Summary

I've never been big on first-person shooter (FPS) games, although I've played a few, like Star Wars: Battlefront 2, that I've found entertaining. So, getting this game was taking a chance, since I'm partial to real-time strategy games and roleplaying games. Overall, I must say that I've really had a good time with UT 2004. It hasn't made me more of a fan of the FPS genre, but I am definitely looking forward to UT 2007.

Sound

Sound: Although decent, the audio is not as good as the visuals. Weapons such as miniguns and tank cannon sound like they should, along with footsteps, flowing water, and other ambiant effects. In-game AI characters tend to use the same list of taunts such as "Ownage!" or "You suck!" or "You be dead!"--along with a few choice obscenities--but none of the characters really stand out with individual personalities. The music is the typical techno fare found in many video games, nothing special.

Documentation/Stabiity: The manual that comes with the game is informative and makes up for a rather bland in-game tutorial. The game was pretty stable on my computer, though I experienced one freeze and one crash during the tournament. Overall, the game seemed well polished and optimized.

Replayability: Given the number of maps that come with the game, the developer's Bonus Pack that can be downloaded for free from the internet, the large number of player-made maps available, and the editor tools that you can use to make your own maps, this game has had a long shelf life. If you get tired of playing against the AI, you can go online and play against a human opponent. For me, about half of the 10 gameplay modes are not appealing after a few rounds, but the other 5 (especially assault, onslaught, and CTF) are always good fun.

If you are a fan of FPS games, UT 2004 seems to be a must-buy (I'd be surprised if you don't already have it!). From what I have read, it is the best of the Unreal series and still has an active online community. For those of us who only have a passing interest in FPS games, this is a good one to blow some time with.

Gameplay

The controls are the typical mouse, WASD keys, and hotkeys associated with FPS games, so anyone familiar with the FPS genre ought to be able to jump right in. You have a number of options for your in-game character, including race, gender, name, etc. You can also choose your AI teammates and the number on each team. Additionally, there are ten game modes, including deathmatch, capture the flag (CTF), domination (requires you to hold two points), assault (objective based), bombing run (a deadly version of soccer), and onslaught (securing nodes and destroying the enemy base). There's fun to be had with each mode, but I suspect that most people will find the greatest replayabiity in the onsault, assault, CTF, and team deathmatch modes. The maps are large enough for some strategic thinking (especially on assault and onslaught), and the game comes with about 100 maps--with many more that can be downloaded from the internet.

AI opponents ("bots") are very good in this game. They have strong attack scripts, good pathfinding, will follow orders, and generally work well as teams. I detected some of the typical AI cheating found in FPS games (i.e., extra health, amazing accuracy, accelerated movement) toward the end of the tournament and in some of the tougher matches, but generally the AI here is just plain challenging and well programmed. Although many will buy this game for the multiplayer side, the single-player content (which is all that I play) is quite strong. The game does not have a compelling story to tell, but the tournament mode lasted me 25-30 hours on "experienced" difficulty level. I don't feel a need to replay the tournament anytime soon, but there are a lot of individual maps and modes that are greatly replayable.

A few things that add a lot to the game are the variety of weapons available and the vehicles. Overall, none of the weapons are very overpowered, though some are better and more versatile than others. Some weapons are best suited for one situation, while others can be useful in some fashion under a number of conditions. A second element that adds variety to the game is the vehicles. I can't overemphasize how fun these can be. Not only do they break up the monotony of having to sprint on foot across the map, but they also add a new strategic and tactical layer to a game. Vehicles can be game winners, but they are not invincible. Some can carry multiple passengers, who can man various weapons or simply go along for the ride. However, to maintain balance, characters on foot have a few very strong anti-vehicle weapons, and many objectives cannot be completed by vehicles. Still, there's nothing like decapitating a fleeing opponent with the blades of a Scorpion buggy or hearing the thundering cannon of a Goliath tank.

The gameplay is frantic, exciting, and straightforward enough to appeal to a range of gamers. You never feel lost on the maps, since there is a good in-game mini-map and the objectives are always clear. Also, you never get the sense that you are babysitting your computer allies, since they act as intelligently--more so on many occasions--as the average human player. The game's flaws are mostly minor, but worth mentioning. First, there are a few rather frustrating missions in the tournament that the average player will have to repeat several times (at least on experienced difficulty and higher). And there is no way to adjust the difficulty level of the tournament once it starts. Also, the game-save system is automatic; the game saves after every match, win or loss. Thus, you can find yourself broke if you lose enough matches, and you'll have to play a series of qualifying matches to earn enough money to continue the tournament. It's a system that gets old quick and really adds a layer of repetition to the game that serves little purpose. Finally, some people will be put off by the amount of acrobatics that the game includes. On some of the more advanced levels and difficulty settings, AI opponents are hopping, flipping, and cartwheeling in ways that make them nearly impossible to hit, though they will seem to hit you just fine. I think that the game plays just a tad bit too fast and requires too much jumping around. But you'll get used to it.

Summary

Overall, UT2k4 is the best unreal tournament to date and adds enough new content to be worth getting however some of the maps are badly designed, one such map is an assault map called Mothership which is definately very badly designed and hugely unbalanced which is required to complete the single player campaign, not many people will be able to complete this map without cheating.

Sound

The default music and voice packs arn't great by anymeans, and unfortuntely there is very few voice packs available right now. Music is average, nothing special i'm guessing most players like me will either turn the music off or to very low levels.

Gameplay

Not much has been added for 2004, onslaught and mutation gamemodes being the newer additions, not much fun single player, but most people who buy any UT game play it online where it shines. Also, the game is helped by good mods and upgrades which add life and fun to the game.

Summary

I'm a harsh reviewer. If a game company f--ks over it's customer base, I let them have it. And I stand by my decisions. I no longer buy products from Sierra, due to their travesty of an expansion pack for Empire Earth, and the a$$holes who crapped Civilization 3 and it's many imbalances no longer get my hard earned cash. I gave Epic Games another chance because they have unparalleled customer support, and release excellent free 'bonus packs' for their products. Here's the truth about Unreal Tournament 2003; It was never meant to be a product. It was released as a cash cow and a secret beta test to gauge customer reaction. That is why there is little graphical or gameplay difference between UTK:03 and UTK:04. Like everyone else, I felt gipped by UTK:03, but due to the reasons above I picked up UTK:04. ....I am now 2 hours late for work. Finally! After so much anguish at last year's release, Epic is treating their customer base to some good, wholesome fragging. If you have a low tolerance for crappy releases, and -like me- were pi$$ed off by UTK:03, I implore you to drop your hard earned cash down for UTK:04. Epic Games have redeemed themselves.

Sound

I'm sure Epic must have tweaked the sound, it's just so much better. The voices come in clearer, and the different races and genders have distinctive accents. The music fits, and is not as cheesy as UTK:03. Good Job, Epic!

Gameplay

FAN-FRIGGEN-TASTIC! The great thing about Epic is that they introduce new gameplay types that are a bit complicated when you first try, but then after a couple of hours gameplay it becomes the the most exciting thing to experience on p.c. The new game types are addicting in the extreem. I could never believe a game would be able to employ so many facets of strategy. Nothing comes close to what UTK:04 has to offer. I haven't even tried on-line yet, that's how good the bots are. The vehicles are absolutely vicious! On one assault map my jaw dropped when I saw a teammate in front of me get decapitated when a low-flying Manta vehicle zipped overhead. The new maps are perfect in their balance and gameplay and even though there's tons of new weapons, they all balance out perfectly. I still find the vehicles a bit clunky to maneuver, but they're really fun to scoot around in. Even the existence of the annoying ligtning gun is okay, now that a sleeker, powerful sniper rifle has been re-introduced. The game play of UTK:04 is easily worth the money you spend on it - and the money you lost on UTK:03.

Summary

UT2K4 designers and developers listened to their game fans AND various game players and came forth with a polished product in a form of a great FPS co-op shooter as promised, and then some....

Sound

This part too,got a spectacular overhaul. First thing to notice is the return of the nostalgic UT99 theme that never got surpassed in creating the momentum before each game immersion. Then music wise all I can say is that it is the first time tha tI enabled and enjoyed the music that becomes integral in the gameplay rythm. But apart these entertaining features,there are the 2 new iterations of indispensable coop-game communication,the text to speech easily enabled and useful feature that brings to life a Hawking-kind sounding voice tha tsometimes is hilarious,to the VERY useful in-game true voice via microphone communication that can be either universal or just team restricted. These 2 very useful functions that are integrated to the game without affecting any level of performance just created an example in good game design.

Gameplay

The game is smooth and polished,starting with the lengthy solo(training) campaign,where this time you need to earn money with each win while learning to advance,the bot's AI are better than before,the guns are more balanced where the gatlin becomes a force to be reconed with,while the shock rifle demands better accuracy,BUT the sniper rifle is back with a vengeance! Then we see the vehicles and planes,these machines ride in the easiest most intuitive way ever created, while keeping the road air characteristics particular to each one of them. New races and characters are introduced ,and this time all have equal prowesses (unless enabled otherwise via mutators). In the multiplay part,where this game is MEANT to play and shine,while the graphics remained the same (they were great to begin with)we see not only the usual array of playing modes and the return of an improved assault mode where task arrows guide the player through the battle confusion towards the goals,BUT additionally(big smile here!)we see the BEST mode invented so far,called Onslaught. Part Assault(tasks and points to be controlled,and reclaimed)we se a required use of all kinds of vehicles,repairable when damaged,that become an organic part of the game's co-op character,in order to achieve victory,which is done by infiltrating and destroying a generator node in the enemy base. This mode,demands team play,instant communication(in-game mike and text to speech seamlessly integrated)and good coordination.An ever-present map points the way and the team's progress,while the new super weapons can anihilate hehicles,the uber-vehicle(Leviathan) becomes a mobile lethal destruction machine while carrying almost hals a team slowly yet inexorably towards the different nodes to be claimed. Online AI is spectacularly tuned,and you eventual team-bots if you ever have any,will cover you if you ask by hovering above you with a Manta,will defend the base, attack enemy bases,even drive a Goliath tank while you man the turrets raining bullets to the opponents! A familiar comment I hear is : Are these bots? OMG the bot is taking me for a ride,way to go!! Judging from the sheer number of acive Onslaught servers (usually 800-1000),and the end-game comments,of the satisfied players including the sporty losing team,I can say that Epic got the finger right on the gamer's pulse. This version of UT is what Tribes could have been,and what was promised when last year's UT was released. Additionally the price rebate for the existing UT3K3 owners,is a refreshing approach to the faithful UT fans. Online play is streamlined and demonstrates very little if any lag issues on servers with pings 100 and below. And as a parting note the total inclusion of ALL the UT2k3 maps,is a clever idea,covering the incompatibility between last year's game and this shiny new one. Lastly there is an admin mod function that works very good and a player's vote system where the abusive ones can get kicked off the public servers if the votes exceed 50%. The interface,mutators and customisations also got notched up a scale giving the player or the multiplaying set-up a myriad of options and nuanced differences to satisfy the purist,the mayhem lover or the sniper in any aspiring player.

Summary

If you wanted more from UT2K3 and needed UT2K3 to be fun like UT then this games or you. UT2K4 now adds alot of features that UT fans have been waiting for: Vehicles, Sniper RIfle, Can, Skarjj, Assault to name a few. When you play this you feel like you playing the old UT and it has that feeling that makes you want more!

Sound

The sound is still awsome and they added alot of cool new music plus a new music player!

Gameplay

The gameplay itself is the same as UT2K3 execpt with more "Big items" like mounted guns and vehicles and some small fixes. And online is even better unlick most games where people never share a vehicle they do share in this!

Summary

I can sum this game review up in a single sentence: THIS IS EVERYTHING UT2003 SHOULD HAVE BEEN.. AND THEN SOME. There, that should give most of you a fairly decent idea what ut2004 is all about. Its all good, and I strongly recommend you buy it NOW if you've ever liked anything the unreal guys have ever done because this is the simply the mother of all sci-fi First Person Shooting (FPS) games. Forget Halo, forget Chrome, forget Quake and the rest.. put your money here and you wont be dissapointed. If your still here, you've probably already got the game and are currently at-work, killing time by reading reviews until you can go home and play again. Addictive doesn't even begin to describe it. UT2004 is obviously an attempt to appease the fans. I'm delighted to say its a raging respect in that sense. It is also sure to build up a new generation of UTers. This game should win an award!

Sound

Again, its not changed much in terms of quality.. but theres a lot more of it. You can, for example, choose between several announcer voices. The weapons sounds have been tweaked a bit for more umph and the music has been changed to sound more like remixes of the old UT tracks. I wish they hadn't kept the character voices though.. or given the option to change THEM back to the way they sounded in UT.. but as they say, you can't have everything.

Gameplay

Installation was smooth.. I opted for the 6 CD install (there is also a DVD option available). And it took much less time than I expected. It would seem much of the data on the disks is for other language versions. That, and the software has been well packaged for fast read-times of the disks. UT2004 uses a lot of hard disk space (about 5 Gig!) and as I'm running low on room on my Windows partition (too many games!), I chose to install it on my Linux drive. Yes, UT2004, like its immediate predecessor, features a linux installer right there on the disk set. Unfortunately UT2004 isn't officially supported under Linux, but seeing as the Linux demo was patched at the same time as the windows one, I think theres little doubt that updates and patches will be forthcoming from the devs. Apart from a known crash bug with the karma 'rag doll' physics engine under 'high physics model' detail settings, it seems stable enough. A glance at the forums revealed the bug to be a known issue that will likely dissapear in the first game update. I'm told that the windows version was more thoroughly play tested before release and doesn't suffer the same problem. Its not a big issue for me though and there is a workaround (setting the physics detail to medium - I havent noticed any difference anyway TBH). Apart from the bug, the Linux and Windows version are identical and very similar in terms of performance and the quality of the graphics. So, whats in the game? A LOT! To begin with, theres all the game modes from UT2003, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Bombing Run, Capture the Flag and Double Domination.. PLUS Assault mode and Last Man Standing from the original UT.. PLUS 3 all new game modes: Mutant; a deathmatch where you and freinds must team up to kill the heavily armed mutant (thus becoming the mutant yourself)- Invasion; where you and your team mates get to defend youselves from hoards of alien beasties - and finally the uber mode called ONSLAUGHT, which is a capture the checkpoints type of game obviously inspired by, but vastly superior to Battlefield 1942's vehicle assisted tactical gameplay. As well as all the maps from UT2003, theres also recreations of many of the more popular maps and game modes from the original UT and quite a few completely new designs to boot. Maps range from huge open terrain suitable for Onslaught games, to confined two man deathmatch arenas. That one game engine can do so much is remarkable. After the rather restricted feeling of ut2003, the sheer quantity and variety of stuff on offer really puts you in mind of the original UT.. you can play a hundred games of UT2004 and have a different experience each time. For the first time in an UT game, there are several diverse drivable vehicles to commendeer in Assault and Onslaught modes. These range from jeeps to tanks to aircraft to star-fighters! Again, the variety is impressive and the controls are slick and responsive. I always found the aircraft unwieldy in BF1942, but the Raptor aircraft in UT2004 (with its hand hover ability) utterly kicks! To complement the strategic gameplay of many of the new maps and modes, several types of stationary turret can also be manned. As for guns, theres a bigger arsenal than ever before. The much lamented loss of the sniper rifle has been atoned for, and its now back in the arsenal alongside the upstart lightning gun thingy.. The other weapons havent changed much from UT2003, which is good, except I do wish the rocket launcher and flak bombs did a little more splash damage again. Theres also no sign of the cool UT pistols. This is partially corrected by the ability to use twin assault rifles.. to the expected devestating effect and high kudos factor! The Redeemer man-portable nuclear missile is back..as is the Ion Painter, which now has the ability to call in air strikes. The link gun is now most useful as its alternate fire mode provides a means of repairing vehicles and power nodes during onslaught. There are also a handful of new weapons to master: A minelayer, which spits out mobile, homing spider mines, the AVRil anti-vehicular rocket launcher and a grenade launcher (actually similar to the minelayer, but the sitcky 'grenades' are immobile and need to be 'touched off' using alt-fire, they also explode upon your death.. which is more important than it sounds). Its pretty easy to see why the new weapons are there. The AVRiL provides some punch to footsoldiers facing down vehicles, the minelayer is useful in base defense and the grenade launcher, despite its name, is best used to load up fast moving vehicles with explosives for suicide runs againsed the enemy. Believe me, doing kamikaze attacks with a raptor or manta full of grenades is one of THE most fun things you can do in a computer game.