Unreal Tournament 2004

While online shooters like Battlefield Vietnam may have historical accuracy on their side, Unreal Tournament 2004 wins the throne by offering more for less.

It?s been just over a year since Unreal Tournament 2003 burst onto the scene and hooked PC players with its intense deathmatch action, but soon after its release, fans craved more levels, more game modes?more everything! Well, more has finally arrived, and boy, does UT 2004 deliver the goods.

Flak?s Back
UT 2004 addresses all the flaws that plagued last year?s edition, starting with the revamped single-player tournament. While a broadband internet connection is preferred, the superior combat A.I. ensures you?ll have fun offline, too. All told, there are nearly 100 levels spaced across 10 play modes; you?ll still find old favorites like Double Domination and Capture the Flag along with novel newcomers like Invasion (in which you zap armies of aliens). But there?s more.

The return of the much-missed Assault mode should please classic UT players, but UT 2004?s crown jewel is the breathtaking new Onslaught mode, in which the goal is to capture and defend all the Power Nodes on a given level. Need more firepower? Hop into a devastating Leviathan tank, a nimble Manta hovercraft, or a stationary Energy Turret. Because it combines the best features of Twisted Metal, Halo and Tribes, Onslaught will appeal to a wide variety of gamers, not just hardcore UT fiends.

Return of the King
Surprise, surprise ?UT 2004 looks absolutely fantastic. From the sprawling battlefields to the tiny blades of alien grass, there?s not one visual detail that looks less than stunning. Of course, a powerhouse PC (preferably housing a top-notch video card like a Radeon 9800 or GeForce 5900) yields the best results, but unlike the choppy PC port of Halo, these visuals are actually worth the investment. Besides, UT 2004 is riveting even with cruddy graphics?that?s the real test, isn?t it?

UT 2004 doesn?t skimp on the sound front, either, offering rumbling explosions and real-time voice communication, all with nifty 3D spatial effects. The sinister background music is catchy without being grating.

Battlestar Spectacular
UT 2004 isn?t entirely free of flaws, but they?re all minor irritants. The game consumes nearly six whopping gigabytes of hard drive space?ouch! And while the new anti-vehicle weapons are an excellent touch, a few more traditional guns would?ve been welcome, too.

Despite the name, UT 2004 is no mere expansion pack. It?s practically a full-blown sequel, but at a wallet-friendly price. And when it comes down to it, Onslaught alone is easily worth the forty bucks. If that isn?t a recommendation, what is?

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