Chaos Theory gets most of the love from Splinter Cell, fans but Pandora Tomorrow also introduced some cool improvements. Plus, the game had lots of style in it’s level design and atmosphere. Really great game!
I miss when a more aggressive, 'action' route in stealth games felt more like a last resort or calculated risk rather than an alternative play-style. Seems to suck all the tension out of sneaking around.
@Bwa Bwa Yoshi Honestly, I feel like the reinforcements in Blacklist just make it turn into a Gears of War style cover shooter. Resources can be resupplied to full after every few encounters and health is regenerating. Not really very tense at all.
I find it really cool how old Splinter Cell games use jumpscares to spice up the gameplay far more effectively than many full-fledged horror games. Where something like Outlast just throws a loud sound at you with little effect on the actual game, this game uses a subtle environmental cue that may or may not ruin your playthrough depending on how well you play.
3:36 when you go into the room there is a pipe that you can climb. Get on the pipe and go halfway into the room. The guards will walk in and look around. There will then be a conversation between two and they will split up and all leave. Don’t have to take anyone out.
If you’re a big brain Splinter cell player. Before the guys come into room at around 4:00 minutes. You rollover to the door before they get there and wait for them all to pass through. Easy as that and walk through the door without playing Aragami in the shadows.
Actually it's is possible to easily jump from one's shelve's bottom to another, you just need to switch on you running speed and move strictly forward, so Sam will always grab the edge of the next shelf.
Splinter Cell has always been my second favorite Stealth game behind Metal Gear. We definitely need a new one after Blacklist that was amazing one for PS4
+Portiadude There's a few alternatives to routes that I suggest in this video. I just wanted to highlight the stuff that stood out to me about each room. But thanks for pointing it out! Just shows how well thought-out each room in the game is. Sometimes I still find new routes in Chaos Theory when I go back to it.
If there's one problem I had with this level, it's that the guards somehow hear you shimmying on ledges in the coolant loaded room. This is one of the tell-tale signs this was done by Ubisoft Shanghai at some point.
@@vman339 i think that it is the bug with game not responding properly with new OS in that section, because on Windows XP they can't hear you there. Shame, this problem was fixed only in HD Trilogy.
I love this level so much. I remember it being a big step-up from the East Timor Embassy in the level beforehand and gets you much more accustomed to what you'll be doing for the rest of the game. Such a good game.
Good stuff as always, I remember Splinter Cell 1 and 3 fondly, I still remember every level in detail but I couldn't tell you a thing about Pandora Tomorrow, although I do think it has the best incarnation of Spies VS Mercs
7:14 I laughed so hard when the guard yelled, " What are you supposed to be?!" Just the way he yells it is really funny, and I was not expecting it. I love this game! It was the first of the Splinter Cell series I played that got me hooked on it.
Dope video dude. For a video game level design video, it's pretty in-depth and well compact in just less than 10 minutes. Will you do more videos similar to this in the future?
Just found your channel after this video was posted on Reddit. Really enjoyed this, subscribed and now I'm really looking forward to binging on the rest of your videos! Cheers!
Hey, your right about the train noise. I never really thought about it like that. Great video, it was a very refreshing perspective. I never thought about any of these things as I do the game stealthily. You should do more like these, great work.
Thats my fav level in the game minus maybe Kundang Camp cause of the awesome atmosphere and how it played similar to the first game so i knew all of its tricks
Thats my fav level in the game minus maybe Kundang Camp cause of the awesome atmosphere and how it played similar to the first game so i knew all of its tricks
Pandora tomorrow is my favorite Splinter Cell. It’s so intense and pure stealth. All these other fake stealth games have action as just another option. Avoiding detection in PT is the only way to advance. It’s a genuine authentic stealth game with excellent design and mechanics. Its very difficult, it’s like playing a game of chess with the anxiety of having a gun pointed to your head.
First splinter cell I ever played was the chaos theory mobile demo on my dad's phone. First console splinter cell was double agent V2 on the Wii, then conviction on xbox, essentials on the psp and then the rest.
You forgot that in the section where there's the 3 guards and you mentioned the 3 ways you can go pass but one is blocked which is the middle one. After you open that room door, right when you open it, you go left and there's a pipe you can climb and make your way to the other side of the room, didn't know about that one did you? :)
I thought the shaky pistol laser was brilliant. I could choose between pin-point accuracy at the cost of having to pay attention to where the dot is actually pointing at, or general accuracy at the benefit of shooting immediately without waiting for a dot to align. It made perfect sense from a story perspective, because Sam is old and his hands get rather shaky (definitely noticeable when he scope-aims his rifle).
Great video, i really loved this game back in the day. Shame that it does not run on modern systems ... Kudos for bringing some Kendrick Lamar (Sing about me) into this :P
Have you considered doing a level design video about one of the original Thief games, they have some of the best levels in a video game I have ever played.
I loved the series from my youth and Pandora Tomorrow is definitely my favorite of the Splinter Cell series because of the sentiment I have for her, unfortunately, what made me nervous is the inability to creatively sneak past the guards patrolling the area due to the poor ability to distinguish shaded zones and those illuminated in the pc version because of incompatibility of the game with newer graphics card drivers . I see that in the HD version this problem has been fixed and game becomes much easier.
@@a_brodo3158 Yup, I found fix on the internet, but I spend childhood, playing without it, but thanks anyway. Maybe that tip will help someone else, who will read that comment.
I would love to play Pandora tomorrow again. The funny thing is, I have one copy around here, but Ubisoft fucked up the settings and the engine, so you don´t have light sources on current computer systems :c
I've completely played through Pandora Tomorrow using the fix provided here: www.jiri-dvorak.cz/scellpt/ Not sure if there's a better fix, but this is one is almost perfect.
If you like this type of level design I would highly recommend splinter cell double agent for the Xbox 360/PS3/PC version of the game which was actually also developed by Ubisoft Shanghai
Levels "that just kinda clicks": Of their own accord - modern warfare 2 Sen's Fortress - Dark Souls Anathema - Hitman 2 The Ark - Halo 3 Silent Talon - Ghost Recon Future Soldier E1M5 Gloom Keep - Quake 1. Each one really shined in offering dynamic, varied, and overall fun level design. Please take a look.
Pandora Tomorrow its far superior to it predecesor, by far i have to say. And takes some mechanics in the controll and positibilyties to end the levels, very differents to the others games of the saga. I like it a lot. ^^ Its not a perfect game of course, buts its a good one.
To be honest, outside of a few areas, I found Pandora Tomorrow easier to stealth than Splinter Cell 1, especially since Splinter Cell 1 had several levels clearly designed more for combat than stealth. Granted, it is easier to play Splinter Cell 1 if you don't bother trying to stealth/ghost your way around everything so you probably have a point there.
To this day I consider PT to be superior to the first. Sure, the "3 alarms you're out" mechanic is stupid and the voice actors chosen weren't the best compared to the original, but the game improved a lot of what was in the original. Examples being superior level variety, diverse soundtracks, laser pointer to compensate the ass aiming of the pistol, attempting to add different routes to your objective (PS2 version), end game statistics of your performance (PS2 version), the SWAT turn, and the addition of reaching high entry points with the splint jump. With the first three games, they are one of the few trilogies where it gets better with the next game. Double agent was good too, but felt disappointing. never played conviction because I just wasn't feeling the route they went with, but loved Blacklist since they brought back stealth. Not perfect, but damn good.
Mission 2... i have the PS3 Trilogy... With the very first enemy of the game The enemy ‘suspects’ im there even if he doesn’t see me... is this a problem with the game or what? It makes playing the level unbearable because i HAVE to take him out...
Wait, so you pick Pandora Tomorrow as the stealth game with great level design? What about the next fucking game Chaos Theory?! Or better yet, how about the Thief series? Those games have WAY better level design than Pandora tomorrow!
I wanted to talk about Pandora Tomorrow because I've already made something on Chaos Theory before, and also no one ever talks about PT so I wanted to shine a little light on it for once.
The France level was one of the few levels I actually liked. Being out in the wilderness was just a chore, not much you can do in terms of lighting. Whenever I was indoors is when I felt at home, what Splinter Cell should be. Luckily Chaos Theory fixed everything. Level design and annoying fucking enemies phoning in an alert.
There was no penalty whatsoever for fatalities except for certain sections and civilians in Pandora Tomorrow. In later games like Chaos Theory where there is a penalty I always aim for no kills. Albeit the level design is far superior in CT as opposed to PT.
Ironically, for me Pandora Tomorrow is the one with the worst level design, the first game and Chaos Theory have a much better level design, Chaos Theory had a more open ended level design and the first is really creative because while the levels were linear, you always "run in circles" and go arround a kind open map, it is hard to describe, but if you play the second mission for example you will understand. Plus: 3:34 as a Splinter Cell long time fan i know this part have i pipe on the left side that only thoughtful players will see, and allow them to bypass everything without making a single distraction.
you have successfully made me want to play the original splinter cell games, well done. great content dude. subbed.
Ayyy it's Jake
Splinter Cell 1 - 3 are godgiven.
Have you done your homework yet JACOB?
Youre saying like if the new ones were better..
Oh shit, was this comment before Nakey Jakey was UA-cam famous?
Chaos Theory gets most of the love from Splinter Cell, fans but Pandora Tomorrow also introduced some cool improvements.
Plus, the game had lots of style in it’s level design and atmosphere.
Really great game!
It had the train Level which is stil so cool
I miss when a more aggressive, 'action' route in stealth games felt more like a last resort or calculated risk rather than an alternative play-style. Seems to suck all the tension out of sneaking around.
+Aladelicous "Ah well even if they see me I CAN probably just kill them all" is something you rarely thought in Splinter Cell, yeah
+Aladelicous "Ah well even if they see me I CAN probably just kill them all" is something you rarely thought in Splinter Cell, yeah
@Bwa Bwa Yoshi Honestly, I feel like the reinforcements in Blacklist just make it turn into a Gears of War style cover shooter. Resources can be resupplied to full after every few encounters and health is regenerating. Not really very tense at all.
"Like many other things, I enjoy my stealth games tight."
Proud of that line, are ya? xD
I find it really cool how old Splinter Cell games use jumpscares to spice up the gameplay far more effectively than many full-fledged horror games. Where something like Outlast just throws a loud sound at you with little effect on the actual game, this game uses a subtle environmental cue that may or may not ruin your playthrough depending on how well you play.
Love this game. I used to play the train level over and over.
"I know a lot of people dropped out of school and want video games to teach them shit." Damn turbo, that's savage hahaha!
3:36 when you go into the room there is a pipe that you can climb. Get on the pipe and go halfway into the room. The guards will walk in and look around. There will then be a conversation between two and they will split up and all leave. Don’t have to take anyone out.
If you’re a big brain Splinter cell player. Before the guys come into room at around 4:00 minutes. You rollover to the door before they get there and wait for them all to pass through. Easy as that and walk through the door without playing Aragami in the shadows.
Actually it's is possible to easily jump from one's shelve's bottom to another, you just need to switch on you running speed and move strictly forward, so Sam will always grab the edge of the next shelf.
Splinter Cell has always been my second favorite Stealth game behind Metal Gear. We definitely need a new one after Blacklist that was amazing one for PS4
The room at 4:00 - 5:00 also has a pipe on the left, so you can crawl along the ceiling.
+Portiadude There's a few alternatives to routes that I suggest in this video. I just wanted to highlight the stuff that stood out to me about each room.
But thanks for pointing it out! Just shows how well thought-out each room in the game is. Sometimes I still find new routes in Chaos Theory when I go back to it.
If there's one problem I had with this level, it's that the guards somehow hear you shimmying on ledges in the coolant loaded room.
This is one of the tell-tale signs this was done by Ubisoft Shanghai at some point.
@@vman339 i think that it is the bug with game not responding properly with new OS in that section, because on Windows XP they can't hear you there. Shame, this problem was fixed only in HD Trilogy.
I love this level so much. I remember it being a big step-up from the East Timor Embassy in the level beforehand and gets you much more accustomed to what you'll be doing for the rest of the game. Such a good game.
Good stuff as always, I remember Splinter Cell 1 and 3 fondly, I still remember every level in detail but I couldn't tell you a thing about Pandora Tomorrow, although I do think it has the best incarnation of Spies VS Mercs
7:14 I laughed so hard when the guard yelled, " What are you supposed to be?!" Just the way he yells it is really funny, and I was not expecting it. I love this game! It was the first of the Splinter Cell series I played that got me hooked on it.
I remember climbing up a pipe to avoid the guys in the room at 3:35.
That's exactly what I did too. Even when I replayed the game.
+gilgamesh310
It sounds like the best option. Everything else sounds like busy work or perfect timing.
Dope video dude. For a video game level design video, it's pretty in-depth and well compact in just less than 10 minutes. Will you do more videos similar to this in the future?
+Guypersonmanthing3 Definitely. Have a similar one planned that I'll try and get out shortly after my next video. Thanks!
Big fan of your work dude. Keep it up!
Great analysis on the level. You went really deep into explaining the map's charm. Great video.
I always love the diversity of your music choices
Just found your channel after this video was posted on Reddit. Really enjoyed this, subscribed and now I'm really looking forward to binging on the rest of your videos! Cheers!
Hey, your right about the train noise. I never really thought about it like that. Great video, it was a very refreshing perspective. I never thought about any of these things as I do the game stealthily. You should do more like these, great work.
Solid work, dude. Good to see a level design video on something besides another platformer.
On the situation 3:44 theres a pipe on the left, the cieling. You can crawl on the pipe without leaving a trace.
Pandora Tomorrow, that was the name of the 2nd game... I had forgotten. But I remember it was a good but hard game.
Great video. I love your choice of soundtrack!
That moment when you stumble on a video that says exactly what you've been saying about these games for the past 15 years...Brilliant..
I like the summary at the end. Continue those.
I always found the Cryogenics Lab level in this game really creepy as a kid. Maybe the atmosphere and the subtle but effective music.
Thats my fav level in the game minus maybe Kundang Camp cause of the awesome atmosphere and how it played similar to the first game so i knew all of its tricks
Thats my fav level in the game minus maybe Kundang Camp cause of the awesome atmosphere and how it played similar to the first game so i knew all of its tricks
this is an amazing review. well done
Pandora tomorrow is my favorite Splinter Cell. It’s so intense and pure stealth. All these other fake stealth games have action as just another option. Avoiding detection in PT is the only way to advance. It’s a genuine authentic stealth game with excellent design and mechanics. Its very difficult, it’s like playing a game of chess with the anxiety of having a gun pointed to your head.
think i just found my next favorite you tuber
I'm a veteran SC player ; in hindsight...Pandora Tomorrow is my favorite Splinter Cell.
First splinter cell I ever played was the chaos theory mobile demo on my dad's phone. First console splinter cell was double agent V2 on the Wii, then conviction on xbox, essentials on the psp and then the rest.
"What are you supposed to be?!"
*Death Incarnate*
3:25 You didnt even need to use those cabinets by the left btw lol. You could just directly Jump all 3 files shelves
“The game uses sound to make you shit your pants once more as a couple dickheads with guns…” 🤣🤣🤣
You forgot that in the section where there's the 3 guards and you mentioned the 3 ways you can go pass but one is blocked which is the middle one. After you open that room door, right when you open it, you go left and there's a pipe you can climb and make your way to the other side of the room, didn't know about that one did you? :)
I thought the shaky pistol laser was brilliant. I could choose between pin-point accuracy at the cost of having to pay attention to where the dot is actually pointing at, or general accuracy at the benefit of shooting immediately without waiting for a dot to align. It made perfect sense from a story perspective, because Sam is old and his hands get rather shaky (definitely noticeable when he scope-aims his rifle).
Great video, i really loved this game back in the day. Shame that it does not run on modern systems ...
Kudos for bringing some Kendrick Lamar (Sing about me) into this :P
You should do more.
You know that group of 3 guards, you cn just wait for them to pass.
Nice video.
Have you considered doing a level design video about one of the original Thief games, they have some of the best levels in a video game I have ever played.
Great vid!
I loved the series from my youth and Pandora Tomorrow is definitely my favorite of the Splinter Cell series because of the sentiment I have for her, unfortunately, what made me nervous is the inability to creatively sneak past the guards patrolling the area due to the poor ability to distinguish shaded zones and those illuminated in the pc version because of incompatibility of the game with newer graphics card drivers
. I see that in the HD version this problem has been fixed and game becomes much easier.
Late reply and you probably know this, but there’s a fix on a steam community post that lets you emulate those old shadow buffering effects
@@a_brodo3158 Yup, I found fix on the internet, but I spend childhood, playing without it, but thanks anyway. Maybe that tip will help someone else, who will read that comment.
I would love to play Pandora tomorrow again. The funny thing is, I have one copy around here, but Ubisoft fucked up the settings and the engine, so you don´t have light sources on current computer systems :c
I _just_ played this level and playing it on PC ruins it due to shader and shadow glitches. Almost all effects are lost.
I'll see if I can find a fix.
Hemang Chauhan I know I'm a month late, but there is a mod that fixes the lights and other things.
I've completely played through Pandora Tomorrow using the fix provided here: www.jiri-dvorak.cz/scellpt/
Not sure if there's a better fix, but this is one is almost perfect.
why isn't this game on steam or gog yet the other Splinter cells are?
You really hate games don't you...
+LN2233 Something with the way lighting was implemented it doesn't run on modern graphics cards
TheDominitri I found a pirated copy that works well
Because of music license , they used some song in the game and license or rights for ubisoft have expired, thats why
What song?
If you like this type of level design I would highly recommend splinter cell double agent for the Xbox 360/PS3/PC version of the game which was actually also developed by Ubisoft Shanghai
I wished that they kept the Swat turn for the following splinter cell games.
4:54: "there's more items for your sorry arse!" :)
put it on a t-shirt!
Levels "that just kinda clicks":
Of their own accord - modern warfare 2
Sen's Fortress - Dark Souls
Anathema - Hitman 2
The Ark - Halo 3
Silent Talon - Ghost Recon Future Soldier
E1M5 Gloom Keep - Quake 1.
Each one really shined in offering dynamic, varied, and overall fun level design. Please take a look.
Dope game. I wish they make a new splinter cell like the older ones
Bloodborne Forbidden Woods next right?
How come the UI looks different than on PC. Isn't the stealth bar sort of green-ish in pandora tomorrow?
Must be the Xbox version.
He's playing the HD re-release on PS3.
Nice
What game is the one at 0:56? Thanks.
Stefan Ghitescu I think thats Mark of the ninja.
Pandora Tomorrow its far superior to it predecesor, by far i have to say. And takes some mechanics in the controll and positibilyties to end the levels, very differents to the others games of the saga. I like it a lot. ^^
Its not a perfect game of course, buts its a good one.
loved this game but it was tough. The top difficulty demands THOROUGH memorisation.
it made the entirety of the first game look like a tutorial
Trackmania music :O
To be honest, outside of a few areas, I found Pandora Tomorrow easier to stealth than Splinter Cell 1, especially since Splinter Cell 1 had several levels clearly designed more for combat than stealth. Granted, it is easier to play Splinter Cell 1 if you don't bother trying to stealth/ghost your way around everything so you probably have a point there.
Could you recommend some other level design channels/videos in general?
Mark Brown
What's the game at 0:47?
Painkiller
What the hell is that HUD? Which mod did you use? Looks good
PS3 version, there is a reskin mod for PC using PS3 textures and apparently it also replaces the HUD.
@@DreadNawght nvm i just learned it was the steam trilogy version
This looks different from the pandora tomorrow that I've played on the original xbox.
Aww its not called "By Design"
Haydens gonna cry. =(
That's an ActionPts series not mine.
To this day I consider PT to be superior to the first. Sure, the "3 alarms you're out" mechanic is stupid and the voice actors chosen weren't the best compared to the original, but the game improved a lot of what was in the original. Examples being superior level variety, diverse soundtracks, laser pointer to compensate the ass aiming of the pistol, attempting to add different routes to your objective (PS2 version), end game statistics of your performance (PS2 version), the SWAT turn, and the addition of reaching high entry points with the splint jump. With the first three games, they are one of the few trilogies where it gets better with the next game. Double agent was good too, but felt disappointing. never played conviction because I just wasn't feeling the route they went with, but loved Blacklist since they brought back stealth. Not perfect, but damn good.
Mission 2... i have the PS3 Trilogy... With the very first enemy of the game The enemy ‘suspects’ im there even if he doesn’t see me... is this a problem with the game or what? It makes playing the level unbearable because i HAVE to take him out...
Wait, so you pick Pandora Tomorrow as the stealth game with great level design? What about the next fucking game Chaos Theory?! Or better yet, how about the Thief series? Those games have WAY better level design than Pandora tomorrow!
I wanted to talk about Pandora Tomorrow because I've already made something on Chaos Theory before, and also no one ever talks about PT so I wanted to shine a little light on it for once.
Turbo Button ah OK. but still, great level design doesn't make me think of Pandora Tomorrow. I just think of other games that fit that department
the graphics look awful, which version were u playin there? I noticed some missing effects... is that a badly set up pc version or the PS2 port?
The France level was one of the few levels I actually liked. Being out in the wilderness was just a chore, not much you can do in terms of lighting. Whenever I was indoors is when I felt at home, what Splinter Cell should be. Luckily Chaos Theory fixed everything. Level design and annoying fucking enemies phoning in an alert.
Indonesian levels were mad, the grass hid you although the game doesn’t tell you that and you feel like the predator
The Hitman games were like this...
I just snipe the guy at the very beginning.
hehe, guns are a last resort and use of lethal force is merely tolerated, not encouraged :)
There was no penalty whatsoever for fatalities except for certain sections and civilians in Pandora Tomorrow. In later games like Chaos Theory where there is a penalty I always aim for no kills. Albeit the level design is far superior in CT as opposed to PT.
@@tedbrown7400 im not talking mission rank, im talking how a real professional Splinter Cell agent would think in real life.
mark of the ninja... I love that game
Ironically, for me Pandora Tomorrow is the one with the worst level design, the first game and Chaos Theory have a much better level design, Chaos Theory had a more open ended level design and the first is really creative because while the levels were linear, you always "run in circles" and go arround a kind open map, it is hard to describe, but if you play the second mission for example you will understand.
Plus: 3:34 as a Splinter Cell long time fan i know this part have i pipe on the left side that only
thoughtful players will see, and allow them to bypass everything without making a single distraction.
Are you middle class irl? You sound it.
How does someone sound middle class?
Pluto Bone If they sound like David Mitchell they sound middle class.
+Pluto Bone You must not be british,
Thanatos388 i know the guy irl
great
another smarmy brit who thinks he's a critic
+TheKanonHara To be fair they have a genetic predisposition to it
RemixedVoice What
TheKanonHara if you don't like the video then don't watch