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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: FPS Developer: Epic Games Publisher: Midway |
Since the first “Unreal Tournament” was released on the PC in 1999 and its “Unreal Tournament 2003” and “Unreal Tournament
2004,” the series has always had the same main draw and the same remains true with “Unreal Tournament III.” It is an online shooter
that requires players to have lightning fast reflexes. The PS3 version of the game has been slowed down dramatically compared to its
PC counterpart, but it is still the most frantic first person shooter available.
The control options are up to the user, they are either able to use the Sixaxis or USB keyboard and mouse support. Both of these
control very well, but anyone that is used to the precision mouse and keyboard controls on the PC will notice a slight amount of lag
when turning and looking in the PS3 version. This isn’t anything that ruins the experience of the game, but it can be quite frustrating
when trying to make quick aiming movements. Sliders have been included in game for adjusting the player’s turning speed as well as
the sensitivity of the thumb stick and mouse. Players will likely find a happy medium for character control and once everything is set, the
Sixaxis handles extremely well.
The game’s control scheme isn’t the typical controls. Players are given the ability to double jump, dodge to the side and dodge off of
walls. With both the Sixaxis and keyboard and mouse controls, tapping jump twice will perform the double jump, but dodging is
handled a lot differently. Players need to move to the left or right and jump. This system works fine for the console version of the game,
though it feels a bit odd when using the keyboard and mouse controls. Players will also notice that there isn’t the ability to crouch;
instead the character just automatically crouches when near an area that requires it.
There is no question about how the game looks, amazing for those who are wondering, and it runs remarkably well. It is very
reassuring, especially for PS3 owners, that games can look great and maintain a solid frame rate, after seeing so many game fall
victim to this flaw. Though the game does lag occasionally on the larger maps when there are a large number of characters on the
screen, it isn’t so much that it takes away from the overall game play experience of the game.
Players shouldn’t expect too much out of the single player game this time around. There is a story involving Reaper, a Marcus Fenix
look alike, who fights the Necris, an evil alien race. The narrative is shallow and very forgettable. The narrative exists to tie together the
large number of maps and modes for users to get used to before heading online or into instant action against customizable and
generally intelligent bots. Players can play through the campaign cooperatively by joining a public server when they launch a game or
browse for open campaign servers to join.
Action has always been the main draw for the “Unreal Tournament” series, yet with the latest releases of the series the range of game
play expanded with larger maps and vehicles of onslaught mode. Although “Unreal Tournament III” doesn’t offer the same kind of
dramatic shift that players saw in “Unreal Tournament 2004,” it does offer a more complex and ultimately more enjoyable version of
Onslaught, called Warfare. Players try to capture a series of nodes in succession to open up the enemy base to attack. Warfare mode
features many of the same vehicles from “Unreal Tournament 2004,” such as the goliath tank and hellbender truck, but makes things
more interesting by inserting a number of new Necris machines. This include a stealth tank that can drop mines, shields and time
slowing fields, a giant spidery walker with devastating laser cannons, hover bikes and crawling orbs.
Another change to Onslaught’s game play is a tiny glowing orb which has a more significant impact than players may suspect. Picking
it up precludes hopping into any vehicle, but players can jump onto their hover board to quickly reach a target. Orbs work to capture
nodes or make the already captured nodes invulnerable when players are in the vicinity. Veterans of Onslaught will feel comfortable,
but Warfare may be a little bit intimidating to rookies, especially once then find themselves defending against a Leviathan for the first
time. Though it may be intimidating, players shouldn’t let that turn them away, it is an excellent multiplayer mode. The node capture
concept is simple and the added depth of the vehicles, orbs and special types of nodes add plenty of replays.
Other than Warfare, players get the more traditional modes of death match, team death match and capture the flag. These focus more
on the action known in the series and should prove to be wildly entertaining for those who have never played any of these games to
begin with. There are also duel and vehicle capture the flag modes, the latter of which includes the new Necris vehicles for a more wide
open and unpredictable experience.
For those who have never player “Unreal Tournament” before, this is a must own PS3 game. It is still a very frantic and engaging first
person shooter game available, and after eight years it still proves to be very entertaining. It helps that the developer did a great job of
making this game run well on the PS3, as well as offer a variety of tweaks like server filters, customization options and input alternatives
that players typically don’t see in a console game. The interface of accessing all these options and browsing the servers may be a bit
awkward at times, but it doesn’t take away from the game’s unique brand of game play.
2004,” the series has always had the same main draw and the same remains true with “Unreal Tournament III.” It is an online shooter
that requires players to have lightning fast reflexes. The PS3 version of the game has been slowed down dramatically compared to its
PC counterpart, but it is still the most frantic first person shooter available.
The control options are up to the user, they are either able to use the Sixaxis or USB keyboard and mouse support. Both of these
control very well, but anyone that is used to the precision mouse and keyboard controls on the PC will notice a slight amount of lag
when turning and looking in the PS3 version. This isn’t anything that ruins the experience of the game, but it can be quite frustrating
when trying to make quick aiming movements. Sliders have been included in game for adjusting the player’s turning speed as well as
the sensitivity of the thumb stick and mouse. Players will likely find a happy medium for character control and once everything is set, the
Sixaxis handles extremely well.
The game’s control scheme isn’t the typical controls. Players are given the ability to double jump, dodge to the side and dodge off of
walls. With both the Sixaxis and keyboard and mouse controls, tapping jump twice will perform the double jump, but dodging is
handled a lot differently. Players need to move to the left or right and jump. This system works fine for the console version of the game,
though it feels a bit odd when using the keyboard and mouse controls. Players will also notice that there isn’t the ability to crouch;
instead the character just automatically crouches when near an area that requires it.
There is no question about how the game looks, amazing for those who are wondering, and it runs remarkably well. It is very
reassuring, especially for PS3 owners, that games can look great and maintain a solid frame rate, after seeing so many game fall
victim to this flaw. Though the game does lag occasionally on the larger maps when there are a large number of characters on the
screen, it isn’t so much that it takes away from the overall game play experience of the game.
Players shouldn’t expect too much out of the single player game this time around. There is a story involving Reaper, a Marcus Fenix
look alike, who fights the Necris, an evil alien race. The narrative is shallow and very forgettable. The narrative exists to tie together the
large number of maps and modes for users to get used to before heading online or into instant action against customizable and
generally intelligent bots. Players can play through the campaign cooperatively by joining a public server when they launch a game or
browse for open campaign servers to join.
Action has always been the main draw for the “Unreal Tournament” series, yet with the latest releases of the series the range of game
play expanded with larger maps and vehicles of onslaught mode. Although “Unreal Tournament III” doesn’t offer the same kind of
dramatic shift that players saw in “Unreal Tournament 2004,” it does offer a more complex and ultimately more enjoyable version of
Onslaught, called Warfare. Players try to capture a series of nodes in succession to open up the enemy base to attack. Warfare mode
features many of the same vehicles from “Unreal Tournament 2004,” such as the goliath tank and hellbender truck, but makes things
more interesting by inserting a number of new Necris machines. This include a stealth tank that can drop mines, shields and time
slowing fields, a giant spidery walker with devastating laser cannons, hover bikes and crawling orbs.
Another change to Onslaught’s game play is a tiny glowing orb which has a more significant impact than players may suspect. Picking
it up precludes hopping into any vehicle, but players can jump onto their hover board to quickly reach a target. Orbs work to capture
nodes or make the already captured nodes invulnerable when players are in the vicinity. Veterans of Onslaught will feel comfortable,
but Warfare may be a little bit intimidating to rookies, especially once then find themselves defending against a Leviathan for the first
time. Though it may be intimidating, players shouldn’t let that turn them away, it is an excellent multiplayer mode. The node capture
concept is simple and the added depth of the vehicles, orbs and special types of nodes add plenty of replays.
Other than Warfare, players get the more traditional modes of death match, team death match and capture the flag. These focus more
on the action known in the series and should prove to be wildly entertaining for those who have never played any of these games to
begin with. There are also duel and vehicle capture the flag modes, the latter of which includes the new Necris vehicles for a more wide
open and unpredictable experience.
For those who have never player “Unreal Tournament” before, this is a must own PS3 game. It is still a very frantic and engaging first
person shooter game available, and after eight years it still proves to be very entertaining. It helps that the developer did a great job of
making this game run well on the PS3, as well as offer a variety of tweaks like server filters, customization options and input alternatives
that players typically don’t see in a console game. The interface of accessing all these options and browsing the servers may be a bit
awkward at times, but it doesn’t take away from the game’s unique brand of game play.
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