Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section may be confusing or unclear for many readers.
Please improve the article or discuss this issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since December 2006.

This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.
You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available, as is general documentation.
This article has been tagged since January 2007.

Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict

Developer(s)	Epic Games
Publisher(s)	Midway Games
Designer(s)	Michael V. Capps
Engine	Unreal Engine 2.5 (Unreal Engine 2X)
Release date(s)	April 18, 2005
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: Mature (M)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Xbox
Media	DVD (1)

Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict is a first-/third-person shooter video game part of the Unreal series of games. It was developed by Epic Games and published by Midway Games for an April 18, 2005 release on the Xbox game console. It is a direct sequel to the 2002 game Unreal Championship, which itself is a console version of its PC counterpart Unreal Tournament 2003. Unreal Championship 2, to a much larger degree than its predecessor, is specifically designed from the ground up for the Xbox console and takes full advantage of the Xbox Live gaming arena.

[edit] Gameplay

In the game, a player can choose from fourteen different characters from the Unreal universe. Unreal Championship 2 features the new gametypes Overdose and Nali Slaughter, new weapons including the use of never-before seen melee weapons and more adrenaline moves than ever before.

Unreal Championship 2 attempts to combine the genres of first-person shooter with third-person fighting games like Soul Calibur. To aid in this new kind of combined gameplay, a secret character is included in the game from Mortal Kombat, another fighting game, specifically, the Thunder God Raiden.

The game's use of third-person perspective when using a melee weapon affords the player greater control in combat.

Players can use mêlée weapons only in third-person mode (choosing them will change the mode automatically), but can switch between first- and third-person mode on the fly while using guns. Many players learn to use guns in third person because of the extra sense of their surroundings it gives, as well as the ability to switch more easily to mêlée mode which can literally deflect bullets. In fact, one can redirect a rocket or sniper bullet directly back to the person who shot it.

The game also features, in addition to the classic multiplayer, a single player story spiced up with cut scenes, story specific missions, and tournament ladders for each character in the game. All of the characters have the adrenaline moves "Speed" and "Nimble", as well as race specific moves, started with a sequence similar to a combo. The player can modify gameplay with mutators such as "High Speed Mode", "Low Grav", "Vampire" and others.

[edit] Rosters

Throughout the Unreal Universe, several species, each with different skills come to fight in the Liandri matches. Characters have different fighting styles which can be classified as follows:

Light: High speed, little health, does little damage
Neutral: Between the other two classes
Heavy: Slow speed, much health, does much damage

ROSTER
RACE	AGE	TYPE	ADRENALINE ABILITIES
Nakhti
An ancient Egyptian race, the Nakhti are relatively new to the Tournament.
Anubis	29	Neutral	Repulse, Energy Burst, Heal, Warrior Spirit
Selket	26	Light	Repulse, Flash, Heal, Warrior Spirit
Sobek	51	Neutral	EMP, Repulse, Heal, Warrior Spirit
Apophis	24	Neutral	Repulse, Heal, Warrior Spirit, EMP
Humans
Malcolm	54	Neutral	Iron Spirit, Sentinel, Heal, Homing
Sapphire	39	Light	Ice burst, Iron Spirit, Heal, Homing
Necris
The Necris are the re-animated dead. Created using the rare chemical Nanoblack, the Necris have greater physical prowess than they had in life, at the cost of their humanity.
Brock	Undead	Neutral	Fear, Ethereal, Vampire, Wraith
Lauren	Undead	Light	Siphon, Ethereal, Vampire, Wraith
Juggernauts
The Juggernauts are immensely strong humans, capable of killing an opponent with their bare hands. They are utterly brutal and merciless in combat.
Arclite	41	Heavy	Unstoppable, Concussion, Heal, Berserk
Gorge	39	Heavy	Smash, Unstoppable, Heal, Berserk
Skaarj
The Skaarj are an aggressive alien race with a profound taste for violence and slaughter.
Szalor	Unknown	Heavy	Blade Burst, Blade Shield, Regenerate, Predator
Torgr	Unknown	Neutral	Primal Screen, Blade Shield, Regenerate, Predator
Liandri
Liandri-produced bots, these machines are programmed to fight in the tournament and provide the most spectacular kills possible.
Devastation	0.5	Light	Head Turret, Cannibalize, Upgrade, Radar
Raptor	7	Heavy	Self Destruct, Cannibalize, Upgrade, Radar
Elder God
A special character from the Mortal Kombat universe, named Raiden. Raiden has been chosen as the special guest character for the Championship. Some of his skills are identical to those of Anubis; however, "Teleport" and "Stun Trap" abilities are unique.
Raiden	Ancient	Neutral	Teleport, Stun Trap, Heal, Warrior Spirit

[edit] Weapons

There are three types of ranged weapons. Energy weapons, powered by tarydium crystal, Explosive weapons, powered by explosive ammo, and a set of unique pistols. Different characters have his/her own unique weapon depending on their race. For example, a Nakhti will use a set of small dual pistols while Robots which are made by Liandri Corp. will use a Rivet Gun.

[edit] Melee

The melee weapons each have similar moves and a special ability that varies with the character when performing their specific 'Coup de Grace'. A melee weapon also has the ability to deflect projectiles approaching the wielder, and if timed correctly the projectile will reflect to the attacking character causing higher damage. It can also be used has a shield which uses energy.

The Melee weapons are:

Nakhti Staff: A staff used by the Nahkti for centuries, updated with micropulse generators that keeps its nano-regenerated alloy edge as sharp as the limits of quantum physics allow. Used primarily by Anubis.
Legion Sword: A heavy sword carried by members of the Nahkti Imperial Legion, including Sobek. Vibroshock motors concealed in the handle are able to stun an opponent helpless.
Nakhti Swords: A pair of swords popular among the Nakhti, using the same technology as that of the Nahkti Staff. Only available to Selket.
Thunder Staff: Raiden's main weapon.
Nakhti Axe: A heavy metal axe used by Apophis.
Liandri Hammers: Robotic arms used to crush rocks (and possibly skulls) by Liandri Heavy Mining bots. Used by Corrosion, Raptor, and Szygzy.
Necris Swords: Dual swords coated with Necris nanoblack. Used by Lilith, Lauren, and Calypso.
Molten Kama: Short-bladed knives that channels focused plasma energy recently designed by Liandri Corporation. Wielded by Devastation.
Dark Staff: A staff coated with nanoblack. Used by Judas and Brock.
Juggernaut Fists: The hands of a Juggernaut, used by Gorge, Arclite, and Jackhammer.
Cryo Swords: A pair of swords that utilizes the same technology used in Cryo Staffs used by Sapphire.
Skaarj Claws: The traditional Skaarj mêlée weapon, Skaarj Claws can wound enemies with poison. Can be easily identified by the signature green energy glow. Used by Torgr, Szalor, Korig, Karrg, and Garek.
Cryo Staff: A staff that freezes enemies solid by dropping their body temperature with every hit landed. Only available to Malcolm.

[edit] Pistols

Pistol weapons can be used as normal projectile weapons, but can also freeze an opponent in alternative-fire mode.

Nakhti Scorpions: Rapid-fire energy pistols loosely based on TCA dispersion pistol design. Alternate fire is an energy charge that shocks and immobilizes opponents.
Skaarj Razik: The dreaded Skaarj blades are just as dangerous at a distance, firing a pair of deadly laser-charged poison projectiles. Alternate fire is a debilitating poison that slows opponents.
Liandri Rivet Guns: Modified construction tools that rapid fires red-hot rivets with quick reloads. Alternate fire is a super heated spike that stakes opponents to arena walls.
Dual Enforcers: A simple pair of pistols, these weapons may be used by Human, Juggernaut or Necris fighters. The Enforcers' alternative-fire mode will infect and damage the target over time for a Necris fighter but if used agaist a Necris fighter will recharge their health, while it simply fires faster when used by a Juggernaut. Used by a Human, it will freeze target temporarily.
Lightning Bolts : A unique weapon available only to Raiden that fires lightning bolts and may shock an opponent when hit. Appearance-wise, they resemble Nahkti Scorpions made out of electricity.

[edit] Energy weapons

Sniper Rifle: Commonly known as the Axon Research Long-range Target Interdiction Rifle, this is an advanced variant of the sniper rifle, firing a three-round burst with each shot. Alternative-fire mode activates the scope and kills with headshot.
ASMD Shock Rifle: A distinctive weapon of the ASMD series , the Shock Rifle is an old crowd favorite that fires a hitscan laser beam in primary fire while the alternate fire fires a slow-moving projectile that can freeze the target. The shock cores (alternate fire) can be ignited by the primary fire, creating a very damaging explosion (called a Shock Combo). An evolution on the Rifle now causes shock cores to be frozen in mid-air to create airborne mines that vanish after about 4-5 seconds. This can be used to create complex traps for unsuspecting victims or even larger Shock Combos.
GES Bio Rifle: Another stock weapon of the series, the Bio Rifle rapidly fires dozens of small blobs of deadly green goo (a byproduct obtained from the processing of Tarydium crystals). Alternate-fire loads many small globs into the chamber creating a large glob that will kill any opponent instantly upon a direct hit.
Stinger: Originally a Liandri Corporation mining tool, the Stinger is an energy-based minigun that fires razor sharp Tarydium crystal shards at a very high rate of fire. If the player keeps the trigger pulled, then it goes into overdrive, doing more damage. The alternate fire launches larger, slower-moving shards that homes in on opponents if lock is active.

[edit] Explosives

Rocket Launcher: A powerful projectile weapon, the new Tri-Barrel Rocket Launcher fires up to three rockets that consists of two missiles locked together at any given time, both of which may lock onto a single target. A third firing mode fires six rockets in a "drunken" firing pattern.
Flak Cannon: A shotgun on steroids. This squat, huge-bore weapon fires a hail of molten metal shards capable of gibbing virtually any foe at close range. Particles of shot can also be deflected by narrowed walls.
Grenade Launcher: A relatively new addition to the series, the Grenade Launcher is a standard canister gun that flicks small explosive ordnance a short range. These rounds may be detonated at any time by the player if in alternative fire mode. Grenades can also be triggered in mid-air but this is less effective as they are not fully charged yet.
Ripjack: A descendant of the Ripper and Razorjack weapons of previous Tournaments, the Ripjack fires a razor-thin circular sawblade at the target, which ricochets around the environment and decapitates an opponent with a direct shot to the neck. Additionally, the blades explode on impact when fired in alternative-fire mode, a result from rapidly spinning the blade to increase its overall kinetic energy. A third firing mode allows the player to charge up a razor blade and stick it to a hard surface. It then acts as a proximity mine, exploding whenever it detects a player nearby. It doesn't distinguish between friend or foe however.

[edit] Arena tools

[edit] Pickups / Power ups

Pickups replace those things normally expended during the course of play. To take a pickup just walk into it. Some Pickups will be ignored if they aren't needed. After a pickup has been taken, it will be replaced by game officials via teleporter.

Health: Nanosurgeon packs that work for biological, mechanical, and nanoblack competitors. These appear in small and medium varieties.
Adrenaline: Tasty polysaccharide adenosine triphosphate provides all the extra energy combatants need for their special abilities.
Energy Ammo: Tarydium energy crystals used in Sniper Rifles, Shock Rifles, Bio Rifles, and Stingers.
Explosive Ammo: Semi-stable percussex explosive used in Rocket Launchers, Flack Cannons, Grenade Launchers. and Ripjacks.
Super Health: Boosts the combatant's health to the maximum.
Super Adrenaline: Gives the combatant a full recharge of adrenaline.
Damage Amplifier: It wouldn't be a Liandri tournament without the damage amplifier, also know as the UDamage by spectators. The UDamage changes the colour of weapons and projectiles to purple, and makes a loud noise with every shot. When you notice these, run.
Invisibility: Makes the combatant nearly invisible. A favourite of sneaky assassins and snipers everywhere. Note, some adrenaline abilities will counter this effect.

[edit] Arena Features

Liandri tournament arenas are filled with special features that combatants must recognize in order to survive.

Teleporters: Teleporters provide instant one-way transportation to a different part of the arena.
Overdose ball & Spawn Point: After an Overdose ball is delivered, or the ball carrier is killed, the ball will be put out of play for a short time. The ball will be put back in play at one of the spawn points, chosen randomly.
Overdose Delivery Point: Each Overdose arena has a gold and a white delivery point. Maximum points are gained by delivering a ball to the goal with the same colour.
Flag & Base: In Capture the Flag, competitors must steal the enemy's flag and return it to their own base.
Chimneys: Many levels have areas which are custom-made for climbing by rapid wall dodging. Look for these chimneys, which aren't always obvious, but will often give a tactical advantage or a quick path to a power up.
Manual Jump Pads: Manual jump pads launch a competitor upwards, but only if the jump while standing on it.
Jump pads: Jump pads launch combatants upwards to another level or area of the arena. Direction in which the competitor is launched is predetermined.

[edit] Controls

Just as with all other games in the series, Unreal Championship 2 is primarily a first-person shooter. However, the game introduces a new third-person view, allowing the player to control their player from a third-person perspective allowing for a much better view of their environment.

The game's major new feature is its melee combat system. While armed with a melee weapon, the player's viewpoint switches to the aforementioned third-person view, allowing the players a much wider field of vision with which to track their opponents. Furthermore, the player may use a range of special attacks in melee mode:

Coup de Grace being performed by Anubis.

Pounce Attack: This attack allows a character to pounce on their target with great force. It should be noted that this attack requires adrenaline to use.

Heavy Attack: Launches a more devastating version of the player's normal melee attack. However, the force of this strike is so great that the player is left momentarily unbalanced and slow, allowing the enemy to fight back easily for a few moments.
Coup de Grace: When attacking a frozen opponent, the player may switch to melee mode to unleash a Coup de Grace attack. The game will display a brief sequence on the screen that must be repeated by the player, then will show a cutscene of the player performing a devastating finishing move against their opponent. The cutscene will not play to people who are not in the situation. Additionally, each character has a set series of button/control stick presses (different for each character) that will always do the Coup de Grace move when their opponent is frozen and locked on to, without following the on-screen instructions. Performing this "special" Coup de Grace move will not have the announcer announce the move as a Coup de Grace, and if the player has in-game text messages turned on then the game will inform those with them on that the player killed another player "with style."
Deflect & Shielding: Deflect allows the player to deflect projectiles and bullets, if timed correctly, not only deflecting the rounds but even returning the rounds in the direction of the player that fired them. Shielding is every effective, it protects the player from taking damage from explosive, energy weapons, melee, pounce attacks and pistols. Note that this also consumes some energy from the energy pistols.
Dash/Charge: Dashing allows the player to move at a greatly increased speed, even damaging an opponent when used correctly.
Wall Jump: While wall jumping is not new to the Unreal Tournament series of games (of which the Championship games fall under), Unreal Championship 2 does allow for many more players to partake in the ability to use walls as a means to do outrageous looking jumps and/or get to harder to reach areas due to the option to play in a third person perspective.

[edit] Changes from Unreal Tournament 2004

[edit] Additions

Third-person view.
Melee weapons.
A melee combat system, allowing for powerup attacks such as shielding/deflection and Coup de Grace strikes.
Character-specific Adrenaline combos.
Overdose and Nali Slaughter game modes.
Mixture of Mortal Kombat theme and content.

[edit] Changes

Modified Adrenaline system.
Players may only carry three weapons at a time.
Players select their weapons prior to the beginning of a match.
Universal ammo for weapon types (all energy weapons use the same ammo, all explosive weapons use the same ammo).

[edit] Gametypes

The game features a similar multiplayer mode to other Unreal titles and additions in the series, allowing players to compete over Xbox Live, across a Local Area Network or in splitscreen mode.

Nali Slaughter: Invented by the Skaarj, this game simply involves the players slaughtering as many Nali as they can for points.
Overdose: An enhanced version of Bombing Run, using 2 sets of coloured ball white and gold. A player who holds the ball for a certain amount of time will be rewarded with an increase in weapon power, speed and will also become invisible for a short period of time upon reaching the goal.
Survival: A 1 person vs 1 person deathmatch, in which the losing player of each round must wait in line with other players to return to the fight, while the winner remains. The winner is the first player to reach a predetermined score.
Deathmatch
Team Deathmatch
Capture the Flag

[edit] Ascension Rites

Ascension Rites is a single player campaign mode for Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, in which combatants of many races and types take part in the Grand Tournament, sponsored by Liandri Corporation. In the particular game year featured, the Grand Tournament is held in concert with the Nakhti Ascension rites. Ascension Rites take place on the Nakhti homeworld, where the strongest fighter will be crowned Emperor. The main character is Anubis, and players will only be able to use Anubis throughout the single player campaign mode.

Anubis is featured in the Ascension Rites storyline as the main character. Anubis ran away from an older tournament taking place a number of years ago, and also abandoned the woman he was to marry, Selket. For ten years, he has served and trained in an isolated military outpost. Now he returns to the capital and to the Grand Tournament. He had no choice but to participate on the Liandri tournament, because Selket was to be made emperor if she wins the Ascension Rites; her family only wants the Emperor's scepter but not the duty and responsibility of the throne.

[edit] Tournament

Tournament mode is just like Ascension Rites, but without videos or cutscenes. This mode allows the player use any character, provided that it has been unlocked by succeeding with another character in previous Tournaments. The tournament storyline takes place after the Acsension Rites.

[edit] Challenges

Challenges take place in between the tournament, inviting the player to take part in more difficult games than are otherwise available. The character the player can choose are already decided, this is the only option to unlock Raiden.

[edit] Awards

As in other Unreal titles, players are rewarded for performing certain features in each round. Awards like for surviving for a period of time and killing multiple enemies at once.

[edit] Special Ratings

Cavalier: Achieving 5 kills using melee weapons.
Samurai: Achieving 10 kills using melee weapons.
Rejected: Killing an enemy by deflecting a shot back (in melee mode).
Combo: Rejecting a Necris freeze attack back at the player of the Necris, or purposefully shooting a Necris with a charged up Necris shot (it gives Necris characters health).
Flawless: Winning a round without a single death or defeat.
First Blood: First player in a match to make a kill.
Headshot: Fragging a player by taking off his/her head.
Brain Surgeon: Achieving 7+ Head Shots.
Interception: Freezing an opponent in Overdose in order to steal the ball.
Jumpy Bitch: Awarded while killing an opponent through excessive jumping.
Smack Down: Reflecting an opponent's charged adrenaline fueled melee attack.
Wasted: Missing an opponent with a charged melee attack, or firing a poison Skaarj claw at another Skaarj.

[edit] Spree Ratings and Multiple Kill Ratings

As in other Unreal Tournament games, the player is awarded a Spree Rating for making a certain number of kills without dying. This feature was notably absent from the first Unreal Championship game on the Xbox.

Killing Spree: 5 kills.
Rampage: 10 kills.
Massacre: 15 kills.
Dominating: 20 kills.
Unstoppable: 25 kills.
Godlike: 30+ kills.

Furthermore, the player is awarded a Multiple Kill Rating if they kill a certain number of enemies within the space of just a few seconds. Each successive kill resets the timer needed for continuing the chain. Unreal Championship also had Multiple Kill Ratings awarded, but stopped at the same rating for only five kills (Monster Kill in that game), repeating the rating award for every kill beyond the fifth as the same award.

Double Kill : 2 kills.
Multikill : 3 kills.
Mega Kill : 4 kills.
Monster Kill: 5 kills.
Ultra Kill : 6 kills.
Unholy : 7 kills.
Impossible : 8 kills.
Unpossible : 9 or more kills (continuously announces "Unpossible!" for the ninth and subsequent kills done in the allotted time).

[edit] Weapon Awards

Getting a certain number of kills with a specific weapon will earn the player Weapon Awards.

Disc Jockey: 10 kills with Ripjack.
Eight Ball: 8 direct hits with Rocket Launcher.
Rocket Scientist: 20 kills with Rocket Launcher.
Biohazard: 7 kills with Bio-Rifle, or 5 kills using the Bio-Rilfe's alternate-fire.
Goop God: 15 kills with Bio-Rifle.
Blue Streak: 10 kills with Stinger.
Shock Therapist: 10 kills with Shock Rifle.
Flak Monkey: 10 kills with Flak Cannon.
Landmine: 5 kills with Grenade Launcher's alternate-fire.
Sharp Shooter: 5+ kills with the Sniper Rifle in a match with the instagib mutater.

[edit] Critics

Critics of the game have pointed out that it suffers from many common imbalances found in other first-person shooters, such as the ability of players to commit suicide (and simultaneously kill their opponent) by launching a rocket at point-blank range. Furthermore, the game suffers from many other perceived problems in gameplay that relate to its unique features, such as:

The inability for a player to protect themselves from rockets fired at the environment around them, since only shots fired directly at the player can be deflected.
Players are able to abuse the game's powerful melee system to aggravate others.
Certain characters in the game have much greater melee ability than others, seemingly unbalancing them significantly at first glance. Although this is countered by the game's character system. Strong, hard hitting melee characters are also slower and less nimble than the (physically) weakest characters, who happen to be the most agile, and quick characters in the game. Those characters with balanced stats fall in the middle on strength, agility, and health.
Locked-on shots are inordinately difficult to avoid, making weapons with the ability to lock to their target very difficult to overcome. - An issue also very prevalent in the third PC game of the series, Unreal Tournament 2004
Unlike the Unreal Tournament series, you have to pick one explosive weapon and one energy weapon that you use throughout that whole level.

[edit] Notes & Trivia

The game's Coup de Grace move is a reference to the Fatality move in Mortal Kombat.
The game refers to gaming culture in its use of the word "n00b".
The player may choose between the normal Unreal announcer and Mortal Kombat's announcer Shao Kahn.
One of Raiden's taunts is "You fight like Johnny Cage!"