Savage Empire Part 1: Valley of the Dinosaurs
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire
Part 1: Valley of the Dinosaurs
Welcome to my coverage of another great Ultima game. These next two games are often considered canonical, they are not usually considered as part of the 'main' series. Basically, Origin decided to get more mileage out of the Ultima VI engine and tried to introduce the Ultima series to 'casual' gamers. Thus we have the
Worlds of Ultima series. While both of these next two games have the typical trappings of RPGs (stats, levels, XP, etc.), they play more like adventure games.
The first of these two games is
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire. As you might have guessed from looking at the box, it takes place in a 'valley that time forgot.' Somehow, devious magic was cast, and dinosaurs from several different eras and humans from different continents and time periods were transported to a remote valley. It is nice that they actually come up with an appropriate reason for why all these disparate creatures have shown up together. Since I always liked this kind of setting, I am really enjoying this game!
The first thing we see is the animated logo for the
Origin FX-Engine.
It does not look like much today, but I bet it wowed people back in 1990.
Here are the credits.
It is nice to see how the view pans to the right.
Here is the main screen. Let's see what has happened.
For several nights, the Avatar has dreamed that he is in a jungle, and he sees a hot savage chick get attacked by a Pterodactyl.
This night, Lord British also appears in his dream and tells him to seek out information on ruined moonstones.
The Avatar decides to seek help from his friend, Professor Rafkin, who studies Natural History.
When he arrives at the lab, an obnoxious reporter, Jimmy Malone, is waiting to interview Professor Malone for a story he is writing for the magazine
Ultimate Adventures. The Avatar asks Rafkin about moonstones, and, when given a good description, the Professor produces a stone that looks just like a moonstone, but it is fractured. The Professor decides to run some tests on the stone.
Unfortunately, the tests cause the moonstone to create a portal that transports the Avatar, Professor Rafkin, Jimmy Malone and a good chunk of the laboratory to a mysterious jungle.
Shortly upon arriving, everyone realizes they are not in Kansas anymore.
The Avatar then sees the woman from his dreams. He manages to rescue her.
Oh yeah! I bet I can guess how she will show her gratitude. :D
Fucking cockblock!
In the confusion of battle, Jimmy and Rafkin flee into the jungle.
Alright, now it is time to create a new character!
At least I can pick my name.
I'm not no pussy guard!
It's not my problem.
Murderer's get what they deserve (unless it is me :twisted
.
I have no idea what the hell the various answers do. Anyway, let's fire up the game!
On the default DOSBox cycles, the loading screen takes a damn long time. I also have no idea what Roland is supposed to be.
Anyway, here is a map of the game.
Notice the map is in English. Score!
The Avatar awakens in a shaman's hut in the village of the Kurak's, who seem to be Amazonian.
Huh?!
Uh oh! Copy protection! I consult page 22 of the manual (which is actually designed to look like an issue of the
Ultimate Adventures periodical Jimmy writes for).
A weatherproof cover.
Basically, he is saying that I will be dragged back here for resurrection if I die.
Wait, did you just say
Triolo?!
What is your name?
What do you do?
You work with spirits?
BTW, where did that hot piece of ass, whatwashername . . . Aiela maybe, where did she go?
Cool, so where did the ol' prof get off to?
How about that annoying ass reporter?
Later!
Alright, here is the game world. As you can see it looks like Ultima VI with a thematically appropriate interface. I grab all the fruit and speak to my new party member 'Triolo.'
So, Triolo, what do you do?
Cool. Later!
These are the three reagents in this game. I give them to Triolo.
Ooh! Oooh! Ahh! Ahh!
Anyway, let's head outside. Once there I meet a girl that almost makes me forget about Aiela.
Helloooo, nurse!
BTW, WTF is a schweitzer?!
So that is where the Professor got off to!
avatar Well, what else do you do?
Of course! Are you fucking kidding me?
SCHWING!! Let's go someplace quiet.
Yes!
Unfortunately, she keeps asking until I tell her no. I do not know if this is a bug or not.
God damn! Two fucking cockblocks in the same update!
Now, I can either head off after Jimmy and Rafkin right away or see if I can find the hot chick.
Hot chick! Hot chick!
Okay.
Anyway, let's talk to Generic Kurali Tribeswoman #1.
Uh, tell me about the Urali.
Where can I find this Topuru?
Alright, I will head north to the Barako tribe.
Apparently, these savages have not developed the concept of private property.
SWEET!!
This means I can walk off with anything, and a bow is handy to have right now. I now talk to the chief.
So, where did your hot daughter Aiela run off to again?
Where is that Darden guy? His nuts has an appointment with my boots.
Screw the 'peaceful savage' bullshit?! Where can I find them?
Where can I find this Topuru?
I head up the road to the north.
Cool. I am glad it is friendly.
I now have to pass over a rope bridge to get to Barako territory.
It quickly gets dark. It appears that night time lasts at least twice as long as daytime in this game. Weird!
Anyway, we finally arrive in the Barako village, the home of the mandatory group of primitive people who happen to be white so Origin can evade claims of racism. Let's talk to one generic townsman.
Alright, let's find the chief.
Hellooo, chief!
Do you have a name, or should I just refer to you as DAAMN?!
Halawa, mother of
Halisa.
So, what do you do around here . . . besides me?
Is your daughter as fine as you, or am I robbing the cradle?
Rats! It looks like this is another damn quest. I am batting 0-3 here!
Oh well, let's see if I can find this Topuru.
I head west from the Barako village until I encounter a river.
I don't like the look of that shark!
Hah! Now, let's ride the raft!
God Damnit!
Anyway, I head back to the Kurak tribe, and on the way, I encounter this fellow.
Oh, you have
got to be kidding me!
Arrggh . . . what is your name?
What do you mean 'gave'?
Is the game trying to tell me Iolo, Shamino and probably Dupre are here in Eodon as well? WTF?!
So, 'Shamuru', what are you doing out here?
Sure, you can join.
And then there were three.
Here we are attacked by a Pterodactyl.
I stop by Intanya's hut for some healing. I then head east.
I encounter a man on the road.
Do you know where Rafkin is?
What the fuck is a shweitzer?!
Uhh . . . yes.
Alright, let's speak with the Shaman . . . quickly.
Surprisingly, he does not have a bone through his nose.
Not that she's my type, but what is Sahree like?
'Kay! Bye now!
I finally find the professor.
:twisted:
So, it looks like you are not as useless as I thought you would be. Why don't you come with me?
Now all I need to do is find Jimmy Malone.
I don't wanna . . .
Tough. He and his notebook act as an ersatz journal, and that can be useful.
Do we have to do it now?
What do you mean?
I want to find Professor Rafkin's lab to see if we can find any good stuff there.
Okay.
I head back to the Kurali village and then head south. Here are some photos of my journey.
I make a note of where parrots usually reside. They can be useful later.
Yucca plants are a rich source of flax seed.
I note that tar pits can be found south of the Kurak village.
So this is a Myrmidex?
It looks like it!
They are just giant bugs! Did Garriott declare creative bankrupcy or what?!
Success! Now, let's loot the place!
I make sure to take the gems, the modern rifle (i.e. the best weapon in the game), some gunpowder, some clay pots, the metal bucket, the fireman's axe (the best melee weapon in the game), the wire screen, and a mortar. If you are wondering, the key is absolutely useless; it does not open anything in the game. There are some other items I forget to take, but I will come back for them later.
I now head back to the Yolaru tribe and head south. I take the western branch at the first fork in the road and climb up a hill. A strange man waits for me up there.
Who the hell are you?
So, TWO-mash, what do you do?
Sure.
Let's go with small.
Alright! Alright! I want a large drum!
Uh . . . Really large.
Gimme the biggest one you got.
Alright, if I ever need a big drum, I now know whom to ask to build it. I follow the road south around the Nahuatla city of Tichticatl. I then have to climb over a few hills before I see the road again (Who keeps-up that dirt road anyway?).
I encounter a sabre-toothed tiger on my journey, but it is a pushover. When I find the road I head a long way to the west. At a fork in the road, I head north across a stream to Disquiqui territory.
I see an oddly-dressed man in one of the southern buildings. I wonder who he is.
Well, it seems as if Jimmy has been taken prisoner by the Disquiqui. I guess I should try to free him, so I speak with the chief.
He is the one north of the Avatar.
Uh . . . who are you?
Ow! For that, I order you to release Jimmy Malone!
Well, that does not seem too bad. I wonder if Chafedick's daughter will prove helpful.
Oh. My. God.
We have to get Jimmy out of here and fast!
So, uh, Mrs. Guoblum, what do you do around here?
What the hell is pulque?
I am going to regret this . . .
Before I faint, let me ask you why are you holding Jimmy Malone?
Well, while we are searching the village, let's loot it.
This will be useful later.
I think this helps with throwing spears, but I don't need it. Now, let's see if we can't pump Generic Disquiqui Townsperson for some useful information.
Apparently, there is an exiled Nahuatla king in this village. Let's find him.
Damn, is this the Valley of the Bangable Women or what?
What.
I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.
So, what will you be doing tomorrow that's not me?
She basically tells me what I already know.
That's alright.
Who are you?
Here is the man we want.
What are you?
Shame. Why did you get exiled?
Who is this Zipactriotl?
What can you tell me about your cousin, Huitlapacti?
What about your shaman, Oaxtepec?
So, if you are such a mighty warrior, why have you not fought to reclaim your throne?
Tell me more about your tribe.
So, you are of the Nahuatla?
Have you faced the Myrmidex?
The Myrmidex. Yes, they are fierce. No single tribe can stand against them ... and no one, not even I, can see to
unite the tribes against them.
I would like to try.
Alright, let's go spring Jimmy from prison. The door is not even locked.
Tell me about your job.
Let's get you up to speed.
Well, let's see if ol' Chafblum wants to join my alliance.
Say, Chappy ol' buddy, would you mind uniting with the other tribes to crush the Myrmidex?
I am SO going to regret this!
Alright, so I need to find a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Sharptooth and put a bell around its neck. To do this, I have to knock it out with the spear of Shamap.
I head south to the stream. Now I need to make the spear of Shamap. Fortunately, I already picked up a spear somewhere.
To make the spear of Shamap, I need to use a jug of plachta on a spear.
From the stepping stones, Sharptooth is a ways to the east and a little way to the north.
If I get within a space of a T-Rex, I am dead meat.
Fortunately, I can just throw the spear from here.
Nighty Night! Don't let the bedbugs bite!
With the bell securely fastened around the T-Rex's neck, I head back to Chafblum.
Yeah. One down; many more to go! Next time I will cover some of the more
interesting aspects of The Savage Empire.