Unreal II - I think it's Underrated

[Imperator RAD-X]

I often keep looking back at this game and, I know, while a handful of us may have some valid sight into the idea that it was somewhat controversial in a take of the Unreal Universe and contrary to the Tournament series - it actually sets something what the other games of Unreal haven't touched on since the first.

Solid universal story expansion, and its immersion and world building.

I remember getting the Unreal Anthology so many years ago, and Unreal II was the last game of them all that I played. I remember as a kid, I was very, if not really immersed with the characters and how they were portrayed. Each and all of them were unique, and I enjoyed visiting all the different planets with their different lifeforms on it. Whether hostile, peaceful, either or. Especially when it comes to the suspense of fighting the Skaarj for the first time. True nightmare fuel.

But when travelling to the Drakk Homeworld, that was peak for me, and looking back upon the Liandri and Izanagi mercenaries and their subsequent "show, not tell" on the mega corporations... It's a shame that games don't go to that level of detail. Or how about the Marines that were taking you down in the first game, now you're fighting along side them and you see how infinitely more humane (and complex) the NEG, the TCA and such really are.

Same with ingame timelines of events that transpired like the Strider Wars, all that jazz.

Gameplay wise, this game was an experiment, sort of a failed experiment. But in terms of narrative and storyline? Incredibly well done and it's always had a special place for me.

I know Unreal II somewhat gets a good bit of flak every now and then, and yes I'm very much open to people having their disagreements with all that's mentioned above... but honestly? When I compare this game to many others in its same field, it doesn't flop and it doesn't fall behind.

If this game did anything for Unreal, it was a love letter to its lore and universe, if anything else that it's not.

I wish Epic didn't drop Unreal, which is a total shame. I'd have loved to see more of this but with the polish, refinement and actual funding games like these deserved. But then again, it was a long time ago when Unreal II was relevant.

[Carbon]

If one separates it from its far superior namesake, then sure, it's a mediocre shooter. Having said that, its hard not to drawn the lineage back and see what a wasted opportunity it was. It's easily the worst game in the series, but I have to hold some regard for it out of respect for the heritage.

[Jimelu]

I have some fondness for it myself since it's a childhood game, one of the first shooters that I played even. But the best thing that I can say is that it probably had the best graphics of its time, it doesn't stand out in any other aspect. It wasn't one of the worst things you could play, but it wasn't remarkable either, it just was a thing that existed.

[grumpymoose]

I just like it for the space sheriff going on space missions, with his crew, concept. Not a lot of other games try to capture that sort of thing. Even a merc concept would have been fine. I think Prey 2, before it got cancelled, came closest to something similar with its bounty hunter style game play.

It's a gem in its own right.

[Francisè von Spitroast]

Great ideas, poor execution. Shoddy writing and painful exposition. Slow, cumbersome gameplay against dull enemies who hitscan. Superb graphics and creative environments tho.

[Waitsjunkie]

I should go back and replay it sometime. I never cared for Tournament type stuff so I only ever played Unreal and Unreal II. I actually remember the second one a lot better than the first since there are a number of sequences from the story that have stuck in my mind. I really enjoyed playing both, though, and never realised that the second wasn't thought highly of.