Damn and Unreal!!!

I almost finished writing this blog article at afternoon, but when I was correcting something, a facebook chat message appeared and disabled form writings of the browser and that is when I pressed backspace. The browser went to previous page and all the writings I did for an hour gone with that single backspace key. Damn you Facebook!!!! Ok let’s start again. This time I am writing in MS Word. So today I went to Gamestop to see what games I should buy. I saw a new copy of Bayonetta which costs 59 dollars excluding tax. Damn!!!  So much money!!! I have serious budget constraints while living in US. Then I saw a copy of Saboteur with used tag. I rushed there but immediately stopped after looking at the price. It’s 53 dollars excluding tax. Only 6 dollars difference??? Damn you price regulators. Next I found a used copy of Prototype which costs 35 dollars excluding tax. Then I found a PC version of Borderlands for 49 dollars excluding tax. I kept banging my head because I am indecisive. Not to mention I had to keep my reserve to buy Mass Effect II, Final Fantasy XII, Heavy Rain and if I am dreaming a PS3 with Gran Turismo 5. So after roaming around I decided to buy Sabotuer with a single reason that I want to play single player for its deep storyline and different type of gameplay. I loved spy games. I have not touched my 360 for 4 months due to too much workload on my shoulders (22 credits is not a matter of joke and also some club activities). Taking Saboteur was logical since I can play for the first two weeks of my semester when the workload is not that much. Then I looked for a cartoonish game for my little cousin. He was expecting something to get for him when I landed in US. So I got Lego Batman which costs 19 dollars excluding tax. I went to the cashier but something came to my instantly. I am buying an M rated game (Saboteur) and I need to show any proof that I am over 17 years of age. I left my passport back in my apartment. I left my I-20 at my aunt’s place. I don’t have social security since I am international student. I don’t have a driver’s license (I should have done that long time ago) since I don’t drive here. I am disappointed. I humbly placed back the Saboteur and Lego Batman (because I didn’t feel like buying that now provided I can’t buy the other one and I already gave away my DS to my sister). Damn!!! When I was leaving empty handed I saw the store is selling copies of Unreal Anthology after a long time (it was out of stock). I owned that game and it was a worthy investment.

 

So what’s inside Unreal Anthology? It contains 4 games from Unreal series plus a bonus soundtrack which is awesome. So what are the games? Let’s see:

 

1. Unreal

 

Released in 1998, this is the game that started the Unreal series with its own original game play and dedicated engine bearing the same name. The main focus of the game is the single player mode. You take control of a prisoner inside a spaceship that crashed in a mysterious planet where you find native Na Plans clans controlled by more powerful Skaarj tribes. Your mission is to escape the planet, while facing different scenarios, like meeting fellow Na Palis, getting into Skaarj spaceships and Na Pali temples.

 

2. Unreal II: Awakening

 

Unreal II, released in 2003, is basically created for single player mode like the original Unreal. You take control of a former marine, John Dalton, who is recalled to retrieve seven pieces of a powerful artifact. The game is very linear and also very short (only 12 missions).

 

3. Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition

 

This game actually brought me into the FPS gaming. It was also the first game in my life that I played multiplayer through LAN with my friends. It was very fast, frantic and also addictive. The game focuses on multiplayer concepts. It has five different modes: Deathmatch, Domination, Capture the Flag, Assault (my favorite) and Last Man standing. In single player mode you take control of a member of a chosen team. You play against random bots and climb up and win trophies for each mode except Last Man standing. After you are done collecting all the trophies, you gain access to Championship mode which is harder and you play against the last boss, Xan, to win the Ultimate trophy. The game was revolutionary and set the standard of arena FPS. Both Unreal Tournament and Quake III were subjects of intense debate in 1999 of which game is better than the other. Due to its superb multiplayer formula, it had high replaybility.

 

4. Unreal Tournament 2004

 

My most favorite Unreal game and I still play this game for fun. I can consider UT2004 as a big upgrade over the original UT. It added tons of new features and vehicles (new to UT2004). I actually have to write a full review to explain all the features. Graphics had been improved significantly. The best part of the game is that you actually do not need to have 3D card to play the game. It will still run smoothly thanks to Pixomatic software renderer included in the game. Gampley mode included are Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, Double Domination, Bombing Run, Last Man Standing, Assault, Mutant and Onslaught (insane when you play with maximum number of allowed players and includes vehicles).

 

Let’s see what the soundtrack CD offers to us. Here is the track list:

 

1. Unreal Tournament Menu ( 2 : 00 )

2. Foregone Destruction ( 4 : 11 )

3. Go Down ( 3 : 00 )

4. Botpack Nine ( 4 : 49 )

5. Mechanism Eight ( 6 : 12 )

6. Skyward Fire ( 4 : 56 )

7. Razorback ( 4 : 49 )

8. The Course ( 4 : 28 )

9. Unreal Tournament Menu Redux ( 4 : 14 )

10. Ghost of Anubis (  2 : 01 )

11. Infernal Realm ( 1 : 59 )

12. Assault ( 1 : 59 )

13. Arena ( 0 : 53 )

14. From Below ( 1 : 59 )

15. Sniper Time ( 2 : 00 )

16. Onslaught One (3  :48 )

 

The songs are all from UT1999 and UT2004. These are instrumental. If you like music from Enigma, you will like the track. I loved the track and inspired me to create some music track similar to the song. I guess I will try to aim to do some soundtracks for gaming industry (I am still dreaming).

 

So I looked at the price tag. It says 9.99 dollars without tax. 2-3 years back I bought this for 24 dollars excluding tax. Damn!!!!!!!!