CTF in UT3

After playing the deathmatch maps we then switched over to a standard CTF set up, this time on an really weird looking H.R. Giger art inspired sci-fi map that had two bases floating in the air and linked by two somewhat narrow bridges. It was a fairly small map so it was perfect for the amount of players we had and yes, the translocater is back and was used a lot in the level to quickly move through portions of it. We think this level will be one that people will either love or hate (we grew to love it in our playtest).

The time had finally come to play vehicle CTF and we did it in a huge fashion with the level named Suspense. The map is huge with two bases linked by a massive suspension bridge with a river down below the bridge (that's where the Redeemer is). The human-based vehicles were being used for both sides; the smaller but fast wheeled vehicles like the Scorpion, the much larger tank ground vehicles, the fast hovercraft the Manta, and the larger air vehicle the Raptor.


The vehicle levels are going to be big which is why you get your own personal hoverboard as well that acts as a default vehicle (hit the "Q" button to activate it). You can use the hoverboard when you try to run away with a flag in CTF (you can't use it to actually pick it up) and you can even fire a line to a teammate's vehicle that drags you along much faster (depending on which vehicle of course). Needless to say the match was quite intense even with just a few people thanks to the vehicles.



After a quick lunch we played another vehicle CTF level; this one is called Sandstorm and the reason is that every couple of minutes a sandstorm shows up and pretty much gets rid of your field of vision until it lets up (there are other such weather and enviroment effects that can affect gameplay in UT 3 but we will keep those a secret for now). This level was unusual in that the flags were not across from each other but next to each other, separated by a very tall wall that can either be flown over by a vehicle or jumped over if you have the power shoes, There's also a tunnel that links the two sides but its over on the right side of the wall while the two flag bases are on the left side.


This time we played with the alien Necris vehicles which we have talked about before, the tripod Dark Walker and its smaller cousin with the ability to not only walk on tendrils but also to roll like a marble to cut down foes. The Necris vehicles all have a very bio-mechanical design; the flying Necris vehicle has tentacles that constantly move and want to grab you. Having the unsual looking vehicles combined with the sandstorm that can affect gameplay made playing the level a different experience.