Revisionist History

Unreal II: The Awakening had a huge, gaping wound right out of the box: Multiplayer support, vital to a shooter��s longevity, was long ago ripped out like Adam��s rib and turned into Unreal Tournament 2003. Legend has rectified that mistake with Unreal II XMP, a 300MB free downloadable patch that does quite a bit more than you might expect.

XMP is not a full-bore MP addition to Unreal II, but a single team-based strategy mode akin to Tribes. Essentially a riff on the onslaught mode being developed for Unreal Tournament 2004, XMP offers vehicles, multiple classes, various control points, and an expanded form of CTF.

Each side begins with two artifacts (i.e., flags) in their base; the team that controls the most artifacts wins. The landscapes are far more expansive than usual Unreal maps, creating a more deliberate pace and shifting the emphasis to vehicles. Some of these are simply souped-up dune buggies, while others are multiseat tanks with driver and gunner positions. Added to the mix are turrets (fixed and user-placed), mines, and field generators; together, they create a more team-focused tactical experience. None of these extras will work, however, until teams begin to capture and control generators. It��s possible to gradually shut down a team��s turrets, vehicles, and even mines by denying them power, a feature that adds a fresh element to CTF tactics.

Classes are standard issue, but quite functional. There��s the ranger (a light, fast guy with a sniper rifle), the gunner (a heavy, slow guy with a rocket launcher), and the tech (a baby bear who��s juuust right). Everyone has the ability to hack and revive fallen comrades, but techs hack and rangers heal faster.

XMP solders shut the gash in Unreal II and offers a shakedown cruise for some of the features being developed for Tournament 2004. There are some flaws: Vehicle control is a bit touchy and some maps can stalemate, but in the end, XMP is worth at least twice what you will pay for it. OThomas L. McDonald

New Info, Old Games

Unreal II: The Awakening had a huge, gaping wound right out of the box: Multiplayer support, vital to a shooter��s longevity, had long ago been ripped out like Adam��s rib and turned into Unreal Tournament 2003. Legend has rectified that mistake with Unreal II XMP, a 300MB free downloadable patch that does quite a bit more than you might expect.

XMP is not a full-bore MP addition to Unreal II, but a single team-based strategy mode akin to Tribes. Essentially a riff on the onslaught mode being developed for Unreal Tournament 2004, XMP offers vehicles, multiple classes, various control points, and an expanded form of CTF.

Each side begins with two artifacts (i.e., flags) in their base; the team that controls the most artifacts wins. The landscapes are far more expansive than usual Unreal maps, creating a more deliberate pace and shifting the emphasis to vehicles. Some of these are simply souped-up dune buggies, while others are multiseat tanks with driver and gunner positions. Added to the mix are turrets (fixed and user-placed), mines, and field generators; together, they create a more team-focused tactical experience. None of these extras will work, however, until teams begin to capture and control generators. It��s possible to gradually shut down a team��s turrets, vehicles, and even mines by denying them power, a feature that adds a fresh element to CTF tactics.

Classes are standard issue, but quite functional. There��s the ranger (a light, fast guy with a sniper rifle), the gunner (a heavy, slow guy with a rocket launcher), and the tech (a baby bear who��s juuust right). Everyone has the ability to hack and revive fallen comrades, but techs hack and rangers heal faster.

XMP solders shut the gash in Unreal II and offers a shakedown cruise for some of the features being developed for Tournament 2004. There are some flaws: Vehicle control is a bit touchy and some maps can stalemate, but in the end, XMP is worth at least twice what you will pay for it.

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Computer Gaming World.