For its first four instalments, Splinter Cell was the epitome of the stealth game. Not the pioneer, true, but the series that took the genre to new, nerve-jangling heights.

And our hero, Sam Fisher, the grizzled veteran of one battle too many, gave a cynical, world-weary outlook to the franchise.

Then came Conviction. Stealth aspects of the game vanished in favour of action-oriented gameplay. But Sam — voiced by cult actor Michael Ironside (V, Starship Troopers, Total Recall) — remains as grizzled as ever.

With Blacklist, stealth is back — but the Sam Fisher we knew is gone, replaced by a younger, gung-ho version voiced by Eric Johnson (Smallville), who also does the motion capture work.

And while stealth returns, it’s not the be-all, end-all of the game. If you want to go in with all guns blazing in a frontal assault, you have that option. Sneaking is for the old-school hardcore.

Everything you expect from Splinter Cell is there: the tech, the hardware, the gun porn. This is a Tom Clancy franchise, after all.

And there’s something in the game for everyone: solo storyline, co-op mode, multiplayer confrontations, achievements, leaderboards. No gaming stone is left unturned.

The new emphasis on options leads to a new rating system. Each mission, you’re rated as Ghost, Panther or Assault. To gain Ghost ratings, you’ll need to go oldschool and get through the level unseen. Panther allows sightings and assassinations. Assault means going in all guns blazing.

That gives the solo game a certain amount of replayability — it’s fun to try a few levels using different tactics. Each style unlocks optional side missions.

The plot is … look, this is Splinter Cell. Do we need a plot? We’re the good guys. There are bad guys out there up to no good. It’s a war in the shadows, counter-terrorists versus terrorists. There is tech and gadgets, but human skills and perseverance is what counts. Sam Fisher is Jack Bauer and Chuck Norris combined (and now with a few years shaved off both of them). Nuff said, really.

One of the major boosts to the game is the return of the Spies vs Mercenaries multiplayer mode that was dropped from Conviction, an assymetrical challenge which pits lightly armed, stealthy spies in third-person mode against heavily armed mercs in first-person shooter mode.

But somehow, by trying to be all things to all gamers, Splinter Cell loses its focus somewhere. It’s a good game but it doesn’t quite enter the realms of greatness. You won’t be disappointed, and its big levels, plethora of modes and replayability make it good value for money. But It’s a game you’ll enjoy without going dreamy-eyed.

Box – Splinter Cell: Blacklist

Developer: Ubisoft Toronto, Ubisoft Shanghai

Publisher: Ubisoft

Genre: Stealth, action, shooter

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC

Version tested: PS3

Star rating: 4/5