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Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action
Region: NTSC
Format:
Release Date: 25 Jun 04
User Rating
8.6 (20 votes) -
- Feeling more like an expansion pack than a full-on sequel, Cube's version is still a solid shooter, even without the essential online play.
More Screens (4 total)
Overview
When we review a game off of one of the best games to ever hit the current generation consoles it's a big deal. Splinter Cell was arguably the best third person stealth action title to ever hit store shelves and now the sequel has came. Can the sequel match the hype? Read our review to find out!
Gameplay
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow has already been released a month before on the PC, Xbox and Playstation 2 and now finally Cube owners can get on in the action as well. The game shipped with not only an amazing single player mode but also had the very exciting online adaptation, which allowed you and three others to join forces and fight in stealth excellence. Unfortunately for us Cube owner we were not granted this privilege but instead were left with just the mere single player mode and some GBA connectivity. So how does Pandora Tomorrow stand up with only the single player mode? Not as good as many would have hoped.
When you look at Pandora Tomorrow you will find that it is more an expansion pack then anything on the Cube version. The game uses the same engine as the first but a refined engine at that. You can see some things have been quirked a bit to feel like a new game but for the most part you are playing much of the same game, which is still a great thing. Like in the first you will be sneaking your way around the levels to complete your objectives, using your weapon only as a last resort.
Sam Fisher the main character of the Splinter Cell series is still equipped with all his neat gadgets that do wonders for the game. For most of the game you will have your silenced pistol, as well as your assault rifle. The one thing that is exclusive to the Cube, which is more of a gimmick then anything, is the GBA connectivity, which allows you to view a real time tactical map which can comes in handy but is no where near to filling the gap of the lack of multiplayer support.
One of the key downsides to Pandora Tomorrow is not the gameplay itself but the lack of buttons on the Gamecube controller. I must hand it to Ubi Soft for doing all they could to make Pandora Tomorrow playable with the Cube's controller but the controls feel quite awkward and doesn't work as well as they do on the other consoles. Unlike Pandora Tomorrow on other consoles which take very little time to get used to, the controls of the game on the Cube do take some time to get used to and unfortunately for me anyways I never really felt all that comfortable.
The one thing you got to love about Pandora Tomorrow is that it still is as exciting as the first. The storyline in Pandora Tomorrow in my eyes is a whole lot more interesting and easy to follow then the first. Similar to the first in between levels and checkpoints you will have cut scenes which are still beautiful and keep you interested in the mission at hand.
Pandora Tomorrow has the same level structure and the same state of mind as the original. This is a game that becomes more and more of a trial and error then anything. You will have to go through levels multiple times to figure out what the best way to accomplish your objectives is. The game gets progressively harder but in my eyes this game doesn't seem all that long. The more I played the game the more I found that it was very difficult but not as long and complex as the game is for some reason it doesn't seem all that long.
So we have the Cube version, it is equipped with the single player mode and the GBA connectivity but is that really enough. And the answer is not quite. The Cube version of Pandora Tomorrow is not quite as deep as one would expect in a sequel. Sure the GBA connectivity is interesting but it doesn't have much of an impact on the game. Pandora Tomorrow on the PS2, Xbox, and PC feels like a standalone game but on the Cube it feels more like an expansion pack then anything. A great game that is lacking what the others have!
Graphics
When the original Splinter Cell hit the markets I think ever gamer that picked up the game had their jaws drop on more than a few occasions. The level of detail and the amazing lighting effects that filled this game were ones for the ages. Splinter Cell became known to most as the best-looking game to hit the consoles, and the title in my eyes is still with it.
The Gamecube's version of Pandora Tomorrow is still very impressive, and although it may not meet the bar that the PC and Xbox have set, it still is one that will make you drool. The lighting effects in the game are still out of this world, and the level of detail has even been raised a little from the previous game. You can see that the game has had some upgrades although you will really have to sit back and take in some of the updates.
Overall we are still looking at a visually gorgeous game that may not be as exciting as the first one was but does keep up the legacy that the original started only a few years ago.
Fun Factor
Some people just don't have the patience for games such as Pandora Tomorrow, but for those who do, you will enjoy Pandora Tomorrow to the max! For those who are fans of the original will find that they will have fun with this one as well. The one downside that will probably hinder you fun just a bit is the fact that you know all of the other version have online multiplayer capabilities and your version does not.
Overall
Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow on the Cube cannot really be considered a worthy sequel but instead more of an expansion pack, and a solid one at that. If the Gamecube is your only console, then I would highly recommend picking this title up right away. Otherwise, the PC, Xbox or PS2 versions will offer more enjoyment for roughly the same price.
- Gameplay
8.0 - Graphics
9.0 - Fun Factor
8.0 - Overall
8.0
