Unreal Tournament 3 Review

By Kristan Reed Published 3 July, 2008

Epic sale.

Version tested: Xbox 360

Previously on Unreal Tournament 3... "This feels like the PS3's new online FPS benchmark," said Tom. On PC it "pretty much remains The Daddy", according to Jim. So what of its belated transition to Xbox 360, a console that already offers plenty of choice for first-person shooter fans?

On the upside, Epic has rewarded 360 owners for waiting an extra seven months with five exclusive maps, split-screen play, a few new playable characters and some evident performance improvements. But it's not all high-fives and bear hugs. Unlike in the PS3 version, there's no keyboard, mouse or user mod support. Annoying, yes, but Epic had no choice about removing these features - it's all down to Microsoft's strict policies. Take it up with them.

Elsewhere, it's business as usual in the ultra-violent world of Unreal Tournament - at least when it comes to gameplay and style. As Jim noted back in November this game isn't synonymous with innovation, but is renowned for getting the feel absolutely spot-on. Following the 2003 and 2004 PC updates, and the development of three console editions, Epic has ended up with a game that sits just as comfortably on consoles as on its native PC platform. Despite not offering users the keyboard-and-mouse option offered to PS3 owners, Epic has conjured a control system which feels every bit as responsive and fast-paced as it needs to be for furious twitch-based gameplay.

Based around three distinct modes (Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and Warfare), and supplemented by a few variations (Team Deathmatch, Vehicle Capture the Flag and Duel), it doesn't need to play the numbers game in terms of features and modes - the core gameplay is more than adequate. Unreal Tournament has always excelled at offering a breakneck pace, good variety of weapons, cutting edge visuals and a satisfying level of violence.

'Unreal Tournament 3' Screenshot 1

This is what happens when you put too many Voodoo 2 cards in the same room.

UT3 is a game you'll slip into without too much introductory fluff. Of particular significance is the excellent new Warfare mode, as well as Vehicle CTF. Developers often try to come up with various tug o' war-style modes, but Warfare is easily one of the most cleverly designed. The multi-layered premise of capturing and controlling various 'nodes' dotted around a map seems straightforward enough, but in practice involves layer upon layer of strategy and subtlety. One minute you'll be heading happily to your opponent's central orb and pummeling its exposed core, the next reeling as your captured nodes are lost in a matter of moments.

The tenuous balance of the whole thing makes it a desperately tense, nervy affair, and the addition of various War of the Worlds-inspired vehicles adds a real fun factor. Likewise, Vehicle CTF transforms the old favourite - opening out the maps and generating a myriad of gameplay tactics in the process. Equipping players with Hover Boards in both modes overcomes the problem of being stuck roaming round large maps on-foot. Yes, it might look a bit strange, but it works.

'Unreal Tournament 3' Screenshot 2

At this precise moment, flight bores around the world are discussing the feasibility of this craft being airborne in real life.

One thing we perhaps haven't given Epic enough credit for in previous Unreal Tournament III reviews is the effort invested in the single-player component. As much as fans of online FPS action might dismiss the various botmatches, I feel compelled to stick up for this part of the package. For starters, in a nod to Gears of War, Epic has gone to great lengths to craft a characteristically bombastic five-act storyline. It comes complete with a branching mission structure and seemingly dozens of lavish CG cut-scenes, which go to often self-mocking lengths to justify why you're capturing flags or destroying nodes.

Again. The cod-seriousness of it all carried me all the way to the end, though the art direction is so close to Gears of War it's absurd. You too will believe that one man (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Marcus Fenix) and his steroid-pumped friends are saving the universe by gibbing all-comers. It's better than the old ladder match system of old, but does rather render the whole 'Tournament' element of the game's name redundant.

During the mission-selection process, it's not adequately explained there are consequences involved in plotting your path through the game. It seems like you're just being offered a choice of one of two missions as you go along, but in fact this semi-non-linear approach grants players a degree of freedom.

Aside from the completely linear first two 'acts', the missions available to you often have a significant impact on the type of task and location you'll face next, and sometimes even the conditions of those missions. Admittedly, the net result of this branching structure doesn't add up to a lot: the fact that you might face a different scenario or slightly less stringent conditions in a subsequent mission because of a choice you unwittingly made isn't that important. Such choice does, at least in theory, give the game a degree of replayability, but it comes at the price of the almost unbearable repetition of having to plough the same three gameplay styles and familiar maps multiple times. There's certainly no real incentive to do so apart from being able to unlock a few character skins for online use.

That said, I'm still sticking up for the offline botmatches. The simple fact is they're almost as enjoyable as the real thing, simulating that tense ebb and flow of multiplayer battle in a way few games have managed to date (and lag-free, remember). At the very least, Epic should be given enormous credit for crafting AI opponents challenging and unpredictable enough to warrant serious gameplay time. Not only are they perfectly capable of kicking anyone's arse (on insane level, anyway), the presence of four skill levels ought to make as accessible or as brutal as you want it to be. The added bonus of the quality and variety of the numerous maps in the game ensures that whichever way you play it, online or off, with a friend or with bots, you'll have a blast.

Better still, if you want to access all of this content in a more freeform fashion, the Instant Action option shouldn't be overlooked either. It's split into six modes and you can plump for any of the 16 Deathmatch/Team Deathmatch/Duel maps, eight CTF maps, eight Vehicle CTF maps and 23 Warfare maps. With no fewer than eight AI skill levels, two-player split screen play, and options to tweak other key options (including various 'mutators', which tweak gameplay conditions), the permutations available are absolutely immense without being overwhelming.

'Unreal Tournament 3' Screenshot 3

Generic screenshot 101: how to make your game look like every other FPS ever. Good work.

Almost two years on from Gears of War, it's no surprise to see how well the 360 handles Unreal Tournament III. So capable is Unreal Engine 3 at this stage, the console copes admirably even when chaos is absolutely raging on all sides - at least on the majority of occasions. There are a few slowdown hiccups on now and then, and is some very minor screen-tearing during cut-scenes. But there's absolutely no texture pop-in to speak of, and a wonderful array of lavishly detailed environments to explore unfettered - something the PS3 struggled with even when you installed the game to the hard disk.

Our real-world online tests with the boxed version of the game brought up precious few incidences of lag, with only one co-op session on the campaign mode throwing up any glitches. As usual the game conforms to all the typical Xbox Live implementation, and getting up and running was simple. 16 players are supported via System Link or Xbox Live on the various competitive modes (apart from Duel, of course, which is a one-on-one Deathmatch variant), while co-op campaign play supports up to four players. The latter mode offers an excellent way to plough through the Campaign mode, especially if you can round up a bunch of similarly skilled mates to fight alongside you.

'Unreal Tournament 3' Screenshot 4

These guys are just misunderstood. I blame society.

Most of you will have long since decided whether to bother with Unreal Tournament III - not least thanks to Tom and Jim's original PS3 and PC reviews last year. But eight months is a long time to wait for an FPS conversion, especially on a machine as overwhelmed by competing titles as the 360, so you might need convincing. Isn't it just ageing ideas in fancy new threads?

Probably, but so what? As good as Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Frontlines: Fuel of War and Team Fortress 2 are, Unreal Tournament III is the most intense and ridiculous of the bunch. What it lacks in terms of bold innovation, it more than makes up for in terms of raw playability and refined execution, and Epic has come up trumps with a fine conversion.

8 / 10

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Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (88) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Thunderhead #1 4 years ago

    No keyboard and mouse gimps this quite a bit. Even Quake 3 on the DC had keyboard and mouse support.

    MS - Gimping games since 1897

  • Quint2020 #2 4 years ago

    Meh.

  • Thunderhead #3 4 years ago

    This is about £7 on the PC by the way :)

  • thefilthandthefury #4 4 years ago

    God I need this game :(

  • Xerx3s #5 4 years ago

    If epic would go back to the roots of UT it would be an instant sale but the only thing that these games have in common with UT are their names.

  • peteb #6 4 years ago

    @yea its so bloody awkward!

    I have no qualms whatsoever with no mouse/keyboard, although the mods thing does sting a bit. What was the latest on this anyway? Are Epic going to put some user mods on Marketplace for download? (Better be free of course :D)

  • The_Programmer #7 4 years ago

    "Unlike in the PS3 version, there's no keyboard, mouse or user mod support."
    I don't want keyboard & mouse support on a console game as it makes it unfair on those that don't have them. The good thing about consoles is that everybody is playing with the same equipment making it fair for everyone. If you want keyboard & mouse support then get the PC version.

  • Thunderhead #8 4 years ago

    Why don't folk want to have an improved control method?

    /puzzled
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 15:36

  • KD #9 4 years ago

    I prefer knowing everyone i'm playing against is using the pad like myself, if theres a ps3 option to only find rooms with all players using pads then great but i seem to doubt it.

    As much as the keyboard and mouse combo is clearly best how many people here saying its the only way and a crime not to have tried it while sitting on a comfy living room chair with friends and family visiting with kids and dogs running about?
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 15:30

  • krudster #10 4 years ago

    On the PS3 version you could always filter out the keyboard/mouse players if you felt that was unfair.

    I'm anti gimping. Yes.

  • lambtron #11 4 years ago

    Level playing ground.

  • GamerG #12 4 years ago

    Wow the PS3 fanboys aren't happy

    And Frudster, there were never that many people playing UT3 on PS3 so filtering what was left wasn't much fun was it?
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 15:32

  • NOSAVIOUR #13 4 years ago

    Mine is nestled at home thanks to thefilthandthefury's enthusiasm!
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 15:33

  • peteb #14 4 years ago

    @Thunderhead

    Ignorance is bliss :)

  • GamerG #15 4 years ago

    SDF "my version has a couple of things yours doesn't! and they are the most important features ever! despite the fact next to no one who bought the game used them!"

  • groovychainsaw #16 4 years ago

    Sounds like this could be good to play offline with a couple of friends on the sofa? I'm not into spending hours getting my headshot 'just so' online but messing around vs some bots that are capable actually sounds like fun, reminds me of perfect dark (N64 of course, wouldn't want to drag up the other travesty...)

  • Aretak #17 4 years ago

    Ironic that you should mention SDF, GamerG. Are you a member of an Xbox equivalent?

  • Pike #18 4 years ago

    So, why get this when BF: BC is available?

  • Inquisitor #19 4 years ago

    Yea, it's the splitscreen and bots that make this a must buy, not the online. As good as the online might be I'll probably stick with halo. I love blasting through bots splitscreen with mates though, that's why I still have PD0 in my collection. Woeful game but the splitscreen multiplayer with bots is first class.

  • nbnz #20 4 years ago

    @GamerG - Actually plenty of people use both mods and K&M on the PS3 version.

    @KD - When you host a game you can choose whether or not K&M is allowed, and when searching for a game you can select whether or not you see K&M servers. If you select to all servers you can see a K&M icon next to the servers that allow it.

  • GamerG #21 4 years ago

    Aretrak, not particularly I just like calling out Bullshit (and the occasional wind up)!

  • Thunderhead #22 4 years ago

    Wonga - Sorry, did you mistype or did you say that keyboard and mouse was a shit control method for games? For driving games I would agree, but for strat games and first person games I'm at a loss as to why you would type that.

  • Darren #23 4 years ago

    "There are a few slowdown hiccups on now and then, and is some very minor screen-tearing during cut-scenes. But there's absolutely no texture pop-in to speak of, and a wonderful array of lavishly detailed environments to explore unfettered - something the PS3 struggled with even when you installed the game to the hard disk."

    The PS3 version of UTIII used pre-rendered cutscenes as far as I could tell, particularly the opening one so it sounds like the 360's are real-time (lack of disc space?). As for the PS3 struggling with the environments, I never once saw any evidence of that during the time I spent with the game; the engine seemed to run very well on the machine, far better than other UE3 games had at that point in time anyway.

    I bought the 360 version anyway, part out of curiousity to see how it compared with the excellent PS3 version, but mostly because it's one of the few online games I actually like playing, having been a big fan of the series since the first game on the PC from almost a decade ago. It'll be interesting to see if Epic support this version with lots of free maps and mods to make up for the lack of user imported ones.

  • GamerG #24 4 years ago


    Seriously though how many people actually used the PS3 mods, i'm sure all the PS3 FB's did obviously but in general no one did, same with K&B mouse. But by all accounts these are the most important features despite no other game feeling the need or bombing because of a lack of them.

    I gave up PC online gaming because I was never sure if I was losing because a) the other guy was cheating or b) the other guy had better equipment than me be it, a better mouse, a better processor, a better G/card etc.

    With a console all that is removed and i'm happier for it, everyone in the same boat.

  • paketep #25 4 years ago

    A pity they fucked up the PC version because of this.

  • ccfb #26 4 years ago

    I own the ps3 version and although the option of mods is nice to have, I'm a firm believer that there's so little out there that comes close to the quality of content provided by Epic it makes the mod stuff almost worthless.

  • Darren #27 4 years ago

    @Wonga - Why are people criticising the game for not supporting a keyboard and mouse when most other console FPSs don't either? Well perhaps because UTIII is an extremely fast paced game and those people think it plays better that way?

    Personally I found UTIII on the PS3 perfectly playable with the controller despite spending many years playing the various PC versions of UT. I actually prefer to use a controller anyway as the buttons are all within easy reach and I can play the game while slouching on a bed or couch.

  • Thunderhead #28 4 years ago

    Choice is better.

    No choice sucks.

    That's the real issue.
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 16:03

  • ParanoidZombie #29 4 years ago

    @pike: because UT3 is better, according to metacritics. And it has splitscreen, which is great for playing with real-life friends.

    ... And because i don't like so-called "realistic" shooters, I actually hate the concept as a whole.

  • Darren #30 4 years ago

    @GamerG - The third person mod for PS3 UTIII was neat and there were others I liked too plus there were dozens and dozens of user made maps and characters which certainly gave the game a pleasing amount of variety for a console FPS. Sure the basic gameplay remains the same throughout but at least I wasn't finding myself having to play the same dull maps over and over again ad nauseum as with 95% of other FPSs. I liked that! In fact, I think it's the reason why I like UT so much. :)

    Edit: grammar
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 16:37

  • Darren #31 4 years ago

    @ParanoidZombie - I completely agree with you. Shooters like Battlefield, Rainbow Six Vegas, GRAW and even Call of Duty bore me senseless because they have a limited number of modes and maps such that I find myself playing the same ones constantly. At least UT has never been like that plus it's fast and chaotic, just how I like my online shooters. UT is rarely dull IMO.

  • Thunderhead #32 4 years ago

    Wonga I'm really not sure what you are going on about.

    Joypads are wonderful, they really are. I use them on my consoles, I use them on my PC. I use them because they are absolutely perfect for certain genres.

    That doesn't mean that for other genres that a keyboard and mouse is either preferable, or just better.

    I use both methods as it suits. I certainly prefer the choice, and I definitely wouldn't cut off my nose to spite my face by taking a fanboyish approach to either control method by refusing to use them.

  • morriss #33 4 years ago

    want it

  • GamerG #34 4 years ago

    Darren, I play mostly with my friends, some play all the time, some rarely play all of them would not care enough to go through the procedures it takes (on PS3 at least) to get the mods on their console. If we are all online and one person doesn't have the mod then none of us can play, likewise if the amount of people who own the game is small (as on PS3) then by adding mods all you are doing is fragmenting the all ready small audience.

    On console the mantra should be: Keep it simple!

  • Pike #35 4 years ago

    Ah, it's an old school twitch shooter for the adhd kids. I get it. Well, I'll stay with the more tactical option.

  • ParanoidZombie #36 4 years ago

    @darren: don't forget that gears2 is just around the corner... i don't think Epic really cares about supporting the x360 version of UT3, and I don't think that most x360 owners will care come november. The game's community will probably have a very short lifespan, just like shadowrun's last year. That's why adding splitscreen support is more interesting than mods if you want to play UT on x360.

  • magicpanda #37 4 years ago

    One to pick up on the cheap I think. I can see this being traded back in by a lot of people after a couple of weeks.

  • hahayou #38 4 years ago

    @Xerx3s - they did though. UT3 is very, very like UT99. The only notable thing that's missing is assault mode, and the novelty value that wore off 8 years ago of course.

    Just because it has some vehicle modes doesn't mean you have to play them.
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 17:47

  • the_dudefather #39 4 years ago

    would love to see how this would have went down if the 360 and ps3 versions reversed features.....

  • IronGiant #40 4 years ago

    Unfortunately this will soon be heavily discounted and end up in the bargain bins. Exactly the same fate that Bioshock on PS3 could be in for.. far too late for most people to care anymore.

  • Trafford #41 4 years ago

    Thanks for that review.
    I've been on the fence all week between this and BF:BC.
    Fuck the realworld, I want hoverboards and the big booming voice.

  • GamerG #42 4 years ago

    Is there going to be a demo?!
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 16:28

  • GamesConnoisseur #43 4 years ago

    At one time predictions were made that lack of HDD would harm X360.

    The lack of mod in UT3 go a long way to demonstrate that this prediction may be a correct one, I always thought it was a serious mistake when MS announced no hdd X360.

    However performance wise its seem to prove to be marginally better than PS3, despite no advantage of HDD and of course had the advantage of extra seven months, same as PS3 usually get for their delayed releases titles!

    Problem is too many similar titles and releasing at time when interests in UT3 not as high as it was pre christmas, still keen to rent it out as already have both PC and PS3 versions. Just to see how it do and perhaps get an odd achievement points!

  • hulahoops #44 4 years ago

    Can you play split screen online?

    Absolute deal breaker for me.

  • turnget2005 #45 4 years ago

    @all

    you can choose to play on a server with or without keyboard support to make it fair.

    i found when playing with pad against keyboard the advantage was not that great and barely noticable.

    i have won many a round with pad on servers with both, but i cant be sure how many people were using the mouse!

  • Darren #46 4 years ago

    @ParanoidZombie - Sorry but I loathed Gears of War's online mode; it's just so boring with just 8 players and it's slooooooooow! Co-op was cool though. I doubt I'll ever bother playing Gears 2 online, I'm only really interested in the single player and co-op.

  • ParanoidZombie #47 4 years ago

    thedudefather wrote: "would love to see how this would have went down if the 360 and ps3 versions reversed features..... "

    Since the x360 version features a video of gears2, that would have been fun indeed...

    @Darren: agreed that gears2 is not the same game at all (it has no vehicles, too), but you have to admit that this game will rule xboxlive from november on, and probably kill the x360 UT3 community in the process. Once again, that's why splitscreen was a much needed feature, and kudos to epic for being smart and making it happen.

  • seasidebaz #48 4 years ago

    edit: jamie_fear is no longer with us...
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 17:00

  • AOFanboi #49 4 years ago

    <em>Wow the PS3 fanboys aren't happy</em>
    Yeah, we shake our fists at our keyboard and mouse support. We wail in agony at having mods available to us.

    Wait. Oh, that's right. YOU FAIL IT. It rather seems the XBots are in full "it's not important" revisioning mode.

  • jamie_fear #50 4 years ago

    @seasidebaz

    Indeed. I'm tired cos it's the end of my working day and felt that I asked a profoudly stupid question so took it down before anyone noticed.

    Clearly I was wrong, lol.

  • seasidebaz #51 4 years ago

    Trouble with this game, Epic will drop all support after a month (see: Clan support in GoW... And Map Packs for that matter)

    It also features a lack of mod support, which has always been integral to Unreal Tournament.

    Without it, sorry to say this, it's just another generic FPS.

  • TitusCrow #52 4 years ago

    ut3- a barrel of piss to drown the UT franchise!

    random quote from some guy who just played ut3 on pc when it came out - " i actualy threw up with rage and ran of a wall so hard in anger i nocked myself out!"

    true story..

  • Kiigan #53 4 years ago

    Great game... but I personally find Warfare utterly bewildering. Far too complicated.
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 17:24

  • Kiigan #54 4 years ago

    @Darren

    Gears of War was amazing fun online.The slower page of play made for a much more strategic experience compared to other shooters, and the weapons were always tremendously satisfying. Really, you're missing out of you skip GoW's online component.

  • Nithron #55 4 years ago

    Hang on. So people want to force everyone else to use controllers just because they don't wanna use a keyboard/mouse?

    Because too many people would use keyboards and mice if they were allowed to, and therefore only playing against other people that wanna use the pad limits the number of games they can play...

    Perhaps the fact that "too many" people would wanna use the keyboard and mouse setup invalidates your point and proves it's the better control system?

  • Chufty #56 4 years ago

    Despite not offering users the keyboard-and-mouse option offered to PS3 owners, Epic has conjured a control system which feels every bit as responsive and fast-paced as it needs to be for furious twitch-based gameplay.

    lol

  • ziggysays #57 4 years ago

    "But there's absolutely no texture pop-in to speak of, and a wonderful array of lavishly detailed environments to explore unfettered - something the PS3 struggled with even when you installed the game to the hard disk."

    What on earth are they talking about, the PS3 version runs flawlessly, but I guess they have to get a dig in somewhere.

  • Dizzy #58 4 years ago

    "Can you play split screen online?

    Absolute deal breaker for me. "

    Yes...

  • Prodigy_BE #59 4 years ago

    I bought this on PS3 import late last year (I've been an unreal fan up untill UT 2003, but didn't like the Xbox 1 one), and I must say: shitty singleplayer and dated multiplayer.

    Nothing new, the vehicle levels pretty much all suck, and the balance in health items in way off. 80% of the time, you kill or two guys and then die when going for health items. Pretty too look at and fast as hell, but oh so boring.

    EG, time to tighten up those reviews. Bad Company has a lame singleplayer and way too basic online mode (no clan options or provate rooms kill off teamplay, and thus also the use of tactics), and was certainly not an 8/10.

    And this ain't either.


    the first guy that starts a gaming website that is 100% independent, and has NO banners income from the gamesindustry, has got my vote. All other gaming press is f*cked.

  • Buran #60 4 years ago

    I play it on PS3, always with k+m (I have a elevable table between my sofa and the tv) and my experience is that I can beat the A.I in "Masterful" in Duel in some maps with k+m, but with pad barely can beat it in "Skilled" (2 degrees down) even with the auto aim. So, k+m matters, matters A LOT. I don't understand how is the only fps with this support in PS3. Even with the separate rooms, is able to play with pads in k+m rooms, the guys with pads that play in that way usually find themselves torned into red clouds of meat, blood and bones.

    About the game himself, is the best TDM and CTF game of the moment: furyusly fast, superb balanced weapons (I love the exquisite balance between all of them, all usables, since the Enforcer to the Flak, Bio Rifle, Shock...

    Also the games has some of the best maps ever: Arsenal, Shangri La, Defiance, Sanctuary and the new version of Deck are awesome. Also, "Sentinel" is the best designed 1 vs 1 arena since Quake III and UT. In CTF I'm personaly in love with Strident, Vertebrae and Searchlight.

    My only complain are two: the first one is that Warfare is not very innovative compared to Warfare, and in fact I prefer the old Warfare; the second one is the absence in oficial servers from Midway of the free maps from the bonus pack.
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 19:51

  • Lin #61 4 years ago

    "Ah, it's an old school twitch shooter for the adhd kids. I get it. Well, I'll stay with the more tactical option."

    Have you played Warfare?

    It's fast AND tactical. I play FPS for adrenaline and excitement. UT3 is the closest thing we have to an online sport. If I wanted to slouch around and watch the good guy always win I'd watch a movie. UT is a game that gives power to the players ad treats us as adults.

    If online is too hard for you, just play Instant Action, that's what I do and I suspect that it's a significant reason for the low numbers online people are complaining about; the bots are good enough that I personally, with slow internet, don't see the need.

  • Marshall2008 #62 4 years ago

    @ziggysays

    I bought the ps3 version and even with full HDD install you get texture pop in, all the time. Once it catches your eye its distracting as fuck.

    A prime example is when you switch weapons on the move, the weapon model draws in fine but there is a noticeable delay before the detail textures apply. This problem is due to the Unreal engine and how it handles textures to keep frame rates up, normally due to a lack of video memory. You can see similar texture pop in on Mass effect on the 360 during closeups of the characters.

    Also the online was shit on the ps3 you could never get a decent game as the servers were all running mods which you had to look for online. I posted the same stuff when I got ut3 months ago and at that time although the idea of mods was a good one the implementation was fucking abysmal. These are consoles not pc's.

    I expect that Epic will due the usual and over the next few months there will be free map packs and probably free best of the 'community' map packs and mods to download on live.
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 20:29

  • Dezm0nd #63 4 years ago

    Do yourself a favour, buy Orange Box instead. TF2 is MUCH better that UT3 plus you get a bunch of other AAA titles with it.

  • Buran #64 4 years ago

    Marshall2008: I disagree. The pop up of textures only happens in the first 5 seconds before the game starts, and then all works nicelly, even with 16 players all vs all in small maps like Rising Sun. I hardly can see how can affect the gameplay since is matter of seconds to the system to load all the textures involved in a match.

    And about the mods, you're clearly wrong: the official servers from Midway don't run mods -even not run the extra maps provided by Epic-, which means that all thepublic servers are running the same official contents, with the mods running only in matches started by players as server.

    IMO this game has the better online in PS3, even when I must play in servers with big lag (300 ping or more) is easy to predict the ballistics of the weapons and to do a killing spree fest.

    Edit: Dezm0nd TF2 looks and handles like a a slug compared to UT III. Is like riding a VW Beatle compared to a Bugatti Veyron, or better: compared to a Leopard II.
    Edited by 1 at 03/07/08 @ 21:22

  • miiiguel #65 4 years ago

    "the first guy that starts a gaming website that is 100% independent, and has NO banners income from the gamesindustry, has got my vote. All other gaming press is f*cked" "
    dude, you're implying 360 bias in a site that has but Sony adds in it... funny. Anyway, do you consider for a moment, that perhaps for any technical reason (forget the emotion esoteric issues, for 2 secs) Unreal Engine can work better on 360 specs ?

  • onyxbox #66 4 years ago

    i'm amazed that this warrants a new review on EG. It's the same game without K & M and no mod support... I think every 360 owner pretty much knew that already.

    I wonder if they'll re-review Bioshock on PS3 when it comes out.

  • ThePissartist #67 4 years ago

    ThePissartist - doesn't care for keyboard/mouse and mod support.

    ThePissartist - also doesn't care if people refer to him as a fanboy, at least he gets to play Unreal 3.

  • Darren #68 4 years ago

    I was playing this last night. The 360 version looks and runs slightly better than the PS3 version with comparable loading times to the HDD installed version too. There IS texture pop in though, mostly after the level has loaded where it takes up to five seconds for them to appear, but I've also noticed them popping in on rare occasions while I've been playing despite what the EG review claims. Oddly the Character Customisation option is missing, which allowed you to mix-and-match your character's look from up to half a dozen items for helmet, chest, visor, etc. Dunno why they took that out, it didn't have anything to do with user-mods. This version also supports up to 16 bots for 17 player matches, one more than the PS3 version. This applies to online matches too so you can have 17 players. I played a couple of 14 player deathmatches online and it was impressively lag free and every bit as smooth as playing it offline with bots.

    It's a great game, shame it tooks so damn long to arrive on the 360... and without user-mods.

  • Ranger101 #69 4 years ago

    "This is what happens when you put too many Voodoo 2 cards in the same room."


    SLI MAN! SLI!

    I'm going to 3dfx you up!
    Edited by 1 at 04/07/08 @ 09:26

  • mike_mgoblue #70 4 years ago

    Comparisons & Analysis

    Graphics:

    The PC and Xbox 360 versions easily have the best graphics. The Playstation 3 has the worst graphics.

    Customization:

    Xbox 360 doesn't have the customizable map stuff that the PC and PS3 versions do. Let's be realistic, though; 99% of the customizable stuff people make sucks.

    Maps:

    Xbox 360 version has five new maps that are pretty cool

    Split-Screen:

    The Xbox 360 has a Split-Screen mode not found in the PC or PS3. If you don't have access to the Internet, this automatically makes the Xbox 360 version the best.

    Controls:

    PC and PS3 let you use a keyboard if you want to, Xbox 360 doesn't. I supposed I can understand Microsoft's logic of not letting people use customizable stuff on Xbox Live, but not letting people plug a USB Keyboard and Mouse into the system is inexcusable. The good news is that the Xbox 360 controller works a LOT better than the PS3 controller for playing Unreal Tournament 3...so, if you are one of the many people who like a controller better than a keyboard, you will be very happy.

    Price:

    The PC version was always the least expensive. The Xbox 360 and PC versions are more expensive than the PC version.

    Bottom Line:

    The PC version was released first. The PC version has the best graphics. The PC version has the most customizable options. The PC version even costs the least amount of money! Obviously, the PC version is the best. The only way a person with PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 would decide not to get the PC version would be if they wanted to play the game in a split-screen mode, which is provided in this Xbox 360 version.

  • muscleblade #71 4 years ago

    Its never too late too care for a fantastic game like this. The achievements will take a hell of a lot of time though. Thats okay when the game is as good as this. I need no other online shooters until Gears 2 arrives. Campaign mode is actually very entertaining in Coop.

  • Darren #72 4 years ago

    @farticusmaximus - I've got to agree with you there. I have a PC capble of running UTIII at 1680x1080 at 30 fps but I oped for the console versions because (a) I enjoy lazing around in front of a big HDTV with surround sound; and (b) I really don't mind playing FPSs with a controller anyway. Of late I've really gone off gaming on my PC, apart from the odd game like World of Warcraft, the whole experience just doesn't compare with consoles at all in terms of enjoyment and ease of use.

  • Xerx3s #73 4 years ago

    "Do yourself a favour, buy Orange Box instead. TF2 is MUCH better that UT3 plus you get a bunch of other AAA titles with it."

    Sorry but TF2 is about the worst online game I have played in the 14 something years that I play online now.

  • muscleblade #74 4 years ago

    "I was playing this last night. The 360 version looks and runs slightly better than the PS3 version"

    As expected. Dont worry though PS3 owners its only slightly this time.

  • DrDamn #75 4 years ago

    @Farticus
    A word I very rare use but LOL. Knowing aforementioned girlfriend the edit is very apt. :D

  • twmac #76 4 years ago

    Actually a little birdie told me that Microsoft just retired the guideline that forces developers not to support keyboards...

    How soon before they release an update that allows the player to use a mouse in conjunction with the already supported USB Keyboard?

    Food for thought?

    Personally I don't mind people using K+M and if I was seriously competing when I played FPS games I would definitely use them. However, it is merely a matter of comfort (I prefer using my thumbs to fingers) and that there is something that just feels right about using controllers.

    I'd watch this space for more info on whether Microsoft plan to support this or not, could happen.

  • davisorle #77 4 years ago

    Its funny. Ppl that found out games purely out of a Nintendo to a PlayStation in best case is all of a sudden capable of whining for a keyboard/mouse support on a console... Its really funny actually. The best FPS they ever played was the crapy Medal Of Honor with a PS controller which was pathetic. And now they want a Keyboard/Mouse to play their FPS as a standard? rofl.I mean ok to be sking for that option but bicthing about it when some just woke up into the real gaming world is stupid just to prove a point or their advantage on their PS3 or whatever. Ur hardcore FPS gamer and you SO need a mouse to play ur fucking game? then prove it on ur computer. Not on a damn console. Buy u a Razer and a damn keyboard that u find more comfortable for ur PC and play. If not go play ressistance on ur fucking PS3s with the controller cause thats how it goes. THOSE are meant to be played with a controller anyhow. Lame ips intriging new gamers to the kind. I'll play a couple of times UT on my xbox. but if i wanna enjoy it hardcore ill log in with my PC copy. its that simple.

    And dont tell me about "why buying both versions?" well that was my choice. YOU go buy it just for the PC then if thats ur issue, really. Cause also saying u expect ur loving PFS games to be ever better on ur console is also a lie. So you OUGHT to have a good enough rig to run ur fps games. Am I wrong? Nope... At least thats how i see it. So... I rate this game at its max for a CONSOLE game. Not as a PC FPS... If you know what i mean. - Auros

  • FooAtari #78 4 years ago

    Wow the PS3 fanboys aren't happy
    Yeah, we shake our fists at our keyboard and mouse support. We wail in agony at having mods available to us.

    Wait. Oh, that's right. YOU FAIL IT. It rather seems the XBots are in full "it's not important" revisioning mode.

    PS3 fanboys, xbots. Did I just walk into playschool? Sometimes being into games depresses me....

    the first guy that starts a gaming website that is 100% independent, and has NO banners income from the gamesindustry, has got my vote. All other gaming press is f*cked

    I think Giant Bomb might turn out to be pretty trust worthy, maybe. Also Ars Technica reviews. Being a tech site they have little to no games related advertising. No scores either. Awesome

    Nope. Got a reasonable PC and 360+Wii but I do my gaming on consoles, apart from WoW. I just don't like PC gaming, it's antisocial.[/i}

    Anti-social, yet you play WoW... Anyway, bloody stupid argument. Im willing to bet the majority of gamers probably spend the majority of their playing time alone. Or at best online, which is no different to playing on a PC online.
    Edited by 2 at 05/07/08 @ 15:47

  • Prodigy_BE #79 4 years ago

    "the first guy that starts a gaming website that is 100% independent, and has NO banners income from the gamesindustry, has got my vote. All other gaming press is f*cked" "
    dude, you're implying 360 bias in a site that has but Sony adds in it... funny. Anyway, do you consider for a moment, that perhaps for any technical reason (forget the emotion esoteric issues, for 2 secs) Unreal Engine can work better on 360 specs ?

    nope, I'm not implying bias in either way. EG switches sides every week anyway, just to get more hits from fanboys defending their side. It's just that games get way too high scores, and reviews don't mention tons of negative stuff. Just to keep the publishers happy, and secure their income.

    Battlefield: Bad Company was no way an 8, and this isn't either. Not on 360, not on PS3.

  • FooAtari #80 4 years ago

    Just forward the ports.

    Live ports;
    • UDP 88
    • UDP 3074
    • TCP 3074

    That or stick it in the routers DMZ. My mate had similar problems with Halo 3.

  • PotajiTo #81 4 years ago

    @GamerG
    "I gave up PC online gaming because I was never sure if I was losing because a) the other guy was cheating or b) the other guy had better equipment than me be it, a better mouse, a better processor, a better G/card etc. "
    Or c) you suck.

  • slayaz #82 4 years ago

    i just think games have moved on from this. I used to love UT back in the day, but to me there is just not enough substance to keep my interest up, that and the fact that there is no assault which in my eyes was always the best game mode by far.

    May be worth a rent in the long endless summer of no release.

  • RustyBullet #83 4 years ago

    I had this on the PS3 and it was good but i got it for the 360 at the weekend and it runs a whole load better. smoother and less lag. so what it dosnt have mods but i dont care.

  • Darren #84 4 years ago

    Agreed. The 360 version of UTIII runs noticeably better than the PS3 version. There's also substantially less screen tearing too plus, subjective I know, it plays much better with its controller. There's just about enough improvements to make up for the lack of mods but one can hope that Epic will at least release some free maps for the game to compensate.

  • GamerG #85 4 years ago

    yep defo much better on 360, which is weird because I thought when a game was ported to a system it is supposed to make it worse rather than better?

  • Dizzy #86 4 years ago

    "yep defo much better on 360, which is weird because I thought when a game was ported to a system it is supposed to make it worse rather than better? "

    It was never ported... the 360 version as way ahead of the PS3 version in the dev cycle, but then Epic stopped in because they didnt want to launch close to Halo 3 and they thought they had found a hole in the PS3 FPS market.

    Anyway... are there a lot of people playing? That would be a decider for which version I guess for many people.

  • muscleblade #87 4 years ago

    @Dizzy

    Theres actually alot of people playing this on the 360 at the moment. Finding games is easy and fast wich is very important for an online game.

  • AaronTurner #88 4 years ago

    I hope the xbox never supports mouse control. I will quite happily eschew a slightly more accurate control system for kicking back in my living room with a control and relaxing.