I've now finished the solo story campaign and I've also finished the cooperative story campaign and I have to say that this game really exceeded my expectations. Sure, it's not nearly as hardcore tactical and realistic as Chaos Theory (which remains the best SC game ever IMHO) but I've been having a lot of fun playing it.

Oh and the $12 purchase price for Conviction plus the DLC was also a big selling point for me!

As a major fan of Chaos Theory, Conviction is kind of a guilty pleasure. LOL
It's not "real" Splinter Cell, but dammit it's fun when you take it at face value. I still think that style would be better for a Rainbow Six reboot (but first person), due to being much more shooter than stealth, but it's a good game. IMO Denied Ops is the best part. Glad they sorted out Sam's story, maybe the next one's story will be more mainstream.

Apparently the new SC, GR and Rainbow will have related storylines. We may see all 3 next year.

Of course the main premise of the story for Conviction was way out there and just too implausible but hey, the game play was still fun.

Is it just me, or does Conviction force you to get into firefights? Every time I crank the game up I attempt to go stealthy but either bottlenecks or mission triggers seem to steer you into unloading a magazine into someone's face!

Very much so. It's about 80% shooter, unlike the first 3 games, or even Double Agent. The lack of an open environment and checkpoints locking down the map saw to that.
Still a fun game, but not the same is it? IMO it would be a better Rainbow Six game with that format. Guess I mentioned that before though. LOL

Watch this guys playthrough- he made buy the game. Copleted 90% of the game using stealth.

http://www.youtube.com/user/goTha83#p/c/EF417D0C173313C5/9/cJWWUGDKPHM

PS In fact, if you played through resorting to firefights, you havn't really played SC Conviction.

Conviction ruined the whole SC franchise if you ask me. Sure its fun but its only fun one time. I am still playing the other SC games. Conviction i haven't touched since i finished it.