Metareview: Unreal Tournament III (PS3, PC)

Unreal Tournament III sales may not be strong on the PC, but reviews have been positive for the latest installment in the frag-fest series. It appears outlets -- deviating from standard practice -- are trying to view the PC and PS3 versions under different lenses. The PC version (per usual) is the better option if you've got the rig to handle the Unreal Engine 3 game, but the PS3 version wasn't a toss-away port here. The reviews below are from the PS3 version of the UT3 reviews.

• IGN (90/100): "Players will find a few more differences with the PS3 version. While the recent 1.1 patch for PC streamlined the in-game menus and interface to a degree, you're stuck with the old menus in the PS3 version. Though they can at times be irritating, the often clunky menus really aren't that big a deal, especially when compared to UT3's fantastic gameplay. ... If you've never played Unreal Tournament before, this is a must-own game on PS3. It's still the most frantic, engrossingly intense first-person shooter formula out there and even after eight years still proves to be wildly entertaining."

• GameDaily (90/100): "The real significance with Unreal Tournament III on the PS3, however, is the Community support. For the first time in a console FPS, you're finally able to implement your own user-created mods – maps, modes, player creations – into the game. It's a feature that will no doubt take a lot of time and dedication. To devoted fans, however, it's a stellar inclusion. You're also able to receive messages, set up friend lists, seek out instant action matches and more. Unreal Tournament continues to live up to its name, and part three on the PS3 is just as thrilling as its PC counterpart. Never mind its shortened multiplayer count and lack of extra modes -- there's enough here to keep you fragging through the holidays."

• 1UP (80/100): "As for today, the arrival of Unreal Tournament 3 stands to be one of the highlights of the year for Net-connected PS3 owners. For many, this will be a fresh experience, lessening the impact of the modest mode options and lack of some fan favorites from prior versions. ... Whether or not you'll find a community playing this game in a year leads back to that earlier question of just how close PC and console gaming have become...and your response to Unreal Tournament 3 will help shape the answer. "

%Gallery-4830%