Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (video Game) - Gameplay

Gameplay

The primary focus of the gameplay is stealth, with heavy focus on light and darkness. The player is encouraged to move through the shadows for concealment whenever possible. The game displays a "light meter" that reflects how visible the player character is to enemies, and night vision and thermal vision goggles to help the player navigate in darkness.

The game heavily encourages the use of stealth over brute force. Although Fisher is usually equipped with firearms, he carries limited ammunition and is not frequently provided with access to additional ammo. The player begins most missions with a limited supply of nonlethal weapons in addition to Fisher's firearms, a suppressed FN Five-Seven pistol as well as a suppressed FN F2000 assault rifle, which includes a scope and a launcher for some of the less-lethal devices such as ring airfoil projectiles, "sticky shockers" and CS gas grenades.

Flexibility of movement is a focuspoint of the game. Fisher can sneak up on enemies from behind to grab them; allowing interrogation, quiet incapacitation, or even use as a human shield. Fisher is acrobatic and physically adept, and has a variety of maneuvers including the ability to mantle onto and climb along ledges, hang from pipes, and perform a "split jump" in narrow spaces to mantle up a steep wall.