The first is a self-installing weapons mod, while the second is a total-conversion single-player add-on that transports gamers back to an alternative reality Wild West and replaces UT2004's futuristic plasma and energy weapons with Jules Verne-inspired Steam Guns and Autorevolvers.
Both mods dramatically alter UT2004's gameplay landscape with their new munitions and tactics, and if you're growing a little jaded with all that Star Trek weaponry, these unique add-ons could add weeks to your FC (fragging calendar).
Junk War v1.10 Umod (Unreal Tournament 2004)
Suppose you staged an Unreal Tournament and a bar fight broke out. That's the basic premise behind Junk War, the latest weapons mod from RuneStorm, creators of the popular UT2004 Ballistic Weapons Mod.
Supporting both single and multiplayer gameplay maps, Junk War adds 37 melee-style weapons to UT2004, as well as a number of defensive shields. This new arsenal includes pipe wrenches, screwdrivers, beer bottles, light bulbs, claw hammers, axes, hockey sticks, and a variety of other simple weapons and everyday bits of junk (although, for the life of me, I don't know how much damage you can expect to dole out with a fluorescent light tube). The self-installing Umod file activates as a mutator in the UT2004 set-up menu where players can use the new inventory as a supplement to the stock weapons or, better yet, restrict participants to just the junk weapons.
It's all pretty atavistic stuff. With the stock UT2004 weapons eliminated, you can no longer kill enemies from a distance, so most frags entail close-quarter combat with your opponent (you can throw some of these items at them, but once discarded, anyone can pick them up). Players can also shield themselves from an enemy's attack with their junk weapons, but things like the screwdriver make crappy blockers, while others -- like the light bulb -- are easily destroyed. You can't block all attacks, and while a hammer might fend off an enemy shank, it won't stop a heavy axe. For serious protection, you'll just have to pick up a proper shield and learn how to use it.
The melee combat premise demands a complete change of tactics and strategy, so if you're habitual cannon fodder for online UT2004 sharpshooters, maybe Junk War can give you a fighting chance.
