Unreal Championship is without a doubt one of the most intense and frenzied arena combat games ever developed. Contrary to the fears of hardcore fans, the addition of third person game play will broaden the challenge and skill set tremendously, and also offers an unprecedented level of mobility and movement options.

As you first embroil yourself in the insanely fast paced duels that are at the heart of Unreal Championship 2, the first impression you’ll get is how true it manages to stay to the spirit of the Unreal franchise. What really gives the game flavor though, is the new additions.

Melee combat, far from being just a simple add on, has now become an integral part of battle. Because attacks are constantly coming from all directions, the new spatial awareness afforded by the third person view becomes invaluable. Meanwhile, the range of free movement is truly astounding while you flip and wall jump about the arena.

Visuals in the game are simply fantastic; particularly the meticulous and numerous environments within which you’ll do battle. Character animation is really smooth, with weapon effects being somewhat volatile. All of the modes in the game have something to offer, including breathtaking cinematics to accompany the main story.

Along with all this great fun, there are certainly some things that may hamper your enjoyment. Balancing between difficulties settings can be a little problematic – where one setting is far too simple, with the next step being far too difficult. Beyond this, you may also find some elements of the AI to be a little off, as it could sometimes do things that make you wonder.

Even with a few minor flaws, this is an excellent XBOX Live experience. Online gaming is where the game really shines. Even though it’s by no means a Halo killer, it’s in every way a fantastic alternative to those who are ready for something a little different. With hundreds of possibilities for arenas, rule sets, and character options, you’ll be busy for quite a while. When it comes to your broken trigger fingers however – that’s something you’ll have to figure out for yourself!

- TopXboxGames.com