Unreal

The Good
There is a lot about this game to like. It was hailed as one of the first of the Quake Killers. The reflective surfaces and plasma effects were stunning and created several breathtaking environments.

The ambient sound and music was extremely well done. Sounds indicate where the baddies are. The music is well done, with an alien feel to it.

The friendly Nai Pai added a touch of involvement that was missing from other shooters of the time. You'd see them being beaten mercilessly by the Skaarj and you'd try to protect them. In return, they'd help you with secrets.

The logs fed in to the story as well. They provided hints to solving puzzles and clues about paths to take. If you didn't read them, you could get stuck.

The enemies were tough and challenging. Several unlikely beasts came after you, each with a special set of skills and strengths.

The weapons were well balanced and effective if used against a specific baddie.

The Bad
Some of the levels went on forever, and took great timing to get through. In certain spots, the enemy would come out of nowhere and turn you in to diced meat.

The occasional nonsensical level design that defies logic.

The Bottom Line
A classic example of a powerful engine with a pretty good game developed on it. The first of the great FPS.