Unreal Tournament 2004 (PC) Review

Introduction

To many people, Unreal Tournament 2003 was a disappointment to the original Unreal Tournament. While it provided some new features, not enough was added to keep interest. That, combined with the release of Battlefield 1942, a new game that focused on team play, Unreal Tournament 2003 was left sucking dirt.

Here we are now, well over a year later, and the battle continues. Unreal Tournament 2004 and Battlefield: Vietnam released just a day apart. It’s to early to tell what the outcome of this war will be, but we can tell you what we think of Unreal Tournament 2004.

Features

UT2K4 packs a lot of stuff into the game, while also including most of what UT2K3 had. Because of this, UT2K4 feels more like an upgrade, or expansion pack rather than a new game. Just so there is no confusion about it, Unreal Tournament 2004 is a completely new game, and does not require UT2K3. So, what’s new?

• 10 Game Modes
• Vehicles
• New Levels
• New Weapons
• New Characters
• New Technology
  • Voice-over IP support - command and coordinate. Give orders, rally your troops or talk smack with the enemy.
  • Voice recognition - give orders to bots; no more typing when you should be fighting!
  • Completely redesigned menus, including a new server browser with right-click menus and many brand-new configurable features.
  • Improved AI: vehicle control, advanced dodging and wall-dodging, improved aim, better team coordination.
  • Deeper single player mode with comprehensive team management options, challenge matches, multiple endings and more.
  • Integrated map vote and match set-up for Internet play.
  • UnrealTV - a proxy broadcast system allowing a huge number of spectators to watch a match live over the Internet.
  • Pixomatic software renderer allowing incredible performance with no 3D card required. Play UT2004 on your laptop!
  • A re-designed HUD, improved weapon effects (bullet decals, incredible explosions), improved first person weapon rendering and innumerable improvements for mod authors, new announcer voices, rendering optimizations...the list goes on!