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Unreal Tournament 2003

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7.9 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 23 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Infogrames / Atari

Developer: Digital Extremes / Epic Games

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Action

Players: 32

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 1, 2002

Summary

Reload with Unreal Tournament 2003 - the sequel to 1999's multiple 'Game of the Year' award winner - "Unreal Tournament." Using the latest Unreal technology, Unreal Tournament 2003 takes you to the merciless arenas of the future, where elite warriors rely on skill, speed, cunning and awesome firepower to demonstrate their style and become the ultimate champion. [Infogrames]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central Game Revolution GamePro GameSpot Guide

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

2404.org

Mind-blowingly more amazing than its older brother!

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100

Play Magazine

Combined with top-notch sound effects, new weapons, and special moves, it will leave you speechless. [Dec 2002, p.88]

Game Informer

If you're a devotee to "Quake," "UT," FPSs, or online games in general, this is certainly a ride you won't want to miss. [Dec 2002, p.147]

GameZone

From the minute you install the game you will be amazed how wonderful this game looks, and plays.

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PC Format

UT2003 may not be a revolution, but after a raft of unexciting "Counter-Strike" clones over the last couple of years, it’s the finest game you’ll find gracing any server right now.

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netjak

The game is drop dead gorgeous...As far as the gameplay is concerned, the overall physics are still the best in the industry.

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GameNow

The graphic detail of the levels is astounding, the sounds all have the "oomph" and there's enough variety in the game types to keep you busy. [Dec 2002, p.78]

Gaming Age

It’s the best that the genre has to offer thus far, and with a new detailed mapmaker, new weaponry and exceptional graphics, sound and game play.

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GamePro

Its visceral intensity is off the charts—other shooters seem frail and timid in comparison.

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Gamers' Temple

A fast-paced, fantastic looking fragfest that is an absolute blast to play... It would be nice if there was more to the single player game, though.

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Total Video Games

Once you get past the initial phase of disappointment UT2003 delivers everything you’d want from a FPS. The action is intense, the presentation flawless and more importantly it just feels great, definitely packing that ‘oh yeah’ factor in spades.

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IGN

UT's beautiful skin may be somewhat simple, but its biology is complex, lovely, and fun.

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Game Over Online

An absolutely excellent game. Sure, it does not redefine the genre...but it doesn’t just sit on its predecessor’s laurels, it has something of its own to bring in – a most impressive graphics and physics engine, an incredible bot AI ..., as well as very impressive level design and great multiplayer capabilities.

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ActionTrip

The game is regressive in a sense that it doesn't bring anything new to the field of online shooters - it's as straightforward and arcadish as online shooters get, and at the same time, it's highly progressive with its incredible physics, 3D, and net code.

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PC Gamer

Gorgeous gib-filled excitement for deathmatch players with beefy systems. [Holiday 2002, p.112]

GameSpot

Exciting, nonstop combat in wild settings, all brought to life with a stunning, state-of-the-art graphics engine that leaves its competition in the dust.

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Gamer's Pulse

While not perfect by any means, there's enough fun in Bombing Run and Double Domination alone to make this one worth picking up for some multiplayer fun.

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GameSpy

Underneath all of that polish, at its heart this is the same basic game we've been playing for years -- you'll either love it or hate it for that very reason.

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Computer Gaming World

Minus community support, amounts to a visually amazing, dependable, but overall mediocre online first-person shooter. [Jan 2003, p.96]

Adrenaline Vault

While UT 2003 doesn’t revolutionize its genre, it contains beautifully presented high-speed action that first-person shooter fans crave.

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G4 TV

It's insanely gorgeous... Beautiful graphics, fantastically designed maps, and slight changes in gameplay.

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Entertainment Weekly

Delivers plenty of eye candy - from sprawling outdoor vistas to blasts of mutagenic sludge - but doesn't live up to the expectations of shooters in this post-Halo world. [25 Oct 2002, p.83]

PC Gameworld

The worst crime ever committed against PC gamers was releasing the sequel to UT without an Assault mode.

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FiringSquad

There is no excuse for a game to perform so badly at the lowest settings, especially on a system which meets the recommended system requirements. Unless you have all the latest hardware, don’t bother with UT2K3 for a while.

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Yahoo! Games

With the exception of the extremely, though not awe-inspiringly fun bombing run mode, UT2003 could essentially be Quake 1996 with one hell of an Oprah Winfrey style makeover.

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Armchair Empire

With bigger guns and even bigger levels, Unreal Tournament 2003 seems to say: size does matter.

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Cheat Code Central

It's just been so toned down from the original that on one hand while I applaud the balancing of the weapons, on the other I miss the raw intensity that permeated "Unreal Tournament."

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 23 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Simon B. gave it a7:
As a first person shooter fan and a great UT fan, I can personally say that UT2003 was a huge balloon that was blown right out of the sky. The gameplay is still there with bots that have similar A.I. problems to the first game. Though to a great deception: Assault is replaced by an action-packed tactical football game. Instead of playing football with tackles, the players go look for the ball which is in a neutral field. Then, the ball is taken and all teams converge on the ball carrier. Why? Because if he reaches the "goal", he will score. In order to tackle the carrier, who has regenerating health but no weapons at all aside from the ball gun, the defending team uses all its weapons and abilities to strike him down and take the ball. Once the carrier is dead, the ball drops for anyone else to take. There is a pretty clumsy passing system, but it "passes". The game can get pretty hectic once you are the ball carrier, as you try to make it out alive to the goal. A good team has great coverage of the ball carrier and know not to let any ball carrier through their lines of defense. Otherwise, you can get scores like 57 to nothing. Shooting the ball into the goal gives one point. Jumping through the goal gives 7 points. Jumping through the goal isn't as easy as just shooting the ball, though. You'll come to realize that as you play. Aside from Bombing Ball (that football game), there are all the classics coming back, revamped. When I say classics, I mean maps and guns alike, as well as some of the characters from UT GOTY. Brock, Lauren and Malcom make a comeback but there is nothing dramatic about the game. It goes out like a Professional League where aliens and modified humans alike battle in fierce fights of extreme gore. The variance in all the maps gives free movement to the players and really gives a feeling that you are in a wide opened world, aside from the claustrophobic environments of the first opus. The weapons have more "unrealistic" sounds to them. Which doesn't please all, but hands up all the way for the music. Music which mixes orchestra and trance music together in order to give Unreal Tournament 2003 a baroque feel, which it already has.

Compman99 gave it a5:
Its Just Like Quake the graphics are too much like a cartoon very unrealistic,The first version is much better as you can see by how many servers are on GOTY 1999 version 600 to the 2003 = 100. Unreal Tournament GOTY Edition is WAY BETTER! Its Funny all the raving over 2003 was done by game sites haha! I Hope 2007 Version Is Better, Ask a real person what they think.

CHRIS W. gave it a 4:
I would agree the weapons really suck most of all the lighting(sniper) weapon.the weapons feel clumsier and less satisfying than the original UT.im not too fond of the 'warhammer 40,000' look of the characters either.as for the game being 'TOO heavy little processors etc etc' as someone sed i wouldnt agree the game runs just fine with a good video card. but it still sucks

DemonicAngel gave it a 5:
The long-awaited sequel to Unreal Tournament is notable only for its graphics, which are the most detailed seen in any PC game to date. Sounds are bland and uninspired, the 3D sound engine is plain awful compared to even the venerable Quake III Arena, weapons are unimpressive, and the gameplay doesn't come close to matching up to the original. It lacks UT's varied game modes, but lacks the simple fun factor to make up for that.

[Anonymous] gave it a 9:
In an "Unreal" way, UT2003 delivers fast-action shooting with a splash of childhood games-Capture the Flag. The fact that it is so impossible in real life makes it so much fun!!

Yuchen Z. gave it a 9:
Good really GOOD, but not all that good etc...

Interrupting Cow gave it a 9:
UT2003 is, quite simply, pure, simple, unadulterated fun. Online play is a blast, with generally okay ping (even on a 56K modem I had a ping of around 300) and some of the best freaking level designs ever in a video game along with some creative modes (Bombing Run in the Skyline ROCKS!) Graphics are good, sound is amazing (especially the booms), and gameplay is classic arcadey goodness. I only have problems with the communication options. While you can type messages and even send prerecorded voice acted taunts (a cool feature), after playing Counter-Strike with real-time voice chat, I wish this was standard in UT2003. Maybe there will be a mod or patch in the future. BTW, the game ran fine on my 1.6 ghz Athlon machine with a 56K modem.

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Unreal Tournament 2003

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What The Critics Said

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