In itself - a decent shooter. As part of a progressive series - somewhat disappointing.
The characters, textures, maps and graphics in general are really quite good and it seems to be an almost perfect port of the PC version, and with the ability to download mods onto the PS3 further bridges the gap between the PC and console counterparts.
The maps are quite decent for the type of shooter Unreal is and encourages the fast-paced action that has become trademarked with the name. And with the aforementioned ability to download user-created content, the variety is almost endless.
The sound in UTIII is pretty decent, but the voice acting isn't the greatest. However, as I suggested before the single-player campaign isn't going to be the main bulk of the game for the vast majority of gamers.
The online multiplayer game is where most people will spend most of their time and for one good reason - it can be really enjoyable. However, one noticeable downside to the options available online is the lack of new game modes. There is the Warfare mode, but it feels just like a small revamp to the old Onslaught mode and that's about it aside from the old classics like Deathmatch and Capture the Flag.
The weapons are, in their own respect, very satisfying to use. There's a decent variety of them to choose from and with each possessing an alternate firing mode, it makes exploding your online mates to pieces all the more fulfilling. However, this is another area where UTIII fails to bring anything new to the series.
The only big addition to the gameplay in UTIII is the array of new vehicles at your disposal in certain game types, some of which are enjoyable to use. The alien models are the more intriguing of the variations and have a somewhat unique feel to them, giving the game something which other current online shooters are missing.
Another small addition to the gameplay options, is the possibility to use a mouse and keyboard on the PS3. However, these controls are slightly more sluggish than the responsive counterparts on the PC version. Also, if control-pad users want to avoid crossing paths with those using mouse/keyboard combinations for fear of being handicapped, it is possible to filter keyboard/mouse users out in the option menu.
All-in-all, while the single player mode alone is pretty dull, the online experience is fairly decent and runs virtually lag-free. However, the short-comings arrive in the form of repetition of the game modes, the weaponry and the overall feel from earlier installments in the series (especially UT2004). I believe more variety, a deeper online mode and a feeling of moving forward (in more than just graphical splendor) is needed here if it is to receive a higher rating.
In itself, UTIII is a reflex-demanding, pulse-pounding shooter and is generally a good game and I recommend it to those who haven't played an Unreal game and fans of the online FPS genre. It just wasn't for me.