Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is a stealth video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and released for the GameCube in 2003. The player takes on the role of Sam Fisher, an elite covert agent employed by a fictional branch of the National Security Agency known as Third Echelon. Players must utilize stealth and tactics to complete various objectives and uncover a cyber-terrorist conspiracy. The game combines challenging gameplay with a detailed narrative and became known for its innovative use of light and shadows in game mechanics.