Unreal Tournament 3 - Small Review

Unreal has personified graphical beauty in each and every release, created real worlds that make your machine sweat under the pressure. Unreal Tournament 3 does not fail to deliver. After you have found you way through the slick sliding menu sections and into the game for the first time, you will be pleased to know that each and every one of your "ooww" and "ahhh" glands will be satisfied, that is unless your PC is up to the pressure...

In this latest instalment you get the inevitable single player fight a load of bots mode, and the awesome and chaotic multiplayer mayhem. UT3 has six different ways to cause blood to splatter. Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch and Duel are all played on the same rotation of maps - small and deadly. Deathmatch is the obvious manic every man for himself set-up. Team Deathmatch is well, deathmatch in teams... Duel is the new contender here, joining a Duelling server you will be confronted with a scenario not dissimilar to Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. Its 1 on 1 with everyone else spectating, this can be most entertaining at LAN events as the laughter and banter can really help with making the game.

There are of course the bigger maps. Onslaught is back where you are driving big vehicles over big maps trying to take big bases', and capture the flag makes a welcome appearance. A new variation to the CTF rules adds vehicles into the mix, basically its CTF over a larger map using vehicles to traverse it (think Tribes 2, if you can remember that far back). If that was not enough, or you felt a little claustrophobic on the larger maps of Onslaught, never fear! Warfare is now the largest game mode you can play in the UT series, it adds larger maps with more vehicles, what more could you need?

The weapons are again classic UT, true to the series and satisfying to fire, which is important! Shield gun has been replaced with the impact hammer and you have a standard side arm starting weapon - but that won’t be around long as you will find all your favourite weapons around quickly. For me the most important thing was probably the legendary rocket launcher, it still locks and charges the devastating triple-rocket hit, and my does it looks good. The redeemer is back, and the bio shock rifle gue has had a drastic makeover. The weapons do respond a little differently, but nothing a few games wont sort out. Any changes to the overall feel and play of the weaponry, is minor.

Environments are gorgeous; there is a real sense of depth and mood captured. Whether you are inside or out, UT3 holds the look so well you could almost smell burning grass, and damp musky interiors. In the few maps that have running water, it is extremely well done. The sound also pulls the experience together, with the traditional announcer proclaiming your victories, awesome weapon sounds and explosions and nicely remixed UT music. Graphically it really lives up to the awe that past Unreal games have created, it’s a masterpiece, eye candy at its sweetest.

The game play feels just like a UT game should feel, smooth fast and manic. There are some small changes from UT2004, you can no long collect adrenaline, for a boost of a special ability, and double jumping/dodging seems to have changed a little. This does not affect the feel of the game really, but there is something that does. The hoverboard, it is a great solution to the problem of big maps to people who don’t really like vehicles. Using your hoverboard you can gain a good bit of speed, and if you feel like it, you can catch some air and pull some board grabs. The hoverboard opens up the larger maps to people like me, who would rather just jump in with rockets firing.

UT3 is a very worthy new generation of the brilliant Unreal series. Designed around the same formula as the last, it’s a game that really brings satisfaction to the player. The only thing that really is frustrating for me is how people in mainland Europe seem to get so much better than I am, so quickly. I suppose some things never do change!

Game play: 8/10 - It’s good, there is no denying - but if I'm honest, I had more fun in TF2.

Graphics: 10/10 - Brilliant up and down the complex spectrum of PC systems.

Sound: 9/10 - Announcer, music and explosions... need I say more?

Lifespan: 8/10 - A game you will keep coming back for a good blast.