Unreal Tournament 3

28.11.2007

Unreal Tournament is Unreal Tournament, but also remains Unreal Tournament. As a regular purchaser of the series, I have got used to the fact that no fundamental changes to the principles of the game are introduced. Obviously, some adjustments are made to the balancing and there are new maps. But there are pros and cons to this. The pros: I buy a DVD with Unreal Tournament scrawled on it, and I know what I am getting. I know that I am buying a game which will give me even more fun online battles. The cons: I know that I am getting nothing new, and yet still have to shell out €45 for it – regardless of whether “Unreal Tournament” is suffixed with a 200X or simply with a 3. The modes we love are still there, the vehicles are also still there, and the maps are well balanced, as always. UT3 does not entirely however adhere to this principle. True, the best parts of UT2k3 and UT2k4 are in the package, but Epic has included an action-packed new mode - Warfare. Anyone who takes a long enough look at the principles of Warfare will notice that it is built upon a combination of Onslaught and Assault in UT2k3 and UT2k4. But – who cares? Not me!

The principle: Each team has an energy core in its base which it must protect. The aim is to destroy the opponent’s energy source. A number of nodes are indicated on the map. If node A is taken, it establishes a connection with node B, which may be neutral or already taken by the opposing team. Only in this way can node B then be taken. And so on and so forth. When a team controls all nodes on the map, a connection is established with the primary node. As soon as this falls, the defence shields of the opponent’s energy core are deactivated and can then be attacked. You must then drop the “Health” of the energy core from 100 to 0. It sounds simple - but it isn’t. Teamplay is much in demand here. If you want to take back a node which has been taken by your opponent, you must first destroy the defence shield which has been erected around the node, as soon as this is controlled by a team. Unless, of course, you have a special shell which allows you to win all controlled nodes in one blow for your team. High-speed combat is thus guaranteed. Not least, numerous vehicles can also be distributed over the maps, with which you can initiate the battles for the nodes. And if you have no vehicle at your disposal, you can also use your hover board (a flying skateboard). This allows each player to get from A to B faster. Epic also offers you more than 15 vehicles. Whether you take on a gigantic organic Necris Darkwalker with an Axon Goliath tank or if you prefer to slice off the legs of your opponents with a fast buggy with deployable side-blades is completely up to you.

However Warfare is not the only innovation in Unreal Tournament 3. Do you still remember the discussions over the playing speed of UT, at the time when Quake 3 and Unreal Tournament were released at more or less the same time? Well, the discussion is now finally over. As a long-time UT gamer, the tempo really knocks your socks off. Barely have you picked up the rocket-launcher than WHOOSH, you have fired a plasma energy shell into a dark hole. A neat entrance... and at the same time a good transition to the topic of weapons. From the Enforcers through the Sniper Rifle to the Redeemer, everything remains ‘as before'. Really as before. To my complete personal joy.

By completely as before, I don’t mean the entire UT series, but rather the quality, as well as the much-trumpeted UT3 single-player mode. I almost don’t dare use the words 'single-player mode'. Because whatever we are presented with as a story between the well-known AI matches in the form of segue sequences is not worthy of the name. Unreal Tournament is and remains a multi-player shooter. Epic’s attempt to garnish the title with a solo campaign is in my view not only superfluous, but also rather badly done. So this is nowhere near as agile as the online battles. Because those are spot-on.

Presentation-wise, Unreal Tournament 3 logically cannot hide its light under a bushel. The maps are all eye-candy and lead to violent Death Match, Team Death Match, Capture The Flag, Capture The Flag (with vehicles) and Warfare action. Needle-sharp textures combined with a suitable soundtrack will raise your heartbeat. Obviously, the Unreal 3 Engine is also behind this.