Customer Reviews

Ultima Underworld

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What was the first 3D, first-person shooter? A lot of people today would say Doom. A few who are a bit more in the know would tell you it was Wolfenstein 3D. Almost nobody would say anything about Ultima Underworld.

This game hit the shelves shortly before Wolfenstein 3D. (An early demo, in fact, was an inspiration for that game.) When you compare the two, you will be amazed. Although primitive by today's standards, the graphics and mapping are amazing. This game is superior in every way to its better known contemporary. You face a greater variety of foes, have more available weapons (and modes of attack) and have an opportunity to develop your skills as you progress. The game environment itself is vastly different, the walls are textured and curve (as opposed to flat and blocky). You can swim, run and jump. You can also interact with various items in a way not available in Wolfenstein.

Another major difference between the two is that this game has a storyline. Although it is only marginally related to the main series, you play the Avatar of Virtue, hero of the original Ultima series. You are on a quest to rescue a damsel in distress, save the world from an indestructible demon and prove your innocence in the process.

You explore a seven level dungeon and interact with a variety of characters---most of them friendly. In your quest you must collect several powerful magical artifacts, some made for you and some incidentally useful. The backstory is fascinating in itself, as you learn about how the Abyss was populated and the groups fractured into warring factions.

There are also a couple of amusing Easter eggs planted throughout the game, the most interesting of which caught me totally off guard.

Although the game engine and graphics are, as I said, primitive by today's standards, this game has worn well. Since it has a lot more to offer than point-and-shoot, let's-spray-some-blood, violence, aging graphics cannot undo the charm and interest of this game.

Try it out for yourself, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

This game came out after Ultima 6 and a demo Underworld was included in the boxes of Ultima VII(the black orignal box.) Since Wolfinstein got thier claws into it, they got the dibs, but this game was the first fully free roaming FPV(first person venture) I know Ultimas had FP heads up in "dungeons" before but nothing like this. DOOM and Wolfinstein and even QUAKE got all they know from this game. I had gotten my first(real) gaming PC in the summer of 1992 and had taken the inititive of also demand a Sound blaster Pro be installed(unorthurdox at the time) it was not, I then went to the mall and picked one up and slapped it in and the whole universe came to life. My friend also got a new PC with no sound(beyond IBM) he was as blown away as I first was when he heard it on my machine. That is how we veiwed it in 1992, unlike the spoiled brats of today who don't apreciate such splendor in there own time much less this. Another important note is that not only is this a free roaming adventure but also has layered character dialogue, plot and a backstory unmatched at the time in such a game or maybe even today(save Mass Effect/Dragon Age). It also has Role playing elements and equipment customizations, unlike DOOM or wolfinstine which does have metamorph but little else except if it moves, kill it! This game ties well to the past ultimas yet not in the way ultima's 1-6 do. You are referrenced as "the Avatar" must follow the virtues and Sir Calabrius(or however you spell it) is/was a great beleiver in the virtues and had set a scocitey(or some vain attempt) in the dungeon(Great Stygian Abyss) to follow them in a very challanging place, you find his principles and (not to give spoilers) must also find him. The basic plot is to rescue a demsil in distress, and what is wrong with some romantic sentiment if the plot thickens with more than just this as you delve the dungeon. Ariel, a daughter to Baron Almric is kidnapped by an evil twin brother and your ID as the "avatar" is compramised. Lord British's only role is with Baron Almric and his established settlement. Not directly related to you, the Avatar. You don't get credit for this mission. It is not referenced in the future Ultima sagas at all or the books. But that is why you are the Avatar, to solve it anyway!

This is the first real computer game I ever played, back around 1991, on my first PC, an IBM PS2. I still remember some moments in the game, when I would get a glimpse or orks in the darkness in the tunnel ahead, late at night, and chills would run up my spine. As another reviewer noted, this game is very varied in species of monsters, magic, and weapons. It came out when there was no "online cheats," indeed, no cheats at all, and it was very tough. Graphics were the best of the time, and so was gameplay. Not sure how it would look or play today, but it was a great game then.