I just read the eurogamer UT3 review...

[Nacher]

...and I'm really surprised and pleased. Not about the 8/10 score that UT3 got, but the actual quality of the reviews of eurogamer. I have never before read them, but instead of automatically giving 10/10 to every mass-hyped and anticipated title, they actually seem to write critical and intelligent reviews. Not spending the entire text going through features of a certain game, but instead taking a look at the whole picture.

Usually all the reviews are either for clueless noobs, who just want to hear all the cool features and that the game is just as good and even better than they hoped, or for hardcore fans, who wan't to know the exact damage of a single controversal weapon or something. I really like how Eurogamer takes the viewpoint of a passionate and demanding gamer, who isn't a fan of any specific genre. As an overall game, UT3 hardly deserves more than 8/10. Even though the core gameplay is awesome, the single player is quite medicore at best, AI and UI unpolished and so on. It's not really tempting for a new player to the series. Of course It's at least a 9/10 game for a hardcore UT fan like me, but the fact remains that a lot of casual / allaround gamers just don't find UT3 _that_ appealing, or any classic hardcore multplayer shooter for that matter. It's a shame.

[KriLL3.8™]

Kinda odd that he spewed positive stuff about it and then gave it a 8/10.

[Unstoppable]

Well if you're going to post about it at least provide a link. Geesh how rude. Not UT 3 for you and i'll make sure Jester does not pay attention to ya :P! Just kidding by the way.

[Unstoppable]

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=87909

[Hubbell Tyson]

Read that review as well and totally agree with your comments.

Most reviews are either by mega 'fanboys' of that series or they're written by people who have no clue whatsoever about that genre/series.

Also, as much as it pains me I have to agree it's a game that probably 8/10 to average Joe and 10/10 to a UT fan :)

[hal]

While you're gushing over Eurogamer, you might want to give this a read and report back if you still feel the same way:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=81479

I thought the review was well written but, in my opinion, the text didn't match the score.

[Simeon]

Read that review as well and totally agree with your comments.

Most reviews are either by mega 'fanboys' of that series or they're written by people who have no clue whatsoever about that genre/series.

Also, as much as it pains me I have to agree it's a game that probably 8/10 to average Joe and 10/10 to a UT fan :)

Even a UT fan shouldn't give UT3 a 10/10 (think about the GUI and the other misc. things that ain't right).

[Nacher]

While you're gushing over Eurogamer, you might want to give this a read and report back if you still feel the same way:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=81479

I thought the review was well written but, in my opinion, the text didn't match the score.

How so? I think the text was only praise and rave. I haven't played Bioshock myself (but I'm convinced that I will once I have the time), but even though it has had it's share of criticism, it looks more than interesting.

The reason being in the fact that games really, really rarely try to be art. They may look good in a mainstream way, but really rarely try to really stretch imagination and creativity with their contemporary art. At times some UT maps have actually tried this to some extent, but most of them are still rather mainstream. Most of the good looking games are comparable to Michael Bay films. A lot of amazing special effects, but nothing really artistically ambitious. Nothing experimental. From the pictures and reviews BioShock looks like Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain (The most beautiful and creative movie in years) with all it's postmodern and retro visual style.

Sounds, music and all kind of audio in the games are really neglected. Even more so than creativity in visual themes. Usually we have those basic explosion, weapon and footstep sounds accompanied by occasional boring techno soundtrack. Again Bioshock seems to push the boundaries here.

I'm still not sure if BioShock is a 10/10 game, but compared to titles like Gears of War, it's miles ahead in making games intelligent art instead of interactive action movies.

[hal]

I haven't played Bioshock myself

You should have stopped right there. :)

Anyhow, what I mean is that the text of the UT3 review is very positive, but the counter-arguments were very vague. I accept that an 8 is a good score, but there's little consistency from review to review when you look at those like BioShock, which was a fine, but flawed game and surely not a 10.

[NakhtiUT3]

8 is a very good score for a game like this one. Basically no story just plain carnage and a weak SP campaign ... to get a 9 or higher in my book you need a solid story as well as the solid gameplay and graphics. So even though I am a big UT fan I would never give this a higher score than 8.5 ... but that is just me. Still this version is missing too many gametypes and no Assault when I was really getting into playing Assault in UT2K4 ... that really bothered me when I first heard it was get axed (I was hoping they would improve aspects of it ... definitely the bot a.i.) and it still bugs me ... then there is the matter of nerfing vehicles and losing the LG while keeping the Sniper Rifle (which just plain does NOT fit in with the other Unreal weaponry).

I read the other review as well and I can't understand how they could give the game a 9 based on what they complained about. But cool ... like I said it is always good to see UT get a good score. Although all these bugs in Epics games or games built on UE3 leave a nagging feeling in my gut I am still getting it and actually choosing this game over Mass Effect (can't afford both this week, not when I just got CoD4 and Crysis and Gears already this month ... but once I am done with Timeshift I plan on renting it. I know tons of people are going to try and get to it before me but not this time. :)

Well just a few more hours and I can get on over to Best Buy and pick up my copy for $40 (with price matching) ... and then drop by Gamecrazy and pick up my $10 pre-order amount I put down on this game. Too bad those places like GS and GC don't price match ... too bad for them ... they are going to lose money today and tomorrow. Don't they know how impatient gamers (like me) are?

[hal]

8 is a very good score for a game like this one. Basically no story just plain carnage and a weak SP campaign ... to get a 9 or higher in my book you need a solid story as well as the solid gameplay and graphics. So even though I am a big UT fan I would never give this a higher score than 8.5 ... but that is just me. Still this version is missing too many gametypes and no Assault when I was really getting into playing Assault in UT2K4 ... that really bothered me when I first heard it was get axed (I was hoping they would improve aspects of it ... definitely the bot a.i.) and it still bugs me ... then there is the matter of nerfing vehicles and losing the LG while keeping the Sniper Rifle (which just plain does NOT fit in with the other Unreal weaponry).

So games like Super Mario 3 or Tetris should have a solid story? Those are extreme examples, but I guess I'm reluctant to demand a story from a game that does not need one. To your point, however, Epic did attempt one and should thus be graded on it.

I'll take exception to your comment, though, that the Sniper Rifle doesn't fit in since it's been there since Unreal (Skaarj Assault Rifle). :) Not to mention that UT had a Sniper Rifle. Oh.. and Unreal 2 (but let's not talk about that one! :D )

[Nacher]

I think UT3 could be a 9/10 game, but it would require those anomalies and bugs to be ironed out and missing features brought back. Not having a proper story or lack of "instert your favourite ut2k4 feature here" is not what matters here. UT3 plays great, and who the heck seriously buys that game for single player storyline anyways?

If Epic does everything right, UT3 should be a 9/10 game after a few patches.

[Bitterman5]

8 is a very good score for a game like this one. Basically no story just plain carnage and a weak SP campaign ... to get a 9 or higher in my book you need a solid story as well as the solid gameplay and graphics. So even though I am a big UT fan I would never give this a higher score than 8.5 ... but that is just me.

Most great sp games have weak mp if any at all.

UT99 and UT2004 are both in the top 10 all time pc shooter ratings at gamerankings.com. Your stance is in the minority.