Editing Unreal (1998 video game) (section)

== Reception ==
===Sales===
In the United States, ''Unreal'' debuted in third place on [[PC Data]]'s computer game sales chart for the week ending May 23, 1998, at an average retail price (ARP) of $50.<ref name=week1>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406185544/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/061/pcdata_weekly_numbers_may13.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/061/pcdata_weekly_numbers_may13.html | title=The top 10 titles for the week of May 17 | date=June 3, 1998 | author=Ocampo, Jason | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref> It climbed to first place the following week, while its ARP dropped to $40.<ref name=week2>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406150910/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/130/pcdata_weekly.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/130/pcdata_weekly.html | title=The top 10 titles for the week of May 24 | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=June 12, 1998 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Finishing May as the country's second-highest computer game seller of the month, behind ''[[StarCraft (video game)|StarCraft]]'',<ref name=may1998>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502204635/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/145/pc_data_may.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/145/pc_data_may.html | title=''StarCraft'' tops monthly PC game chart ... again | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=June 18, 1998 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=May 2, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Unreal'' proceeded to alternate with ''StarCraft'' between positions 1 and 2 on the weekly charts through the May 31 – June 27 period.<ref name=week3>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406152844/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/142/pcdata_numbers.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/142/pcdata_numbers.html | title=The top 10 titles for the week of May 31 | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=June 17, 1998 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=week4>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050515014130/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/157/pcdata_for_june7.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/012/157/pcdata_for_june7.html | title=The top 10 titles for the week of June 7 | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=June 23, 1998 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=May 15, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=week5>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406150922/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/037/pcdata_june21.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/037/pcdata_june21.html | title=The battle between ''StarCraft'' and ''Unreal'' for No. 1 continues | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=July 9, 1998 | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Jason Ocampo of ''[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]'' characterized the games' competition for first place as a "tug-of-war".<ref name=week5 /> ''Unreal'' ultimately held at #2 behind ''StarCraft'' on the monthly chart for June as a whole,<ref name=cdmag5>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502205001/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/013/083/pc_data_june.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/083/pc_data_june.html | title=''StarCraft'' scores a hat trick with its third month at No. 1 | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=July 21, 1998 | archive-date=May 2, 2005 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all}}</ref> and became the United States' 15th-best-selling computer game of 1998's first half.<ref name=second6>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406165646/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/013/172/pc_data_first_half_1998.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/172/pc_data_first_half_1998.html | title=Sales rankings for the first six months of 1998 | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=August 17, 1998 | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all}}</ref>

''Unreal'' maintained a position in PC Data's weekly top 10 from June 28 through August 1.<ref name=jul5-11>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406150934/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/095/pc_data_july5.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/095/pc_data_july5.html | title=''Myst'' drops off the weekly chart | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=July 22, 1998 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=jul19-25>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406152859/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/137/pc_data_july19.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/137/pc_data_july19.html | title=The return of ''Myst'' | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=August 4, 1998 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=aug1>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050502205005/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/163/pc_data_aug1.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/163/pc_data_aug1.html | title=The return of ''Riven'' | date=August 13, 1998 | author=Mayer, Robert | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=May 2, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref> It continued its streak at second place for July overall,<ref name=jul1998>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406150058/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/172/pc_data_july.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/013/172/pc_data_july.html | title=''SWAT 2'' debuts at No. 5 | date=August 18, 1998 | author=Ocampo, Jason | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | url-status=dead}}</ref> and totaled sales in excess of 120,000 copies in the United States by the end of that month, according to PC Data. ''[[IGN]]'' described this performance as "a huge hit".<ref name=120k>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000411175344/http://pc.ign.com:80/news/4686.html | url=http://pc.ign.com:80/news/4686.html | title=''Unreal'' to Get TV Push | date=September 3, 1998 | work=[[IGN]] | author=IGN Staff | archive-date=April 11, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=May 24, 2018 | df=mdy-all}}</ref> In early August, [[GT Interactive]] reported that global sales of ''Unreal'' had topped 500,000 copies, which contributed to growth at the publisher.<ref name=500k>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000305152346/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_08/05_gtvg/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_08/05_gtvg/index.html | title=GT Numbers Strong | author=Staff | date=August 5, 1998 | work=[[GameSpot]] | archive-date=March 5, 2000 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The game went on to appear in PC Data's weekly top 10 from August 2 through the week ending September 12, when it fell to #10,<ref name=aug9>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050208051231/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/014/009/pc_data_august9.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/014/009/pc_data_august9.html | title=Deer Hunter knocks ''StarCraft'' out of No. 1 | author=Ocampo, Jason | date=August 27, 1998 | archive-date=February 8, 2005 | url-status=dead | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]}}</ref><ref name=aug23>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050515014134/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/014/065/pc_data_august23.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/014/065/pc_data_august23.html | title=''Diablo'' takes the No. 1 position | author=Ocampo, Jason | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Game Strategy Plus]] | date=September 10, 1998 | archive-date=May 15, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=aug30>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407232421/http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/014/095/pc_data_sept18.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/014/095/pc_data_sept18.html | title=PC Data for August 30 - September 5 | author=Hulsey, Joel | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | date=September 18, 1998 | archive-date=April 7, 2005 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=sep6>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000622090418/http://pc.ign.com:80/news/5010.html | url=http://pc.ign.com:80/news/5010.html | title=Best Selling PC Games | date=September 25, 1998 | author=Staff | work=[[IGN]] | archive-date=June 22, 2000 | url-status=dead}}</ref> and in the monthly top 10 for both August and September.<ref name=aug1998>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817182653/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-2128,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com:80/News/Item/0,3,0-2128,00.html | title=August's PC Best-Sellers | author=GamerX | work=[[CNET|CNET Gamecenter]] | date=September 25, 1998 | archive-date=August 17, 2000 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=gamespotsales4>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000309200418/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_10/27_pcdata/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/98_10/27_pcdata/index.html | title=PC Data Hit List for September | date=October 27, 1998 | author=Staff | work=[[GameSpot]] | archive-date=March 9, 2000 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all}}</ref> After falling to 19th place for October in total, it exited the monthly top 20.<ref name=gamespotsales5>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000411063347/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/98_11/13_pc_deer/index.html | url=http://headline.gamespot.com:80/news/98_11/13_pc_deer/index.html | title=Top-Selling PC Games for October | date=November 13, 1998 | archive-date=April 11, 2000 | author=Feldman, Curt | work=[[GameSpot]] | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=nov1998>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406162520/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/016/025/pc_data_november.html | url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/016/025/pc_data_november.html | title=November Belongs to ''Deer Hunter 2 3D'' | date=December 13, 1998 | author=Mayer, Robert | work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] | archive-date=April 6, 2005 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all}}</ref> Ultimately, PC Data declared ''Unreal'' the United States' 11th-best-selling computer game during the January–November 1998 period.<ref name=jannov>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000901031920/http://pc.ign.com/news/6269.html | url=http://pc.ign.com:80/news/6269.html | title=Best Selling Games of 1998 | date=January 4, 1999 | work=[[IGN]] | author=IGN Staff | archive-date=September 1, 2000 | url-status=dead | access-date=May 31, 2018 | df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In the United States, ''Unreal'' finished 1998 as the year's 13th-biggest computer game seller, with sales of 291,300 units and revenues of $10.96 million.<ref name=pcgsales2>{{cite journal | author=Staff | date=April 1999 | volume=6 | issue=4 | title=The Numbers Game | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | page=50}}</ref> Its ARP for the year was $38.<ref name=ign1998>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000613095857/http://pc.ign.com/news/6602.html | url=http://pc.ign.com:80/news/6602.html | title=The Year's Best-Selling Games | date=January 27, 1999 | author=IGN Staff | archive-date=June 13, 2000 | work=[[IGN]] | url-status=dead | access-date=July 2, 2018 | df=mdy-all}}</ref> According to ''[[GameDaily]]'', the game's sales in the United States reached 350,000 units by January 1999.<ref name=550k>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010425030744/http://www.gamedaily.com/features/ionstorm/index.html | url=http://www.gamedaily.com:80/features/ionstorm/index.html | title=GameDAILY Interviews ION Storm's John Romero | date=January 1999 | author=Staff | work=[[GameDaily]] | archive-date=April 25, 2001 | url-status=dead | access-date=July 18, 2018 | df=mdy-all}}</ref> Worldwide sales surpassed one million units by September 1999,<ref name=sep1999>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000529220953/http://meristation.com/noticias/1999/septiembre/19990922-2.htm | url=http://meristation.com/noticias/1999/septiembre/19990922-2.htm | title=Epic espera vender más de un millón de ''Unreal Tournament'' | author=Staff | date=September 22, 1999 | work=[[:es:MeriStation|MeriStation]] | language=es | archive-date=May 29, 2000 | url-status=dead}}</ref> and reached 1.5 million copies by November 2002.<ref name=globe>{{cite news | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806215358/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/made-in-canada-game-is-unreal-hit/article25697227/ | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/made-in-canada-game-is-unreal-hit/article25697227/ | title=Made-in-Canada game is ''Unreal'' hit | date=November 12, 2002 |author=Staff | work=[[The Globe and Mail]] | archive-date=August 6, 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical response===
{{Expand section|date=January 2015}}
{{Video game reviews
| title      = 
| subtitle   = 
<!--Formatting-->
| state      = <!--plain/collapsible-->
| align      = <!--left/right/none/inherit-->
<!-- Aggregators -->
| GR         = 89%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/39722-unreal/index.html |title=Unreal for PC |work=[[GameRankings]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=October 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012517/https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/39722-unreal/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| MC         = 
<!-- Reviewers -->
| Allgame    = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11634&tab=review|title=Unreal Review|work=[[AllGame]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|access-date=October 18, 2015|first=Michael|last=L. House|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114175237/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=11634&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| CVG        = 9/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8229|title=Unreal Review. Time to upgrade that P200 already ...|work=[[Computer and Video Games]]|date=August 15, 2001|access-date=September 14, 2015|first=Stephen|last=Fulljames|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110135246/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8229|archive-date=January 10, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Edge       = 8/10<ref name="edge review">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.edge-online.com/review/unreal-review/|title=Unreal Review|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|date=July 1, 1998|access-date=October 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531065456/http://www.edge-online.com/review/unreal-review/|archive-date=May 31, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GamePro  = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/814.shtml|title=Unreal Review|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group]]|date=January 1, 2000|access-date=September 14, 2015|first=Steve|last=Klett|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040620111314/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/814.shtml|archive-date=June 20, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GameRev    = B+<ref name="game revolution">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/unreal|title=Unreal Review, Right game, wrong time|publisher=[[Game Revolution]]|date=June 5, 2004|access-date=October 4, 2014|first=Tom|last=Anderson}}</ref>
| GSpot      = 8.4/10<ref name="gamespot review">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/unreal-review/1900-2531736/|title=Unreal Review, What gives Unreal an edge is how these differences, while not always positive, distinguish it from the legions of other 3D shooters|work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=June 10, 1998|access-date=October 4, 2014|first=Tahsin|last=Shamma}}</ref>
| IGN        = 9/10<ref name="ign review">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/08/13/unreal|title=Unreal Review, As corny as it sounds, the title says it all|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=August 12, 1998|access-date=October 4, 2014|first=Craig|last=Harris}}</ref>
| NGen = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="NG"/>
| PCGUK      = 94/100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1326|title=Unreal Review|work=[[PC Gamer]]|access-date=September 14, 2015|first=Steve|last=Owen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001202175300/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1326|archive-date=December 2, 2000|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| PCZone     = 9.3/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3610|title=Unreal Review|work=[[Computer and Video Games]]|date=August 13, 2001|access-date=September 14, 2015|author=PCZone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311204830/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3610|archive-date=March 11, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| XPlay      = 
<!-- Custom aggregators limit is set to 10 -->
| agg1      = 
| agg1Score = 
| agg2      = 
| agg2Score = 
<!-- Custom Reviewers limit is set to 10-->
| rev1       = ''[[Macworld]]''
| rev1Score  = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name=macworldreviews />
| rev2       = ''Thunderbolt''
| rev2Score  = 9/10<ref name="thunderbolt review">{{cite web|url=http://www.thunderboltgames.com/review/unreal|title=Unreal PC Review|publisher=Thunderbolt|date=March 19, 2003|access-date=October 4, 2014|first=Matt|last=Wadleigh|archive-date=October 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006112926/http://www.thunderboltgames.com/review/unreal|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!-- Awards No limit -->
| award1Pub  = 
| award1     = 
| award2Pub  = 
| award2     =
}}

''Unreal'' received positive reviews upon release.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |date=May 22, 1998 |title=Unreal is Real; GT Interactive, Epic MegaGames and Digital Extremes Ship the Year's most Eagerly Anticipated PC Game |journal=Business Wire |pages=1 |via=ProQuest}}{{verify source|date=March 2022}}</ref> Critics praised the graphics, gameplay, music, atmosphere, enemy behavior, and bot support in multiplayer mode, but criticized the lag-ridden online multiplayer mode.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Banjo-Kazooie', 'Unreal' make Worlds Come Alive |last1=Mowatt |first1=Todd |date=July 2, 1998 |work=USA Today |last2=Snider |first2=Mike |page=09D |last3=Ham |first3=Tom |via=ProQuest}}{{verify source|date=March 2022}}</ref>

''[[Macworld]]''{{'}}s Michael Gowan wrote: "This 3-D shoot-'em-up reinvigorates a tired genre. Plot, atmosphere, and exploration mix with ferocious enemies to make this game stand out from the pack".<ref name=macworldreviews>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010810062339/http://www.macworld.com/1999/02/games/games.html |url=http://www.macworld.com:80/1999/02/games/games.html |title=Name Your Game; From Goofy to Gory, ''Macworld'' Reviews 48 Ways to Play |author=Gowan, Michael |work=[[Macworld]] |date=February 1999 |archive-date=August 10, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' gave five stars out of five for the PC version of the game, and called it the best action game for the platform.<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine |title=Finals |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=44 |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |date=August 1998 |pages=84–85}}</ref> In 2018 ''[[CNET]]'' praised the game at its 20th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Free frags: Grab Unreal Gold for free today to celebrate the game's 20th anniversary |website=[[CNET]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531174518/https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/free-frags-grab-unreal-gold-for-free-today-to-celebrate-the-games-20th-anniversary/ |archive-date=2023-05-31 |url-status=live |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/free-frags-grab-unreal-gold-for-free-today-to-celebrate-the-games-20th-anniversary/}}</ref>

===Accolades===
In 1998, ''[[PC Gamer|PC Gamer US]]'' declared ''Unreal'' the 13th-best computer game ever released.<ref name=pcgtop50>{{cite journal | author=PC Gamer Staff | title=The 50 Best Games Ever | date=October 1998 | volume=5 | number=10 | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | pages=86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|+ List of awards and nominations
|-
! Year !! Publication !! Category !! Result !! class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
| rowspan="2" align="center" | 1998
| rowspan="1" | [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]]
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Action Game of the Year|PC Action Game of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name=aias1998>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104003923/http://www.interactive.org/iaa/finalists_pc.html |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/iaa/finalists_pc.html |title=Second Interactive Achievement Awards; Personal Computer |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |archive-date=November 4, 1999 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" | ''[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]''
| Action Game of the Year
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center;"| <ref name=cgmawards1998>{{cite web |author=Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050203235412/http://cdmag.com/articles/017/163/best_of_year.html |url=http://cdmag.com:80/articles/017/163/best_of_year.html |title=The Best of 1998 |date=February 11, 1999 |work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] |archive-date=February 3, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}