Unreal II is an undeniably underappreciated game that any fan of the FPS genre should seriously consider buying.
I was wrong. After reading several reviews of the game, most of them with mixed views, I decided to buy the game anyway, and I wasn't disappointed. Unreal II is in fact an enjoyable shooter that really can't do FPS fans any harm for some clear, crisp, futuristic gun-toting action - adrenaline-fusing gameplay, visuals to die for and a healthy aural experience really add up to an underappreciated science-fiction tour-de-force.
Unreal II sees you reprising the role of John Dalton, a member of the Terran Colonial Authority. The game opens up on a low note, despite an awesome introductory scene - Dalton is told his request to join the ranks of the Marines has been denied. Again, it turns out - Dalton is one who has persistently tried to force his way into the Marines; a force to be reckoned with throughout the galaxy, and a lethal form of law enforcement. And unfortunately for Dalton, he's left with minimal action at the Terran Colonial Authority, who see a lot less dangerous assignments than the Marines do.
But nevertheless, after this cliched opening, the game opens up into a sophisticated science-fiction storyline that is miles better than the usual crap you're likely to get out of your typical FPS. At least you can see effort dripping all over the plotline, even if the core components of the tale are slightly frayed around the edges. I didn't think an Unreal game was capable of relinquishing so much backstory.
The story also has a surprising amount of depth. Sometimes Unreal II borrows from RPG games to further the storyline - the prime example is the branched conversation that Unreal II uses. When interacting with any living being, be it alien or human, you can ask the highlighted person different things and give them various answers to the question they ask. I found this branched conversation element to be implemented well into the gameplay, and it at least gives you slight enjoyment by shaping your assorted chats with other central characters in the game, such as Isaak, your weapons specialist, and Aida, the girl who reels off your mission briefing.
The gameplay of Unreal II has been described as underwhelming by a lot of critics and game players, but I have to disagree on that front. Sure, it's nowhere near as godly as its Tournament counterparts, but still, if you're looking for a balanced FPS with some cool weaponry, look no further than The Awakening. Gameplay is slower than the Tournament games, and a lot more methodical too - you can't just run in all guns blazing a lot of the time. Sometimes you're forced to adapt a tactical, stealthy approach, if only for the amount of enemies you're up against in the scenario.
Unreal II has some well-thought-out weaponry too, all with the customary long science-fiction titles and their detailed descriptions. Your basic weapon is the Dispersion Pistol, which is best described as a rechargable Plasma Pistol from Halo; despite its weakness it can come in useful in difficult situations. There's also an Assault Rifle that fires depleted uranium shards (you know about as much as I do on that front :P ) and an incredibly handy Sniper Rifle. The key weapon in the game, though, is the Grenade Launcher, which can load astonishingly volatile grenades to adapt to the scenario. The complete set of grenades comprises of six individual types - Fragmentation, Toxic Gas, Incendiary, Smoke, Concussion, and Electromagnetic Pulse, all of which are equally indispensable and come in brilliantly useful during the game.
Another welcome touch to the game is that you're not always assaulting alien fortresses in search of seven mysterious artefacts. A few of the missions see you defending certain areas, fighting off swarms of enemies with your allies. Oddly, these moments are often more satisfying than the invasions - I'm not sure why, but there's a whole lot more adrenaline to be found when you're fighting off enemies with a fiery determination instead of invading them with more ammunition than sense. It makes the game lose a little bit of its mindless mood when you're concentrating on defense rather than offense.
The graphics in Unreal II are simply stunning. And I don't mean that as in the generic adjective, I mean genuinely stunning. The type of stunning that makes you immediately awake after long hours playing at night; it makes you wonder and gasp at the majestic landscapes and futuristic detail. It's a real eye-opener, this one. Character models are awesome, lighting effects are stellar and the environments are nothing short of truly spectacular. The only flaws I can pick out are a few glitches here and there in certain places, the odd blank texture or slight slowdown can sometimes be relinquished from the otherwise sumptious environments.
The audio is pretty good too. There's a lot of speech in the game, surprisingly, and the voice-overs are decent. The music is just a little bit generic, but it suffices, and the gun sounds are ear-shattering - whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, it's up to you.
A great audiovisual showing and some good, solid gameplay add up to a really underappreciated game that any fan of the FPS genre should buy. Unreal II has been overlooked slightly by many people, but it doesn't deserve such status - you really can't go wrong with the game if you have any money to spend. Sure, it's just a little bit short for my liking, but if you are willing to look past its shortcomings in that department you will find an experience that perfectly fits the phrase "short and sweet."