LADYDRAGON.COM - Atari's ``Unreal II: the Awakening'' to Hit Store Shelves in North America February 4

Thursday January 30, 2003

Atari's ``Unreal II: the Awakening'' to Hit Store Shelves in North America February 4; Highly Anticipated Follow-Up to Epic's 1998 Smash ``Unreal'' Redefines FPS Genre

Pre-Orders Underway Nationwide

The wait is over! "Unreal(R) II: The Awakening" for personal computer, the most anticipated shooter sequel of the last four years, is complete and will be available to gamers in North America on Feb. 4. Developed by Legend Entertainment (an Infogrames studio) in conjunction with Epic Games and published by Atari, the game incorporates the same absorbing story-driven gameplay, cunningly ferocious enemies and nail-biting tension that made the original title a landmark event and the top choice in action for millions of fans in PC gaming.

"`Unreal II: The Awakening' is the game that first person shooter fans have been hungering for over the last four years," said Jean-Philippe Agati, senior vice president and general manager of Infogrames' Los Angeles studio. "Legend and Epic have combined their amazing talents to create the perfect follow-up to what has become an institution in PC gaming -- `Unreal.' Like it's older brother, `Unreal II: The Awakening' will push the FPS genre to new heights, by bringing together all of the elements that made the original great and incorporating new gameplay innovations, weapons and technology."

In the game, players jump into the scarred combat boots of a grizzled lawman of the future to battle a torrent of bizarre alien creatures and hard-hitting enemy soldiers. The mission: win a brutal galactic race to collect powerful artifacts and stop a malevolent plot to awaken an ancient power. Dispatched to unique worlds with exotic new settings that range from stunningly realistic outdoor terrain to spine-chilling alien cities, archaeological dig sites and more, the player will face off with "Unreal's" legendary nemesis -- the fearsome Skaarj -- along with a host of all-new enemies, each hell-bent on eradicating the player and his compadres.

Designed to challenge both the hardcore `fragger' and welcome the first time FPSer, "Unreal II: The Awakening" can be played fast and furious by the adrenaline junky or slowly and strategically to ease newer players into the fray. Between sorties, the player returns to an orbiting ship to interact with crew members, research items acquired during missions and refresh the arsenal.

"Unreal II: The Awakening" uses next-generation Unreal technology created by Epic Games to deliver intense life-or-death action in the most breathtaking scenery and environments ever displayed in a computer game. The game boasts a hundred-fold increase in level geometry and a ten-fold increase in character polygons over the original "Unreal." The advanced particle system creates the illusion of blazing fire, drifting smoke and weather effects. Legend's groundbreaking dialogue system allows players to start and leave conversations, issue commands and respond to events.

"Unreal II: The Awakening" combines intense, pulse-pounding action with the magic of exploration and discovery as well as in-depth character interaction. Focusing on innovative gameplay, the game poses unique tactical challenges in each mission, including rescuing hostages, assaulting enemy fortresses, escorting civilians, stealth infiltration, defending outposts and more traditional search-and-destroy sorties.

Continuing in the footsteps of the groundbreaking original, "Unreal II: The Awakening" features a devastating and unique arsenal of 15 flesh-chewing instruments of destruction. Familiar alien-bashing favorites return, including the Rocket Launcher and Combat Assault Rifle, along with all new exotic alien variants, modified by your cantankerous ship's engineer, that complement the player's attacks with discharge effects that have to be seen to be believed.

Amateur level designers and mod makers will receive the most powerful game creation toolsets ever released to the public -- the same tools the masters used to make the game. The Unreal Editor, including the Unreal Editor's "Matinee" tool for making non-interactive cinematics, is included out of the box.

"Unreal II: The Awakening" for personal computer will be available at retail stores nationwide with an estimated retail price of $49.95 and an ESRB rating of "M" for Mature. Additional information about the game can be found online at www.unreal2.com,