Difficulty:

Hard

Time Spent:

10 to 20 Hours

The Bottom Line:

"Best in series"

Fans of Splinter Cell, or of the stealth-action genre, shouldn't hesitate to pick up the sequel. Pandora Tomorrow is far from a cash-in game. It refines its predecessor's strong points, crafts an intense story worthy of a Tom Clancy novel, and adds a highly unique multiplayer component in the bargain.

Everything is bigger and better in this version of the game. Missions remain highly creative, with as much sneaking and avoidance as there is combat. There are multiple ways to get to an objective, and multiple means to take down enemies. Your goals are varied so you won't get bored. The campaign is also quite meaty, giving you roughly 15 hours of gameplay and allowing you to live out every kid's childhood fantasy of being a super spy. Sam Fisher's no James Bond, and the world he inhabits is a much darker place (perhaps because this franchise has flourished in the wake of Sept. 11). But it's still incredibly entertaining to step into his shoes.

Without a doubt, this was one of the finest titles of 2004. If not for Half-Life 2, it would certainly have taken more game of the year awards.