Back to the roots (and back again?)

After the first presentation of SC: Blacklist at E3 long-established Splinter Cell fans were desperate that there is mission had played on the first impression, much less to do with the older parts of the series than the previous SC: Conviction. That's why I decided not to get my game right at the release day and later bought the very cheap download version with an online store.

The consistently more negative reactions to the E3 presentation seems to have really taken to heart Ubisoft. Many gameplay elements of the old parts such as non-lethal killing enemies (both in melee and through weapons or gadgets), a mandatory Splinter-Cell equipment (goggles, wetsuit, Shocker, detention camera, anesthetic gas) and greater freedom of choice when traverse the level. The totally misplaced, commandable drone attacks were, however, at least in this form, removed. Added was a useful upgrade system, which allows you to unlock both extensive equipment and weapons (incl. Modifications), as well as improvements in the HUD. In general, it seems at first glance as if here the balance between old-school and modern stealth cover shooter, who is currently the holy grail of game publishers appears to be yes, succeeded.
The criticism of many other reviewers regarding the lack of a quick save feature I can not sign that. For a perfect Ghost Run you should already muster up a little more patience, and this just heard a good deal of frustration. ;)

For me as a big fan of Chaos Theory and, in my opinion, unjustly scorned Double Agent remains a stale aftertaste. On the one hand leads to said balancing act that still find numerous follies in the game who have lost in this series in my opinion, nothing. These include the playable at 2 places UAV strikes a la Call of Duty, that of the side missions that are based mainly on the Assault game style, and a similar-scale mission in the campaign.
Also, the Sam Fisher, who is known from earlier, largely disappeared. On the one hand by the new, much too young voice actors (engl. Version) and a visual makeover, on the other hand by the complete absence of an interesting personality. Had the old Sam still with biting cynicism the procedures of the Agency commented and even criticized his superiors is at the best, a new Jack Bauer in the wetsuit. In combining them with the below average story about a group of terrorists from the Middle East (presumably to let the Batman Group yet familiar), the whole lost a considerable charm.

Conclusion:

A very entertaining game, which also marked the end of disappointed fans should give it a try. A return to old size but can not be expected, because as I recently in Hitman: Absolution, it seems to me also here as people would have been at work, who do not understand what constitutes the essence of the series.