Graphics

Graphics

One of the most striking qualities of UT on the PC was its graphics. We commented on the beauty of one CTF map, "Facing Worlds" in our original review and that comment remains for the PS2 conversion. Quite simply, the backdrop of the Earth in the background is a beautiful sight to behold on that map.

Make that both of them

Earth

Are the graphics completely carried over from the PC? Of course not.

The textures in the PS2 conversion aren't quite as detailed, leaving a less lifelike look to the surrounding environment. In addition, everything seemed a bit blurrier than normal. While this wasn't a major issue, we also noticed a texture tear from time to time.

Up close and personal

Just the way I like it

Player Models

Character models continue to look good, with new characters opening up as you progress through the single player game. A large number of humanoid models remain, which can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your tastes and preferences. (Some of the player models from the bonus pack can also be unlocked)

Close-in minigun battle

Colored lighting

As a PC player, picking out friend from foe was initially a little difficult in CTF matches. At first, the models appeared to my eyes as small blobs from a distance. This problem was made even more difficult by the hue of the levels -- some of the maps in the PS2 conversion are darker than their PC counterparts. Once my eyes made the adjustment this became less of an issue however.

My Thoughts

How does UT compare graphically to other first-person shooter console games? It's easily the best-looking console shooter to date! This doesn't mean it looks better than the PC version, but UT significantly narrows the gap graphically between the console and the PC.

Unfortunately, these beautiful graphics come at a significant cost to framerate. During heated battles, the framerate can quickly drop to figures in the teens, making control difficult. After all, it's not easy placing a rocket at your opponents' feet if your display moves in a jerky fashion. We feel an "ugly" graphics mode would have been a nice option for gamers dissatisfied with the games performance.

While pretty graphics do indeed make it easier to feel like you're "in the game", in our opinion, another key factor to immersing a player in the game is framerate. After all, the outside world doesn't appear as a slideshow to your eyes does it?

Getting my shaft on

Stop him!