Epic Games

The Dreamcast, however, had not been blessed with this genre of games until the release of Quake III Arena (Q3A) many months ago. That conversion was an excellent title, no doubt, but it fell short in many ways. Compared to the numerous play modes and 32-player deathmatches on the PC version, the limit of four players per match left something to be desired. Now that its PC rival, Unreal Tournament, has finally arrived for the Dreamcast, will it eclipse the id shooter?

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence

Unreal Tournaments arrival on the Dreamcast is kind of a double-edged sword. Its great for the 3D-card-deprived to be able to experience the immensely popular PC shooter firsthand. Yet despite being a well designed game, gamers must ultimately tread through a watered down version of the PC incarnation.

Game Description: What could be better than launching a rocket down a corridor as a computer-controlled opponent runs for cover? Answer: using an impact hammer on a friend. Unreal Tournament, the award-winning, multiplatform gem of first-person mayhem, has finally come to the Dreamcast. The game features more than 70 maps designed specifically for the old Swirl, as well as 10 very powerful weapons. The game's multiplayer mode allows you to take on up to six other players over the Internet, or go against a buddy in your own home via split-screen display.

Game Description: Tackle the challenges of Unreal Tournament on the PlayStation 2. Blow the opposition to tiny bits in a Deathmatch or become part of team and take control of the map in a Domination game. For something a little different, play Assault, where one team is trying to defend a base and the other is trying to capture it. Surviving to fight another day is only half the battle in Unreal Tournament.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence

It's clear that Infogrames wanted to take advantage of the hype surrounding the PlayStation 2 launch, and it had to strike while the iron was hot. That meant that like every other publisher under the sun, it needed a port or an update to an already popular game—and Unreal Tournament was as good a choice as any.

Game Description: In this follow-up to the bestselling Unreal, you and your team of Bots are fighting in a tournament to attain the crown of Unreal Grand Master. The teams you'll be playing against consist of the most ruthless scum the galaxy has to offer. You'll have to be cool under fire and keep your team working effectively if you hope to beat each of Unreal Tournament's 32 levels and come out the champion (or alive, for that matter). Unreal Tournament's got it all: a ton of amazing levels, exciting new weapons, brain-melting new modes of play (Capture the Flag, Assault Match, Domination Match, Last Man Standing, and—of course—Deathmatch!), unbelievably deadly Bots (computer controlled opponents or teammates), and a slew of other features that should have your happiness glands working overtime.

Yet, by far, the one thing that makes Unreal Tournament such a worthy contender for the online multiplayer crown is the sheer amount of options that it offers over Q3A. There are more degrees of difficulty in Bot configurations, more different styles of play beyond CTF and classic Deathmatching, more maps to choose from, and even more diverse weapons (each sports an alternate fire option, which adds an entirely new dimension to the game). Almost across the board, Unreal Tournament brings more to the table than Q3A.

According to ESRB, this game contains: Animated Blood & Gore, Animated Violence