My personal theme for Winter Games has been ‘a healthy dose of FPS.’ A year ago I would have laughed in your face if you would have told me I’d be looking to shooters for a “change of pace” now….but that was before Brixtone so kindly got me (and a few fellow editors) hooked on the RPG juice. First to fall was Far Cry. Next on the block is another one of those games that i could never bring myself to get on board with….Unreal Tournament 2004.

I guess my reluctance to purchase what was hailed all over as a critical success was mainly due to the fact that, at the time of its release, I had stacks of FPS action……from Battlefield 1942 to…..well, Unreal Tournament 2003. Not forgotten in the equation was the acclaim previously given to the $50 graphics engine demo known as Unreal 2.

As it turns out, I’m glad I waited for two reasons: 1) I was able to obtain a DVD Editors Choice edition of the game with tons of extras (incidentally I’m sick of 4 cd games, have we not embraced the DVD as a form of media yet?) AND 2) at the price I paid - $15.95 @ EB in upstate New York - this is possibly the best value game I have ever purchased.

My goal in purchasing this game is to get my hands on some real modding experience in addition to just having a good time. A more reasonable goal in the short term is completion of the main ladder circuit in the single player game. So far I’ve only cracked the first rung of the 4 tiered tournament - namely the “Double Domination” matches that are basically a set of concurrent ‘king of the hill’ matches.

With time running out (but with a focused team), you often find a way to make your final push in assault games that start off as slugging matches. Mission Accomplished.

A few observations - First and foremost, bot AI is noticeably improved. In one of the early matches, I came around a corner and walked straight into a close quarter battle with two enemy bots - my teammate behind me pulled up short , and instead of simply charging in to defend me, ran back the way we came to enter the room from above and pick off my attackers. I was pleasantly surprised to see the various teammate fighting styles (determined through the ‘drafting’ portion of the single player game) actually do impact noticeably on how matches playout.

If you’re like me you can pick all wierdos and make yourself feel ‘normal’ in comparison….here’s my Goth Party Gang.

Second - this game is huge. Honestly, each of the original game types has dozens of maps - not to mention the huge amount of community created content (some so good it was included in the later Editors Choice Edition) . Not only is the number of maps huge, but the physical layout of the maps is expansive as well. What this means is - I’m going to be playing a hell of a lot of this game because I have enjoyed it so far and want to master the playing field before I step into the ring with my fellow editors.

Third - they have done a great job capitalizing on what was working right in this series, particularly the Assault matches (which are much bigger). This game is what many people expected UT2003 was going to be: a major step forward in gameplay options (whether it be maps, weapons, vehicles) rather than just another slight revision to get $ in the coffers.

In World of Wonderfulcrack I have grown accustomed to traveling an hour to reach destinations or grind through dungeons. However, I am rediscovering the joy of having the option to pick from *gasp* different gametypes (bombing run, double domination, etc.) and pop in for a few minutes when the mood strikes me.

If you keep playing like this, chances are you won’t want to play for only a few minutes….

Plan #1 (for 3 years and counting) is to get my act in gear and create a map, a map in which I might even eventually slaughter the other editors and therefore earn their respect. ( Ever since the great Halo2 debacle of EMB weekend ‘05, my ‘cred’ has been severely damaged) With the first rate tools and 4gigs of demos included in the Editor’s Choice Edition, the time is upon me. My first production (whether masterpiece or digital abomination) will be available here when its done.