There is absolutely no doubt that Epic Games’, Unreal 2: The Awakening, is the best looking game on the shelves. With around nine unique worlds including dense jungle terrain, alien cities, and blazing snowstorms the game contains so much detail that gamers wouldn’t have imagined possible just a few years ago.

Contrary to its title, the second Unreal has little correlation with the original. You play the role of John Dalton, an ex-marine who patrols a system of planets in a big starship named Atlantis. Your monotonous life is violently interrupted when your ship receives a distress call, which is the genesis of your great adventure. As such, the game fails to answer the twist, which concludes the fist Unreal, but does allude to the tournaments of the popular multiplayer series Unreal Tournament.

The gameplay of Unreal 2 is mediocre at best – the missions are well developed, but nothing too special. The interaction with the environment and the stunningly real graphics definitely augment the realistic feel of the game. Unfortunately, this realism is diluted due to the cartoonish and bizarre design of characters. All the men in the game resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger on steroids, and Aida (your female second in command), seems as if the Britney Spears Barbie inspired her creation. Although this style may appeal to some, those who favor realism may not enjoy it. The game also lacks the element of exploration which is critical for a game of this caliber. Also, the game is far too short, it provides a maximum of ten hours of gameplay.

Gamers will also be disappointed in Unreal 2’s lack of a multiplayer interface. This omission is the most significant deficiency of the game. Although the game includes a map editor, it probably won’t grab the attention of the players of this game. Further, it seems to reflect that the developers were more concerned with showing off the engine by adding superfluous eye-candy rather than creating an engaging game that could live up to its predecessor.

Unreal 2 delivers a truly revolutionary gaming engine that sets an ambitious precedent for future programmers. Although, the gamer’s visual experience is contingent on how powerful his computer is. The game requires a minimum of 733mhz processor with a minimum of 256mb RAM, and both of these need to be complimented with a powerful graphics card, 32mb minimum – all this just to get the game running. Unreal 2 also requires the latest DirectX drivers, but is included with the game.

In closing, fork out the 50$ for Unreal 2 if you want to be dazzled by its rich environment, and if you have the sufficient equipment. Don’t buy this game if you’re expecting a sequel to the first Unreal, or if you are a multiplayer enthusiast (Unreal Tournament 2003 will suffice any online needs).