You see, the first time I saw Unreal was nearly three
years ago at E3 when guys like James Schmalz, Cliff Bleszinski, Tim Sweeney, and Mark Rein
were just big kids with a dream of doing a triple-A game. Who would have known that three
years later they have what amounts to probably the best game thus far of 1998? Unreal
typifies what we all want in games – an immersive environment that takes us away from
our lives. We can dim the lights, stare at the screen, and actually feel like we are
inside the game -- like we have an inner-desire to turn around the corner and see what
fantastic new piece of architecture we will uncover.
Technically speaking, Unreal is a masterpiece. However, Epic should
really be proud of how they used technology to improve gameplay. The environments in the
game are texture-rich – the use of lighting, effects and shadows makes the
environment just salivate with realism. In addition, there’s so much variety in the
levels that you can’t wait to see what the next one brings. With Quake 2, there were
a lot of great puzzles and action, but the levels looked relatively similar. One look at
the outdoor spaceship level of Unreal clearly shows the magnitude of variety.
Although I’ve only been through about eight levels of the game,
I can’t wait to play more. Of special note are the scripted elements, which really
show the power of the engine. Anyone who has played the game will no doubt remember the
"lights out" part of one of the first levels – it really took me by
surprise. Additionally, with the sound turned up and the lights off, I’ve actually
been scared a few times by monsters jumping in front of me. Unreal embodies many of the
elements of a great shooter – easy to learn gameplay; lush and immersive
environments; and most of all, an engrossing puzzle-oriented approach that makes you
think, not just shoot. Many of the interactive elements in the environment are great
– Even shooting a pot provides such a sense of power, as it breaks into a dozen
pieces with a ear-piercing sound and the little puff of smoke dissipates into the air.
There’s an attention to detail here that few gamers have.
I should also mention the music – It’s fantastic. The idea
of we-have-16-levels-so-we-need –16-CD-audio-tracks-of-riffs is long gone once you
hear the music in Unreal, cued to certain events. It’s dramatic stuff. Just as I said
a few months ago, sound is a third of the gaming experience, and Unreal delivers in this
area.
Sure, I have a few caveats. Namely, I’ve grown to nearly hate
the translator. For what is such an absorbing game experience, I absolutely detest having
to hit F2 to read a bunch of corny messages. They could have at least had pieces of
dialogue that were spoken; it’s like playing a game with closed captioning.
Additionally, although the environments are rich, the story seems to be somewhat on the
backburner – I really think there is still room for someone to add a lot more
character development and story to a game like Unreal and make a killer package. Imagine
actually learning about the story for the main character – his or her beliefs,
values, and history. Although I never expected Unreal to deliver such a game dynamic, I
think some of the forthcoming Unreal-engine games have huge potential if they can combine
character-driven adventure with the beauty of the Unreal engine.
Nevertheless, forthcoming first person shooters like Sin and
Half-Life have a lot of match up to when they are released later this year. Unfortunately,
it’s going to be hard for these games to match the visual splendor of Unreal, so it
will be interesting to see what all the other 3D games will be showing at E3 later this
week. However, I must tip my gaming hat to the gang that created Unreal – I actually
lost myself in the game for a few hours over the weekend, and that’s something that I
seldom can do. (The last game that caught my attention that way was the Curse of Monkey
Island from LucasArts). If there’s any doubt in your mind, remove it – Unreal is
the new king of 3D action games. It is, in many ways, genuine sensory overload – the
ultimate manifestation of visual frill and symphonic pomp, allowing players to bask in a
world that’s a rich syrup of never-ending gameplay and immersive extravagance. Bravo
Epic -- I’m proud of you guys.
