1UP gives 6/10 to Unreal Tournament 3 PC: 'too little, too late'

The biggest problem with UT3 is that it's still so 2004. Back then, before Quake Wars or Team Fortress 2, this was the go-to series for fast action, wild weapons, clever vehicles, online teamwork, and videocard-straining visuals. Unreal Tournament stood alone and triumphant, with Quake under its boot, Counter-Strike practically in a whole other genre, Joint Operations a dirty little secret, and Battlefield socked in by fog. But slick and stylish speed shooters aren't so scarce anymore. These days, UT feels relatively superficial, even when it tries new gimmicks like the mobile artillery from the bonus pack or the Necris Nightshade's deployable items. These are too little, too late, and too me-too.

The online support disappoints, with very little in the way of achievements or persistent stats. The friends list isn't very friendly, and the server browser might as well scream for you to get off its lawn. Setting up LAN games or bot skirmishes is frustrating, limited, and counterintuitive. Decking out your avatar with unlockable bits of clothing is so very EA. It's still a good game -- lovely, and a little tired. But these days, even a favorite old dog like UT needs to learn more than a few new tricks.

[the worst]

what no love for the pc

[TnS]

Yeah. :(

PS3 version got 8/10 from them.
http://www.1up.com/do/revie...

[MK_Red]

Nice find and wow... 1UP gave 6 to PC versoin and 8 to PS3 version? Wow.
I know that for PS3 it's a newer experience and may deserve a higher score but 6 for PC version? Even if it is too late, it's still not a 6/10 game.

[fusionboxer]

When did we all start listening to 1up again?

[Relcom]

That a rough score. I really enjoy it for my PS3, but the PC has so many great games like UT3 so i see there reasoning

[InMyOpinion]

Their reasoning being the PS3 does'nt have enough good games to challenge it's score?

[DrPirate]

No matter what their reason is though...6/10? That's a slap in the face.

Guess Epic only has Gears of War now.

[TheSmokingManX]

It's not really a slap in the face; more like a wake-up call for Epic. A 6 on the 1UP Network scale isn't bad by any means.

UT3 definitely isn't a great PC game in my opinion, and this score is right on the mark in my opinion.

[MrWonderful]

PS3 version FTW!!! my pc cant handle this game to make it worth while

[Torch]

Now that's just dumb.

[Kaneda]

I guess Epic didn't pay them to write the review for PC version...

RETTARRRDD!!!

[Bazookajoe_83]

What a bunch of clowns, the only games they like are nintendos old timers...

[f7ss1]

1up are boneheads anyway, i dont trust them for reviews for two seconds.

[Fresh]

6/10,a little to harsh don't you think 1up?

Especially for a great game like UTIII which is a beast of a game online.

[techie]

Wow stab in the back.

[Omegasyde]

Yes there are alot more games in the genre now, and 1up is right about the menu interface. But the game play is still king. That is what matters in the end too, look at the halo series.

They bash UT3 with:

".... very little in the way of "achievements" or persistent stats."

~Yet they mention unlockable clothing! ISN'T THAT A OXYMORON? Those are achievements, are they re
ferring to what Xbox online has? Are you
freaking serious? Must every game now have gamer points and achievements just like the 360?

They bash UT3 with:
"......setting up LAN games or bot skirmishes is frustrating, limited, and counterintuitive."

~If anyone has tried the demo, you can see a monkey could set up a bot match. Does the reviewer even know what counterintuitive means?

Definition: Counterintuitive: adjective; contrary to what common sense would suggest. Counter to what intuition would lead one to expect.

~Is 1up ran by people still in Highschool? Are the young kids like Patrik K? Wait a second the reviewer is Tom Chick, a no body. Did this guy just start reviewing? He has no history on him on 1up either. Look at his blog....
tomchick.1up.com

Wow, 1up must be hiring Temps for the holiday season to review games..

Edit: The reviewer, Tom Chick is also not on the Roster for Reviewers...
http://www.1up.com/do/minis...

[redninja]

Why did the ps3 version score so much higher if it's essentially the same game?

[jaja1434]

Having not played the PS3 version I can't say for certain but...

Perhaps the PS3 has a better lobby(if it has one at all) or if it has a CoD4 style perhaps thats better than the PC counter-part.

Perhaps the gaming being slowed down a bit for the PS3 makes the game more enjoyable.

Perhaps because the PC world is full of games such as these where as in consoles its a relatively untapped market.

Maybe all of the above, maybe none of them. It's just a guess on my part.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

I agree with the score.

[Bazookajoe_83]

Thats the only reason i can see this game gets a low score. If somebody didnt like the genre, but then they shoudnt be reviewer´s...

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

but this game isn't all that great, I expected more from Epic not UT04 with a graphics update. I think they should go back to the original UT, thats what their good at.

[NRG]

Any hardcore UT fan will tell you UT3 is nothing like UT2K4. The purpose of UT3 was to seek roots in the original UT because it was so successful, and it's not hard to tell when you've played them all... a lot.

[Polluted]

UT3 is great fun. Sometimes 1up are so off in their reviews...I just don't get it. 6/10 is a really bad score. If all they're complaining about is lack of revolutionary changes to the genre, then this seems a little harsh.

[eddierivera]

this dude is a Bit*h,, dont listen to him,, i bet he didnt even play a fraction of what UT3 has to offer,,,, seroiusly,, the game is intense,, and its one of the best shooters ive ever played,,,,, the nuke missle is fukn insane!!!

[Rooted_Dust]

Wow, I didn't know that the interface counted as 40% of a review. This retard makes next to no remarks on the actuall game, and reserves the whole article for ranting about how much it isn't like Xbox Live.

[DJ]

A bit too harsh, but I can see why this score was given. Keep in mind, a lot of the complaints are more about UT3 not being radically different from its predecessor. Halo 3 underwent the same criticism, so it's important to read the actual review than simply judge it off the final score.

[lmao247]

"But these days, even a favorite old dog like UT needs to learn more than a few new tricks. "

Man I almost wish they nailed halo 3 for that, but thats just me?

[DJ]

But it wasn't done by the same reviewer. My gripe is when the same reviewer *hillarygoldstein-cough!* starts issuing double standards in their reviews.

[Rooted_Dust]

When a review score is 30% off from the fan rating. You know there is a problem. 1UP's own users rate this game an 89%. I seriously think it's time to question these sites about the legitimacy of their reviews. Especially when it seems that they are purposfully underating games to get a spike in their internet trafic.

Ignore this review. UT3(PC) is a B+ or A-, depending on how generous you are.

[Relcom]

PC has lots of these fast paced type of FPS, so the reasoning for the low score, is because its more of the same (according to them). Now the reason the PS3 got the score it did( a full 2 points higher) is because consoles do not have these type of games out yet. Nothing on a console compares to the speed, graphics, types of vehichles, and quantity of maps of UT3. Hence the good score.

Hope that gave some people some incite as to why.

[Ju]

Sorry, but that doesn't make sense. In the light of objectivity, I would assume, that the number of games (genres) cannot have an impact on an individual score. If there thousand games of the same kind out there, would that lower the score by 1/1000, now ? Or would each and every get its individual review ?

If its good on the PS3, it should get the same rating on the PC. If not, they should point out why and what the critics is compared to the other. If its the speed, well, this could be a reason. If its the user interface, can be another one. But 6 instead of 8 ? The sounds like real broken compared to the other. (which I can't imagine, IMO).

[TwissT]

Ps3 version 8/10 but Pc version 6/10?? This is very strange. I have never trusted 1up anyway though its just in one ear and out the other when it comes to 1up reviews.

[theox2g7]

If a halo 3 came on pc today, it would be lucky to get anything above 6, why? because pc gamers are more spoiled and have higher standards when it comes to fps and rts, when u have a platform like pc with so many high-profile shooters, the definition of AAA changes, the standards automatically go up cos the more shooters u have, the more innovative u have to be to impress the crowd, it's like been there, done that to most pc gamers, that's why most multiplatform games on pc like bioshcok, cod4 and ut3 get lower scores on pc, that and also technical issues included all contribute to the lower scores, but consoles are also beginnning to face these similar technical issues, i just hope things only improve for consoles in terms of framerate issues and glitches, also considering the uniform hardware advantage, this isn't a good sign cos if it takes a downward spiral, the incentive to game on a console as opposed on a pc would reduce considerably, i for one as pc gamer can tolerate patches and the headaches of these issues but many others can't so they migrated to consoles, they might just run back if things get too bad

Edit:
@ ju
the comment below Relcom, seriously it's a next gen console it's obviously supposed to outperform its predecessor by a considerable degree otherwise it wouldn't warrant a purchase in the first place, saying that cod4 and 1080p games run 60 fps isn't really a big deal because that's how it's supposed to be, that should be the standard, it isn't the other way around, all games should play like that if not even look as good especially for flagship titles floating in pools of hype, they don't have to be perfect/glitch-free but it shouldn't be to the point where it becomes noticeable during gameplay or even in worse cases hinder it, u tell me how many games out of the haystack of next gen games that run as good as those without issues and look good, for every one of those games, i'll give you 2 hyped games that had potential but technical issues plagued it for most people, u may not experience those issues on ur individual ps3/360 but that doesn't mean that most other gamers aren't facing these issues, i go on console forums and see more framerate/technical issues than never before, i don't recall that much for ps2/xbox, not at least for big titles, oh u mentioned assasin's creed, didn't i hear about a patch for that game? just go to youtube and type assassin's creed glitches, 1000s of videos showing so many different issues the game has, my favorite was the clone Altair, that was kinda cool and the slow motion one which was a framerate issue, oh and don't get me started on the lazy developer ports/games which are even worse, PES 2008, majority of 360 to ps3 ports, mass effect, jeez, the list goes on and on, and who's the one who's misinformed again?

Assassin's Creed glitches fiesta on youtube, i must admit some of em are pretty cool, more like mods but a glitch is a glitch
http://youtube.com/results?...

just like the way pc game issues does not happen to each and every single pc that has the game installed, i for one as a pc gamer barely have any issues with games but that doesn't change the fact that others have problems, so patches need to be released, i mean when it's like 1 or 2 ppl it's fine, but when it's in the 100s or a significant problem in the total install base that warrants a patch to be released, then u're in trouble, that sounds more like a pc issue to me, doesn't it,
oh and now i heard of some ps3 games asking to install some files before playing for optimum performance, what do u think of that?

MY POINT is those issues have increased and I was hoping that they rather improve and reduce so we see less patches and complaints not the other way around, cos consoles still have that precious gem of not providing the headaches that pc gaming comes with, so there would be less of a reason to be a console gamer other than exclusives,

I personally was heavily disappointed with the framerate in heavenly sword, it was an excellent game with mad potential but it pushed a framerate that was highly unacceptable for such a high profile console game especially an action one, action games like that need a solid 60 fps for optimum gameplay, also keep in mind that all high-profile previous gen action games before it such as the ninja gaiden series, god of war series and devil may cry series all maintained the solid 60 fps, even ninja gaiden sigma runs in 1080p at a solid 60 fps and from there u slip in the heavenly sword disc and the lower framerate becomes even more obvious, i mean it got to a point it was so bad, the voices and the game went out of sync, the framerate peaked at 30 and dipped very low momentarily at few points, it was playable but the hitches/dips were annoying, more and more games are getting framerate hiccups or hitches they shouldn't have, if all those next gen console games run and play so perfectly, why do i hear about patches and firmware upgrades that fix these very issues or even hints to improve ur framerate for a console? and somehow instead of making 60 fps the standard, they've brought it down to 30 and are making 60 fps look like a bonus or extra goodie, so they announce a game is going to be 60 fps and then console gamers go like "ZOMG, 60 fps, thank you so much" and the game gets unusually high scores/praise or extra credit just because it could push a framerate that was the standard set years ago, they're trying more and more to make gamers accept these lower standards and it seems like it's working, games look good this generation but i have yet to see a game that actually claims true 1920x1080 pixel by pixel resolution with Antialiasing and a playable framerate,
this is sad cos framerates should be given higher priorities not visuals because they affect gameplay more, i mean mario galaxy looks like sh1t but it's got a solid 60 fps and the wii developers knew it could have looked better but they sacrificed the visuals because it would hurt gameplay,
not to say select/few developers who do a bang up job of providing the best of both worlds like cod4 and ut3 but the rest/majority would clearly sacrifice framerate/stability for visual fidelity anyday, u know why? Because screenshots and eye candy will sell the game more not the framerate

[Relcom]

Exactly my thoughts as well

[Ju]

I do not understand you completely up there. Are you suggesting that later console version are starting to have the same trouble as PC games? Well, you seem to be certainly misinformed. As far as I can tell, recent games have significantly improved on consoles (at least PS3, I can't comment on 360). Later games, e.g. CoD4 and also Burnout reach constant 60fps, others have rich details at 30fps (UT3, AC, UC), and usually no frame rate hick ups. Some will push the envelope at 1080p (GT5 and WipeoutHD both at 60fps). So, you are actually right. The fixed feature set on consoles starts to show already.

[Bladestar]

When this game is released on the xbox 360 it will get similar reviews... The PC with so many great FPS.. this game would never get a high reviews... while gamese like crysis are doing state of the art graphics and bringing new stuff to the games like destructive environments... this game is still doing the same crap the others did... when this games does come out to the xbox 360... it will have to go head to head with other games like Battle Field and it will flop! yes.. belly up! like this.... ugggrrr... get it? Epic should of release this game on every available console to try to milk some money... instead they got arrogants... acting as if this game is Gears of War... instead... it sold only 60K on the PS3 during the first week... now... give xbox 360 owners a good reason why they should spend their money on this common FPS?
Talk about how... user created content was going to change the world... and how Microsoft needs to kiss their a$$ and change their policies just because they said so... well.. PS3 UT3? User created content? mmm.. where is it? did it sell like Gears of war did? flopped! didn't even get reviews as good as other games like COD4 or even sell as many copies... how do you like that User created content EPIC?

[DJ]

"It's only about first week sales! Nothing else matters in the world, not even game quality!"

Come on dude, you prove yourself to be a moron time and again. Games are available at retail FOREVER, not just for 5~7 days. If that were the case, then Heavenly Sword wouldn't be at 600K units sold and Uncharted wouldn't be nearing 700K units sold. Hell, even Ratchet is doing really well, and remember how many horror stories there were about it 'only selling 60K units' in October. You know, even though the game came out on Oct. 30th? =P

[mikeslemonade]

What's up with the 1up bashing. They're really good and they have policy of not accepting gifts and the few times do and they can't do anything about it they will give to the readers as a prize. Dan Shu is the only editor there that is really biased with his reviews. He should be fired!

[ThePantsMobile]

I completely agree with this score. Sure the DM is fun, but it gets so old fast, especially considering the formula hasn't changed at all from UT(1999) and it could really use tweaking . The other stuff is gimmicky and just not that fun, in my opinion. There are funner games out right now (CoD comes to mind). Haven't played the ps3 version, so it might be better.

P.S. Is anyone else glad reviewers have finally realized that the scores are from 1 to 10 and not 7 to 10? I've never really enjoyed number scores to begin with but this sudden realization should improve things.

[Charmers]

I have to agree with the review as well. I love PC gaming but seriously UT 3 was just dull. It's that bad I don't think people are even bothering to pirate it. This will probably be another PC franchise that will become console only and to be honest I really couldn't care less they are welcome to it.

[Wii60_FTW]

No surprise from a PS3 game. I'll stick to Gears. Much better game all around.

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

PC version got 6/10

PS3 got 8/10

Punk.

[ArmrdChaos]

Which is why they were probably expecting more from the PC version and thus the harsh review. In the case of the PS3 they probably had lower expectations (being on a console) thus gave it the favorable score after playing it through. The pessimist is never unpleasantly surprised.

[Bolts]

On the console UT3's gameplay is fresh and new. On the PC UT3 is a stale throw back to the early FPS days. It is very, VERY hard for a FPS to impress PC gamers with their sky high standards.

[TheMART]

Gears of War pwned UT3

[ZeroXMD]

u fail. quit bashing something bc it isn't on 360. ur prolly crying because so. xbot don't belong in pc section.

[ZeroXMD]

6/10 pc is stupid. their reasoning, while warranted in scarce parts, is stupid in the rest. Achievements? whoopedy f'n doo. Seriously, when the heck did achievements really matter? lack of is no reason to bash the game. And downloadable content? Honestly, this is pc. This is Unreal. Lack of official extra content en mass with unreal isn't a problem. Any unreal fan who has a workable pc is going to buy this and you can bet your butt that they probably are going to have alot of mods and stuff like that soon. PC has high standards, but 6/10? maybe 7.5, that would be the lowest i could see considering their stupid complaints. Remember how much they gave gears for pc? Also, if you are going to say not enough new tricks, what about Halo 3? Gameplay hasn't evolved, the tools have just changed a little bit and they added 2 little extra buttons to use. Yet, it gets 10 from these bias tards? to end, i point to my title. one more thing, calling it right now, and i'm an mgs fan, 1up is going to give MGS4 between a 7 and 8. watch.

[felidae]

sorry MART, but i think Gears of War is not half as good as UT.

Unreal is much more fun - my opinion.

nonetheless, this is a BS review.

[mersenne]

ut3 is a copy of ut2k4 ok that doesn't mean it deserves 6/10. 1up *%@^

[arcadegoal]

Also disapoints,like someone already said it gets old fast.with bein constantly disconected and no score system or rank its a bit of a let down but the graphics i carnt fault very nice..if your just after a quick blast now and again its ok.thats my oppinion folks.

[ScottEFresh]

OUCH! good thing I own a PS3 :)

[jorellpogi]

No matter what the review score I will definitely going to buy this game this coming Saturday.