Splinter Cell 2: Pandora TomorrowPublisher: UbisoftPlatform: Xbox, PS2, GameCube, PC
If you don't know anything about Splinter Cell, put the magazine down and euthanize yourself.
Splinter Cell was by far the most challenging and graphically amazing game in existence-until Splinter Cell 2 came out. Light is key here. It is your enemy. Anyone sees you, and you're toast.
You are Sam Fisher, and you're the only one infiltrating an enemy organization for intelligence purposes. Unfortunately, anyone you off could raise eyebrows, leading to an untimely demise or a rather sticky situation. You've got to get rid of the enemy more subtly and hide the bodies, whether dead or unconscious. Also, one must avoid making more than ambient noise levels, so as to not alert a flock of birds and arouse the enemy's suspicions. The challenge is subtlety. Sounds easy enough, right?
Well, I only wish it were. In either version of the game, I achieved only marginal success in the missions. This is a challenging and time-consuming game. Chances are you will use a great deal of time trying to figure out and pass each level. Unless of course you're using a cheat device, hint book, or GameFAQs.com.
Nonetheless, the most striking feature of Splinter Cell 2 is its use of lighting. The lighting effects are gorgeously rendered, as are the environments. The game simply immerses the player and uses the scenery and lighting to enhance the mood.
As far as the stealth action genre is concerned, Splinter Cell is the paragon. It defined the genre and redefines it with each game. If you want to kill everything in your path, then Splinter Cell is not for you. However, if you're in the game for tense stealth action, then Splinter Cell is it. No question about it, this game belongs in your collection.
Rallisport Challenge 2Publisher: MicrosoftPlatform: XboxImp-0412-housearrest-11 to15
Rally racing is by far one of the most exciting and enjoyable racing experiences on the planet, both in terms of watching and driving. However, not all of us have the budgets (or the desire to harm oneself by building a "rally beater") to build a car, nor are there many places in Southern California to race them without getting in too much trouble. So, we're left with video games and rally coverage on the Speed channel.
What's missing in most rally games is the cling-to-your-seats, oh-shit-I'm-really-going-to-die-now feeling of being in a rally rocket like the Lancia Delta Integrale or Subaru Impreza 22B. The original Rallisport Challege captured this succinctly and also threw a few curveballs at us. One was hiding rocks in the underbrush and doing little things to throw you off. RC2 also captures this and makes rallying a lot prettier. The crashes are still spectacular and fun to watch. But I noticed a tendency for the game to be a bit lenient when it comes to mistakes, like flying off a cliff or getting hung up on a tree or berm. Most races I finished first with a 10-second lead. Two things here: One, I suck; two, refer to number one. Really.
This is a shame, because the first one gave me a run for my money. It forced me to improve rather than letting me suck royally for the first half of the game and still beat the computer.
On the brighter side of things, the game is absolutely gorgeous and features a huge variety of rally cars to choose from, even the legendary Group B cars. Let's just say this, RC2 features all the rally cars that matter and don't suck. The game also offers different types of rally racing. How often can you compete in an ice race one minute and in a hillclimb the next? The damage modeling is frighteningly realistic, especially all the little fender benders sustained on the quest to the finish line. Unfortunately, no matter how many doors are missing or how crunched up your ride is, you don't lose performance or handling.
If you liked the first one, then you'll definitely like this one. This is an excellent game to add to your collection. If you haven't played the first one, then I would recommend a quick rental before you pick this one up. Visuals, sound, game play mechanics, camera angles, and so forth all make for a splendid game, but it does not offer much more than the first one. Not that we're knocking either, because we loved both.