Unreal Championship: Xbox Live Tactics 1

Unreal Championship is a game that looks deceptively easy. After all, it's a first-person shooter about blasting everything in sight, right? But everyone who has played in a 16-player Deathmatch arena knows that the simplicity is an illusion. There are a million ways to die in the Unreal Universe and nearly as many ways to frag someone. The following tips should help you hold your own online—but don't expect to be able to compete with the top players right away. Most of these chaps know each map like the back of their hand. But with these strategies locked and loaded in your rocket launcher, you should be able to show even the pros that you aren't anyone to treat lightly. It's time to start fragging!

Pop Those Pills!
Those adrenaline pills scattered throughout the levels aren't just a daily supplement. They actually help your cause. A lot of newbies who skipped over the offline tutorial will never know the secret of the adrenaline powerups. Agility, Berserk, Invisibility, and Regeneration modes are unlocked after you reach 100 adrenaline. Kills will boost your adrenaline meter, as will picking up those football-sized vitamins. After the meter reaches 100, press the thumbstick down + down + up + up to unlock Agility, and you'll move extra fast; up + up + up + up unlocks the Berserk mode, where you'll do double damage; press down + down + down + down to activate Regeneration, and you'll see your health skyrocket; and right + right + left + left unlocks the always popular Invisibility mode. Sound like just a minor detail? It's possible for Juggernauts with the Regeneration power-up to have 400 health! Chances are some newbies will have Metal Gear Solid 2 question marks "?" appear over their heads when you pull some of these moves. Invariably someone will say, "Wow, someone is invisible!" That's your cue to let the fragging begin.

Might As Well Jump—Jump!
For 90 percent of Unreal gamers, it's much harder to hit a target moving across the screen if that target is moving on the horizontal plane as well (that other 10 percent is freakishly good and can hit just about anything, jumping or no jumping). Gameplay parameters cut you a little bit of slack when aiming, but when your opponent is jumping around like a crazed mercenary gymnast on a trampoline, don't expect easy hits. Just be aware that smarter gamers will target where you are about to land, so make sure you fool them with a well-timed double jump or the underutilized wall jump.

Look Out for the Mutators!
Be discriminating when selecting your online matches. Not knowing the gameplay parameters can be a serious disadvantage, especially when everyone else is putting them to good use. Some of the mutators like the Vampire and Medic Link Gun options actually help you, so be sure to use them when they are turned on. Things like Big Head and Slow Motion Corpses won't help you, but it's good to know what you're getting into so that you don't freak out.

Mic Check … 1, 2, 3!
One of the most important things to do during team play is to use your headset. You know, that thing that goes over your ears and plugs into your controller? Yeah. Go ahead and use it. Not to taunt (although that can be fun, too), but to tell teammates exactly what you are doing, what they should be doing, and what the enemy is doing. It's easier to maintain radio silence, but the most successful teams I've been on have all used voice communication. Be informative; don't just say, "They've got our flag!" Instead say, "Groin_Injury666 has our flag and is leaving from the south entrance." That way your teammates know exactly who to look for and where to look for him.

Know Thyself
Whatever you do, don't settle for trying only one character online. The many different characters in Unreal have vastly different abilities, providing ample opportunity to complement your skills (or supplement your failings). Try out a few different character profiles online and see which ones work well for you. Pay attention to weapon affinities and character types when selecting a profile. Don't always base decisions on what character looks the coolest. That's not a winning strategy. Do you have trouble with precision aiming? Try choosing a character with an affinity for rocket launchers. When you start the game, you'll be equipped with that weapon upon respawning, thus eliminating the need to find one and saving precious seconds of frag time. Are you a good shot but have a hard time dodging attacks? Maybe the heavily armored Juggernauts who seem unfazed by even the harshest attacks are your style. Anubans absorb adrenaline better. Automatons are fast and jump high. It's all a matter of finding the right character to match your style. It might take some time, but it will be worth it in the long run.

The Great Escape
In team-based play, especially Capture the Flag, it's important to protect your home base. One way of ensuring that enemies don't get far is to know the escape routes. Throw a monkey wrench into the best laid escape plans by dropping a translocator on an elevator leading out of the base. The elevator will sense its presence and begin to go up and down indefinitely. This might be enough to delay an enemy for a few seconds—enough time for you or a team member to get back and chalk up a frag.

Beam Me Up, Scottie
Although there isn't a sniper rifle per se, there is the lighting gun, which has zooming capabilities. In team play it's perfectly acceptable to assume a defensive position in a great hiding spot and snipe players sprinting toward your home base. Use the translocator to find some really nasty hiding spots. Remember that just because that ledge is out of jumping range doesn't necessarily mean it's out of reach. Be cautious, however, because players will catch on to your game after a while and you might find yourself dodging a rocket attack.

The Weakest Link
Inevitably there are some players that are just extraordinarily good. In team play, know your role. If you can't hack it up front, maybe assume a defensive position and pick players off as they approach your base. Use that link gun as well. You'll be helping out your teammates by adding to their power, allowing them to frag the unfraggable. In solo play you don't have much of a choice—you'll have to play offense.Unreal relies much more on twitch gaming and skillful targeting, so make sure you are using every advantage you can get.