OverviewUnreal Tournament 2004 is a multiplayer-focused sci-fi fantasy first-person shooter developed by Epic Games, Digital Extremes, and Psyonix and published by Infogrames for the PC on March 16, 2004. It is a revamped version of Unreal Tournament 2003, altering many gameplay mechanics while adding a variety of new content (including new weapons, characters, arenas, and game modes). Its most notable feature is its new large-scale vehicular combat system (where some modes allow players to pilot numerous vehicles, including SUVs, tanks, aircraft, and spacecraft). It also revamps the game`s HUD and menu system. The game also features an enhanced single-player campaign with better team management, a dedicated currency system, and bonus post-match fights (or "Challenges"). The story is set in the year 2303, one year after the events of Unreal Tournament 2003 (where Gorge`s team of Juggernauts wins the 12th Liandri Grand Tournament, breaking the winning streak of fan-favorite Malcolm). Now in its 13th year, the tournament features a new assortment of teams including the Hellions (a band of human space pirates seeking respectability as mercenaries), Thunder Crash (a classic human mercenary team led by Malcolm), the Iron Skull (a team of Skaarj warriors sent by the Skaarj Empire), and The Corrupt (Liandri cyborgs led by Xan Kriegor, who hasn`t participated since his initial defeat). Some content from the original Unreal Tournament have returned (including some alien races, the Sniper Rifle, and the mission-based Assault game mode). Along with some bonus packs, the game also received a special re-release on September 21, 2004 (known as the Editors Choice Edition) featuring 11 community-made mods and a bonus disc with video tutorials on modding various aspects of the game. The ECE edition was digitally re-released by Epic (via Steam) on March 17, 2008 (without the community-developed mods and video tutorials and with the Mega Bonus Pack), and was included in a 2006 compilation (with the Gold edition of Unreal, the Game of the Year edition of Unreal Tournament, Unreal II: The Awakening, as Unreal Anthology)
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