game's plot deals with revenge, prostatution, drug dealing, the black market, cold-blooded goverment killers, and worst of all mass killings). Although, this is not nearly as "twisted" (strange, scary) as Batman Arkham Asylum. Although Splinter Cell Conviction has more violence and bad lanuguage, the twisted nature of Batman Arkham Asylum is much more disturbing. It depends, are you afraid of your kids having nightmares or talking about violence.
I would compare Conviction to The Bourne Conspiray, a game based on all three movies. The "mark and execute system in Conviciton is similar to the take-down system in The Bourne Conspiracy. But Splinter Cell Conviction is quite different than other espionage games, if you are seen by you enemy, the game isn't over, you can run-and-gun your way out of the situation and back into darkness!
Overall this game is mind-blowing, I loved it. I would also compare it to Uncharted 2. If you like Uncharted 2 and you have an Xbox 360, get Splinter Cell Conviction. But I would say it is off for ages 11 and under, iffy for ages 12-13 and on for 14+.
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AGE
Awesome Game!
My mom is pretty strict when it comes to video games I can and can't play. She was in a good mood one day though so she let me get Call of Duty Black Ops, Gears of War 2, and Splinter Cell Conviction.
Splinter Cell is the tamest by far. The language is about as bad as Black Ops, but the blood is very minimal in 90% of this game (everything but the interrogation scenes) unlike Gears and CoD.
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AGE
AWESOME GAME
Best Stealth/Action game EVER. The most violent parts of the game are the Interrogations, other than that, not really violent.
best part is the MULTIPLAYER though.
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AGE
Its not violent really, Its violent in nature.
Splinter cell is a great game that is not really that violent, Breaking necks is just about the most violent thing. I see more violent themes at school. The profanity is extreme. F this F that. Its quite bad. There is some sexual themes and some sexual visual bits.
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AGE
A great game for older teens
I was pretty much blown away by Splinter cell conviction. It's a challenging game but not borderline impossible like its predecessors. As far as how appropriate it is, the violence is fairly graphic though not quite on the level of other M games such as Gears of War. If you've ever seen the Bourne movies, the action is alot like that. The language is fairly heavy, but other than those two things, there isn't that much to worry about.
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360, Windows |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Developer: | UbiSoft |
| Release date: | April 13, 2010 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | M for Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language |
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