Comments - herrfrog

I just wanted to kick in with a positive review of 2K4, not that it needs one too badly. I totally disagree that UT2K4 is no improvement over UT2K3. It is better and the action is smoother. True, it is an improvement over 2k3 in only small ways, but a huge, huge number of small ways, making a really big cumulative improvement.

I always felt that 2k3 was not really complete, just rough around the edges. 2k4 is a completion of it, and also an addition of several new game modes which are really good, especially Onslaught, IMO. It requires a pretty darn good computer, but p4's and Athlon XP's are pretty easy to come by these days. (P4's really do it best, although I am a definite AMD fan.) And UTK4 will turn that CPU into a space heater, it will keep it so busy. Another good thing is you don't need the $300+ graphic card, like you now do if you want to play Doom 3. A 128 MB AGP card will suffice quite adequately, and at least 512 mb ram on your board. A gig does quite well.

I am a severe gaming addict going on 25 years, and have followed the history and development of the classic fps ever since Space Invaders, because no other game satisfies me like a good fps. There are several good descendants that have evolved from Doom, and UTk4 is one of the best. For me, the best. For one thing, few others still keep up the pace.

I mean, face it. The FPS is all about raw brutal kill-or-be-killed instincts, being projected into that little box. That is the satisfaction, and the addictive element: to capture that animal lower brain and give it release. (Hey, some guys like football.) But most computer games don't move quickly and smoothly enough to allow that part of you to really get engaged. And most are also hampered by some clumsly effort at meshing a graphic-novel style plot with a game of virtual cops-and-robbers, or paintball. Not easy to do. UT and the other major "gamer's game," Quake Arena, (I should also mention Half-Life multiplayer) has always been largely aimed at just the bare basics of a brutal struggle to survive, and not too bogged down with plot. There has to be a way to incorporate a good story line into a real fps, but most fail, IMO.

I also think that it is sad that level design and character modeling and skinning have become such a professional endeavor, but that is just because the standards have become so high, and there are so many realy serious designers out there. The custom maps that keep coming out for free download are out of this world. The new official ones in the new patch and the Epic gamepack are really really good too. As far as leaving room for amateur designers and artists, I really miss the voice packs from UTGOTY, and am really glad to see that coming back now. It was largely absent during UTK3. (My favorite voicepacks are all by NYGrrrl. I hope she gets plenty of cartoon soundtrack work, cux she's got class. I wish there were more amateur modellers out there still, but there aren't too many. "Effigy" and "Magdelena" are really good examples of what is out there for free nowdays. Incredibly well done, must-have models.

I am really partial to the "Onslaught" game mode. It really rocks. It actually is a whole new game. It brings an element of strategy that works real well in UT. "Assault" doesn't appeal to me so much. I just wish there were more maps for Onslaught. And I think the vehicles in the new patch are great, but appeal to a larger game and more players than most of these maps really lend themselves to so far. But several of the maps that came with the game are awesome anyway.

So if you don't know, the real best way to play is in a LAN party with plenty of people, and good drinks. Second to that is online with broadband, or real single player, the "Instant Action," (not the "Single Player." mode.)The bots are really good too. Not very good team players, so that is a definite limitation when playing "Instant Action," some maps really can't be properly played without real live team-mates. Which is good, because it means that real strategy is involved.