Unreal

Despite numerous shortcomings, I maintain that Unreal is the most beautiful FPS ever made. By combining exotic locales with a mesmeric soundtrack, this game feels very much like a vacation rather than the frantic danger and shooting you see in all other FPSs. Yeah, you do have the usual bunch of monsters and weapons (which are kinda impotent and crappy in this game and that was a major shortcoming) but combat is really not that common or frantic and you'll find yourself saying OOh and AAAh at the environments and levels more often. It isn't just the graphics but also the very creative and intelligent level design that makes this game so good looking and hypnotic.

Your a prisoner on a transport ship heading to a prison moon. But the transport ship crashes on a unknown planet. The game starts out in a way that will leave you stunned. You wander the dark corridors of the Vortex Rikers. Suddenly, the door behind you slams shut, trapping you in the confined space. Great, you think to yourself...another cell. But then you realize the blast door is not completely closed; a small gap, maybe five inches, is visible between the door and the grimy metal floor. You crouch, and try in vain to peer into the darkened room. Then, suddenly, human voices cry out in panic and terror. An inhuman, almost animalistic growl meets their screams, and the next thing you hear are the sounds of a brutal life-or-death struggle between man and mystery. You can hear the gunshots and the cursing of the hapless crew members as they realize their lives are about to end; you can see the muzzle flashes of weapons being fired. Yet you have no idea what the hell is going on just a few feet away. Then, the door opens, and your eyes catch a shadowy green form -- tail? scales? -- skittering away from the horrific scene before you. Bodies, blood...everywhere. Welcome to your nightmare. Welcome to Unreal.

Many instances of this gritty atmosphere are evident throughout unreal. The whole story is told in a unique way through diaries that were left behind. Then there is the nali alien race which are the peaceful natives of the planet. Who are being slaughtered and subjugated by the brutal Skaarj aliens. Video game are know to trigger shock, fear and rage. All of which Unreal does throughout the game. But never have I experienced SADNESS. which is the only way I can describe my reaction to the brutal killing...murder..of a defenseless Nali by a psychotic Skaarj. The poor guy was just trying to show me a Dispersion Pistol power up. Did he have to die for it? Unreal was one of those games which had so much effort put into it and it shows. The Single player element of Unreal died however, with the release of Unreal Tournament. Which without a doubt the best multiplayer FPS ever. The original Unreal still has a strong fanbase going for it.

Go pick up unreal. It's only $9.99(Unreal Gold which also includes the expansion pack Return to Na Pali). It can be run now on almost any computer since it is quite old. It's graphics won't look as stunning as today's games do. But this awesome game came out in 1998! Unreal was no doubt one of the greatest games of all time.

Unreal an absolutely FANTASTIC game. I have never got bored of it!! I have completed Single Player twice and, at the moment, playing it for a third. The graphics aren't special, bit it is the game-play I enjoy.

The Botmatch is good, and so are the Multiplayer maps!!! LAN Play is good, but I tend to play SP more. The best Level, i think, has to be the "Sky Village" one. It is a real joy to play. Even if the game is eight years old. It is still one of the best games created!!! I guess the thing that keeps me playing Unreal is the amount of levels it holds. I still haven't been able to count all!!

Andy

Unreal is my favorite First Person Shooter.Single player mode is a very long and exciting experience. It has a good storyline.The game takes place on Na Pali, a mysterious alien planet.You are(were) a prisoner aboard a spaceship that crash lands on the planet.The planet has been taken over by an alien race of powerful conquerors called Skaarj.The game opens with you in your jail cell, the ship already has crashed and the beam that kept you from getting out is broken.Your goal sounds simple enough, to get off of the planet, or die. The included Multiplayer gaming modes are also much fun.There are many different user-made mods available as well.

The sounds are intense.The music fits perfect. The video quality is better than many of today's games. The weapons are GREAT.The ASMD "combo" was quite unique. There are both alien and human weapons.

This game's character control is probably what makes it the best of it's kind, still to this day.

Although the sequels to this game are much more popular, "old Unreal" may be the best game of the franchise.

Unreal was an absolute masterpiece! I've always enjoyed LAN gaming, and this game ran so perfectly over the network. Going through each level in co-op mode with my twin sister was so fun that we did it twice! And that's saying something, because we get bored of stuff really quickly. Yes, the single-player levels were great, from quaint and peaceful to exciting and high-tech. Besides the gorgeous single player levels, the multi-player section of the game was so delightfully complete! Many levels, all with the option of bots, and team play. It was a pity there was only one "darkmatch" level. After single player was finished, endless death-matches kept us both busy for hours and hours! This was what made Unreal 2 so horribly disappointing - possibly the best aspect of Unreal - co-op and death match - were missing from its insipid sequel.