History YMMV / UnrealI

* OnceOriginalNowOverdone: Though still considered a very important game for both its graphics and what it brought to the table gameplay-wise (bigger levels, focus on SceneryPorn and diegetic narrative), many find the game has not aged anywhere near as gracefully as other big PC FPS games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Quake|I}}'', or even its own sequel, ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament''. The enemy variety is lacking, the game tends to not give you enough ammo, and the level design deteriorates over time with the game becoming very fond of throwing too many powerful enemies at you at a time (made worse by the lacking ammo supply) and making the levels either too wide-open or confusingly maze-like.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: [[OnceOriginalNowOverdone Even if it is outdated nowadays]], ''Unreal'' is still the first game to use the titular [[MediaNotes/GameEngine Unreal Engine]], and it shows: the large set of colors, the characters' reflection on ice, the shadow effects and your weapons' fire lighting darkened rooms were incredible effects for a 3D game in 1998.

** ''Return to Na Pali'' introduces three new weapons: an assault rifle, a grenade launcher, and a rocket launcher. It's a wonder why these weapons were even introduced in the first place, considering that the original game already had a minigun and a rocket launcher (Eightball) with a grenade launcher as its second firing mode. Ironically, the Eightball also appears in ''RTNP'', making the new rocket launcher and grenade launcher weapons even more redundant to use. To wit:

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: [[OnceOriginalNowOverdone Even if it is outdated nowadays]], ''Unreal'' is still the first game to use the titular [[UsefulNotes/GameEngine Unreal Engine]], and it shows: the large set of colors, the characters' reflection on ice, the shadow effects and your weapons' fire lighting darkened rooms were incredible effects for a 3D game in 1998.

* OnceOriginalNowOverdone: Though still considered a very important game for both its graphics and what it brought to the table gameplay-wise (bigger levels, focus on SceneryPorn and diegetic narrative), many find the game has not aged anywhere near as gracefully as other big PC FPS games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'', or its own sequel, ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament''. The enemy variety is lacking, the game tends to not give you enough ammo, and the level design deteriorates over time with the game becoming very fond of throwing too many powerful enemies at you at a time (made worse by the lacking ammo supply) and making the levels either too wide-open or confusingly maze-like.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny Even if it is outdated nowadays]], ''Unreal'' is still the first game to use the titular [[UsefulNotes/GameEngine Unreal Engine]], and it shows: the large set of colors, the characters' reflection on ice, the shadow effects and your weapons' fire lighting darkened rooms were incredible effects for a 3D game in 1998.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Though still considered a very important game for both its graphics and what it brought to the table gameplay-wise (bigger levels, focus on SceneryPorn and diegetic narrative), many find the game has not aged anywhere near as gracefully as other big PC FPS games like ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'', or its own sequel, ''VideoGame/UnrealTournament''. The enemy variety is lacking, the game tends to not give you enough ammo, and the level design deteriorates over time with the game becoming very fond of throwing too many powerful enemies at you at a time (made worse by the lacking ammo supply) and making the levels either too wide-open or confusingly maze-like.

** The Stinger doesn't pack much of a hit, and its primary fire's rapid-fire projectile nature makes it consume lots of ammo in exchange for few damage. It later gets outclassed by the Flak Cannon and the Minigun respectively. In later games, it's replaced by the more useful Pulse Gun/Link Gun. Worst of all, the projectiles aren't {{Hitscan}} and will trigger the enemies auto-dodge.
** ''Return to Na Pali'' introduces three new weapons, an assault rifle, a grenade launcher, and a rocket launcher. It's a wonder why these weapons were even introduced in the first place, considering that the original game already had a minigun and a rocket launcher (Eightball) with a grenade launcher as its second firing mode. Ironically, the Eightball also appears in ''RTNP'', making the new rocket launcher and grenade launcher weapons even more redundant to use. To wit:
*** The new assault rifle, also known as the CAR rifle, is the better of the three new weapons, even if it is more or less the same as the minigun, only with a second firing mode that shoots out explosive rounds. However, the main fire lacks punch.

** The Stinger doesn't pack much of a hit, and its primary fire's rapid-fire projectile nature makes it consume lots of ammo in exchange for few damage. It later gets outclassed by the Flak Cannon and the Minigun respectively. In later games, it's replaced by the more useful Pulse Gun/Link Gun.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: [[SeinfeldIsUnfunny Even if it is outdated nowadays]], ''Unreal'' is still the first game to use the titular [[UsefulNotes/GameEngines Unreal Engine]], and it shows: the large set of colors, the characters' reflection on ice, the shadow effects and your weapons' fire lighting darkened rooms were incredible effects for a 3D game in 1998.

%%(ZCE)* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: This was the game that first showed the world the Unreal Engine, after all.

* SlowPacedBeginning: In the main game, the first level is about you trying to escape from a prison ship. There are no fightable enemies and no hazards (at best, there's an explosion that removes a bit of your health, but that's it) until after Prisoner 849 exits the ship... a minute after the beginning of the next level.

*** The grenade launcher is a pain in the ass to use because it doesn't aim properly and it feels underpowered compared to the Eightball's grenade launcher firing mode. The only saving grace is the alternate fire's "grenade as mine" mode.

** Finally, [[spoiler:The Source Antechamber is a (mostly) monster-free level set between the lightless, boss-infested Illumination and the FinalBoss battle]].

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: This was the game that first showed the world the Unreal Engine, after all.

* TearJerker: Some of the translator logs. One particularly poignant example is the story of some of the ISV Kran survivors that unfolds over several levels, starting in "The Trench". In "The Sunspire", you find a dead team who were looking for a captured crewmate. One of the dead crewmen appears to be her boyfriend. Later, at "Bluff Eversmoking", you find another dead search party. From Krall jailer logs lying about the monastery, you discover that she was being held there but the Nali helped her to escape, but in the end you find her [[spoiler:[[ShootTheShaggyDog in the bell tower, dead]]]].

* ScrappyWeapon: ''Return to Na Pali'' introduces three new weapons, an assault rifle, a grenade launcher, and a rocket launcher. It's questionable as to why these weapons were even introduced in the first place, considering that the original game already had a minigun and a rocket launcher (Eightball) that has a grenade launcher as a second firing mode. The new assault rifle, also known as the CAR rifle, is the better of the three new weapons, even if it is more or less the same as the minigun, only with a second firing mode that shoots out explosive rounds, while the new rocket launcher and grenade launcher weapons just flat out suck, the rocket launcher feels weaker and inferior to the Eightball rocket launcher and doesn't cause enough damage to enemies, while the grenade launcher is a pain in the ass to use because it doesn't aim properly and it feels underpowered compared tot he eightball's grenade launcher firing mode. Ironically, the Eightball weapon also appears in the expansion pack, making the new rocket launcher and grenade launcher weapons even more redundant to use.

See also:
* [[Awesome/UnrealI the Moment of Awesome page]]
* [[NightmareFuel/UnrealI the Nightmare Fuel page]]

* [[AwesomeMusic/{{Unreal}} the series-wide Awesome Music page]]
* [[ThatOneLevel/{{Unreal}} the series-wide That One Level page]]
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* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: If you [[OffWithHisHead decapitate]] a Skaarj with a [[BoomHeadshot Razorjack disc or Sniper Rifle bullet to the head]], the body will comically reach up and feel for its missing noggin before falling to the floor.

* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments: If you [[OffWithHisHead decapitate]] a Skaarj Trooper with a [[BoomHeadshot Razorjack disc or Sniper Rifle bullet to the head]], the body will comically reach up and feel for its missing noggin before falling to the floor.

* FunnyMoments: If you kill a Skaarj Trooper with a [[BoomHeadshot Razorjack disc or Sniper Rifle bullet to the head]], the body will comically reach up and feel for its missing noggin before falling to the floor.

* BreatherLevel: All of the outdoor levels from Sacred Passage onwards.

** Finally, Serpent Canyon comes right after the enemy-infested labyrinth that is Cellars at Dasa Pass. It's mostly an automatic stroll on a boat from the start to the end of a river within said canyon, so you can feel free to enjoy the sky of Na Pali at dawn. The few enemies present are way easier to deal with than what a weary player's gotten used to in Dasa, and even the music is low-key and relaxing. This is the final rest stop before the final push that starts at Nali Castle.

** Sacred Passage is set between the enemy-infested Rrajigar and Chizra levels. It has few enemies you can deal with no problem (Flies, Mantas and Devilfishes mostly).
** Harobed Village is set between the Chizra and Terraniux levels. You can even bypass the Nali village part if you're speedrunning or not interested in finding secrets, though you may miss getting a powerful weapon (the Flak Cannon) early by not going to the church.
** Noork's Elbow is set between the Terraniux and Vandora levels. You can either explore each area of the map or go straight to the bridge, then get into the Temple.
** The Trench is set between the Vandora and ISV levels. It's initially a subversion, as you get three Titans to battle, but you can completely avoid them and get straight onto the ship.
** After the tense ISV levels you end in Spire Village, again, with avoidable Titan battles. Skipping straight to the Sunspire may prevent you from getting some helpful weapons and items.
** Between the Na Pali Haven/Outpost levels and Bluff Eversmoking you get Velora Pass, a [[BreatherBoss "boss" battle]] which you can avoid by raising the bridge, luring the Stone Titan to it, and sink the bridge into the lava.
** Finally, Serpent Canyon comes right after the enemy-infested labyrinth that is Cellars at Dasa Pass. It's mostly an automatic stroll on a boat from the start to the end of a river within said canyon, so you can feel free to enjoy the sky of Na Pali at dawn. The few enemies present are way easier to deal with than what a weary player's gotten used to in Dasa, and even the music is low-key and relaxing.

* FunnyMoments: If you kill a Skaarj Trooper with a [[BoomHeadshot Razorjack disc or Sniper Rifle bullet to the head]], the body will comically reach up and feel for its missing head before falling to the floor.
* GameBreaker: The CAR rifle in the expansion: it's one of the few {{Hitscan}} weapons in the game, it can hold up to 400 ammo (twice as much as the minigun), and ammo for it is highly plentiful. It's best used against Skaarj and other enemies that can dodge, but is pretty useful against everything for the most part.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: Though still considered a very important game for both its graphics and what it brought to the table gameplaywise (bigger levels, alternate fires), many find the game has not aged anywhere near as gracefully as other big PC FPS games like VideoGame/{{Doom}}, VideoGame/{{Quake}}, or its own follow up VideoGame/UnrealTournament. The enemy variety is lacking, the game tends to not give you enough ammo, and the level design deteriorates overtime with the game becoming very fond of throwing too many powerful enemies at you at a time (made worse by the lacking ammo supply) and making the levels either too wide-open or confusingly maze-like. Many of these issues would be exasperated in its expansion ''Return to Na Pali''.

* ScrappyWeapon: ''Return to Na Pali'' introduces three new weapons, an assault rifle, a grenade launcher, and a rocket launcher. It's questionable as to why these weapons were even introduced in the first place, considering that the original game already had a minigun and a rocket launcher that has a grenade launcher as a second firing mode. The new assault rifle, also known as the CAR rifle, is pretty good to use, despite being overpowered, while the new rocket launcher and grenade launcher weapons just flat out suck, the rocket launcher feels weaker and inferior to the Eightball rocket launcher and doesn't cause enough damage to enemies, while the grenade launcher doesn't aim properly and is a pain in the ass to use. The Eightball weapon also appears in the expansion pack, making the new rocket launcher and grenade launcher even more redundant to use.