As any one of Roman Abramovich's multi-million pound signings will know, it takes something special to shine when you're surrounded by class. Likewise, in a genre populated by Splinter Cell and Mission: Impossible - Operation Surma, Rogue Ops was always going to need something special to stand out and earn a place amongst the greats. So is it a starring role alongside the elite or a career on the shelf for Nikki Connors?

Rogue Ops starts off simply enough; there's the dazzlingly beautiful ex-Green Beret, equal parts pert posterior and lethal killing machine. There's the dead husband and infant daughter to avenge, giving Nikki a reason to go back for one last mission, and there's also grizzled unit commander Jonah coaching Nikki through the game's demanding levels.

Rogue Ops handles nicely via a dual stick operation that the tutorial walks you through. Anything that Nikki can interact with flashes up on the screen and is accessed via the action button. This simple system does away with the need to remember countless button combos, but it also makes the player feel spoon-fed, as you're told pretty much what to do and when to do it.

Anyone used to the more independent world of Splinter Cell may find it a little demeaning. The other problem with this method is that you're forced to approach almost every piece of scenery in a level to see if you can interact with it and thus solve the puzzle. This can, on occasion, mean too much lost time, wandering aimlessly around a level looking for the magic key.

The stealth killing method in Rogue Ops is a neat little touch. Instead of just creeping up and grabbing your enemy by the neck Sam Fisher style, you need to pull off a quick set of stick manoeuvres to dispatch a guard. Once done, you're rewarded with a nice cutscene of your moves. Killing enemies by stealth also means you're rewarded with bonuses such as ammo or health. The pickpocket feature allows you to rob enemies of their goodies before gunning them down, should you feel a little guilty about rifling through the pockets of a dead man.

Like Mission: Impossible, Rogue Ops features an impressive array of weaponry and gadgets that Nikki needs to make use of in order to complete the task at hand. There is an element of strategy here too, as certain pieces of equipment will run out of battery life if they're overused, forcing the player to use them sparingly.

This game can be a fiendishly devious little puzzler at times, requiring you to use all your acquired gaming know-how. Don't expect a gentle curve either - things start hard and stay that way. This can mean that the early levels are a little frustrating as you search for the way through but there is a real sense of reward when you finally make it Rogue Ops is very good, but it's unlikely to make many gamers' top tens due to the sheer quality of titles already available in this genre. Were it not for the near-perfection of Splinter Cell and the like, Rogue Ops might get a bigger slice of the action. As it is, Nikki Connors is left battling for scraps at Sam Fisher's table.

1. Simple controls
2. Demanding puzzles

1. The action can feel a little spoon-fed
2. It's all been done before...
3. ...and with a good deal more finesse

Power
The graphics are clear enough, if a little basic when placed next to the mighty Splinter Cell

Style
An impressive musical score adds to the action, picking up when things get frantic.

Immersion
The mix of stealth and action is evenly pitched, but some aimless wandering detracts from the fun.

Lifespan
Weaned on Splinter Cell and Metal Gear Solid? You may find this a little simplistic, yet frustrating.

Summary
After Splinter Cell it's difficult to settle for anything less than perfection and Rogue Ops falls well short of that.