Ultima The Ultima Underworld I & II Thread

[cocorulverde]

Don't know if this was posted before, but apparently someone has hacked mouse look and WASD control scheme (among other small things) into UW1 and UW2. Didn't have the chance to test it, though, so I don't know how well it works, if someone here tested it or has the chance to do it before me, please post some impressions ...

https://github.com/JohnGlassmyer/UltimaHacks

 

[Unkillable Cat]

I checked the "small things"...

Spell runes can be typed directly (with Ctrl+Alt+<letter>), without having to navigate through the inventory and the rune bag.

Things made more convenient:

• The opening title-screen or cinematic is skipped.
• The player's heading is not adjusted when moving against a wall.
• Skill points gained in training are immediately reported in the message log (currently only in Ultima Underworld II).

A number of keys have been added or changed. The most important:

` (Backquote): toggle mouse-look
Alt+`: invert mouse-look axes (cycles through 4 states)
wasd: movement, typical of modern shooters
Space: attack (using last attack type, or slash)
Shift: jump
q: look at object in 3D view
e: use object in 3D view
z: display map
r: flip to rune-bag panel
f: flip to character panel

Keys for spell-casting:

Ctrl+Alt+<letter>: select a rune
Ctrl+Alt+Backspace: clear selected runes
Ctrl+Alt+Space: cast the selected runes

Some miscellaneous keys:

g: activate compass
h: activate health and mana flasks
Ctrl+Shift: standing long jump
Shift: fly up
Ctrl: fly down
c: close container in inventory view
v: scroll inventory down
b: scroll inventory up

Keys for navigating the map:

s: up one level
w: down next level
d: previous realm (Ultima Underworld II only)
a: next realm (Ultima Underworld II only)
c: go to Avatar's level

Interesting indeed.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

I would image combat balance will be broken with these controls.

 

[Doctor Sbaitso]

Not until Doom2 did ID come close. Wolf and Doom both were rudimentary by comparison.

Come close to that? UUW? Then why do you think that Doom is rudimentary and Doom 2 is close? Engine speaking, there is almost no difference between Doom 1 and Doom2.

I remember what a letdown Arena was.

It was also preceded by Terminator: Rampage that used the same engine. Finished it. The game itself was pretty abominable.

You are right, ID didn't match UW in that respect until quake.

 

[Infinitron]

Cool:

 

[Boleskine]

 

[Unkillable Cat]

Gave the ADG video a watch:

I consider it a one-player action RPG, given its reliance on stat numbers and leveling combined with the real-time gameplay.

Given also that he spends a whole minute whining about how expensive physical copies of the game are, how his summary of the backstory borderline butchers it and that he didn't play the game through (he didn't even reach the third floor), I have a hard time recommending it to any seasoned (or even novice) Ultima Underworld fan.

 

[vota DC]

Cool, can you add dialogue too? If you make speak even rats you can do a Mickey Mouse mod!

 

[Steamboat Willie]

Given also that he spends a whole minute whining about how expensive physical copies of the game are,

Hmm, I have a copy somewhere...

 

[newtmonkey]

ADG is both incline and decline. He's incline because he covers DOS games, but decline because his taste is godawful. My biggest issue with him (besides his taste) is that he sets up this whole thing about testing every "ideal" sound mode, but then in every case just goes "just choose adlib/sound blaster cuz that's easiest." No way, especially now when we have MUNT working basically perfect, the optimal choice for most of the games he covers is MT-32; especially if you are just gonna use DOSBOX (which he always uses) why wouldn't you use MT-32???

 

[JarlFrank]

Gave the ADG video a watch:

I consider it a one-player action RPG, given its reliance on stat numbers and leveling combined with the real-time gameplay.

Given also that he spends a whole minute whining about how expensive physical copies of the game are, how his summary of the backstory borderline butchers it and that he didn't play the game through (he didn't even reach the third floor), I have a hard time recommending it to any seasoned (or even novice) Ultima Underworld fan.

Yeah. I like the guy but he's not very knowledgable about some genres.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

He straight out admits in some of his episodes that he's not very good at RPGs and Strategy games. Despite his not liking my two favorite genres, I do find his coverage of DOS games to be interesting enough, and I'm happy he at least covers them.

 

[Voids]

Cool:

This is fucking amazing. Doing a Druid playthrough now and I love being able to muck the game up a bit.

 

[Wunderbar]

Just finished Ultima Underworld 1. GOG version without new controls hack/mouselook, only messed around with sound configs to make music less awful.

Played as a Druid, though i may as well be playing as a fighter cuz i've never ever used rune magic and only leveled Attack, Defence, Mace and Lore.

I'm not really an oldgamer (this is the oldest video game i've completed), and it really blew my mind with the amount of stuff devs managed to achieve back in 1992. Full 3d with textured walls, ability to look up and down, geometrical verticality with inclines/declines and platforming, environmental interactivity, physics simulation. You can pick up stuff, hold it in your hands, and then either put it in your inventory or throw it away. You can use interconnected subterranian rivers to quickly get from A to B if you know where to swim. You can return back to previous floors and find something you've missed earlier because now you have the ability to fly, new keys or a new knowledge. You control your character with some kind of WASD scheme, while other games were controlled using arrows. This has to be the most innovative video game ever made.

There were quite a few things that i wasn't a fan of, like a confusing levelling system where you must rely on finding specific mantras, useless skills, mandatory quest items being hidden behind secret walls, etc. Oh well that's 1992 for you, i guess you can't be perfect and innovative in every aspect.

I've encountered a notorious "Underworld internal error - problems in object list" bug after hitting the 6th floor, but for some reason it never removed any item from my inventory (checked after every floor transition). GOG version is supposed to be patched, so maybe the game warns you about reaching the old (pre-patch) limit.

 

[Cael]

Just finished Ultima Underworld 1. GOG version without new controls hack/mouselook, only messed around with sound configs to make music less awful.

Played as a Druid, though i may as well be playing as a fighter cuz i've never ever used rune magic and only leveled Attack, Defence, Mace and Lore.

I'm not really an oldgamer (this is the oldest video game i've completed), and it really blew my mind with the amount of stuff devs managed to achieve back in 1992. Full 3d with textured walls, ability to look up and down, geometrical verticality with inclines/declines and platforming, environmental interactivity, physics simulation. You can pick up stuff, hold it in your hands, and then either put it in your inventory or throw it away. You can use interconnected subterranian rivers to quickly get from A to B if you know where to swim. You can return back to previous floors and find something you've missed earlier because now you have the ability to fly, new keys or a new knowledge. You control your character with some kind of WASD scheme, while other games were controlled using arrows. This has to be the most innovative video game ever made.

There were quite a few things that i wasn't a fan of, like a confusing levelling system where you must rely on finding specific mantras, useless skills, mandatory quest items being hidden behind secret walls, etc. Oh well that's 1992 for you, i guess you can't be perfect and innovative in every aspect.

I've encountered a notorious "Underworld internal error - problems in object list" bug after hitting the 6th floor, but for some reason it never removed any item from my inventory (checked after every floor transition). GOG version is supposed to be patched, so maybe the game warns you about reaching the old limit.

Paladin is one of the better classes, as it gives you a chance to get 30/18/12 (S/D/I), making you a fair monster when it comes to close combat. The 30 Str really helps with carrying stuff, if you are that way inclined (I am :D ).

 

[octavius]

Druids also can get 30 STR, and IIRC they start with more useful skills than the Paladin does.

. You control your character with some kind of WASD scheme, while other games were controlled using arrows. This has to be the most innovative video game ever made.

Last time I played it I used the mouse exclusively. It's a very elegant UI.

 

[Wunderbar]

Ugh, managing weight was a pain in the butt, had to throw away a lot of stuff. I also found out about magic items only in the end, never even checked items that were lying on the floor unless they were looking better than my current gear. What is that, excellent plate gauntlets of thick skin? all this time i've been skipping potentially powerful items?

Druids also can get 30 STR, and IIRC they start with more useful skills than the Paladin does.

i wasn't aware about raising main attributes, in the end had 23 STR.

 

[octavius]

I should have said "can start with 30 STR". You can't raise attributes during the game.

 

[Cael]

Druids also can get 30 STR, and IIRC they start with more useful skills than the Paladin does.

. You control your character with some kind of WASD scheme, while other games were controlled using arrows. This has to be the most innovative video game ever made.

Last time I played it I used the mouse exclusively. It's a very elegant UI.

Paladin is Med Dex, Low Int.

Druid is Low Dex, Med Int, IIRC.

Dex has an effect on movement, I think. And since you aren't going to be using spellcasting much, 12 Int is no hinderance.

 

[Zer0wing]

Last time I played it I used the mouse exclusively. It's a very elegant UI.

It is but juggling your bags like in UVII or trying to fight or spellcast with only cursor swings without keyboard can be tedious.

Also, the sequel has better story and writing, IMO.

 

[Wunderbar]

Should i play UU2?
It looks like a mission pack rather than a full blown sequel, and i've heard its story is connected with main series which i've never played.

 

[octavius]

Definitely play UU2.
It is better is some way and worse in other ways, but overall only slightly inferior to UU1.

It ties in with Ultima 7, so you may want to play that first if you can stomach it (I couldn't) or read an LP. CRPG Addict is currently playing it.

 

[Cael]

Go to LP Archive and look up Nakar's take on the Ultima series. He plays it from 4-7:2, and it is the most hilarious thing you will ever read in a good long while.

UU2 is far better than UU1 in many ways. My only gripe is the best magical armour is leather

 

[Zer0wing]

It is better is some way and worse in other ways, but overall only slightly inferior to UU1.

The bigger view window alone makes it better than UU1.

Also, those who think the music sucks should fuck around with MUNT and find the MT32.rom to feed it and setup dosbox.conf to use munt as primary midi device. Also brings the sfx back. UU1&2 uses mt32 to play sound effects.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

I've encountered a notorious "Underworld internal error - problems in object list" bug after hitting the 6th floor, but for some reason it never removed any item from my inventory (checked after every floor transition). GOG version is supposed to be patched, so maybe the game warns you about reaching the old (pre-patch) limit.

I've come across this bug message numerous times in the ~30 years I've played UUW1, but only once has it affected me - by having full inventory bags disappearing into thin air.

I know what caused it: I was hoarding too many items in the same location. Apparentely the game doesn't like that, so please don't do it. Have smaller hoards scattered about.

I'm telling you this because this can also happen in UUW2. 9/10 the message will start when you descend to the third floor of the Pits of Carnage.

UUW2 has gameplay and interface improvements over UUW1, but in terms of setting and story it's inferior due to its dependance upon Ultima 7. It serves as an 'interquel' to Ultima 7 Part 1 (The Black Gate) and Part 2 (Serpent Isle), and uses plot elements and characters from The Black Gate, and hints at events in Serpent Isle. Otherwise UUW1 and UUW2 are not connected at all, save for a single character you meet very late in UUW2.