Ultima The Ultima Underworld I & II Thread

[Sceptic]

Make sure you got the CM-32L ROMs, not the MT-32 ROMs. UW1 is one of the games that took full advantage of the CM-32L-only sounds. It's easy to test: start swimming and listen to the sound. On a regular MT-32 IIRC you don't hear anything.

For the aspect ratio Gord linked the relevant bits. What I would do is not touch the first block, and only change the 2nd one to:
aspect=true
scaler=normal3x

This will adjust the aspect ratio of all 320x200 game and force them to run as 4:3 (the intended ratio). I find 3x scaling works best on a 22 inch screen, and I don't think I usually force it (no need with most 320x200 games)

 

[Sceptic]

Goddamnit posting this has made me go back and listen to my CM-32L/SC-55 recordings.

Roland

 

[Tigranes]

Alright, I'll bite. I never tried UU, because I started RPGs just after the blobber reign and never had a chance to get into them (to date, I've only played M&MX, some of M&MVI, some of Wiz8). Also probably backing UA, just for Looking Glass honour-fisting and their comments on environmental interaction.

(1) I assume just dosboxing it or GOG'ing it?
(2) Any super basic tips about settings or UI tricks? I'll find out how to be good at the game the hard way, more fun that way, but just super basic stuff.
(3) One reason I was always a bit hesitant is... I never bothered with LoG because it felt like the bread and butter of the combat would just be slash, take a step back, slash, etc, the 'dancing'. I see this happening iin some gameplay videos of UU too. I like RPG first person combat when there's a lot of tricks to use (traps, grenades, etc) and they are quick to use (instead of the crazy Arx Fatalis draw-magic which is cool but I could never do it in heat of battle well), or at least the melee system makes some kind of sense (Gothic). I always felt like, say, Morrowind melee combat is just stepping back and forth and swinging like a maniac. Are my concerns well-founded in any way?

 

[Sceptic]

1. GOG DOSBoxes it, so samey.
2. The game can be played with either mouse only or keyboard only. Don't do either. Everything has equivalents in both. Experiment, find which one works best, and go with it. Even for something as simple as moving, I find I switch between holding LMB and using WASDZXC, depending on what I'm trying to do. You can jump by running and then either pressing RMB or J. Shift+J does a stationary jump. RMB-drag on object in the world will either pick them up or use them to talk to NPCs, depending on what they are, but just because you CAN pick them up doesn't mean you can't also use them without picking them up.
3. Maybe, but if that's the only reason you don't play UW then you're faggot mondblut. Combat is not the game's strong suit unfortunately, but you should still be able to enjoy everything else it has to offer.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

1. Use the gog version.
2. Use the advanced control method. Left mouse to move around based on cursor position within the viewport and right mouse button to 'interact' This is actually context aware mouse controls. Open, jump (while moving), pick up, drag and drop, open, press, invoke, etc.
3. Learn the keyboard shortcuts and remap in dosbox using the remapper if you like. http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/562665-ultima-underworld-the-stygian-abyss/faqs/1812
3. UU is an amazing experience even today. Go in with an open mind.

 

[octavius]

1. Yes.

2. You may want to get the Roland sound for this game, as the sound effects are laughably weak using Soundblaster settings. Entire tomes have been written on this topic.
As for controls I prefer to play with mouse only, as it works very well.

3. Combat is not the reason for playing UU, but it's good enough. You can choose between three different melee attacks, and how much force to put into them. Missile combat does not work very well. Neither does stealth. So a pure melee like a Paladin or a melee/magic combo like a Druid is recommended. A Druid is prefect, since they can start with the max 30 STR, which is the most important of the three attributes, since it governs how much you can carry. Their also have good starting skills.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Woa woa woa. The SBpro sounds music is epic.

 

[octavius]

Woa woa woa. The SBpro sounds are epic.

No, they are not. Have you heard the weak wishy washy sounds of swimming and weapons hitting? The Roland sound effects are definitely better. But IIRC UU was designed for the Gravis Ultrasound card, which maybe explains why the SB is so weak.

 

[Jaesun]

But IIRC UU was designed for the Gravis Ultrasound card, which maybe explains why the SB is so weak.

I am *fairly* certain it was specifically designed for the higher end Roland MT-32's (LAPC1, CM32L etc..).

Is there even a Gravis option in the setup?

 

[octavius]

Woa woa woa. The SBpro sounds music is epic.

Well, the music may sound good, but I always turn off the music in single character FPP games, so I wouldn't know.

 

[Sceptic]

No, they are not. Have you heard the weak wishy washy sounds of swimming and weapons hitting? The Roland sound effects are definitely better. But IIRC UU was designed for the Gravis Ultrasound card, which maybe explains why the SB is so weak.

I don't even think the Ultrasound was out when UW1 was being made. It's definitely made on and for the CM-32L - it uses almost every single one of the extra tones that the module has. Other games have used them (MM3 did if I recall) but none did as extensively.

 

[Tigranes]

Whoa, cool. Thanks. I'll buy on GOG and fire it up. I always wanted to give it a chance, I just wanted to make sure I go into it with a tolerant mindset. I expect I'll give it a few hours and eventually learn why it's so good. (Sadly, I still can't get past Darklands' combat even after a few hours... but fuck me, I will.)

I can deal with mediocre combat if the rest is good, yes. Hey, I play Obsidian games!

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

The SBPro sound effects are not good, agreed. The music on the other hand I find superior. I always found the Roland music to be distracting and loud where the SBPro music was very well suited.

Then again I think everyone feels strongly about whatever format of music they played this game with first.

 

[skacky]

Yeah combat is clearly not UU's strongest aspect but the rest is so fucking good you just forget about it.

 

[Darth Roxor]

Yeah combat is clearly not UU's strongest aspect but the rest is so fucking good you just forget about it.

at least until you get to that fucking level full of fire elementals and lava

and then you ragequit

 

[Tigranes]

OK, so I tried a bit. Basic controls are actually fairly easy to get used to for being so different.

1/ How do melee hits work, I seem to swing a lot without hitting? Player skill based?
2/ I started a druid then picked 'search', how do I use that or where does it come into play?
3/ Just wandered around the first level a bit, killed a goblin, died to a spider. Not bad so far.

 

[octavius]

Hitting is based on your Attack skill and your skill with your current weapon. You also need to hold the attack button long enough for there to be any force behind the attack.
Search is for finding hidden doors; makes it easier for the player to actually see the outlines of the doors, which is quite nifty. Some points in it is useful.

 

[WarHamster]

Search is for finding hidden doors; makes it easier for the player to actually see the outlines of the doors, which is quite nifty.

Really? I always thought it just gave you a better chance to find the secret door when you LOOK-click at it. Never noticed the outlines getting clearer.

 

[octavius]

Search is for finding hidden doors; makes it easier for the player to actually see the outlines of the doors, which is quite nifty.

Really? I always thought it just gave you a better chance to find the secret door when you LOOK-click at it. Never noticed the outlines getting clearer.

Well, I always assumed it worked the way I described. But now that you mention it maybe you are right.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

I always found the Roland music to be distracting and loud where the SBPro music was very well suited.

I'm in this camp. There are actually sound effects in the game that are good to hear, like monsters approaching. The Roland music all but drowns them out.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

OK, so I tried a bit. Basic controls are actually fairly easy to get used to for being so different.

1/ How do melee hits work, I seem to swing a lot without hitting? Player skill based?
2/ I started a druid then picked 'search', how do I use that or where does it come into play?
3/ Just wandered around the first level a bit, killed a goblin, died to a spider. Not bad so far.

1) For melee your range is longer than you might think. If a creature is lower than your sight line, you are better to look down towards them (using look up/down controls), and thrusting if your weapon is sharp. For blunts, look down and swing sideways. I assume you have read the manual and know how to swing in different ways.
2) Answered by Octavius
3) Be sure to fill out the entire map! That automap system is the best map I have seen in any game. I also like the fact that you have to switch away to view it.

 

[Gord]

I always found the Roland music to be distracting and loud where the SBPro music was very well suited.

I'm in this camp. There are actually sound effects in the game that are good to hear, like monsters approaching. The Roland music all but drowns them out.

It would be great if it supported separate music/effect settings, so I could use midi music with a good soundfont.

 

[Nyast]

I'd love to replay UU1/UU2, but I have a big issue, so I'm posting here in the hope that somebody else had it and found a way to fix it..

Basically, I can't walk straight. Doesn't matter if it's with the keyboard or mouse, simply moving forward feels like the character is moving with a slight biais instead of going in the direction of the center of the screen. It feels like my character is always drunk, which makes it incredibly annoying to move in the dungeon.

It's weird because when I played that game back in the 90s, I don't remember having that problem. It's almost unplayable.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Odd. Have you another system to try on?

 

[Jaesun]

What version are you using? The one from GOG?