DX-455 on 25/10/2007 at 17:37
I recently came across my personal 'Holy Grail' of gaming, a DVD called Ultima collection containing EVERY Ultima game. Even has Underwold 1&2, Lord British's game considered to be Ultima, and the Worlds games, as well as any expansions. This runs flawlessly on Windows XP. The creator programmed this so that each game launched itself in a properly setup DOSbox/VDM sound/MoSlo config, so NO FIDDLIN' REQUIRED. I caught Hell trying to get my boxed versions run well or even at all.
Anyway, where should I start? I have always been eager to play Ultima VII and the 2 Underworld games (sue to Spector's involvement). Is that a bad idea? Starting there? Will I understand what's going on? The first few games have not aged all that well, are they 'must play' games? Thanks.
Matthew on 25/10/2007 at 17:45
Ultima IV, Quest of the Avatar, is really where the mythos kicks into high gear, so for the main series I would suggest starting there. As for the Underworlds, I think you could comfortably play those at any time, though it might be best to play UU2 after Ultima VII, Part I (The Black Gate).
The Worlds games come just after Ultima VI, it seems to me, in the Avatar's chronology, but again they're separate enough that it's really up to you.
Edit: to clarify, my suggested sequence would be IV, V, VI, Savage Empire, Martian Dreams, Underworld*, VII Part I, Underworld 2, VII Part 2, VII, IX.
*But could feasibly be played at any time after VI.
DX-455 on 25/10/2007 at 18:38
Awesome. Thanks for your quick response. It has been YEARS since I played an Ultima game. I have forgotten so much, that I could basically be called a relative newbie. I appreciate the suggestions. Will fire up U4 asap.
Lansing on 25/10/2007 at 22:15
Random thoughts...
Purely a personal opinion, but the underworld games were the ones that kick-started my Ultima experience and to leave them until after you've played 5 of the other Ultimas seems a little wrong.
As an alternative to Matthew's sequence, how about:
U5, Underworld 1, U6, U7 pt 1, Underworld 2, U7 pt 2, U8, U9
Ultima 1 should be played at some point - it's quick, fun although quite primative these days. However it's referenced in just about every other Ultima and should form part of the playing experience.
I personally wouldn't bother with U2 and U3 at all, and although U4 is useful for the principles behind the avatar, since they're hammered into you in just about every other game it's non-essential.
I found savage empire and martian dreams too tedious to complete, so I suggest you try them and come to your own conclusion.
JayDee on 25/10/2007 at 22:53
Ultima IV, V, VI and VII are alot of fun too play in order. This series would be one of few with multiple games set in the same world. Ultima IV is a good game to learn your way around Britannia, where the towns, shrines etc are, partly because that is part of the gameplay. Then, playing the rest, you feel like the Avatar who has been there before and knows his (or her) way around.
Also, I personally much prefer the Worlds of Ultima games to Ultima VI itself (same engine games.) Martian Dreams is my favourite, and is very story focused rather than combat or anything else. Also, I'm sure its another Spector game, and you can see plenty of things that were to be later used again in Serpent Isle (probally my all time favourite, and again, story focused.)
When you say all expansion, I'm guessing that would be official expansions? There are a number of fan upgrades (
http://reconstruction.voyd.net/index.php?event=project&typeKeyword=upgrades) here that bring the sound and graphics up a level or two. From upgrading the sound to the level of the Mac port, to bringing Ultima IV to a whopping 256 colour graphics.
Oh, and I'd recommend trying them all. If it's not so much fun, move onto the next. And read the manuals. I had the old collection, without manuals (just a crappy readme file) and missed out on things like magic. Sure I know most all the spells and reagents by heart now, but it made U4 impossible at the time.
DX-455 on 2/11/2007 at 08:56
Thanks for all the input. Yes, I am reading the various manuals now. Lot to learn!
RavynousHunter on 9/11/2007 at 17:52
Aah, always good to see a fellow Ultima fan! :cheeky:
Ive been playing Ultima since before I was in school (like 3yrs old), back on the old NES. Hey, that DVD sounds nifty, I'd love to play something like U4 again, god I missed it so much, as I've been land-locked into Exult and Pentagram for a long time now. Well... That and RunUO 1.0 RC1 under the Age of Shadows client, but thats neither here nor now.
Hope you get your old Ultima feet back, ya just cant beat the first CRPG series in existance. It was the first in so many categories its insane, Richard Garriott is a god, and its sad that there wont be any other Ultimas unless he buys EA outta the liscense.
Chuck on 18/11/2007 at 22:34
To me, Ultima V is the pinnacle. Day and night cylces, npc schedules, improved combat, graphics, a great story, lots of different characters to recruit, and a whole bunch more.
The view window is too small in Ultima VI, I could never get into that one. Gone were the 3d dungeons as well. Also. it seemed a little dumbed-down from previous Ultimas, with red text highlightedkey words in text, a smaller world and simpler world actions.
By Ultima 7, the combat was so bad, I gave up on Ultima for good.
JayDee on 20/11/2007 at 03:15
I thought the combat was bad from Ultima VI onwards. Martian Dreams and Serpent Isle especially I just ignore combat. Games are still fun, though.
