3.5 stars actually The problem with Unreal2 is that it comes after Unreal. Unreal was, for it's time, well, unreal. The expectations, for those of us who were anticipating Unreal2 (it wasn't well advertised) were just far too high. This game, unfortunately, doesn't come close to Unreal. I think this game go an unjustified bad rap. The graphics are gorgeous, with the world and objects being well-detailed. The levels are well constructed, the creatures scary and well-animated, the storyline is coherent and the characters are convincing. There are exciting set-pieces, however, there is "someting" missing from the gameplay, something to make it more exciting and immersive. Maybe it should have had more direct links to Unreal, such as being set on Napali, and been more science-fantasy rather than the science-fiction story that it is. Changing the basic premise of the Unreal story was, I think, a failed gamble. More of the same Unreal canon, but with better graphics, AI, larger worlds and a compelling storyline, would perhaps have been better received. Nevertheless, it's a serviceable shooter with a good storyline and a variety of locations. It'll look good and play smoothly (most of the time) on todays systems. The main characters have personalities and flaws, and the ending especially evokes sympathy for them. I'm just unconvinced that it's the Unreal sequel.
How the producers of the pretty good Rogue Trooper and the superlative Aliens vs Predator (1999 version, haven't played the 2010 version) produced this is beyond me. Graphics ok, but plain, flat textures. Short, really easy. Some bloke dressed as Dredd shooting zombies, ho hum. Buy it to lol at the "ragdoll physics" of the shot enemies. I think this was something they did on the weekend when it was raining too much to go to the pub.
A piece of gaming history. A truly immersive experience. Stealth, fear, imaginitive storyline that dips into religion and mythology, a medieval fantasy world with a twist. Turn off the lights, turn on the surround sound.
