New kicks

FS: What are your opinions on weapon balance? Do you dig the way weapons are balanced in UT2k3?

Asia: I can't really say for sure what my favorites are yet. I figured out early on that the rocket launcher is still virtually the same old reliable buttkicker, so I confess I've been using that gun predominantly until I feel more comfortable with the rest of them. I still haven't had an opportunity to try linking up the link gun with another player yet, and I'm sure I've probably missed a few other new weapon tricks as well, so I reserve the right to declare my favorite weapon at some future date.

However I can say definitively that I HATE the new translocator that only allows 5 transfers before needing recharge time. I'm addicted to using my translocator to get around quickly, and now it's like someone keeps clipping my wings every 5 throws and grounding me to stodgy landlubber status, which really drives me nuts!

Another shot

Asia's kitt

FS: 2k3 has a few new game types, but a few were left out. Which do you enjoy?

Asia: Well, I'm glad they didn't toss out CTF, because that's still far and away my favorite. But I also dig Bombing Run - it's a great new twist on UT gameplay, and I think anyone who enjoys advanced CTF teamplay will really get a kick out of it. Some of the maps did seem intimidatingly large, considering the ball-carrier can't fire weapons, but it does force everyone to act as a team if they want to win! And anything that encourages more united teamplay is a good thing, in my opinion. Unfortunately I haven't been able to try out the new Domination yet 'cause there don't seem to be any good populated servers with a decent ping near me, but that's ok... I was never much of a Domination fan anyway.

FS: What are your opinions on the new features in 2k3? The new game modes, adrenaline, the new weapons - what do they bring to the franchise?

Asia: For the most part, the changes are improvements over the old version, and the few things I don't like (like the limited-use translocator) I can at least understand WHY they made the changes. But there is one exception - WHY did they take away the relics that I love, and do they
REALLY think that adrenaline is an equivalent alternative??? First of all, the adrenaline is useless until you do the appropriate secret keypad combo to enable the special ability you want. But in the heat of gameplay, do you really want to stop running and fragging so you can painstakingly tap out L-L-R-jump-down-L... or wait, was that L-L-R-jump-cartwheel-double-back-handspring...?

Second of all, the only secret move they actually TELL us is speed! Which basically forces you to hide in a dark corner with your adrenaline, frantically doing the hokey-pokey in hopes of figuring out a secret trick before the enemy turns you into applesauce!

Now compare adrenaline to relics, where you easily obtain the skill of your choice just by picking it up... well, there's not much contest, is there! Hm, perhaps I should organize a campaign to have adrenaline deep-sixed, and relics brought back for us 'old-schoolers'...