Title: Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow
Company: Ubisoft
Genre: 3rd Person Shooter
Platform(s): Xbox; PC
Release Date: 2004

Synopsis: This is the sequel to the ever popular Tom Clancy’s: Splinter Cell. Pandora Tomorrow brings Sam Fisher back with a whole new bag of tricks and another plot of terrorism to halt. If you enjoyed the first one, you’ll love this one.

The Highlights
Graphics: Clear and crisp with improved lighting effects
Gameplay: Slow paced, tense, and frustrating at times
Sounds: Accurate with above-par voice acting
Physics: Somewhat flawed, but acceptable
A.I.: Adequate

In Pandora Tomorrow you do all the same things you enjoyed in the original. But, you have more moves to perform, a more efficient button configuration, and smarter enemies to deal with. Even though the original’s were not all that intelligent on the lower difficulty levels, but they have gotten an upgrade in AI. In Ubisoft fashion, they’ve managed to spit out a sequel a year after the previous one’s release and still keep it interesting. Pandora Tomorrow is every bit as good as the first.

Your missions will take you across the globe, from the streets of Paris, to the jungles of Indonesia, and even to the Los Angeles International Airport. So yes, you’ll be traveling to all sorts of exotic locations in your attempt to keep America free and the world safe. Thankfully, you’ll have more gadgets and acrobatic tricks to do it with. Now while you’re climbing across that narrow pipe you can swing your legs up and shimmy across, allowing you to climb over obstacles. You’re not helpless either, you’re fully capable of drawing and firing your side-arm. These are just two of several new abilities.

The HUD and controls are very similar to the prequel with a few modifications to each to make them more efficient. Your optic cable is now part of your permanent inventory making it more easily accessible. You can also whistle at will to attract attention and manipulate your enemies. The enhanced control setup is so that you can make better use of both the old and new abilities. Other than a few more additions, the gameplay is basically the same. The real attraction is the cat and mouse multiplayer.

In Pandora Tomorrow’s multiplayer there are two sides; the Shadownet Spies and the Argus Corporation Mercenaries. As a spy, you are equipped with non-lethal weapons that are geared towards distracting or temporarily incapacitating the enemy and his security. Your weapon is a stun-gun with a built in battery that recharges over time. This weapon only renders your target helpless for a few seconds, allowing you to get away from his much more deadly arsenal. You can always sneak up and grab him (not while he’s being shocked though) and either render him unconscious for about ten seconds or simply break his neck–your choice. Your objective is usually either a ’sneak and grab,’ or a ’sneak and eliminate,’ with the targets being chemical canisters spread out around the level. Of course, killing the mercenaries is another way to win. But they are anything but pushovers.

The Argus Corporation Mercenaries are the best of the best. They have high tech detection gear and very lethal weaponry. While the spies have night and thermal imaging, the mercs have motion and EM detection. The motion tracker is self explanatory, but here’s how it works. You’re vision turns red and anything moving is encased in a rectangle and is seen normally. The EM detection points out the use of anything emitting an EM pulse, namely the spy’s gadgets or any other type of electronics. The merc is also equipped with an assault rifle with a mounted grenade launcher. It may not sound like it, but the sides are well balanced; yours and your teammate’s skill will decide who the victor is.

The Rating: 7

Reviewed by: Zirilan