CalgarySun has got a few words to say about the new Splinter Cell Essentials game for the PSP.

From reading the article, its likely that some fans of the Splinter Cell franchise are going to feel a little cheated on originality if they have played through the whole series, as the PSP version seems to do a little back tracking over previous Sam Fisher missions before hitting the new stuff.

“With Essentials and the upcoming Double Agent, Ubisoft is trying to show us another side of Sam Fisher. The man beneath the nightvision goggles, as it were, faced tough choices and moral dilemmas.”

Having played only the first Splinter Cell that hit the PS2, and only then because of the hype surrounding the graphics engine and its ability to render moving surfaces, I’m actually looking forward to playing Splinter Cell Essentials on the PSP.

“Essentials looks amazing — the visuals are very close to PS2 quality — and the controls work fairly well, given the lack of a second analog stick on the PSP. Camera control is achieved by holding down the circle button and moving the stick.”

The fact that this new PSP version actually covers old ground will most likely benefit me in the same way as old hands at the series will curse it. Splinter Cell Essentials is certainly on my ‘to buy’ list, I’ll probably hold off until I’ve completed a bit more of GTA:LCS and can justify getting a new game for the PSP. Of course, with the hopefully imminent arrival of GT4, getting hold of Splinter Cell Essentials might have to wait indefinately, unless someone wants to treat me to a nice present…