The Unreal Tournament series has a long and storied history as the definitive PC frag-fest. The sheer amount of variety - from weapons to maps to vehicles - in conjunction with lightning fast shooting action has always given the franchise legs above the competition. Not since the release of Unreal Championship for the Xbox have console users been able to experience the same frenetically fun gameplay. Fortunately, Epic has decided to feed the famished, giving console gamers another go with Unreal Tournament 3 for the PlayStation 3. The good news is this game is just as fun and exciting as previous entries in the series. The bad news is that the core gameplay is relatively unchanged from Unreal Tournament 2004.

UT3 offers three main modes of play. Deathmatch pits players in either free-for-all or team matches with the sole objective of racking up the most kills. Capture the Flag, which appropriately requires the capture of the other team's flag, is another mode that should be familiar to most FPS veterans. The final mode, Warfare, is reminiscent of Battlefield 2142, in that it demands each team truly be in sync. Several nodes, which basically serve as strongholds and respawn points, must be captured to move on to the next point on the map. Once the final node is captured, the enemy's reactor core becomes vulnerable to destruction. Communication and reliability are key components of team play in Warfare. For instance, experienced squads will ensure that at least one grunt is ready and hiding at the opponent's reactor core while his allies capture the final node, resulting in a quick victory.

UT3 borrows a few graphical elements from Gears of War.

For those looking to go solo, there are a number of options available including story mode, which allows players to learn the ropes of the game. While the plot is paper thin, conveyed via a handful of attractive cutscenes, it is more than sufficient for a game that essentially boils down to shooting people in the face. Each new stage sticks you alongside a computer-controlled ally to battle through missions based on the game's three main match styles. There is even an Instant Action mode, which allows you to customize a match by adding modifiers and tweaking bot settings.

The artificial intelligence is very two-sided in UT3. While the bone-headed maneuvers of the enemy bots are not too noticeable, the friendly AI quickly becomes annoying. This holds especially true when they attempt to drive vehicles, as they often have trouble steering past large obstructions. Nevertheless, when not behind the wheel, the AI fares a bit better, telling you when they've captured the flag or providing cover fire for teammates carrying out important tasks.

Socialites will be most interested in UT3's online gameplay, as human opponents are much more challenging. The amount of downloadable content from the mod community is surprisingly large (and growing) and provides the online experience with a great amount of depth. Not only do mods supply more maps to play on, but they also allow for different rules, gameplay wrinkles (such as the addition of jetpacks), and alternate characters. For Gears of War fans, there is even a modification that pulls the camera back, letting you play from a behind-the-shoulder perspective.

Aside from the available mods, there are a few other advantages to the PlayStation 3 version of Unreal Tournament 3. Firstly, a large portion of the game can be installed directly onto the hard drive, which significantly reduces loading times. Secondly, those looking to emulate a PC control setup can bypass the SixAxis controller in favor of a keyboard and mouse (though the SixAxis control is spot on).

While most of the action is intense and twitch-based, there are some strategic moments peppered throughout. For example, the hover board allows you to move faster across a map, but you can't shoot while on it. Furthermore, if you get shot off the board, you take extra damage as you tumble to the ground. This has even more severe consequences when capturing a flag, as you can use your hover board to try to make a quick getaway, but if you are knocked over, you lose a large chunk of health and drop the flag. In cases like these, you must choose whether to risk a quick getaway or run slowly on foot.

As with most first-person shooters, a lot of time has been invested into weapon balancing. Each weapon has its own special use and works best in certain situations. Primary and secondary firing methods for each gun expand the possibilities further. The flak cannon is a monster up close; however, someone using the default pistol can often times win a long-range shootout with a flak cannon user. The series has always had this strict adherence to balance, and this game is no different.

Some of the new vehicles are extremely fun to pilot.

The graphics in UT3 are a real treat, featuring the same high level of texture detail found in Gears of War. Also similar to Gears of War are both the "uber-roid" character models, which Epic seems to be so enamored of, and the dynamic cutscenes that usher the storyline forward using the in-game engine. Like previous entries in the series, the violence is over-the-top, portrayed by bodies that literally explode under the right circumstances. As for the levels, they all exhibit the trademark Unreal grittiness, and within those confines, the maps are as varied as they can be.

The game's audio is equally impressive. There is a decent amount of voice acting throughout; each character spouts several uniquely amusing one-liners during battle. The disembodied announcer is similarly entertaining, shouting "double kill," "mega kill," and finally, "monster kill" as one racks up consecutive frags. The announcer has a few other creative lines that are heard every now and then. Such touches are subtle, but when compounded, they provide a significantly distinct auditory experience. The music and sound effects consist of what you've come to expect from the series, and they work just fine here as well.

Unreal Tournament 3 has been a long time in the making; however, despite the wait, the game proves that the franchise is still one of the most exhilarating first-person shooters available. While best known for its online play, UT3 is fun in any context - even offline - taking bot-infested battles to the next level. The developer's creativity really shines through in the various game modes, weapon and vehicle designs, and control scheme. The only real fault here is that the game can sometimes feel like a retread. There haven't been many changes to the core gameplay over the years, so if you're looking for something radically different, you may not find that here. Otherwise, the numerous polished facets of Unreal Tournament 3 add up to a fantastic multiplayer experience that is currently unparalleled on the PlayStation 3.