The Pandora Tomorrow Single-Player demo was released this week, with the multiplayer demo closing in fast. The single-player demo – although familiar at first – certainly feels different from the original game. The graphics have been tweaked and look a lot cleaner on the PC, although I don’t remember night vision being so jaggy. Taking a break from clickfest RPGs and a replay of Call of Duty it was tough to get back into the gameplay. All the high-tech gadgets are back, and Mr. Fisher is sporting a few new maneuvers. I don’t think we’re going to be disappointed with the final product. The “Train” mission is like something out of a modern spy thriller film; I would agree that it skillfully sets the tone for the entire game.

Hearing Tycho’s colourful description of how much of a departure the multiplayer mode is from the standard merely bolstered my anticipation of the game. Playing Raven Shield in co-operative or adversarial will heighten your sensitivity to the controls and even the slightest movements on-screen, so if Pandora Tomorrow captures even a fraction of this style of play I will be happy. Though multiplayer is limited to four players, this is still UbiSoft thinking ahead and laying the groundwork for the future in stealth gaming. I’m still looking forward to Thief: Deadly Shadows, but they are missing an opportunity by not including some sort of multiplayer functionality while proudly listing “Warren Spector” as one of the game’s features.

After reading this week’s announcement by Flagship studios about their partnership with Namco, my first reaction was one of shock. It’s not that often a console developer/publisher picks up a studio that is made up of some of the most brilliant and original PC game designers of the last decade. Many PC gamers weren’t very subtle about showing their distaste of the entire situation, either – there were rumblings about how Flagship’s current project will end up as some impetuous console port of which there will be no escape. Although I secretly share the same fears, a publisher of Namco’s prowess can only be a good thing for a new development house. Almost the entire crew of people that brought you the Warcraft and Diablo series are working on this new RPG, and at least sound dedicated to their PC fans. Whether this is just a ploy for Namco to expand its North American market remains to be seen.

I just felt like writing about that new Forgotten Realms game for the PS2 on Wenesday. I had no idea the new title and a Gamespot preview would be released the next day, but I’m happy to chalk it up to gamer’s premonition. There aren’t any new details about this “Demon Stone” that you haven’t read already either in GMR’s preview or gamespy’s from last summer. Even the screens were already at Worthplaying. The game takes more of a KOTOR-style approach to party based combat, allowing to switch between each member during battles – except it’s missing everything that made the former game great. I’m sure that it will make a fine distraction for those looking for an action RPG on their PS2, but this is probably the last you’ll hear of it from me. Good luck with that, Stormfront.

Interestingly enough, both Larian Studios and RPGDot picked up my “preview” of Beyond Divinity. After having a lot of time to consider the demo, and realizing just how much game time I’ve devoted to Divine Divinity, I’ve decided that I’ll be picking up my copy in April. It also appears that my webserver is on its last legs, as this recent referral and a surge in comment spam/ping spam activity has given it a real pounding. In other words, I’ve decided to sign up with a proper host so I can give this place a little more breathing room. As a result the site may be inaccessible over the next couple of days.

you chewing your tail is joy