Tom Clancys Splinter Cell

Tom Clancys Splinter Cell was one of the biggest surprises at last year's E3, but Ubisoft hasn't managed to make an impressive announcement for this year's E3. Still, the game is coming in 2003 and Ubisoft is certainly throwing some very interesting hardware into the mix.

Earlier today, a number of Japanese developers revealed some rather interesting news concerning Splinter Cell. While the game is being developed by Ubisoft's Kojima Productions, it will be overseen by Tom Clancy himself, the original author of Splinter Cell. Ubisoft's Tom Clancys is going to be the primary developer and once again claims to be a top-notch adventure game developer. Clancys will be another publisher that has had its hand in a number of Tom Clancy games.

The same company that developed Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, and Ghost Recon 2 has also revealed that Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, previously known as Rainbow Six: Raven Shield, will be heading for a North American release later this year. Those interested in checking out the game in the US will be able to purchase it from GameStop for $49.99. No North American release date has been confirmed yet.

Ubisoft recently put a big emphasis on Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Pandora Tomorrow, which is now slated to arrive on the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PC in the third quarter of 2004. The game is being developed by Red Storm, a studio that's worked on the console versions of the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Rainbow Six Vegas, and Ghost Recon 2. A big part of the difference between the two games is that Pandora Tomorrow will sport a revamped interface and feature a revamped storyline, but this isn't the first time Red Storm has made such a significant effort to translate the mechanics of the PC series to the consoles. Both of the console games will take place in the near future, and Ubisoft has reworked both the tactical and tactical combat systems, which are the heart of the PC games.

With Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Pandora Tomorrow, the franchise is heading to the Nintendo DS. We got to take a look at Pandora Tomorrow's gameplay for the first time, and although the basic scheme of action is still the same--for starters, you'll be able to select from more than 15 different characters from the Clancy universe to play as. While the control is basic, you'll use the D pad to move, the A button to toggle on the flashbang, the B button to move, the X button to turn, and so on. To advance into the levels, you'll move the stylus to pick up objects and place them in the environment. In these levels, you'll have to use the DS' stylus to look around and draw out cover, while you'll be able to use the D pad to zoom in and out and switch between weapons. The DS version will include five different multiplayer modes, but we got to see two more when playing through the game's co-op mode.

Pandora Tomorrow's unique art style has also seen some tweaks that we haven't seen before. The signature flashbang, the flashbang, has been replaced with a pirate ship, with the help of the DS's touch screen. Though the touch screen will serve as your inventory of items, the controls will change dynamically and will be controlled by the DS's face buttons, which should make things a little more straightforward than before. While you'll have to wait until you can use the touch screen to make a flashbang, you'll be able to adjust the game's difficulty by using a brief tutorial mode.

The third game in the Invizimaker series will offer plenty of new features, including a map that lets you check out key locations in certain levels, as well as some new enemies. Though the specifics are still unknown, we were able to get a feel for the control scheme. The most unique aspect of the DS game is the map system. You'll be able to use the D pad to make selections on your screen while playing, and the game will have a soul meter that will let you know how much of the level is safe. As with the DS game, you'll be able to search for jewels in each level, which can then be used to unlock some of the new levels. Besides looking cool, the game will also feature a heads-up display that will let you keep track of where you've been. The system will also feature the aforementioned key information that will let you stay on track on what's happening onscreen.

The graphics in the game have been tightened up and look to offer a nice blend of old and new. The characters and environments feature a flashy new look that complements their familiar archetypes. The core gameplay has seen some tweaking as well. You'll find an interesting mix of old and new faces in the game.