Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow

9 out of 10 - The Sequel That Elevated the Shadows

Pandora Tomorrow wasn't just a follow-up to the original Splinter Cell - it was a declaration that stealth had evolved. Released in 2004, this second chapter in Sam Fisher's saga didn't radically overhaul the formula but instead refined and polished it, delivering one of the most atmospherically rich, mechanically tight stealth games of its generation.

Gameplay: Evolution Over Revolution

Mechanically, Pandora Tomorrow stayed true to the deliberate, tension-filled stealth of the original. But it tightened the experience in just the right places. Movement was more fluid, the AI was sharper, and the addition of mechanics like "SWAT turns" and the ability to whistle or knock to lure enemies added layers of tactical control. You felt like a true operative - not because of brute force, but because you could out-think everyone in the room.

The environments pushed variety too. From shadowy jungle encampments in East Timor to ultra-secure American embassies, every level demanded a different approach. Light and sound meters returned, reminding you constantly: the environment is a weapon... but it can also betray you.

Story: Global Stakes, Tightly Told

The story introduced Suhadi Sadono - a charismatic and ruthless insurgent leader who executes a chilling biological threat codenamed "Pandora Tomorrow." The concept? Sleeper cells across the U. S. will release a deadly virus if he's killed. It's a brilliant narrative device that gives every mission tension: the line between success and global catastrophe is razor-thin.

Sam's mission takes him from the U. S. to Indonesia, Jerusalem, and Paris - always grounded in real-world political tension. While Chaos Theory might have had more edge, Pandora Tomorrow brought a cinematic seriousness that made each mission feel critical.

Multiplayer: The Game-Changer

Where Pandora Tomorrow really flipped the script was with its Spies vs. Mercs multiplayer mode - one of the most groundbreaking additions to stealth gaming, period. Two stealthy spies vs. Two heavily armed mercenaries. Asymmetrical. Tense. Strategic. This wasn't just a side mode - it was a revolution.

Spies relied on agility and shadows. Mercs relied on vision, firepower, and traps. The cat-and-mouse gameplay created stories of its own - and inspired an entire subgenre of multiplayer.

Voice Work and Atmosphere

Michael Ironside once again anchors the experience as Sam Fisher - his calm, sardonic delivery giving weight to every moment. Lambert, Grim, and the rest of the team ground the story with CIA-style precision, and the environments - whether it's a mosque in Jerusalem or the thick undergrowth of Indonesia - are dripping with atmosphere.

The soundtrack, lighting, and sound design all combine to pull you into the shadows. You don't just play Pandora Tomorrow - you inhabit it.

Why 9, Not 10?

Difficulty Spikes: Some missions leaned into trial-and-error a bit too much.

Linear Design: Compared to Chaos Theory, some paths felt too restrictive.

Multiplayer Support: While revolutionary, early online issues hampered some players from experiencing the full depth of Spies vs. Mercs.

Still, these don't overshadow what the game accomplished.

If you are thinking this is going to be the same as the original, you're wrong. Sure, you're still Sam Fisher, an expert spy who can infiltrate a factory without anyone know he's there. But there is one really big change. You're outdoors. Yep, you heard me. And boy do they make it look good. The environments are lush and beautiful. The bushes sway in the wind as you move past them. You still have to deal with industrial settings though. But even they can't match the beauty of the outdoors. Okay, enough of that. Lets go to gameplay. The AI is 100x approved over the original. Now enemies can grab a civilian and hold them hostage. Also, if they detect you, they don't have to run over to the alarm. Just one push of a button on their uniform, and that little baby will start sounding. And if you sound one alarm, every enemy will have a bullet proof vest on. Two alarms a helmet. Three alarms, I don't know, but it's not good. Which leads me to another thing. The game is hard. Really hard. It's impossible to beat a level on the first try. Even experts of the original will have a hard time getting through this. But even though it's hard, it's really short. There's only eight levels(the original had ten). But one thing will get you busy after you're done... The multiplayer. Here's how it is. A team of mercenaries try to get the spy. That's it. But it's fun trying to hunt down an almost invisible person. And it's fun killing unsuspecting mercenaries while you're almost invisible. So let me sum it up. The graphics are incredible, the AI is seamless, and the multiplayer is fun. Pandora Tomorrow gets a 5 out of 5.

When I first played this game I loved it, most people think it has 9 missions when really it has only 8. Also people think this is the hardest one out of the Splinter Cell series, I haven't played the first one but I have played this, Chaos Theory and Double Agent and I find this the most easiest one out of the three. I'm on the last mission on Pandora Tomorrow, Double Agent I'm on the 5th or 6th mission and on Chaos Theory I only got as far as the 3rd mission. Chaos Theory is hardest in my opinion. This game had good graphics, very lush and beautiful almost making it real. The levels of the game are also designed so that you have to be stealthy. Some levels lethal attacks are allowed, most levels only non-lethal attacks are your option. 8/10 is my rating for this game.

2 years after Sam Fisher became the undercover hero of defeating the Georgian Terrorist threat.

This time he's dealing with Indonesian Gureilla Terrorists. Who are planning to attack the USA with a virus under the code name: Pandora Tomorrow.

Sam Fisher is once again on new undercover missions to prevent losses of innocent civilians.

He must go from Indonesia to France and L.A.X. to confront and stop the enemy at all costs.

The game has the similar features from the first one, only newly improved here and there. Same weapons including some new ones for greater advantages. The game play is different, but you get use to it real quick as you play the game. The graphics are great as ever. And the voice acting is as super as it was in the first game. Contains the usual strategy/stealth action.

Those who liked the first one will like this sequel.

Part 2 of Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. This game makes you think and gives you a lot of options. This game is base on stealth and thinking before you make your move. Nothing has changed in this game and that's good because I like to take my time. Timing is the key in playing this game because one false move and it's mission over.

The levels has increased to 32 and each level has a certain feel to it. The storyline has changed also. This time your fighting a terrorist group called the Indonesian Guerrilla and the person in charge is Suhadi Sadono. The object of the game is to stop him at all cost if you want to survive.

What's in the game?

The game has a very good basic move system that allows you to move freely without being detected. But the only way you can do this is by playing the first game and practice to get the right feel because the controls are almost the same, but with more realism. Of course we know the basic moves like: climbing, manting, and zip line. The Advanced moves are important and very special to the game because with these moves, the terrorist group don't know what hit them. Just to name a few like: Drop Attack, when you can zip line and land on top of the person without setting the alarm, Rappelling while shooting, Hanging while shooting, and my favorite is Split Jump Shooting. Grabbing the person has been 50-50, to say the lease. This is why this game makes you think because you got to make the right decisions and if you make the right decision, good things will happen like: when you grab the person, you can do four things. 1. Knock him out, silently, 2. interrogating the person, 3. Forced cooperation on the person, and 4. uses him as a human shield. You will still take damage, but not as much. It has a new feature for the SC-20K (weapon). This weapon has a feature called a Multipurpose Lanucher were you can choose between 7 sub-weapons or gadgets. They are: Ring Airfoil Projectile, Sticky Camera, Sticky Shocker, Distraction Camera, Gas Grenade, Flashbang, and Chaff Grenade.

There's more in the game but I'm going to explain one weakness to the game and that's when you uses the SC-20K while using your binoculars to get a much better shot on the enemy, you get a sense of being mistreated. Let me explain.

If you go to any level in the game and you walk slowly to the next room, you spot a terrorist staring towards the front. In other words, the terrorist is looking right at you, but your not spotted yet. Here's the sad part. When you draw your SC-20K and your binoculars, the camera shakes and your accuracy decreases. If you try to shoot the terrorist, you'll miss every time and the mission will be over or you set off the first alert.

This is my review on this game and out of 0 to 10, My rating on this game is a 9 because it's a game that will keep you busy until Metal Gear 3 comes out and even if it has one weakness, it's still a great game.

If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me.

Undertaker55 was spoken. Good Day.