Tom Clancy games have been released regularly since 1996 when the American writer co-founded Red Storm Entertainment, a games development studio based in North Carolina.

There have been a lot of games released bearing Tom Clancy’s name – in fact almost as many as the books he has written – but one of the most successful would unquestionably be the Splinter Cell series.

Since 2002 gamers have been able to play as Sam Fisher experiences everything from espionage missions to posing as a double agent.

However, in his latest adventure, some disastrous events have turned Sam from one of the military’s strongest assets into a rogue agent with a mind of his own and the intelligence to get away with it.

The Splinter Cell games have always had solid storylines but the excitement on offer this time around really is a step up.

Usually with stealth games like this one, the action is slow, careful and filled with fearful anticipation of a guard spotting you and blowing your cover. However, in Conviction the developers have opted for a new angle, and it feels totally different.

The pace of the game is something reserved for the likes of Call of Duty, yet it still feels believable that you are being stealthy and silent. It certainly makes for some heart-pumping moments, but without losing any of the magic.

The storyline is as good as any in this genre, the voice-acting binds it together beautifully, and graphically it is a joy to behold – not just in terms of becoming immersed in the characters and locations, but also because of the style that oozes from the game; from mission updates that appear to be “projected” onto the walls of your surroundings, to cut-scenes that lend a Hollywood feel to the crucial moments of the story.