massively multiplayer

I bought this game when it first came out, expecting to be able to just jump into dozens of arenas, handle a huge arsenal of the usual weapons, and enjoy some good split-screen deathmatch after tiring of Halo. (I don't have Xbox Live, so shoppers needing details on that should look elsewhere in these reviews).

My first reaction was disappointment. It is complicated to set up a character and to figure out how to play splitscreen. Most of this is due to a patchy instruction manual. The action was also very frenetic, almost too chaotic for me after months of playing the more moderately paced Halo. The graphics were pretty good, but I'd heard only glowing things about the characters and maps, and it just didn't look that good to me. Most disappointingly was a seeming lack of cool arenas for deathmatch -- only about eight or so. I wasn't interested in playing the other game styles, like capture the flag, double domination, and bombing run. I would have only given the game about three stars based on that experience.

That's where my mistake lay. I recently launched into the single player mode, which takes you through all the various kinds of matches. To my surprise, I discovered they are much more fun than I had imagined. There are seven or eight different arenas for each kind of match, and the outdoor ones really shine. Also, in the full-screen single-player mode, the graphics rock. The textures, detail and colors are great, and easy beat Halo in my estimate. I've also gotten a chance to get used to the weapons, and when you learn the ins and outs of them, it becomes fun to frag opponents in new and inventive ways.

A couple complaints still remain. It is hard to tell some of the weapons apart, so sometimes I'm not sure what I'm using until I fire it a couple times. And I still haven't fully masterd the arsenal yet -- it shouldn't be this hard to get a handle on the weapons. Though I may just be dense, I haven't fully figured out the health/shield/adrenaline power ups. I just pick up every power up I see, but don't really have a sense of how they are applied.

I wish I could play this on Xbox Live -- the awesome full-screen single player experience really makes me pine for some live opponents and teammates. But as a standalone shooter it actually plays a lot better than I orginally thought.

This game is simply a must have for any fan of the Console First Person Shooting genre,as well as anyone who loved Halo's multiplayer game.Unreal Championship will take the multiplayer experience to the highest levels found in a console game yet.Here are the reasons I think Unreal Championship will be really fun and a great experience for XBOX owners- OPTIONS!!!- 16 player online action on XBOX Live,the Broadband only online gaming service offered to XBOX owners by Microsoft, that features the voice communicator-a head set microphone device that lets you talk in real time to your friends and opponents online,and has an optional voice masking feature that makes your voice sound like a number of characters-robots,kids,monsters,cartoons,etc. There is also an optional ignore and mute feature.-Unreal Championship gives you the option to play up to 16 player games offline as well,via linking 4 XBOXes together.You have the option for 4 player splitscreen games on 1 XBOX.- Custom soundtrack feature.Unreal Championship allows you to play music from your own CD collection that you have saved to the XBOX Hard Drive as you play the game!-Fully customizable controls.Unreal Championship allows you to change the controls of the game to anything you like. You can set the aiming sensitivity higher or lower,choose what button does what,etc. Like Halo's controls? Make it just like Halo. You can also turn on,or shut off "Auto Aim",a feature that is usually disliked by skilled gamers. You can also choose this as a server side option on XBOX Live.-Computer controlled opponents called "bots"with almost human artificial intelligence.Digital Extremes,the creators of this game, have given XBOX owners the option of playing computer controlled opponents during matches with friends,or just by yourself when no one is around to play offline. The Computer controlled "bots" increase in difficulty as they fight you,in game. You also have the option to adjust the bots' intelligence before a game,setting their difficulty.Even if you don't plan on getting XBOX Live, or don't have access to BroadBand,this feature ensures that you will still get the full quality experience this great game offers.-Over 25 characters to choose from 6 different alien races.Unreal Championship has truly unique characters. You can choose from characters that look like Japanese Anime style robots,Heavily armored humanoids,Egyptian style warriors,Goth Warriors,etc. Variety is the spice of life,and UC has flavor! - Beautifully detailed fighting environments.This game has breath taking visuals,and cleverly made levels to fight in,that will provide hours of play. This game simply takes the greatest parts of the XBOX hardware,and uses them well.The bottom line, is that every XBOX owner that enjoys multiplayer games owes it to themselves to buy this game. This is what you bought an XBOX for.The visuals,the gameplay,the options. That's Unreal Championship.

This game is HOT!! Its not one of those boring games where you have to walk around alot. ITS JUST PLAIN BRUTAL!!! All you need to do is KILL!!!! Its a hot game and I think people should get it. It's AI is also good too because your enimes dont just stand there and get shot, they jump and move just like you do. ITS A HOT GAME!!