Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition for Windows

Considered by both fans and critics to be one of the juggernauts among first person shooters in today's marketplace, the "Unreal Tournament" series returns in 2004 with a decidedly been there, done that feel. Atari and Epic Games have crafted a fun, reasonably entertaining game with many strengths; it's just that besides some minor gameplay tweaks and a few new maps and modes, there's nothing groundbreaking about this installment. There isn't anything particularly wrong with the game; the graphics will wow, the sound is crisp, and there's a plethora of game modes, but if you've played this type of game before, then you'll likely get a strong sense of deja vu.

Beginning with last year's game, the Unreal Tournament (UT) series has been modeled after sports games with a yearly entry, much like the Madden and NHL series'. The best game developers like EA Sports are able to find ways to make the necessary as well as the subtle changes each year to ensure the game stays fresh, fun, and addictive. This is one of the first noticeable downfalls of UT 2004; Atari and Epic Games continue to pile on the game modes and maps, but the gameplay itself has remained essentially identical to that of UT: Game of the Year Edition that was released three years ago.

Admittedly, the Madden series, for instance, has kept its gameplay intact to keep gamers happy over the years. However, EA always makes enough changes to make the experience seem worthwhile and entertaining, as evidence by the ridiculous amount of hours I logged in the 2004 version even after I'd played the 2003 game into the ground. It's been less than three weeks since I purchased UT 2004, and already my interest is waning. Problems still exist with the weapons (i.e. most of them suck), the load times are long enough for me to read my morning newspaper from the front page to back, and playing online gives me a headache so intense a whole bottle of Advil couldn't relieve it.

The new additions in 2004 include several intriguing game modes, starting with what is guaranteed to be a sure-fire hit in the online community, Onslaught. Played on a gargantuan map, teams battle for control over numerous stations in connect-the-dots fashion, and must control a line of stations to the enemy's base and destroy their central core to win the game. Teams usually consist of five or six players, depending on the size of the map. The big draw to this mode is the ability to spread even more carnage with the addition of vehicles. Ranging from flying space fighters to WWII tanks, these are essential instruments of devastation. Not only are they powerful, but they add another dimension to the gameplay, as players now must contend with these monstrosities in addition to the ground troops.

Next up is the fanatical Invasion mode, where you and your teammates must fight off waves of attacking enemies and see how long you can last. This mode is like a replacement for a speed drug, because once you've destroyed one wave, you have a mere ten seconds to rest, load up, and prepare for the next hoard of monsters. Invasion emphasizes 'team game' and relies heavily on your coordination and communication with your buddies to beat back the endless stream of enemies. Also new this year is the Mutant mode, which seems like it was implemented as an afterthought. It begins as a normal deathmatch, but the first person to get a kill is labeled the mutant, and suddenly, everyone turns against him and tries to kill him. The only way to win is to rack up kills when you're the mutant, who has all weapons, full ammo, invisibility, and super agility. Perhaps this all sounds interesting on paper, but when put into practice, becomes a sloppily played, confusing exercise that ends up being a throwaway mode that will see little to no playing time.

Saving the most aggravating mode for last is none other than Assault mode. For reasons unknown, Assault was dropped from the 2003 game and makes a distinctly frustrating return this year. The problem does not lie with the concept as much as with the levels and objectives. To recap, the attacking team must complete a pre-determined set of objectives in order to win the game, while the defenders must prevent them from doing so by any means necessary. There are six levels in 2004, and only one of them is actually well made, the others are just awful. Aside from the gloomy Fallen City, the other maps have either stupid objectives or are just so terribly laid out that the gamer is left perplexed and enraged from the incompetence shown by the developers in this mode. Frequently, games will have far too many (and trivial) objectives for it to be even remotely fun, and some levels, like the Mothership, are practically impossible to finish. Assault mode was once the cream of the crop in Unreal Tournament, and now, due to brutal level design, has been reduced to a pointless addition.

Now that I've burned off a little steam, let's focus on these wondrous graphics. Mercifully, there is no lag or slowdown after the first thirty seconds of entering a level. The lighting effects, from a character's head being blown off and the ensuing blood gushing from the wound to the dramatic explosion of the Redeemer bomb all look utterly spectacular. Even the individual character design is remarkable, from the ferocious lizard creatures to the typical humans; the level of detail is incredible. The levels, whether it's the frosty ice level or the darkened forest, all look beautiful, no doubt about it. It all comes at a cost though, because you'll need a pretty hefty graphics processor for the game to move smoothly. As always, you can customize all the effects to your liking (the amount of gore, etc.). In short, the graphics department gets an A+ for creating mesmerizing, fully realistic environments that match anything on the current videogame market.

As a rule, for every one thing UT 2004 does right, it does at least one thing wrong. The levels, while there are oodles of them to choose from, are typically met with repetitive and boring design. Outside of Onslaught and Assault mode, there is an obvious lack of freedom to move around, which severely hampers gamers like myself who enjoy playing in wide-open settings. Additionally, far too many levels have the standard metal corridor look, making numerous maps blend into one another. It's also a lot easier for rookies to accumulate kills in such cramped environments where it's easy to find and slaughter people, rather than meticulously hunting them down and using actual skill to get kills.

Adding to my negative view of this game is the absolutely God-awful online set-up. The fact is, logging onto an Internet server to play against other human players takes not seconds, but eons of time to accomplish. Often times I angrily check my watch to see that over two minutes have passed since I clicked on the 'Play' button. I mean seriously, what year is this? My ancient Compaq computer from 1994 could load a game of Doom faster than this. What's more, after several mind-numbing minutes of patiently waiting to be logged into the game, I'll often be treated to a 'Server is full' or 'Cannot connect to server' message, infuriating me even further. The bottom line is that this madness must stop; loading times for UT 2004 are not even close to what should be acceptable for a computer game in this day and age.

Alas, the misery with online play doesn't end there. Assuming you actually connect to a server and get into the game, the first twenty seconds or so is usually quite a jarring experience. Due to the level detail and the amount of players involved, the framerate hiccups violently when you get in initially. It calms down eventually, but this flaw has been apparent since UT: GOTY Edition back in 2000, and there's no excuse for it still being present here. A game that can boast graphics and animation as amazing as this should feature an equally impressive framerate, or is that too much to ask? Perhaps you're thinking, "Deepthroat, maybe your computer is a piece of crap". Could be, but I bought it roughly six months ago brand new, so it is by no means obsolete, even with today's rapidly advancing technology. At the outset, the framerate simply blows.

Another troublesome issue is the jumping in online games. If I were the brass at Atari studios, I would eliminate the ability to jump in a heartbeat. Now before you get ready to crucify me, hear me out. How much talent does it really take to grab a decent weapon, and hop around while madly firing at anything that comes within a quarter mile of your position? This is basically what everyone is doing online, because it's a highly effective way to kill people while at the same time reflecting the complete lack of skill of these players. If you remember one of the most exceptional games of this genre, Goldeneye 007, there was no jumping whatsoever. It really made for games that relied on skill, actual aiming and timing if you will, rather than this charade in UT 2004. Canning the jump button will certainly make for a more entertaining, competent gaming experience.

The list of downfalls just doesn't seem to end. The weapons have remained almost all the same since the first incarnation of Unreal Tournament. That is most definitely not a good thing. The Flak Cannon, a weapon I've despised for it's horrible accuracy, returns in 2004 along with the equally useless Biorifle and shock rifle. The Lightning gun, grenade launcher, and mine layer are relatively no good to anyone either. Atari's recycling of the weapons year after year needs to come to an end. None of the new guns pack much of a punch, in that most gamers will pass them over in favor of the potent but customary rocket launcher. A fresh assortment of robust weapons is one of the many changes needed in 2005.

Which brings me to the game's biggest dilemma: single player mode (or lack thereof). I know, I know, UT has never been bent on creating a stimulating single player experience, but the developers could at least pretend to make an effort in this department. There aren't even cut scenes or anything remotely resembling a story to be had here. For most people, the single player mode can easily be conquered in an afternoon, no problem. It consists of four modes (Assault, Bombing Run, Capture the Flag, and Double Domination) with six to nine levels for each. Following that is a final Championship round against the biggest bad guy of the tournament, and then it's over. It's funny that teamwork is emphasized throughout the one-player games, and yet the Championship game is a one on one deathmatch. The developers feebly attempt to add replay value by making you qualify for the tournament games and adding credits to enter them. I realize the draw to UT 2004 is the multiplayer modes, but the single player game is drastically below par and in desperate need of a makeover.

So what does this all mean? In the end, "Unreal Tournament 2004" is a better game as a whole than of the sum of its parts. Even though I may have pounded this game relentlessly for it's flawed level design and abysmal online play, there's still a lot for Atari and Epic Games to be proud of. The violence factor is set extremely high, which makes for some very entertaining matches against the computer or human players. Males age 15 to 25 will find a lot to love, in spite of the abundant flaws to be found. I recommend this game to gamers who've never bothered to play any of the UT installments, and providing you have a decent computer to work with, it should be one hell of a ride. For the rest of us, buy this game at your own risk. The brutally long load times will undoubtedly get on most people's nerves, and the lame weapons and empty single player mode need attention for next year's version. UT 2004 unquestionably has a ways to go to perfection, but it's still a thrilling game, even with all the failings it has.