On the Ubisoft store, the publisher has put together a handy bundle for anyone looking to jump into the entire Splinter Cell franchise. Luckily enough, it also happens to be on sale for 80% off, which includes every mainline entry in the franchise available digitally on PC via Ubisoft Connect. However, in truth, this isn't every mainline entry in the series, as there's one Splinter Cell game in particular that's seemingly been lost to time, unlike other legacy titles in the franchise. Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, which released in 2004 (one year prior to Chaos Theory), is a mainline Splinter Cell game that has not seen a modern re-release compared to every other mainline entry.
It's an unusual fate that's seemingly never been explained by Ubisoft in any official capacity, despite being lauded by fans who've played it. Granted most fans point to Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory as the best legacy game, many also point to Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow as their favorite as well, but its comparatively obscure next to 2005's entry. Splinter Cell games saw a major design and aesthetic overhaul with Chaos Theory, but even though Pandora Tomorrow didn't benefit from the same engine overhaul, the second entry brought significant gameplay and narrative improvements. However, playing Pandora Tomorrow in 2021 is way more difficult than expected.
Playing Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow In 2021 Is Difficult
The original Splinter Cell from 2002 was praised at the time as a worthy, simulatory stealth experience that iterates on the foundation Metal Gear Solid set in 1998. While Chaos Theory would be the major overhaul that brought the series forward, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow equally improved on the first game. Many fans cite the vastly more interesting narrative compared to the first game, as well as the quality of life changes to movement and combat mechanics, as reasons not to skip Pandora Tomorrow. There's clearly an appreciation for Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, but for some reason, that hasn't brought it back to modern platforms.
Trying to find a copy of Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, on any platform, is an exercise in frustration that likely turns a lot of potential players away. Poor accessibility can be a severe hindrance to any players interested in a legacy game, especially with a game like Pandora Tomorrow, which is comparatively obscure.
Any attempt at buying a copy on a modern platform is going to be met with failure, with the only option being original Xbox backwards compatibility. Beyond that, buying an original copy means hunting on Ebay, assuming players have an original Xbox/PS2/GameCube, or even a PS3 for the Splinter Cell HD Collection. A PC version of Pandora Tomorrow does exist, but given the amount of issues present in the original Splinter Cell's PC version, Pandora Tomorrow likely suffers from similar performance degradation. The only other option beyond that is emulation, which is likely the most viable option, assuming players can source an ISO or burn their own copy.
Why Pandora Tomorrow Deserves a Re-Release
If the original Splinter Cell game, flaws and all, is sold with the Splinter Cell collection on PC, why can't Pandora Tomorrow be included as well? Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow was not particularly panned on release, and was often praised for the various improvements it made over the first game in the series. Granted it's not a flawless game; fans and critics did note the gameplay experience is much more linear than the first Splinter Cell. That being said Pandora Tomorrow's reception both at release, as well as today, is largely positive among critics and fans. Those new to the series, or hardcore fans who want to play every entry, should be able to buy Pandora Tomorrow.
Which is why Ubisoft's decision not to re-list the game, even putting aside any notion of a remaster/remake, is still perplexing. There's clearly some factors that consumers aren't aware of that are preventing Pandora Tomorrow from being re-sold on any platform, because a negative reception has never been the case. Fans rarely bash on the second entry in the series, at least based on impressions posted in the Splinter Cell subreddit, and it's otherwise hard to find multiple examples of Splinter Cell fans disliking the game. Even if there aren't many legacy Splinter Cell games to look back on, Pandora Tomorrow is still a well-received entry worthy of new exposure.
That being said, depending on whatever factors are holding the game back from resale by Ubisoft, the true story of why Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow remains a mystery. Unless there's a litany of problems with the game's design that prevents it from being simply ported or re-released, it's clear there's an audience for it. Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow is not nearly as controversial as titles like Double Agent or Conviction, but for some reason it's still not seen a modern re-release in any way.