Graphics: UT3 is nirvana for enthusiasts of blood and gore. You’re not going to shriek when you see a headshot like you do while playing Gears of War 2, but everything still looks pretty darn good. Weapons are modeled beautifully and the variety and detail of the maps are astounding. It can almost feel like you’re playing a different game when you hop from a space-station level to a frozen, barren outpost because the design and color palettes are so varied. UT3 also runs at an amazing clip, never slowing down in the heat of battle, which is critical for a twitch game such as this.

Interface: While many of the control variables are adjustable (invert, sensitivity, look centering, turn acceleration, etc.), it’s disappointing that there is only one control scheme. UT3 makes up for this, however, by having an easy-to-navigate online interface and brief load times. It’s also good to be able to preview a level before a match begins, instead of having to twiddle your thumbs in anticipation.

Gameplay: It’s the Unreal Tournament experience most of us know and love. The action is fast, violent and lots of fun. And the brisk pace (unless you’re playing in the Morbias Arena) helps to ramp up the difficulty. Weapons are nicely balanced, and you’re generally given only a brief moment to decide which gun is best suited to your environment (try not to get caught holding the flak cannon while trudging down a long corridor, and don’t get stuck with a shock rifle when you can smell the breath of your enemy). To ensure there is never a dull moment in the life of your meatbag, you’re also given the option to jet along on your own personal hoverboard or zap yourself from place to place with the teleportation gun, depending on the level. All things considered, UT3 is just a smooth experience.

Multiplayer: UT3 offers one of the best multiplayer experiences I’ve had on Xbox Live. Servers are jammed with eager victims and I have noticed very little lag. Games are easy to join, and a nifty voting system gives the power of choice to the players, many of whom seem to be surprisingly good-natured. Just remember to look out for the quiet ones.

Sound Effects: Even after all these years, that wonderful announcer still hasn’t gotten old, and quite frankly, I doubt he ever will, because whenever you hear him, you know you’re pwnin’ noobs. The sounds of gunfire and tearing flesh are satisfying, and you can hear the chatter of AI bots if you’re playing offline.

Music: The theme sounds as good as ever, and the in-game music doesn’t get in the way of the announcer.

Intelligence: If you find that you’re without Internet access for an extended period of time, you might have to trudge through the campaign to get your UT3 fix. If this happens, prepare yourself for some severely deficient AI. I played a few Warfare rounds in which I scored more than 150 points, with the second highest player total around 40, and I still lost because my teammates couldn’t control a node. Just pray that you never lose your connection.

Difficulty: There are eight different bot levels (from novice to godlike), so there should be something for everyone. I marked this down a notch because the weak team AI might make the game frustrating.

Overall: Unreal Tournament 3 is a solid package that you shouldn’t ignore this holiday season. It has enough style and substance to hang with this season’s big releases, and it should be considered as a viable option at a cheaper price. There are still plenty of folks gunning for each other online, and there seems to be a pretty good community for players of all skill levels.