oor GameCube. With Pandora Tomorrow, Ubisoft has released one of the most fun and engaging multiplayer experiences ever, and it’s only included on the Xbox and PlayStation 2 versions of the game. Sure, the ‘Cube features connectivity, but it simply can’t match the glory that is Pandora Tomorrow’s online mode. Fortunately for Nintendo fans, the single-player mode is engaging no matter what console you’re playing on, and the story simply can’t be beat.

Sam Fisher’s newest mission has him squaring off against a charming Indonesian terrorist with an anti-U.S. agenda and an "insurance plan" to keep him safe. Obviously, Sam has to take him out, but first he has to discover what the insurance plan is and how to deal with it. On its own, it’s a great, mature plot, but once you discover how the multiplayer portion fits in with the story mode, it seems simply brilliant.

Those who played through the first Splinter Cell on either console will be instantly familiar with the gameplay, and neophytes will pick it up quickly. Despite the complex story and the variety of moves and gadgets at your fingertips, Pandora Tomorrow is actually quite easy to pick up and play. The quality level design, in-game story elements, and balanced level of difficulty make for a compelling experience that will constantly spur players forward.

Pandora Tomorrow is a great game on any system, but for several reasons, the PS2 and ‘Cube versions fall a little short of the Xbox original. The simplified levels make certain areas easier, and in many cases omit some cool sections that I really loved on Xbox. The controls for the GC release were also a little lacking – the left trigger has three separate uses! But the only time I felt that the downgraded graphics were really an issue was when I was using night vision in the PS2’s multiplayer – everything looked so muddy that it was almost useless.

The lack of multiplayer on the ‘Cube really is a shame, because Pandora Tomorrow’s online play truly is unlike any other multiplayer mode out there. Each side (mercs and spies) offers a completely different experience, and Splinter Cell’s core gameplay translates amazingly well to team play. In fact, without cooperation between the spies, mission success is nearly impossible. If you’re at all interested in exciting multiplayer, you need to play this game mode.

With its intelligent story, tight gameplay, and fantastic multiplayer, Pandora Tomorrow is the best stealth/action game yet, hands down. Yes, the GameCube version has definitely gotten the short end of the stick, but the core excellence of this title is still in place, no matter which version you play.

The Edge

Between these two versions, there really is no contest: The PS2 version outshines the GameCube release in nearly every possible way. The PS2 title has the obvious advantage in that it has multiplayer, but it simply looks better, too. The ‘Cube release suffers from a low frame rate and tons of jaggies, while the PS2 looks relatively clean. Although the PS2 version is clearly superior, it must be mentioned that neither comes close to the Xbox release in terms of visuals or gameplay. This game was meant for Xbox – it’s that simple.  

ANDY MCNAMARA   9 I won’t argue that the Xbox version of Pandora Tomorrow is the best available (the graphic fidelity and framerate simply can’t be matched). However, I would be hard-pressed to find too much to fault in the PS2 edition, as it is basically the same game with some slight alterations to the level design and lesser (but still kick ass) graphics. The GameCube? Well, while still a solid version of the title, it is easily the one with the most graphical hiccups and the lack of multiplayer play is really a shame, as it is one of Pandora Tomorrow’s biggest draws. But in either case, the single player game is highly entertaining. The level designs are much improved over the original title, and the stealth gameplay is simply the best in the business. I highly recommend that you give this game a whirl on any system, but would advise you to avoid the GameCube version if at all possible because the multiplayer game is simply genius.