Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow Screenshots   The Final Say! Gameplay 9.5 Graphics 9.6 Sound 9.4 Value 9.5 Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow - reviewed by Andrew B Review Date: April 2003 Review Score: 9.5/10  Distributed By: UbiSoft

"Sam Fisher returns in a worthy sequel that can only be described as... amazing!"   Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell was one of the best games of 2003 that changed the face of first person shooters and added something to the already flooded genre of the market. I was thoroughly addicted to the first game and although it was probably one of my favourite games of the year, it also left me thoroughly frustrated because some of the missions were extremely fiddle some but this is what good gaming is all about, challenging the gamer and ensuring that they wish to continue their fight for good. From the popularity of the first title, it only made sense that UbiSoft release a sequel and I can safely say that this sequel is a true equal to its predecessor and offers the gamer a variety of new and improved features.   Once again, gamers play the role of "retired" NSA operative Sam Fisher who after saving the free-world in the previous instalment is once again called back into duty. The developers have given the player a selection of two main gameplay modes that include a very in-depth solo campaign and an amazing online multiplayer experience that must be played to be believed.   The story behind Pandora Tomorrow is about a insidious terrorist who wishes to unleash an extremely deadly biological contagion upon the free world and it's up to Sam Fisher to stop this nefarious terrorist organisation. Fortunately for the gamer, the gadgets have returned and also a variety of new technological advances to assist Fisher in his pursuit of freedom and add some beautiful real-world locations into the game and you have one of the most impressive spy games of the year.   The gameplay of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (now known for this review as Pandora Tomorrow), although almost identical as the previous game sees some new improved aspects of the series such as the new artificial intelligence and whenever you accidentally set the alarms off (especially a third time), the enemy will become more aggressive and will actually arm themselves with more powerful weaponry and combat armour.   Sam Fisher also has a variety of new abilities that include the SWAT feature which allows Sam to quickly move between doorways to ensure that the guards will not notice his movements. Thankfully the return of the split jump (for ceilings or alley ways) has also returned, proving that Fisher is the coolest damn secret agent around. Another new addition to the game is the "whistle" that allows gamers to get the attention of guards so that Fisher can easily dispatch them when their curiosity gets to the better of them.

The developers have also toned down the difficulty level of the sequel to Splinter Cell and gone are the days of repetitive missions that had gamers stuck for days. That said, there are two difficultly levels in Pandora Tomorrow, that of normal and that of difficult which many scare some novice gamers away. Pandora Tomorrow also offers a very entertaining multiplayer option through XBox Live that allows you to engage other players from around the world. Gamers have the option of either playing a team of NSA agents or the mercenaries themselves. Although you may be thinking that it is unfair that one side gets to play the Sam Fisher clones and the other side the terrorists but in actual fact, the game is extremely well balanced. The spies can only kill the terrorists by sneaking up on them, whereby the mercenaries have access to more conventional weaponry.

Graphically, the original Splinter Cell was a visual treat but this current incarnation is like watching a Hollywood action movie. The characters in the game contain a higher level of polygons than their predecessors and Sam Fisher himself is truly a work of art and when you see him in action, you can almost be forgiven in thinking that you are watching some pre-rendered CGI. The attention to detail is truly breathtaking and every texture detail on Fisher, whether it's the way his clothes move or the little things such as his zippers have been implemented into this game for some of the most stunning realism that I have ever seen in a game.

The developers have also done a brilliant job at recreating the various locales in the game that really give you a sense of actually being there, everything from the bricks on the sidewalk or the way the trees move is perfect. From the subways of Paris to the jungles of Indonesia, this game is all about variety and Pandora Tomorrow offers the gamer quite a bit. The game also contains a variety of special effects such as the realistic lighting and shadow effects and even some new effects such as the blur of street traffic at night or the way that steam or rain moves. It should also be mentioned that Pandora Tomorrow has one of the most amazing CGI introductions that has ever graced the XBox and this is almost worth admission alone.

Pandora Tomorrow is the only game on the market at the moment that supports Dolby Digital Pro Logic IIx that allows for 7.1 channels and I must say that if you have the correct surround sound setup than you are in for a real treat. Once again Michael Ironside and Dennis Haysbert lend their voices to the two main characters of the game, that of Fisher and Lambert. The voice acting in the game is pure professionalism at its best and really helps immerse the viewer into the universe of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell. Apart from the various sounds of enemy banter, the sounds of bullets whizzing through the air or the screams of alarms, the next best thing is the musical score of the game that although only appears every now and then, helps give the gamer a sense of urgency or danger.

In conclusion, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow is a brilliant sequel that I'm sure all fans of the previous title will simply adore, even if you have never played the series before than you can still quite easily jump aboard without missing any of the storyline or action. With amazing graphics, pure adrenaline pumping gameplay and some addictive multiplayer, this game is a must have for all XBox owners and truly showcases the power of the machine and that of the developers. The next generation of gaming has finally arrived!

- Andrew B