Splinter Cell: Essentials - Essential Information News

With the delay to Splinter Cell: Double Agent still a disappointment, Ubisoft today revealed new information on the storyline behind the forthcoming Splinter Cell: Essentials which promises to set up the course of events for Sam's next major appearance.

Featuring a collection of levels from previous titles in the series along with four exclusive maps, Splinter Cell: Essentials chronicles Sam's life in a series of flashbacks and promises to expose a number of key details ahead of the release of Double Agent.

The storyline finds Sam disappearing without a trace after learning of his daughter's death. However when Homeland Security agents track him down in New Orleans, their worst fears are realised when surveillance photos show Fisher in the company of a known domestic terrorist.

Why has their finest agent thrown away decades of service to work with terrorists, Third Echelon wants answers; as Sam defends himself, he will tell a story that no one suspected.

One of the first missions within the game, Colombia takes place in 1992 and finds Sam as a Navy Seals prior to joining Third Echelon. One of Sam's fellow operative, Shetland, is captured during an operation with the Colombian army against a major narcotics dealer. Disobeying orders, Sam goes in alone to rescue him.

Taking place in 2004, the Oil Rig is recognisable from the original Splinter Cell and provides a very important part in the overall storyline as Sam makes some interesting comments regarding the mission. One of two maps based on previous Splinter Cell games, Sam has to interrogate a terrorist by order of the NSA.

Set a year before the events of Chaos Theory, the Factory finds Sam returning to a mission he did inside a steel factory in Warsaw Indiana, USA. There he needs to record an illegal arms deal involving secret weapons stolen from Third Echelon.

Finally the Graveyard promises to be a pivotal moment in Splinter Cell: Essentials. Set in 2008, where Sarah's death changes everything from Sam, the Graveyard acts as the first map within the game.

Thankfully Ubisoft have decided to make Sam Fisher's PSP debut more then just an "enhanced" port, and it's intriguing to find emphasis placed on the intriguing storyline in an attempt to make it appeal beyond political/thriller fans.

Splinter Cell: Essentials is scheduled for release on March 31st; look out for more on the title very soon.