Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Lore & Background

The game presents two separate versions. The Ubisoft Montreal version, released for GameCube, PlayStation 2, Wii, and Xbox, uses technology from earlier Splinter Cell games. The Ubisoft Milan and Ubisoft Shanghai version, released for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360, features a completely custom engine. Both versions share the same general plot, background music, a few cutscenes, and all voice actors, but have different storylines, plot twists, and levels. A separate mobile version was developed by Gameloft.

In the plot common to both versions, Sam Fisher deals with the recent loss of his daughter to a drunk driving crash. He goes on an undercover assignment posing as a criminal to infiltrate a domestic terrorist group called John Brown's Army (JBA). The mission forces him into a gray area where the line between right and wrong is blurred.

The Xbox 360/Windows/PlayStation 3 version includes multiple endings depending on player choices regarding saving a cruise ship, sparing Hisham Hamza, and shooting Lambert. The canon ending has Fisher saving the cruise ship, saving Hisham, and shooting Lambert to maintain his cover. The Xbox/PlayStation 2/GameCube/Wii version follows a similar setup but with different mission details, such as hijacking a train in Grand Central Station.

Reader's Guide

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent is notable for its dual-version development, a rare approach that produced two distinct games sharing only a core premise and voice cast. The version by Ubisoft Milan and Shanghai introduced a custom engine, while the Montreal version built on established technology. This split allowed players on different platforms to experience unique storylines and level designs, though the general plot remained consistent. The game received positive reviews for most platforms and is considered a transitional entry in the series, bridging the earlier titles and the later Conviction. Its multiple endings, particularly in the Xbox 360/Windows/PlayStation 3 version, added replay value and narrative depth. The game's focus on moral ambiguity and undercover infiltration expanded the series' themes beyond straightforward espionage.

Did You Know?

• Two separate versions of Double Agent were developed by different Ubisoft studios, with different storylines and levels.
• The Ubisoft Milan and Shanghai version uses a completely custom engine, while the Montreal version uses technology from earlier Splinter Cell games.
• The game features multiple endings depending on player choices regarding saving the cruise ship, Hisham, and Lambert.