Unreal Tournament III Review

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(More customer reviews)UT3 is probably the fastest FPS on the consoles at this time. With lightning fast gameplay and stunning visuals. I only noticed very minor texture pop ins and the occasional framerate dips but really I'm being nitpicky here, UT3 looks and plays fantastic, near perfection for it's style of gameplay and probably the best looking,best performing game currently on the 360 to date.
With the addition of 5 New Maps for the 360 version, 3 of which are wholly new and 2 are reinvisioned versions of the PS3/PC version with Necris themes. All of the maps look quite good and some are fantastic looking.
I've noticed that they improved the 360's version , by tweaking the core controls with a 'minor' aim assist , I noticed that the bullets track a little better and behave more realisticly. I don't prefer aim assist myself ,BUT , I will say the 360 version is the most refined version yet ,aside from the HUGE GAP ,of not supporting user created mods, it is the most polished port.
The split-screen is fun,if your into that, UT3 360 supports split-screen online multi,co-op,local,and System Link. (no split-screen ranked matches though)
All DLC that's available for the PS3 is included in the 360 version (ASIDE FROM USER created mods)
(If your still into UT 'fast twitch'style gameplay)
The multiplayer is liquid fast and fun, with Game Modes DeathMatch ,Team DeathMatch,CTF,Vehicle CTF,Duel, and last but not least Warfare which is a team based mode involving Capturing and linking together 'nodes' with your orbs ,so you can destroy the enemies core. Warfare adds a little strategy to the twitch gameplay mechanics of UT3.
UT3 is so fast,so frenetic , you'll barely have time to come up for air .
I was playing UT3 for about 7 hours and didn't even realize it, there's definitely no down times in UT3.

The single player campaign ,is little more than glorified BOT matches, but that's not such a bad thing as the enemy AI are really about as close as you can get to real humans, (sometimes better) especially on the harder settings.
There isn't much of a story in the campaign,but that's ok I don't wanna watch a bunch of mini-movies anyways. But It would've been nice to have a deeper 'in-game' story mode,instead you get the occasional little cutscenes in between matches. AT least you have access to all online matches offline as well. Some of the MAPS are absolutley stunning as you progress into the game,these maps by far look superior to just about any game on the 360. There were quite a few 'jaw dropping' moments in the maps. When EPIC said in there early interviews with various magazines that UT3 'makes Gears look ugly' , They weren't kidding. But the comparison ends there,don't expect a Gears style cover system. UT3 is pure unadulterated lightning fast gameplay. I can't get over how fast this game performs. Other games like Gears,RSV, move at snails pace compared to this game,its insanely fast. You know some games slow down your player to help the graphics perform better, BUT UT3 , turns the dial past 11 and it still looks smooth as butter.
Switching weapons are mapped to the RB and LB respectively and of course all have some form of alternate fire (LT),
at first I would've preferred a quicker layout of weapon toggle, BUT , the controls are really easy for any 360 FPS veteran ,you shouldn't have any problems jumping right in and playing.
The vehicles all drive and perform closely to Halo's Warthog ,there quite easy and intuitive as well ,with a little learning curve ,that's a perfect time to check out the campaign's offline BOT matches to hone up your skills for online.Especially sharpening your skills for capturing nodes and learning the best routes in the maps.There's also tons of unique flying vehicles .
UT3 is a fantastic game on the 360 ,with the only real downside to the 360 version is the lack of 'user created mods' and the lack of a 'real' story in the campaign , BUT THERE IS TONS of game content offline with the BOTS.
I've seen from interviews from EPIC you can expect some solution for user created mods most likely in the form of DLC ? who knows? . But the 360 is so meaty ,so full of game content it really is an exciting game and the lack of user created mods should'nt detour you from picking up a copy for yourself. If your looking for a deep single player story campaign and don't have LIVE access I would suggest renting it first, as there's no real deep story here ,BUT , even offline the BOT matches can be fun. There's just no match though for human counterparts online,UT3 true shining feature is the Multi-player and it's one of the best looking ,best performing games on the 360 to date, if not THE BEST.
I got through the camapaign's single player in about 17 hours. I gotta admit the BOTS are extremely impressive on the harder settings and you get (8) difficulty settings from Novice to Godlike. Trust me these BOTS will test even the most skilled players. You can even play 'instant action' offline ,and manually set Bot skill levels,number of combatants,Goal Score,Time Limit,Opposing Bot Faction,and Force Respawn toggle. WOW what can I say ,stuff usually reserved for online play only is ALL available to the non-LIVE players. Very nice indeed.
Overall UT3 is much better than I had expected. EPIC really knows what there doing when it comes to Unreal Tournament style gameplay and they tweaked the 360 to its maxium limits and to my surprise ,the game is exceptionally smooth,clean,and fast paced with out so much as a hiccup or a very rare framedrop on the 360. Definitley pick this game up a very,very solid FPS.
PEACE


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Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the premiere tournament-style first-person shooter. Players engage in intense and hyper-real battles with other human players online or against incredibly realistic Unreal artificial intelligence. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3 taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level.

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Gears of War 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm reviewing the collectors version (limited edition), so my review is based more on this, than the actual game.
I bought Gears of War Limited edition when it first came out (1), it was nice, came in a tin, and was really something special. With other collectors editions that have come out since, The original gears still fares pretty well in comparison.
Gears 2 (as with everything related to this game) is bigger, and better.
This has some of the coolest packaging I have seen thus far.
When you pick up this game, you will first be impressed by the sheer weight, this sucker is heavy. When you remove the slipcase your greeted to a box holding the items, when you take them out, you get the artbook (which comes with a picture --the picture you see in the game of doms wife--) and the game case.
Now, I have to say, I wasn't impressed with this artbook. I do some 3d work, and love Epic games more than anything. But this artbook is very weak. It was a big letdown for me. There is a book you can buy which features the art from 1, so beautifully, I treasure it and display it proudly on my desk. D'ARTISTE CHARACTER MODELING 2 If your a fan, and also enjoy making games, I highly recommend it. It is high priced, and not currently for sale here, but the printing and everything is very high quality.
The picture that is included is very low quality too. I guess it looks the same as it does in the game, but why bother?
On to the good stuff.
After you look at the artbook you see a nice shiny case housing your gears of war 2 dvds. This case is very similar to the halo 2 collectors edition case, and I love it. Even if this game (LE) had nothing else going for it, the case alone is worth the extra price for me. Rarely does a case give off such a cool and impressive vibe, as this one case does!
You also have a bonus disc inside, which has some interesting features on it (similar to the bonus disc from Gears 1)
You also get a golden lancer (not a big deal, its only a golden lancer).
All in all, considering the price is 10 dollars more than the standard. I highly recommend it.
This is a wonderful game. How the graphics can be improved so greatly is beyond me. Gears 1 is still a beautiful game, a game I love replaying. Gears 2 is much much better. Some of the gameplay is harder, the level designs are "epic", and the graphics and lighting, wow, the graphics and lighting, they take your breathe away.
I played the campaign all the way through twice now. And I can honestly say, its the best behind the back third person shooter of the year.
The online multiplayer is addictive, and very strategy based. You cant just run out and start blasting, if you do, you will die. COD this is not. This is more akin to counterstrike, because when you die, you are dead. You do not come back until the next round. The game also encourages you to stick with your teammates so that you can revive each other and stick around longer.
The AI is not cheap, your teammates are sometimes ignored in favor of the badguys going after you, but it is no where near as bad as Resistance 2 for the ps3. All in all this is a good game, and the Limited Edition only enhances that.
By far, the coolest mode for this game is horde mode. On this mode, you and some buddies can go crazy taking on "hordes" of baddies on a level by level basis. If you have played some fighting games before, its like a survival mode. You keep going as long as you can, you have to stick together, and play this very strategically. The multiplayer in this game will not get old. It is so good, and encourages you to replay the game countless times.
I must warn you. DO NOT BUY THIS GAME USED. If you buy gears used, you will not get access to the flashback maps, which are 5 maps redone using the new engine. You get these free when you buy the game new (and the codes are not used). So be careful and take notice.
This game is easily worth the price of admission, and if you look at the current price of gears 1, used or new, you will see that the price did not get much below 30 dollars on the used marketplace (standard version), the collectors edition still holds its value today. It is worth your investment to get it new, there is no need to hold off on buying it.
I encourage parents to NOT buy this game used, as your loved ones will be unable to experience the game to its fullest potential. And again, the Limited edition IS a worthwhile upgrade.
Also, if you have not yet, I recommend playing Gears 1 again, the achievements you unlock on 1, relate to what characters you can unlock on gears 2 for online play. Specifically, you want to beat the game on hardcore mode, so you can get RAAM on multiplayer. If not, at least play normal, and you can unlock everybody but RAAM.


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The wait is over, Gears of War 2 has arrived. Ever since the original was released, fans have clamored for this sequel. Developed exclusively for the Xbox 360 by Epic Games, Gears of War 2, which has already garnered several awards, picks up six months after the events of the blockbuster original Gears of War. Players are thrown back into the role of Marcus Fenix, leading the battle for humankind's survival against the Locust Horde. In addition to innovative third-person tactical action gameplay and unsurpassed high-definition graphics, this Limited Edition version Gears of War 2 includes several collectible extras that make it a must-have game for the Xbox 360.
Sequel to the Blockbuster Original, With Collectible Extras Developed exclusively for the Xbox 360, Gears of War 2, which has already garnered several awards, picks up six months after the events of the blockbuster original Gears of War. Players are thrown back into the role of Marcus Fenix, leading the battle for humankind's survival.
This limited edition version features several extras, including a Collectible SteelBook DVD case, "Beneath the Surface: An Inside Look at Gears of War 2," a 48-page hardbound book with exclusive art and a foreword by Design Director Cliff Bleszinski, and a DVD with making-of-the-game footage as well as artwork and commentary. You also get an exclusive gold-plated Lancer Assault Rifle that you can use during online play.
Huge Environments, Bigger Gameplay For those who loved Gears of War, Gears of War 2 builds upon it in every way, but with several major enhancements. There are more weapons, bigger vehicles, and more action. The enemies are more dangerous, and the total experiences is more immersive than ever. And with a revolutionary tactical combat system, the game will require not just fast reaction times and shooting skill, it will also challenge you to devise a strategy that will work against the enemies who exhibit smart AI.
Jaw-Dropping, Realistic Graphics Just as Gears of War did the first time around, Gears of War 2 ups the ante for graphical prowess. Combined with the sweeping vistas and evocative locales of Sera, where the story takes place, Gears of War 2 offers jaw-dropping graphics that are made possible through advances in Unreal Engine 3. New visual effects include ambient occlusion, dynamic shadows, improved character lighting, the ability to render hundreds of on-screen characters simultaneously, improved water physics, additional blood and bullet decals, advanced destructible environments, new weather effects, and the introduction of fluid objects.
Immersive, Gripping Story Taking place six months after the end of the first game, Gears of War 2 returns the cast of characters of the original, including Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, as well as several newcomers.
Novelist and comic book writer Joshua Ortega, who assisted with the writing, has created a story that is big on character development and personality. With a new in-game conversational camera system and multiple story arcs, the story is presented in a gripping cinematic style where characters gain an emotional depth that matches their realistic graphical representation.
More Characters, Upgraded Vehicles, Badder Weapons Those who were impressed by the original Gears of War will be in for a real treat. New characters such as Tai Kaliso, weapons like the burst pistol, and huge vehicles like the COG Centaur tank will give players a whole new dimension and scope of gameplay in both single-player and multi-player modes.
Multiplayer Action with Xbox LIVE! Gears of War 2 features a multiplayer mode that allows up to 10 simultaneous players for outstanding multiplayer fun. Taking full advantage of the Xbox LIVE service, which boasts 10 million gamers, Gears of War 2 features both competitive and cooperative multiplayer gameplay. Setting up games is simple with LIVE, and you have the ability to drop in and out of co-operative campaigns at any time.
Everything you loved about multiplayer in the original is back, including the classic death matches, but with this sequel there is an added emphasis on teamwork. New multiplayer game modes will require better coordination in order to win. The game also features voice support, so you can communicate with other players around the world -- whether you're on the same team or trash talking!
Gears of War 2 won several awards at E3 2008, where it was first presented, including Overall Best Shooting Game and Overall Best Graphics Technology of E3 2008 from IGN, as well as Best Action Game of E3 2008 from the Game Critics Awards.

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