Ultima IX: Ascension

[Taskmaster]

Hey, has anyone found time to play Ultima 9 yet? It is under the tree waiting for me to tear it open on Christmas day. However, I am hearing all sorts of dreadful things about the state of the game.

Like many RPGers I love Ultima games of the past -- tolerated Ultima 8 - but I want a good story not just pretty graphics. I want a month of game play talking to characters crawling dungeons and solving quests.

I am I going to be really disappointed? Do I dare turn my back on the series and return the game before I open it? Any thoughts?

 

[SSSHAD]

Hi Taskmaster! About Ultima 9 - i've played it and it looks quite good. Though on my system it runs pretty slow(read: slide show) /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif. Also there are loads of bugs in it, but there will be patches i guess.
P.S.: If you wonna find out more about it -> go to Origin site, they've got few good forums there.

 

[Taskmaster]

That's the problem! I went to the Origin forum and read all (a bunch) the posts about how the ending of Ultima 8 is compeltely ignored in Ultima 9. People who died are alive and the Avatar being a Titan of Ether is completely ignored. I'm in it for the history and player interaction, not graphics. Top down 3D view is still perfectly acceptable to me. I loved those games! So I am afraid I'm going to be majorly disappointed from that aspect not from actual graphics.

 

[wiz4ha]

if your going to want to play the game good, your going to need a mother of a system. like above, its a slideshow. lot's of bugs is an understatment, but it's still cool game. the icing on the cake would have been if you could play single, or multiplayer (like everquest for multiplayer aspect). i say keep it, if you've been a fan of the old ultima series.

WiZ
Smiley Games

 

[Taskmaster]

Thanks. I have a P3 500 128Ram and a TNT2. I played Ultima 8 on a 386 when that was well below recommended and it was a looonnnggg game! /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif I don't mind a semi slide show as long as it runs.

 

[Taskmaster]

Yes! I kept the game and I made the right choice! The game is sweet! Graphics are excellent and the game pla is pretty fun. So far I have not sen too much of a speed issue... it isn't blazing, but it isn't a slide show either. Of course this is after applying the 107 patch. I can't compare to anyting before that as I didn't try without the patch.

I think the game does Britannia justice, at least so far. The Despise dungeon was a bit short and not what I would have picture for a dungeon based on previous games. So far so good though!

 

[wiz4ha]

rocking choice on keeping it. although, it does look awsome running in glide on a 3dfx chip.

WiZ
Smiley Games

 

[Taskmaster]

It looks awesome on my Riva TNT2 AGp as well, although I can't compare it to a 3dfx card as I don't have one... /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif

I've *ugh* been playing U9 in lieu of UT at the moment.... ssshh... don't tell anyone!

/~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif

 

[wiz4ha]

*looks around to make sure no one is looking*

...no worries task... i won't tell anyone... =P

WiZ
Smiley Games

 

[Taskmaster]

OK, I've cleansed two shrines and am now working my way out of Blackthorn's Castle. What fun this is....

I even managed to play a little bit of single player UT in between!

I love life! /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif

My first computer had 4K and a cassette tape drive! So quit your whining!

 

[SSSHAD]

Hmm...hell, i haven't even finished with the first shrine yet :\

 

[SSSHAD]

I've done with the first shrine! /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif Now i'm hanging around that island and don't really know what to do /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif
Taskmaster, 2 questions:
1. When u kill a monster, will it respawn after a while or it's just my bug?
2. Where can i get lotsa money?

P.S.: I've made a major upgrade so the game runs *very* nicely now /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif

 

[Combat-Ant]

"No offense....... but me 'eard its crap." - Ali G (US residents need not apply /~unreal/ubb/html/biggrin.gif)

 

[SSSHAD]

No man, i'm very glad i bought it. Try to play it and see why. /~unreal/ubb/html/smile.gif

 

[Taskmaster]

With patch 107, it is very playable (I did not play it before the 107 patch so I am going off what others have said) and I have had very few problems.

SSSHAD: Yes monster respawn after you leave an area. Skeletons will reanimate while you are standing there unless you take a bone away. Take an easy bone like the skull. If two skeletons are together you have to take the same bone from each or it will combine the parts to make one skeleton! Cool!

I had no problem with money. There is a ton of easy money to be had just from killing things and from bad guy's hideouts. You shouldn't have to steal it from people! When you kill "bandits" they drop gold and a weapon. Carry all the stuff back and sell it. I have maxed out at 9999 and creatures stop dropping gold now.

Of course some training just cost me 2000 gold so I have some gold to make up for!

I have found a bug or two that caused the game to lock up every time. I am going to report it today.

I just finished the 4th shrine yesterday. There is some really beautiful locations in the game! I like the story, the dungeons (some are tricky) and the gameplay.

Visit my website: http://www.geocities.com/timessquare/realm/2980

[This message has been edited by Taskmaster (edited 01-04-2000).]