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Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow (Xbox)
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Sam Fisher, the covert agent who makes Solid Snake look like Basildon Bond, is back in Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, the all-new sequel to the 2003 hit. Once again it's down to Fisher alone to rid the world of terrorists and various other enemies of Uncle Sam. At first glance Pandora Tomorrow looks pretty much identical to its predecessor--which is to say it's one of the most graphically impressive video games ever made, with a particularly nice line in atmospheric lighting and insanely detailed environments. It's true that in straight gameplay terms things haven't changed very much, although there has been a concerted effort to make things less linear this time around--which was one of the main complaints levelled against the first game. Now though, there are multiple solutions to almost every situation you find yourself in, and this isn't limited merely to a simple choice between wading in guns blazing or sitting in a corner for 10 minutes being stealthly. There are also a few new moves and gadgets to play with but probably the most important new feature for Pandora Tomorrow is the multi-player mode. This is no simplistic death-match mode but instead pits spies (using the single-player game's standard third-person viewpoint) against mercenaries (using a more traditional first-person view) where the completely different abilities and weapons of each team makes for some highly engaging and inventive action. This immediately stops Pandora Tomorrow from being yet another mission disc sequel and alone justifies the price of admission. --David Jenkins
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3/5 |
Fans Of Trial And Error Will Love This One!
(December 08, 2006) |
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Ok, so I'm not officially a Splinter Cell hater. Heck, I picked up CT recently and I'm really enjoying it.
There are a few main problems I have with this game. Firstly, you have all these "fantastic" stealth moves that *should* give you a lot of freedom with how you tackle missions. The problem is, the use of these moves is always in a horribly contrived setting. That is, you'll only be able to use a particular move if it was designed to be used at that specific point in the game. You're not free to choose these moves, you can only do them when available.
But that wouldn't be a huge problem, were it not for the following issue. This game is prone to punishing bouts of trial-and-error. I don't like to have to replay the same segment a thousand times over, especially when it wasn't enjoyable in the first place! You can only save at carefully placed checkpoints, so be prepared to replay harder segments time and time again.
One last thing about the single-player is the "advanced AI". The AI in this game is NOT good at all. The guards have more of a sixth sense. For example, if you hide in complete darkness and look towards to guards (who are both facing away from you). If you shoot one of the guards, the other one will immediately turn around and shoot you, even though he would have NO idea where the shot came from, let alone even see you in a dark corner. It's so frustrating for the enemy to have such a rediculous and unrealistic advantage. You fire a shot at one enemy and the other one instantly finds you, regardless of where he's looking and how hidden you are.
However, the multiplayer is a much more enjoyable experience, which mixes stealth and FPS-style gameplay perfectly.
All in all, some memorable environments/missions that are marred by stupid AI and trial and error anguish. I also hate the way that the story is told through crappy news reports (Ubi really need to improve their animation in cutscenes).
In my opinion, you'd be much better off picking up the third game, Chaos Theory. You can save whenever you want during a mission, and the overall design seems a few notches above the first two games (although some bits are still a little contrived).
Anyone who calls this "The best stealth game ever" clearly didnt play the first two Thief games.... |
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5/5 |
Is this game for you????
(April 10, 2005) |
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Splinter cell is the most brillant game in history for stealth. But if u want a game easy to do that you can skip through the levels on then this game is not for you. This game take a while to learn and a lot of consentration to play but still is a brillant game. so Tom clancy has done it again. |
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5/5 |
Absorbing.....
(March 03, 2005) |
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Splinter Cell was my first foray into the latest generation of console games. I hadn't played a game on the X-box, GameCube or Ps2 ever.
I got this game along with my new X-box, and haven't played anything else for 3 months.
It didn't take too long to complete, about a month of hour sessons each night, and I'm hardly the best game player ever; but, I've played it again twice since, trying it different ways, blasting my way through first time, trying not to use any bullets the second, using complete stealth the third.
It's totally engaging. After a hard day at work, kids and wife asleep in bed, its great to spend an hour in the world of Splinter Cell, watching the scenary of Jerusalem, sitting in a dark corner and seeing where a guard will go next, lining up your sights on a guards head, ready to snipe him.
It's those elements that make this game amazing.
To be able to stand on top of a very tall building, looking down at a courtyard with your binoculars, then 30 minutes later realising you're in that courtyard, is brilliant.
To be sitting in a shadow, deciding what you're going to do next....Do I shoot this guy, risking his mates seeing him fall and sounding an alarm? Do I whistle him to a corner and grab him? Should I wait 'till he's on the other side of the room and sneak past him? Or should I shoot out that light and climb up the drainpipe?
Some of the puzzles are brilliant too; You come to an area that has a sniper in a high tower, lightning flashing every so often rendering the night-vision useless, so dark it's hard to see without night-vision, and thermal landmines that can only be seen with your thermal-vision, searchlights sweeping the area for the sniper that can't be seen with thermal-vision...
I've read a lot of reviews, and whilst most are complementary, some complain that this game is slightly linear, ie, you can only go down one route. I suppose that is half true, it is quite linear, BUT, you have to make a decision how to go down those linear routes, so the linear nature makes this all the more exciting. It also stops me from running around for 3 hours.It's a brilliant, absorbing, and well thought out game, I love it! |
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5/5 |
2nd best stealth game (the newcoming Splinter Cel being 1st)
(December 10, 2004) |
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This game is just brilliant.It has perfect graphics,amazing lighting affects,and the levals take ages to complete.Iv'e had this game for about a year and I'm still stuck on the final leval,even with the guide!This game is one of the best on the Xbox I think.This is the review overall: Graphics: 10/10 Puts the Xbox graphics engine into full useage. Lifespan: 8/10 Good,but if your'e stuck somwhere you can get bord. Playability: 10/10 Full access to everywhere. Overall: This is brilliant.This seris is probaly the best Tom Clancy game ever created this year.Hope Microsoft make the new one slightly easier. |
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5/5 |
A must-have
(July 13, 2004) |
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Splinter Cell:PT is an absolute must have for xbox. The graphics are arguably the best on xbox, and the gameplay is sublime. The AI is excellent, and the levels are incredibly atmospheric and absorbing. It really does feel like you're inside a Tom Clancy novel! Xbox live is superb, I've been told, and is a whole new take on the stealth genre (1 side is Merceneries [FPS view] and the other is 3rd echelon agents [3rd person view]). This is THE stealth game around at the moment, an absolute must-have game. Can't wait for Splinter Cell 3! |
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