mark@mrstve.UUCP (Mark Smith) (01/03/86)
In article <3891@ut-sally.UUCP>, bulko@ut-sally.UUCP (Bill Bulko) writes: > For example, I've heard that Wizardry and the > Ultima series are supposed to be different and good. Is this true? > (Any Wizardry/Ultima fans out there?) No Hitchhikers or Transylvania > replies, please. This review was originally intended as mail but it bounced back so fast it broke the time barrier. Threfore I am sending my comments via the net. These are my opinions alone, and I am relaying them only because Bill asks. So if you disagree with any or all of what I'm about to say, please don't flood my mailbox with hate mail. I'm having enough problems with E-mail as it is. Thank you... and now for the review... =-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-= Ultima and Wizardry are probably the 2 best adventure games ever made for a micro computer. I have all 4 Ultima's and all 3 Wizardry's. They are very well put together with a good story line, graphics, and general playablility. While I haven't conquored Ultima 4 or Wizardry 3 yet (I just go them), here is what they are like: Ultima 1: While written in BASIC and not very well structured at this point in the evolution of Ultima, it is a superb game. Excellent graphics and a space scenario with full Star Wars graphics, hyper- space, tie-fighter combat, etc. make this a real cool game. Ultima 2: Stepping up the scale, Ultima 2 provides a world which you can adventure in during 4 time periods, ranging from 19,000,000,000 BC to 2112 AD, complete with spaceships, KGB agents (who kick ass), and bi-planes to tool around the country side. When you do make it to outer-space, you find it to be structured like our own galaxy with all the planets. Using your trusty spacecraft, you can vist each planet which has a world map, castles, dungeons, alien cities, and full planetary adventures so you really are getting 13 games for the price of one. If you're wondering where I came up with that number, 9 Planets, 3 additional Time Periods on Earth, plus the mysterious Planet X, which is very well hidden and very crucial to the completion of the Quest. One planet even sports a computer camp complete with counselors, campfires, and a nasty cook. This game has several "glitches" which don't really ruin the game. In fact they can even help. One of these "glitches" is the ship cloning. I won't tell you how its done, but in one of my time periods, I have the ENTIRE oceans of the world covered from shore to shore with my fleet. Ultima 3: Another progressive step upwards. Ultima 3 uses the phases of the moon plus other astrological voodoo bullshit (pardon). Combat graphics and the animation have been improved 100% plus you can now run a party of characters. Of course this means you fight parties of monsters though. Ship to ship combat has been greatly improved and additional spells have been added. The only thing really wrong with this game is that to solve the puzzle you really need to find your cluesm hints, etc fomr outside sources. I would have never won the game if I hadn't read a "spoiler" in one of my computer journals. While the game is good, I think the clues should be accessible from within the game. Ultima 4: I haven't even got a good start on this one yet. I think they ran out of ideas for a plot and visual enhancments so they just got plain nasty when they made this. Ultima 4 relies mainly on you character's starting alignment. The ONLY way to actually win the game is if your character or characters have played the game to its ending AND have never strayed from their chosen alignment. This means if your character is good, and you steal, rape or pillage just once, quit and start over. Oh well. Maybe it gets better after I get into it more. I can let you know if you're interested, but the first 3 are excellent and should take you at least 6 months to a year to complete them all. Wizardry and the 2 additional scenarios are probably the most advanced games of their kind. Multiple classes, a multitude of spells, a wide range of monsters, all displayed in hi-res color graphics, makes this game a real winner. The way Wizardry is set up using a complex database, there are things which will only happen once during your entire lifetime. Your characters may advance to higher and more complex levels and classes including the deadly Ninja, or perhaps a Knight or Samuri. I never get tired of playing Wizardry, because its never the same game twice. Here's a wrap up: Game Scale (1-10) ===================================== Ultima I 7 Ultima II 10 Ultima III 8 Ultima IV 5 for now. I think they're beating a dead horse. Wizardry 10 Wizardry Scenario 1 10 Wizardry Scenario 2 10 ===================================== Well, I hope I didn't this wasn't "too" long, and I hope this helps you in making a decision. Good Luck... -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- May the Quest for the ElfSword be your ultimate goal in life... Mark Smith GM "The Software Wizard" ihnp4!pur-ee!pur-phy!mrstve!mark =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz) (01/08/86)
I am extremely fond of Wizardry and the Ultima series, but I found a computer game along the same lines that is head and shoulders above the others: QUESTRON by Strategic Simulations. QUESTRON paid a fee to Lord Brittish to license the "look" of Ultima, but added much much much more depth to the game, and actually made a real nice ending, when compared to Ultima III. The game continuously changes as you become more experienced. Just when you think you have seen all that there is to see (this happens pretty quick in Ultima and Wizardry), a new challenge comes along and gives your characters more objectives. On a scale of 1-10, if Ultima III is an 8, Questron is a 16! I have played questron on the C64 and Atari 800, and I am sure it is available for the Apple II, too. I do not know about other machines, except that it isn't available for the Amiga or ST. If you can find the game, you won't be disappointed. /mykes