While the title of the fifth installment of the Splinter Cell series was leaked last September, actual confirmation of the title and game have only now come via Finnish game magazine publication Pelaaja.



Since the magazine is in Finnish, and since I don't speak a word of the Nordic tongue, I am depending on Game Swank for an accurate translation of the Splinter Cell: Conviction synopsis.

They say that at the beginning of the game Sam learns that Anna Grimsdottir is in danger so Sam joins Third Echelon again in order to help. However Third Echelon is not what it used to be and in the first mission Sam gets false info and the wrong equipment, while his bosses are bickering amongst themselves about procedures, authority and such. Then Sam finds out that the threat to Anna comes from within the Third Echelon, quits and becomes a fugitive.

Interesting that Third Echelon is under new management, as you had the option in Splinter Cell Double Agent of saving Lambert, or letting him go down to protect your cover. Will Splinter Cell: Conviction assume choices you made, or conveniently leave the story open for interpretation? I'd guess the latter option will be the way Ubi will go.

The fact that this game exists is no surprise, as Double Agent did end with a "To Be Continued...". I just hope that Ubisoft does a better job with this title than they did with Double Agent, which was quite the letdown. I understand Ubi wanting to change things up in the 4th incarnation of the game, but, by doing so, they took away so much that was great about the previous versions and replaced it with a gimmic (choose whether Sam is good or bad) that barely affected gameplay.

Anyway, here's to hoping that Splinter Cell: Conviction returns to Splinter Cell roots and lives up to the quality of the released images.

Splinter Cell: Conviction images via PlayFrance.com

LB Splinter Cell Double Agent Game Guide