Unreal has never been known for its single player. Purchasing almost any game in the series, even the ones that promised to offer full campaigns, was typically met with disappointment. The same holds true for Unreal Tournament III, and while this Xbox 360 port doesn’t offer all of the customization options of its other console brethren, there is still a wildly fast FPS here for fans.
While there is a story here, filled with excellent, well-done cinematics, it’s all fodder for the action. Trying to turn an AI bot-filled capture the flag match into something story driven causes a reaction of chuckles, not one of serious futuristic conflict. The awful bot AI doesn’t help matters, and that’s on both sides. Your allies can’t avoid simple shots, and enemies rarely know when to attack or avoid an assault. The entire single player feels lazy and slapped together, with disjointed breaks between levels that draw you out of the pacing.
Unreal does all it can to draw you into the battle. The gorgeous visuals, especially the textures, create a wonderful looking (if grim) game world. Unlike fellow Epic developed Gears of War, Unreal’s world is colorful. Each level has a distinct look, and character models are exceptionally well crafted.
With the trademark intense speed, stopping to stare in awe of the graphical prowess isn’t exactly an option. Those accustomed to slower paced titles like Call of Duty and Halo will be in for a shock. This isn’t new for the franchise, but those attempting to dive into this universe should be aware of zero respawn times, a solid frame rate, and the lack of a run button since the game is automatically in overdrive from the minute a game begins. This is key to keeping Unreal unique, and this 360 port flawless maintains it.
PlayStation 3 and PC owners will groan at the lack of keyboard and mouse support. Aside from some slow turning, the action will feel fine to dual analog fans. The only major shift is the weapon swapping, which takes too long to handle in the menu system for Unreal’s pacing. It might work against bots, but against actual human players, you’ll likely be taking hits before you selection is completed.
Heading online delivers a multitude of character avatars to choose from, and of course a massive variety of game modes. Also, in an all too rare Xbox Live feature, a non-paying Live guest can join in on the action from the same hardware.
Those who waited for the 360 port have benefited from their time, gaining all of the original maps, previously downloadable only expansions, plus five that are exclusive to the hardware. That almost makes up for the lack of full customization and sharing options, though not quite. It’s ironic you can make a Master Chief model on the PS3 and take him online, yet that feature doesn’t exist here on the 360.
For those who find that 50 kill games don’t offer enough gruesome violence to fill their needs, Unreal Tournament III can handle that gap. This is as hardcore as the genre can be on consoles, and this 360 port satisfies. Unless the missing customization options are too much to bare, this is the complete Unreal III package.
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