The first Splinter Cell game was the origin story of the entire franchise. It explains how the "Third Echelon" division originated and was spearheaded by Sam Fisher's old friend Irving Lambert. That's pivotal to the entire franchise. Because Fisher kills Nikoladze, the international community responds with backlash due to the mysterious circumstances of his death.
In the sequel, which is oddly not available on Ubisoft Connect or Steam, Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow, we are introduced to Displace International. This is crucial because the head of this private military company, Shetland, was likely tipping off Sadono each step of the way. In the end, Sadono is captured rather than killed.
In the sequel, Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, we learn that Shetland is, in fact, a traitor and double agent, and Displace International is a rogue terrorist cell group. We are essentially introduced to the Splinter Cell Essentials, but this sequel was supposed to come after Splinter Cell Double Agent, not before it. For example, after learning about his daughter's death, and posing as a double agent where Fisher is eventually forced to either kill Lambert to maintain his cover within the JBA or to shoot Washington in the interrogation room and spare a severely injured Lambert. However, in the end, Lambert dies either way. Fisher escapes capture by the authorities, managing to find his way onto the boat carrying the warhead, disarming it just before it reaches its target.
Based on the storyline, he then visits his daughter's fake—which we learn later on—grave, where he is captured and interrogated, which would seem to indicate that Splinter Cell Essentials is supposed to have followed after Splinter Cell Double Agent. Because before escaping the NSA headquarters where Fisher is being interrogated, he steals the evidence of him admitting to killing his longtime friend Lambert and then escapes.
The current Splinter Cell Conviction, as it is now, should have been called Splinter Cell Blacklist. Because the original developmental direction of Splinter Cell Conviction before it was taken back to the drawing board was that it would explain the jump in the story, a jump that would not have existed at all, yet is now ever-so-clear, from Splinter Cell Double Agent.
The gap in the storyline is the unfortunate result of two development teams taking it on simultaneously, and I believe it could also be due to data loss, which would explain why Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow of the classic trilogy is also not available anywhere for purchasing or downloading anymore. In any case, what did Fisher do with the evidence he stole? Can the way he finds out that his daughter is still alive, or proves this fact, not be portrayed as part of his vindication story? For example, finding new evidence to clear Fisher's name.
Now, the discontinuity problem must be remedied, or bridged, by Ubisoft. But it doesn't have to be difficult. Reboot the entire franchise. Although it may sound daunting, it's not. It's a new project and creative direction, a revival project. It would actually be a great idea for the franchise, and fans like me would appreciate it.
Re-create the individual title games completely, make them better, more engaging than ever and evolved, yet true to the fundamentals.
Perhaps in order as follows:
Splinter Cell Origins ... (to reboot the first game)Splinter Cell Biowarfare ... (to reboot Pandora Tomorrow)Splinter Cell Havoc ... (to reboot Chaos Theory)Splinter Cell Deep Cover ... (to reboot Double Agent)Splinter Cell Extraction ... (to reboot Essentials)Splinter Cell Judgement ... (to reboot Conviction)Splinter Cell Termination ... (to reboot Blacklist)
This gives the franchise a revived sense of longevity, and it might give fans something to look forward to again.
Tom clancy's splinter cell blacklist won't start.