I was going to actually check the manual before I posted, too. In any case it did indeed work, so thanks

Man, I suck at being stealth. I just finished the second or third level (on easy), and I blew almost all the objectives, but I still got past the level and got the achievement. This is one game that I will definitely being playing multiple times.

I just got Double Agent yesterday, and honestly I am extremely disappointed with it. It is by far the worst in the series. I really liked the original 3 games and have played them numerous times, but after playing through the first 4 levels in Double Agent, I am seriously contemplating not finishing it. It is that bad in my opinion.

The previous games had storylines ranging from decent to good, but Double Agent's storyline is almost non-existent. What little story there is is very dull. The previous games had missions that served the storylines fairly well. The missions in Double Agent seem tacked on and don't really seem to have much purpose. All the previews and trailers and such talked about how much more awesome and cinematic and emotional Double Agent's story was compared to its predecessors. What the hell happened?

The gameplay is noticeably downgraded from the previous games too. The missions are much shorter than previous games. The night and thermal vision modes are seriously fucked up. They are completely useless now. They worked just fine in the previous games, so why did Ubisoft have to change them?

I was just reading on the GameFAQs forums and the Gamespot review for the regular Xbox version of the game. According to both of them, the Xbox version is actually much better than the 360 version. The Xbox version has a more fleshed out storyline and longer missions. It also keeps the same night and thermal visions from the previous games. Basically, from what I have been reading, the Xbox version is the way to go. It looks like it is another GRAW situation only in reverse (ie the Xbox version of GRAW was a piece of shit and the 360 version of GRAW was a masterpiece). Man, that sucks. Why would they fuck up the next-gen version of Double Agent so badly.

Edited to add:

Ok, after reading some internet postings about the differences between the Xbox and 360 versions, I will post some of them.

All the missions are the same; they are just expanded out a lot more in the Xbox version with more areas to explore and more objectives. Well actually the Shanghai mission is missing in the Xbox version, but it is replaced by another completely new mission. The first mission in the 360 version will take the experienced Splinter Cell player about 20 minutes to complete. The same mission in the Xbox version will take about 45 minutes to complete for the experienced player. Every mission is like this (ie the 360 version is about half the size of the Xbox version).

For example, in the second mission (the prison level), in the 360 version you can hack a computer and get an email that talks about 2 walkie-talkies that have gone missing. In the Xbox version, you actually have to steal the walkie-talkies as an objective (so that you and Jamie can communicate). In the 360 version, you only get to read about it and assume that is what happened.

Man, I wish I still had my Xbox so that I could trade the 360 version for the Xbox Double Agent. It is pretty sad that the next-gen version is a scaled down version of the old-gen game. I hope that Microsoft will make it backward compatible with the next BC update.

I picked up a used copy of the LE version at gamestop for $50. Hopefully its not as bad as the review above. I was really looking forward to this game.

Why on earth would the 360 version be so different, and so inferior? I just can't fathom why they would do that...

I think if this is your first Splinter Cell you have ever played, you might not be too disappointed. Other first timers seem to somewhat enjoy it. If you have played the other games, you will most likely be as disappointed as I am. Compared to Chaos Theory, Double Agent 360 is a HUGE step backwards.



From what I have read, there are two different Ubisoft branches, one in Montreal and one in Shanghai. Montreal is the "good" branch and Shanghai is the "bad" branch. Montreal did the original Splinter Cell, Chaos Theory, and the current-gen Double Agent. Shanghai did Pandora Tomorrow and the next-gen Double Agent. I remember when Pandora Tomorrow came out, most people said it was a step down from the original Splinter Cell. Most people considered Chaos Theory to be the "true" sequel. I personally enjoyed Pandora Tomorrow although I admit it was my least favorite of the "original trilogy". Double Agent has just been a complete turd so far IMO.

That makes sense, but the practice seems quite odd to me. It costs enough to develop just one game, and it makes me wonder why they did it this way. Heh, now that you mention "good" branches and "bad" branches, I wonder if the Shanghai branch is responsible for Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, my least favorite of that trilogy, but still not a bad game...

According to the wikipedia page for Warrior Within , Ubisoft Montreal developed it. Ubisoft Montreal did all the PoP games.

I also noticed on the wikipedia page for Double Agent that Ubisoft Montreal is doing the Wii version. Maybe it will be the "real" version (ie the Xbox/PS2 one) and not like the craptacular 360 version.

On another note, I just beat Double Agent 360 today. The later missions did get better, but the game was still nowhere near the quality of the previous games. There was absolutely no ending whatsoever. After completing the last mission, you get a big ol' "To be continued" screen. There is no cutscene or anything. I wonder if the "real" version of Double Agent had an ending cutscene, and the 360 version simply had it cut out like half the other game was. It wouldn't surprise me.

The game seems kinda short to me as well. I am on the sixth assignment, and it didn't take me that long to get there. With eight missions, and then a bonus one, I was thinking that it would be a longer game, although there is definitely high replay value for those interested.

I need help. I'm not sure which # mission it is buy I'm in Shanghai where you have to record a secret meeting. I rappel down the building outside the meeting room. The curtains close, and my NSA bar indicates it will rise at this point if I succeed. Problem is I can't figure out how to record.

The manual is useless and it seems like I tried everything under the sun. Obviously I'm doing something wrong.

Press the right bumper, and select the recording device, the icon looks like a microphone. Select it and then use the right trigger and aim it at the people talking.

There are actually 10 missions, not 8. There would be 11 missions counting the bonus one after the credits, but I don't count it. The bonus mission has to be beaten in 10 minutes since you are on a timer. It can easily be beaten in about 3 minutes though.

Personally though, I only count there being 6 missions as 4 of the 10 are set in that ultra lame JBA HQ. Those are not "real" missions in my opinion. I have read that the Xbox/PS2 version gets "real" missions set in the JBA HQ though. Ie missions were you have to sneak into the HQ, stay in sneak mode the whole time, and then sneak back out of the HQ. Of course, the 360 gets the "changed for the worse" JBA HQ.

I was reading this morning on Gamefaqs the ending to the Xbox/PS2 version. I am seriously fucking pissed that everything in the below spoiler was cut out of the 360 version.

IGN's review for the current-gen Double Agent is now up:

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/743/743387p1.html

Here are some interesting quotes from the review:

Closing Comments

That's such crap. Luckily I traded in and got mine cheap.

I agree with numerous complaints, disagree about the night vision (since I actually prefer it the way it is on the 360).

The game feels a little off, it's a load of fun and fairly well built, don't get me wrong, but there are a lot of annoyances - ie: dialogue leaving out vital details, and a weird camera. I never really cared for the stories in the Splinter Cell series, though.

Shame to see the next-gen get the shaft again, but I'm still a fan of the 360 version of the game, it is heavily flawed but it's also a whole hell of a lot of fun.

I cannot assemble those mines to save my life (second JBA assignment). Anyone got any hints?

It is easier if you just pay attention to the image on the right side that gives you the top-down perspective. I just ignored the sideways view on the left side completely. Keep the circle in the middle (when it is highlighted green). If it changes to yellow, then back off on the right trigger until you get it corrected. Just take the whole minigame slowly. You don't need to rush.

If you hated the mine minigame, just wait until you get to the next JBA HQ mission and have to do the email decryption minigame. That decryption puzzle was the most frustrating thing I have ever seen in a videogame since probably the NES days.

Edited to add:

I just read a cool little feature that is in the Xbox/PS2 version but not the 360 version.

Alrighty, this is not working.

Do you guys think the PC version will be like the PS2/Xbox versions or the 360 version?

Are you sure you are in the right place? If I remember right, you need to rappel down pretty far and there are lots of windows with other people in them. Maybe you are trying to record the wrong people? You should see Emile and another dude sitting down and Moss will walk over to the window and close the drapes. You can also look on the 3D map; it shows where you need to be to record. But, yeah, like the previous poster said, you just pick the electronic microphone gadget and point it like a gun at Emile and the other dude, and it will record.

According to wikipedia the PC version is being done by the Shanghai studio too, so it will be exactly like the scaled down 360 version.

I did just read a 1up preview about the Wii version. It is being done by the Montreal studio and will be the same as the current gen version. If anyone hasn't bought Double Agent yet and plans to buy a Wii, this will probably be the best version to own.

I guess I just need to restart the level. Maybe it has glitched on me.

Yeah it definitely looks like a glitch to me. This is at the beginning of the level so you won't lose too much progress by restarting.

No glitch there. You have to aim the mic at the people speaking and press the right trigger. You are aimed at nothing in that screenshot. The target reticule will turn red when aimed correctly.

It might take a couple of seconds to start up as well, so be patient.