Splinter Cell vs Batman Arkham Asylum

This is not intended to be one of those what if Sam Fisher vs Batman articles, that pits the two in a duel. Everyone knows the ninja always win. Instead, the purpose of this article is to exhibit just how much Batman: Arkham Asylum took from the Splinter Cell series.

Sam Fisher:
Back Story: Navy Seal, CIA, operative of Third Echelon, patriotic bad ass. Kills as an end to a means.
Unarmed Combat: Krev Maga
Specialty Move: split jump
Quote: "My only beef with the uniform is that it's so tight fitting and neat that it makes me look like a comic book superhero. Even my special headpiece looks like a mask when I have the goggles down."

Weapons:
Silenced Five-seveN pistol, Double edged combat knife, silenced F2000 tactical assault rifle

Gizmos:
Ring airfoil rounds, sticky shockers, esticky cameras, gas/smoke grenades, EMP ammunition, laser microphone, Optically Channeled Potentiator, frequency keypad

Head Gear:
thermal, night, electromagnetic radiation, & sonar vision; zoom

Batman:
Back Story: Bored millionaire orphan, decides to avenge parents murder. Chooses not to take lives.
Unarmed Combat: Everything, he's been around since the golden age of comics
Speciality Move: Inverted Takedown
Quote:"They told me there was nothing out there, nothing to fear. But the night my parents were murdered I caught a glimpse of something. I've looked for it ever since. I went around the world, searched in all the shadows. And there is something out there in the darkness, something terrifying, something that will not stop until it gets revenge... Me. "

Gizmos:
Bat shaped shuriken, Grappling gun, Remote explosive gel, frequency scanner

Head Gear:
thermal X-ray, zoom

Final Thoughts:
The high point for both games is lining up your plan of attack into a room full of baddies, taking them down, all while under zero detection. If Batman is caught, he can fight his way out, while Sam might have to go lethal. The penalty for detection in Sam's case can result in end of mission, while the Bat gets a few bullet sent in his direction...he's not exactly under cover.

Splinter Cell seems more hard core then Batman. Batman tosses in other arcadey elements (boss fights, Riddler challenges, Detective mode, etc), that seem to distract from the core gameplay. Splinter Cell is all about the story and stealth. Sam has my favorite weapon, the shock ammo, and has a better consistent story line. While Batman has a rich history in comics, Arkham has its own branch in the Batman lore. Unfortunately, the plot dribbles to button mashing in the end, while SC has a consistent storyline that will see a new addition next year.