Soooo.... I've been playing computer games since the old "Adventure" text game way back in 1982 on my work computer at the Pentagon (lol... I know for a fact I wasn't the only one because it was on my computer there when I arrived... I didn't put it there). I've played all.... err... most of the old school RPG's (Dragon War, Realms of Arkania, the old D&D games, etc. but for whatever reason.. I never dabbled in Ultima.

So I was wondering if before I start reading the manuals and getting any possible graph paper ready some folks out there could tell me why it's worth the effort OR if perhaps it's more of a "well you missed it in the 90's and now there are better alternatives.

Would love to hear from other old gamers like me about their thoughts on Ultima, it's positives and negatives and any other thoughts you would care to share.

Thank you for any responses. Really appreciated.

OFG

You really don't need graph paper for these games, for a few reasons:
* The overworlds and towns are all overhead view; only dungeons are ever 1st person.
* In 1-5, there are spells that can take you up or down levels in dungeons, negating the need to actually explore them.
* Furthermore, in 1, the only thing you ever have to do in a dungeon is to kill a specific random enemy spawn that appears on certain floors; no need to explore and map out the dungeons.
* In 2, you can ignore the dungeons entirely, as the one item you would need to get from the dungeon can be dropped by a certain enemy.
* In 3-5, there's a buyable item that will display a map of the current area; in a dungeon, you get a map of the current dungeon floor. Carry enough of these, and you don't need to make your own maps.
* (Note that dungeons get considerably more interesting in 4 with the introduction of dungeon rooms.)
* Ultima 5 is the last game in the (main) series that has first person dungeons; for the rest, it's all overhead or isometric views.

Anyway, I think the best games in the Ultima series to play are 4-6, which is when the series introduced a conversation system where you can type what you want to say, with Ultima 4 probably being the first CRPG with a morality system.

As for a specific rundown of the games in the series:
* 1 is rather primitive. It has some science fiction elements, and also has some unusual mechanics like how you don't have a max HP stat, and other strange things like rescuing princesses. Note that there's a mandatory real-time shooting minigame near the end.
* 2 is a bit like 1, with time travel and a world that resembles Earth. It's generally considered the worst of the series, at least out of all the early games.
* 3 introduces a party, and has combat on a separate screen. Also has XP levels that actually matter, as well as max HP and healing spells. First game in the series where 0 food *isn't* instant death. Also has the best class system in the series (though that's unfortunately not saying much).
* 4 has a much bigger world than previous games, and it has the conversation and morality systems I mentioned above. There's lots of items you need to find, as well as other things you need to learn, to the point where it's almost like an adventure game in that regard. There's also dungeon rooms, which act like encounters, except that there's a predefined layout and sometimes puzzles to solve to open the way forward. (The puzzles usually just consist of stepping on certain squares.) It does, unfortunately, introduce the need for reagents to cast even the most simple of spells. (One point of advice: When you start this game for the first time, avoid choosing the humble choice during the intro questionnaire; if you choose the humble choice 3 times, you will be in the worst class in the worst possible starting position, which I do not recommend if you're new to the game.)
* 5 is much darker in tone than 4. There's a lot of similarities, including re-use of the overworld map (with some changes, like there being roads), but also new additions, like a day-night cycle, NPCs that have schedules, and a second world map that's as big as the overworld. One significant downgrade is that the class system is now down to just 4 classes (one reserved for the main character), and the only real difference between them is how much MP they get. (Notje: Avoid the NES version of this entry; it's garbage.)
* 6 has a continuous to-scale overworld (which sometimes can be detrimental, as it can be difficult to walk from place to place, though the game does provide you with an item that lets you warp around). Another major difference is that the world has greater persistence; if you kill an NPC, the NPC will stay dead when you leave the town and come back. You cam pick up dropped items if you don't go too far, and if the item was present at the start of the game or is a quest item, even if you *do* go too far. Combat is no longer on a separate screen. Dungeons are no longer first person. This game does, however, introduce carrying capacity limits.
* 7 IMO ruined things by making combat real-time. Conversation is now just picking from a list, the inventory system is horrendous, and you have to manually feed your characters items from your inventory, forcing interaction with said horrendous inventory system.
* I haven't played 8 or 9, mainly because, unlike previous entries, they force your character to be male, but those two entries are generally considered to be among the worst in the series. (Although, for 9, much of this is due to the game having a lot of inconsistencies compared to past Ultima games, like the Avatar not knowing what a paladin is, or the appearance of a certain skull that had previously been destroyed, and such appearance isn't meant as a plot point.)

By the way, Ultima 4 is free on GOG.

I apologise in advance if this is completely not the sort of thing you're looking for, but I just can't not bring up Spoony and his Ultima Retrospective

I myself am too young to have played the Ultima games (I think I started my adventure with games around the time Ultima 8 was released), but that series of videos I find both hilarious and informative (though they are geared towards comedy first, definitely), and they were how I discovered Ultima. For better or worse I don't think you'll find someone with more passion for those games than Spoony. I have since tried playing Ultima 4 and Savage Worlds but didn't stick with either for long. I usually don't mind playing pretty old games, but those are a bit too archaic even for me. So, at least until I find the time and strength to give Ultima 7 a try, Spoony's famous series is all I can contribute.

I must warn though: Spoony is a depressing story. I would not recommend watching him if you're the type to be swayed by tragic burnout. He could also be hyperbolic (twas' the style at the time) and some of the humor in this series has not aged well.

I'm just recommending his Ultima videos, not not going back in time to follow the guys whole life story ;) I don't think his videos are any less fun now because of what happened later. And I think they mostly aged well, except for some of the music being removed for copyright reasons.

Also, Spoony does seem to be doing a bit better, showing up on the Conversations with Curtis show recently (hosted by the lead actor from Phantasmagoria 2) for an interview and to play some game together. Nothing much, it's not a come back, but a better place then I would have expected a while back.

If I'm going to watch a video about Ultima, I actually don't want there to be any music that *isn't* from the Ultima series.

Incidentally, there is some nice music in the Ultima series, though unfortunately said music is missing in the DOS versions until Ultima 6. (Also, some other versions of Ultima 5 have music issues; the Commodore 64/128 version has no music unless played on a Commodore 128, the Amiga version has one music track for the entire game, and the NES version has a different, rather poor and repetitive, music tract that plays for the entire game. Oh, and NES Ultima 3 and 4 have different music than their computer counterparts.)

If you are playing the GOG DOS versions, I recommend using Pix's Ultima Patcher. It's an utility that allows the user to install any available unnoficial patch for all Ultima games sold here (some important bug fixes included).
It has a simple and practical GUI that gives you information about each patch and the freedom to choose the ones you want to install.
https://www.pixsoriginadventures.co.uk/category/ultima-patcher/

Thanks, I wasn't aware of this. Very much appreciated, I'm gonna look into it.

Okay, so I've watched through Ultima V, and so I'm so curious now that I just have to ask...

What is this depressing story you speak of?

Basically, the poor lad lost his marbles due to burnout, a bad breakup, accusations, tensions in life, and the basic gist is that for a while he just kind drifted and grifted for a bit, nearly losing everything. I'm glad to hear he's still around but he should have gotten help from a professional back then.

And given what everyone who was associated with Channel Awesome/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses suffered though (see #changethechannel documents), it's a bit of a hell.

Cant comment as I havent played any of them
dont even know if they include their manuals/guides,
Reason to share to you this link where multiple Ultima guides figure:

drive -dot- google.com/drive/folders/1UyBR4U7R3vpiBn9YWLHcZHzykcde1Oin

Credit/source: xvertigox here
gog.com/forum/dig_the/the_dig_official_strategy_guide_for_download
Time ago when I was looking for help with The Dig...

An incidental topic:
The Dig was my second DOS vgame (Broken Sword the 1st)
played on Android tablet via ScummVM. Both nice gaming experiences
(the touch controls are well adapted)

Therefore, I adventured next to
-DOSBox vgames via Magic DosBox Free: BioMenace, Secret Agent...
-RPGMaker vgames via JoiPlay: Journey of The Scroll, RE/COUNT RE:VERSE,
Trick & Treat, Sweet Lily Dreams, The King's Request

They didnt last long to my taste. The show stoppers:
Magic DosBox Free: Emulated them all without issues.
but it limits the "collection" to one vgame at a time...
and you need to setup your on-screen buttons layout BY vgame...
plus some DOS settings from the past (sound, cdrom, memory, etc)

JoiPlay: Could not interpret Journey of The Scroll & RE/COUNT RE:VERSE
(maybe the voices were a problem?)
It was able with the no voiced vgames: Trick & Treat, Sweet Lily Dreams,
The King's Request
All those tests pointed out the high need to determine
the exact version of RPG Maker a vgame is made: 2000, 2003, XP, VX...
because plugins are needed...

Anyway, it was most about nostalgia & some self surprise/amazement factor
of running old vgames on a portable device... you know, lay on a sofa,
play somewhere outdoors, or next to the PC while looking for info...

You might want to fiddle a little with the mobile software & rig available
to spice your plan. Sometimes the joy of the vame is not only
the final destination but the whole trip

Good luck & I hope you enjoy those vgames
(Yes, your pre-research denotes you will)
I hope some day to catch up & give them a chance


PS: Sorry to ask, is the pentagon thing real?
If yes, I assume lots of incredible anecdotes :)

Yes. I worked at the Pentagon during Reagan's first term. (a little bit into the second term).

I worked in the basement (literally) in a vault, in a vault, in a vault (lol I swear that's true though I know how it sounds). It's not as "severe" (for lack of a better term) as it sounds. What it meant was I went through a vault, locked door requiring a password. Inside that very, very, very large area was another locked door "vault" into which I then entered. And in that smaller room (or vault) was another locked door which led to my area.

It was with HQ USAF Space Division (this was when all Space assets were under USAF, now there is a separate branch entitled Space Force). In that small room were 5 of us, using old Wang computers and on those, WHEN I GOT THERE (lol I swear I didn't put it there) were the old text game Adventure. I still remember going to into the cave and dying immediately because I didn't have the candle (or was it a lantern?) .

Yep, in 1982 in the basement of the Pentagon I played the text game Adventure. Erm... on my lunch breaks only though... "cough" "cough"

EDIT: Fun fact. Inside the room of us 5 was another locked door (with a password protected lock) the size of maybe a very large closet in which one person worked. So he worked in a vault, in a vault, in a vault, in a vault. lol

That sounds like the opening to Get Smart. That's awesome!

If it's the game I'm thinking of, that game is also known as Colossal Cave.

Believe it or not, that game got a remake recently:
https://www.gog.com/en/game/colossal_cave

Old school RPGer here, I played and loved Ultima along with Bard's Tale and Might & Magic, it was mainly those three , oh and Wasteland!, that consumed MANY hours of my time as a kid and teenager in front of a computer. I completed Ultimas I - IV and I was working on V when I started high school and computer games started taking up far less time replaced by sports and, praise the Lord finally, girls. LOL For many years if I found myself in a conversation about old games I always pointed to Ultima II as my favorite. I know others may not agree, but as a young kid I was blown away by the step up in scope from I to II. I mean, time travel, Pangea, the antagonist's apprentice from the first installment back for revenge in the second, stealing burgers and being chased by a "clown" - what wasn't to love as a D&D, crpg nerd??? LOL

Games and worlds like Ultima were fun and challenging, difficult (Ultima IV was a real struggle to adjust to the concept of morality and choices playing such a heavy role in a game), and helped to create and lock in place my love for fantasy and sci-fi that remain with me today. So yeah, they're old games, and easier to play, better looking games have come along for a long time since. But revisiting things that brought happiness to your younger self, or wanting to see what some of us old timers reminisce so fondly about, just like someone listening to their father or grandfather talk about their favorite football player, band, or move star from back in the day, my two cents is Ultima is a great example of a time long gone that's worth dusting off.

I came to GOG a few years ago to find games like Ultima from my youth and play them again on my modern PC and for very cheap! But I've also found a lot of other games I missed by straying away from games for a long time, so I try to bounce back and forth between playing the classics from my youth and more modern games that look much better, but still give me some of the same feeling of the old crpgs. I've re-played Akalabeth (aka Ultima 0) and Ultima I so far, as well as Might & Magic I - II. Before landing at GOG I had found the original Bard's Tale trilogy on an abandonware site and played all of those, and the first game I played on GOG was Bard's Tale IV which I enjoyed immensely!

Anyway, didn't mean to write so much, just got carried away by the trip down memory lane. If you do dive into Lord British's Lands, I hope you enjoy it!