UT99 is my gold standard for multiplayer FPS. I think I mention it at least once per review of any other multiplayer shooter, in the context of how whatever game that is fails to live up to the shining example set by this game, sometimes egregiously so. UT isn't just a game with great map design mixing the medieval with the techno-futuristic, awesome music by Alexander Brandon, amusing trash talk and the progenitor of a legacy of great sequels, (except UT3, depending on who you ask) mods and Unreal engine-based retail titles. It also understood the importance of bot matches not only as a practice method but as a means of relaxation, with an option for adaptive bot difficulty that was far ahead of its time. UT established a superior flow of PvP FPS gameplay that most recent titles tend to flat out ignore. With no guaranteed kills outside of the usually well-hidden and single-shot Redeemer, UT's damage model emphasized that the most important skill of a player wasn't base reaction time, and it's netcode didn't just hand the win to whoever had shelled out more money to their ISP. It wasn't about metas either. You COULD camp the rocket launcher spawn point if you wanted, but that didn't win you the game. It's map design was thoughtful instead of cluttered, with distinct fighting zones, item spawns and hiding spots rather then just a haphazard mess of corners and chest-high walls. But even map knowledge wasn't the most important thing. UT was about SKILL. It was about keeping your head cool and keeping your crosshair on your target. A player with inferior positioning or a weaker weapon could always win if they were BETTER, something modern "lobby shooters" simply don't allow for.
