Publisher: Ubi Soft
Ages: teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
war action
Simulating the dangerous under worlds of cyber-terrorism, shadow agencies and covert operations, Ubi Soft's Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow offers impressive single and multi-player activities that ask players to hide in shadows and use deadly force to take out bad guys. It's the worthy sequel to the fantastic Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell (Daytrum Review) that will appeal to fans of the original and any gamer who enjoys a great action game.
In 2006, the U.S. installs a temporary military base on East Timor to train a developing defense force. Resistance to the U.S. military presence in Southeast Asia is widespread and passionate and anti-U.S. resentment comes to a head under a guerrilla militia leader who attacks and occupies the U.S. embassy in Jakarta, taking dozens of civilian and military personnel hostage.
Players become Sam Fisher to not only rescue the hostages, but destroy top-secret documents that are held in the embassy. In true Splinter Cell fashion, players sneak around, take out guards, and try not to make noise or be seen in well-lit areas. They also deal with booby traps, security cameras, motion detectors and more.
Sam is a model of agility and athleticism. Beyond basic running and walking, he can half-split jump to reach ledges, zip-line across open courtyards, rappel along the sides of buildings and bypass open doors unseen. He has an assortment of high-tech gadgets and tools that include flashbang, shaft, and gas grenades; lock picks; an optical fiber that lets him see behind closed doors and advanced goggles to see in the dark and read thermo signatures. The game is linear and players will find themselves using lots of trial and error to get past obstacles.
The multi-player action is equally compelling. Here, up to four may compete against a team of experienced, well-armed mercenaries. Players get to use a wide variety of gadgets, weapons and athletic moves to best opponents. And the environments feature the same detailed light- and shadow-filled areas.
As in earlier Splinter Cell games, the amazing graphics serve impressive environments with ultra-realistic lighting and shadows. This time, much of action takes place outside, which is a change from the earlier title that mainly stayed inside.
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow is a fantastic game with entertaining single and multi-player modes. It's brutal and violent, which is consistent with the theme, and it's an absolute blast for gamers.
5/5/04 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
