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Unreal Championship Review - Xbox

Yes folks - it's true! Unreal Championship has arrived. More than a mere clone of the PC smash-hit Unreal Tournament 2003, Digital Extremes have developed Unreal Championship from the ground up, specifically for Xbox. So what does this supposedly mean? A game that uses a huge amount of Xbox power, with exclusive maps and a whole bunch of new features. Does it deliver? In some aspects, yes it does. Though it hurts me to say that some features of the game are a real let down. With that said, let me elaborate further.

Gameplay

For better, or for worse, the same play mechanics are still present from what was seen in previous Unreal games. Frantic, and fast-paced fun. That has been the formula that has made the Unreal franchise such a smash-hit, and to think that Digital Extremes would change this is just ludicrous. Gorier, and more violent than ever, Unreal Championship doesn't step to far away from it's brothers and sisters released before it, as it is still somewhat lacking in the single-player department, yet provides for an insane multiplayer romp.

The game greets you with a very fine intro movie, which sets the scene, and from there you create a profile, which then takes you to the main screen. This is where the real action begins. Selecting the single-player game, you will then have the option of choosing five teammates from over 25 characters. Each has it's own unique look and belongs to a certain race. Be wise to on who you chose though, as these guys will back you up throughout the remainder of your campaign.

To begin, you are only able to play Team Deathmatch (the team with most kills/frags wins), however after you complete a certain number of matches, the next mode of play will be unlocked. These include favourites such as Capture the Flag, and Domination. Don't expect this to last you long though, as most of us know that the franchise isn't built for solo gamers. Multiplayer is where the real beef is.

For those who don't like playing with themselves (ed: ?), the multiplayer aspect is what makes UC so good. Apart from the standard Team/Deathmatch and Capture the flag modes, there is also Domination 2.0 where a team must control two separate points in a map at the same time for a set period of time. There is survival which is a fight to the end, and Bombing Run where each team must shoot a ball through it's opponents goal.

Multiplayer can be enjoyed in a number of ways, via System link, split-screen mode, and the use of Microsoft's popular online service, Xbox Live. Realistically, the only modes available to Aussies are System link and Split-screen, seeing as Xbox Live is yet to be released down under. This is where the slight disappointment lies. Four-player split-screen is nearly unbearable - the frame-rate drops so low, that occasionally I feel like just quitting the whole ... (continued next page)