How good does a game have to be for you to enjoy it without ever killing an enemy? Where sneaking around for two hours in the shadows while knocking out the bad guys is the only possible course of action. You know that game has to be tight for you to have any hope of really enjoying it; but given the fact most of you have already played the original Splinter Cell I don’t think it needs to be mentioned that this game is more then capable of pulling that off.
Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow takes what was fun about the original game, does everything possible to fix the small annoyances, and throws in a new multiplayer mode, that dare I say, is almost as fun as that of Goldeneye on the N64.
For those un-initiated to the Splinter Cell universe, it needs to be told that this game is unlike many of today’s titles in that if forces you to truly employ the element of stealth. Walk too quickly, make too much noise, walk into an area that is too well lit, don’t hide a body well enough after you’ve incapacitated it? Any of these could easily end your mission. You’ll spend more time shooting out lights, and sneaking up on enemies then you will taking out bad guys with bullets. Combine those elements with some true suspense and you’ll love every minute of the espionage gameplay found in Pandora Tomorrow.
Like any true secret agent, Sam Fisher is armed and ready for action with all the gadgets and tools you’ll need to complete any mission. All sorts of guns, ammo (including rubber bullets), grenades, and even tools like lock picks, and an optical fiber (which is really handy for seeing what’s behind doors) are at your disposal. The great thing about Splinter Cell is that in all reality you’ll need most of these tools to complete your objectives.
In addition to the tools at your disposal publisher Ubi Soft has improved on the original game with the stealth meter; which by extension has made Pandora Tomorrow far less frustrating then its predecessor to play. The stealth meter will let you know how exposed you are, and even assist in the hiding of incapacitated bodies, (an important element of the Splinter Cell universe). You can now knock out of the bad guys, and drag them to a dark corner knowing they wont’ be found by any of their bad guy friends.
If one thinks about it, the missions and gameplay in Pandora Tomorrow are fairly linear. You won’t find yourself faced with countless options or ways to do things, but in the end you’ll be thankful for that. The game is hard enough with knowing what pattern the guards will walk in, where you need to go, and how you need to get there. If you made events random in the Splinter Cell universe the game would be next to impossible to complete. You can at least play Pandora Tomorrow knowing if you screw up at any time during the level, as long as you can remember how you screwed up, and how to rectify that mistake, when you restart the mission from the last check point you should be able to get past the portion you failed on previously. In thought is seems like it should detract from the games fun given today’s emphasis on smart AI, but trust in the fact you don’t want this game to play out that way. You need no more proof of this then the knowledge that missions requiring you to use non lethal force (which also contain far fewer enemies) are exponentially harder then the missions that allow you to shoot countless bad guys.
Graphically Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow is a stand out in the console world. Character models range from good to excellent (Sam being the obvious excellent model), and the environments are huge with some very impressive lighting effects. The only thing that stands out as weird, or out of place is the tiny green light on the back of Sam’s neck – in dark corner’s it creates quite a bit of artifacting. It’s not something you’ll notice right away, but as you play the game more and more it becomes clearly noticeable. That’s however, a very tiny gripe in an otherwise perfect graphical presentation.
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Sound wise you get the now standard Dolby Digital that has become a staple on the Xbox, but above that you get some excellent voice acting. Dennis Haysbert of 24 fame, as well as Canadian Michael Ironside (the voice of Sam Fisher), help insure the acting in Pandora Tomorrow is remember as a plus rather then the usual video game minus.
The biggest addition in this version of Splinter Cell is the multiplayer mode; which is easily and by far one of the most addictive and fun online multiplayer games to come along in awhile. Based on an in game plot point, you have the option of playing as Shadownet (a group made up of Sam Fishers’ whose goal is to do good), or ARGUS Corp (a group who’s sole purpose it to sop Shadownet from succeeding). Each group plays from different vantage point (3rd person, and 1st person respectively), and offers its own gadgets and weapons. Multiplayer is as suspenseful, and stealthy as the single player mode with the exception that you can now play in a 4 on 4 team based game. Be prepared to spend heavy amounts of time playing online, because Splinter Cells online is even more addictive then Splinter Cell alone.
With a single player mode that has only improved on the last version, and multiplayer action that is every bit the equal of the single player fun, Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow now stands as an Xbox defining title. Buy it, rent it, do all of the above – Just make damn sure you play this game.
