Ultima III!

[Saxon1974]

I went back to playing my first ever real RPG "Ultima III - Exodus" recently.

The cool looking Demon on the cover of the box just sucked me in when I saw it at a store in Metro Center mall in phoenix back in 1983. I talked my Dad into getting it for me (After much begging since it wasn't cheap I dont think) and took it home and fired up his C64. (god I loved that machine)

I still remember the first time I played it and was introduced to the world of the CRPG back in 1983. I was completely hooked on the world of Sosaria, the Orcs, the Giants, Lord British etc..... I remember my Dad getting up the next morning and coming in to the den and saying "You been up all night?" I recall thinking "Yep guess so", and went back to playing. I hadn't noticed that the sun had come up again.

I still love playing it even now as old as it is. I don't know if its nostalgia or what but it has a feel and charm few games have ever been able to recreate. If you play it without cheating and using online walkthroughs the puzzles and exploration are quite fun and challenging.

In this game, you have to figure things out yourself, there are no quest arrows or automaps and if your characters die they are dead and saved to disc that way. You either have to pay alot of money to raise them or turn the game off before they die Its enough challenge that you feel like you really accomplished something when you make progress.

Was also the first game that had a full musical score for each area.

First time I played, I must have been about 10 years old and I created my characters and walked around a bit and found a dungeon so I entered it....I kept going down in levels and got attacked by a group or Dragons and my whole party got wiped out quickly. Well, I reloaded the game and guess what? My characters were still dead?!!! I thought "Wow, this game is serious!"

I think alot of people might have thought this kind of save death was bad, but man I took it as a challenge and started playing the game relentlessly after that.

Sorry for my rant.....

Anyone else have some thoughts of this great game?

 

[Fenril]

My first real rpg was much more recent since in my early days I played mostly actiony and strategy games and graphic adventures.

The first full blooded rpg I got was The Savage Empire, an ultima worlds rpg kinda like martian dreams, I loved it, the world was very well realized, the characters were interesting and there was tons of exploration and some neat details ( like using bombs you made with your hand made gunpowder and some clay pots to move a boulder in order to kill a tyranossaur).

Then I got ultima 6 which was the engine the savage empire used and started getting truly into RPGs, cant say I liked ultima 6 as the savage empire though, some aspects were very bland although it had a huge world, also most of the portraits were simply horrible.

 

[Saxon1974]

My first real rpg was much more recent since in my early days I played mostly actiony and strategy games and graphic adventures.

The first full blooded rpg I got was The Savage Empire, an ultima worlds rpg kinda like martian dreams, I loved it, the world was very well realized, the characters were interesting and there was tons of exploration and some neat details ( like using bombs you made with your hand made gunpowder and some clay pots to move a boulder in order to kill a tyranossaur).

Then I got ultima 6 which was the engine the savage empire used and started getting truly into RPGs, cant say I liked ultima 6 as the savage empire though, some aspects were very bland although it had a huge world, also most of the portraits were simply horrible.

The Savage Empire and Martian dreams are the only Origin made RPGs that I have not played. Been trying to get a copy of both the games on Ebay but they are rare enough they go for over 100$. I realize I can download it free but I like having the real box and manuals when I play games.

If you haven't played Ultima V I would recommend that one, its quite good probably the best one for someone to play who didnt play the first 4 when they came out. It has alot more world and NPC interaction than III and IV.

I think III is my favorite but probably because its where I started and then I think V is my next favorite, followed by IV.

I liked Ultima VI but thought it was a bit weaker than III - V for some reason.

 

[Ammar]

I liked Ultima VI but thought it was a bit weaker than III - V for some reason.

The Engine sucks. The only thing it had going for it at that time was that it was pretty new and in some ways groundbreaking - but it didn't age as well as the U5 engine imo.

 

[flabbyjack]

I went back to playing my first ever real RPG "Ultima III - Exodus" recently.

Screenshot or didn't happen.

 

[Saxon1974]

Ok here are a couple, C64 Vice doesn't have an option to make them bigger though.....any Vice experts know how?

The intro scene:

the lovely castle and town

and the lovely dungeon via 1983

[/img]

 

[Ladonna]

I never did get around to playing this, probably because I started with Ultima V and became spoilt by its brilliance maybe.

 

[Saxon1974]

I never did get around to playing this, probably because I started with Ultima V and became spoilt by its brilliance maybe.

For the 3 games based on that same engine I would say V is probably the best one, but the basic gameplay is pretty much the same in III, IV and V. V just has more interactivity.

This port really makes me wish I had a Mac.

http://www.lairware.com/ultima3/

 

[theverybigslayer]

Couldn't you use a mac emulator like Mini Vmac?

 

[Saxon1974]

Couldn't you use a mac emulator like Mini Vmac?

I have heard they are quite difficult to get up and working. I think I remember Jasede saying they are complicated to get working. Oh well, I love my C64 anyway.

 

[Muze]

Your Ultima III was my Ultima V. I was about 12 when I started playing it and haven't been the same since. I couldn't believe the box said you could talk to people... in a video game! I immediately left Iolo's hut and wandered aimlessly into the towns around the castle, chatting it up with everyone. After the obligatory swear words (which all had responses) I started having conversations with NPCs. I had to restart at one point because I would go around murdering shopkeepers to steal their loot when they weren't in their shops, thinking they were just extras or something.

I wish I had the balls to replay the original as I didn't beat it (came close though before my parents sold the C64).

I did play the Lazurus remake of U5 and it was great but the underworld didn't really have the same feel, and well a lot of things were different and actually not as feature rich as the original. Some day I'll go back.

 

[TheWesDude]

6 was always my favorite, then 5, then 7.5, then 7

 

[Jiles]

I never did get around to playing this, probably because I started with Ultima V and became spoilt by its brilliance maybe.

For the 3 games based on that same engine I would say V is probably the best one, but the basic gameplay is pretty much the same in III, IV and V. V just has more interactivity.

This port really makes me wish I had a Mac.

http://www.lairware.com/ultima3/

This thread actually inspired me to dig out my copy of that version. It's quite good and gives you a selection of different graphics sets to use (a "modern one", C64, Apple IIe, etc, etc). Oh, and it has music.

Short of installing OSX, I wouldn't bother with an emulator - it's been an OS X native application for a while now.

 

[Higher Game]

This sounds blasphemous, but I like the NES version of Ultima 3 the most. It gets rid of the retarded time limits on turns, it has nice music and graphics, and it's easy to get working with an emulator. Oh, and save states. :twisted:

For Ultima 4, Master System all the way! :twisted:

 

[Saxon1974]

If anyone is gonna play the C64 version of the game I recommend this upgraded version.

It is compiled to one disc image, makes the game run a little smoother, has a couple of nice interface enhancements and takes away permanent death.

http://www.paradroid.net/u3/

 

[zenslinger]

I played this thing on an Apple //e at the age of about 12. I finished it without any hints or help -- very difficult. The only cheat I employed was flipping open the little door on the 5.25" drive to prevent perma-death. Once the floppy disk flew out of the machine when I did this.

The original screenshots certainly brought back memories of running away from monsters by boarding the ship. Then you shell them with the ship's cannon.

Discovering the spot where Exodus was hiding, figuring out the moon's phases and how to use the moon doors to travel, finding the town of Yew, locating weird NPCs that would hang out in barely accessible parts of town -- all fun.

 

[Saxon1974]

Here is a little bit of tonight's adventure....

My boat sailed into a whirlpool, Im thinking that I was dead but......

Then I emerge into a new world....

Then I ended up encountering some daemons....

I find the shrine of Dexterity! Good for my theif....

And inside the shrine....

 

[oldmanpaco]

Ultima III was my first ever CRPG and computer game in general. My dad bought it off of a discount bin for me a few years after it was released. Played this for hours and hours. Good times. I remember it took me forever to realize I needed to go down the whirlpools.

 

[Saxon1974]

Ultima III was my first ever CRPG and computer game in general. My dad bought it off of a discount bin for me a few years after it was released. Played this for hours and hours. Good times. I remember it took me forever to realize I needed to go down the whirlpools.

Yea I actually went into the Whirlpool by accident. I was walking around saying "Where are the damn shrines!" being that I had played the more recent Ultimas.

Great writing to have the world under the whirlpool.

So far I have no used any cheats and have gotten pretty far. I think its key to try and not use cheats in these old games, if you look up answers on internet walkthroughs it really kills the fun for me.

There is a man hovering over water in British's Castle in the torture room...How do I get to him to see if he has any clues to offer? I talked to the man in the fire but I dont see any way to walk over water. There are no water walking type of spells....?

 

[Ebonsword]

This came out when I was in 7th grade or so and was probably the first RPG I ever played.

My family didn't actually own a computer, but I would go in early to school just so I could go to the computer lab and get in an hour or so of play before the day started (and I wasn't the only one to do this--there was probably 10-15 other kids who were there every day with me!). The computer lab had Apple IIc computers, from what I recall.

Yet, despite hours and hours of playing it, I don't think that I ever beat Ultima III. I think that the problem was the dungeons. I loved wandering around on the surface, killing monsters, getting loot, and then heading to the city of Dawn to drop my coin on some kick-ass magic weapons :D , but every time I'd venture into a dungeon, I'd end up dead .

I had the same problem with Ultima IV, from what I remember.

Hence, I was thrilled when Ultima VI finally did away with the first person perspective dungeons.

 

[Saxon1974]

This came out when I was in 7th grade or so and was probably the first RPG I ever played.

My family didn't actually own a computer, but I would go in early to school just so I could go to the computer lab and get in an hour or so of play before the day started (and I wasn't the only one to do this--there was probably 10-15 other kids who were there every day with me!). The computer lab had Apple IIc computers, from what I recall.

Yet, despite hours and hours of playing it, I don't think that I ever beat Ultima III. I think that the problem was the dungeons. I loved wandering around on the surface, killing monsters, getting loot, and then heading to the city of Dawn to drop my coin on some kick-ass magic weapons :D , but every time I'd venture into a dungeon, I'd end up dead .

I had the same problem with Ultima IV, from what I remember.

Hence, I was thrilled when Ultima VI finally did away with the first person perspective dungeons.

I never finished it as a kid either, I think I was about 9 when it came out so I just wandered around exploring stuff, but I dont think I took good notes and I dont think my thinking skills were fully developed yet.

Im trying to remedy that and finish it this time.

 

[Fat Dragon]

I remember playing this many years ago back in the 80's. It was the first RPG I had ever played and is what got me interested in the genre. It will always hold a place as one of my favorites for that reason.

 

[Saxon1974]

I remember playing this many years ago back in the 80's. It was the first RPG I had ever played and is what got me interested in the genre. It will always hold a place as one of my favorites for that reason.

You know, in talking to people it really is amazing how many people got started on the RPG genre because of this game, it was such a huge deal at the time.

A couple of friends and my cousin and I were addicted to it for like 6 months way back in day and we used to fight for who got to use the old C64 when we got home from school since we didnt all have one then....

I miss those endless summer days being able to stay up till the sun came up playing.

I still remember walking into the software store at the mall when they had a promo poster up for Ultima V Warriors of Destiny, I was so excited I think I even came back and took a photo of the poster.....Man I miss that software store....

 

[MisterStone]

I remember Ultima V having the most kick-ass dungeons. You could do stuff like open secret doors by taking torches out of the wall, pushing things around (I think?) and so on. Fun fun fun...

Yeah, I remember that when I first saw that game in the store I went crazy and cleaned out my savings just to be able to buy. I think I had to convince my folks to forward me $10 out of my allowance (I was 12). I never got any computer games unless I afford one myself, or for birthday/Xmas. Parents knew how to raise kids in those days!

 

[Saxon1974]

I remember Ultima V having the most kick-ass dungeons. You could do stuff like open secret doors by taking torches out of the wall, pushing things around (I think?) and so on. Fun fun fun...

Yeah, I remember that when I first saw that game in the store I went crazy and cleaned out my savings just to be able to buy. I think I had to convince my folks to forward me $10 out of my allowance (I was 12). I never got any computer games unless I afford one myself, or for birthday/Xmas. Parents knew how to raise kids in those days!

I hear ya on not being able to afford games back in the early days....If I remember correctly Ultima III came out towards the end of 1983 and I got it for Christmas, otherwise it would have taken me a while to get it.

My favorite gifts under the tree were always games

Its really amazing, kids today have a playstation 3 and an XBOX and a PC and pretty much any game they want, bunch of spoiled brats....no wonder the economy is so bad and people have so much credit debt

The store at my local mall used to have big demo's and promo's for major games, I remember the Ultima V display with posters and the game was demo'd on a machine in the middle of the store, i just remember how excited I got when I went in and saw it.

The old days seemed so much more fun, posters, big boxes with lots of goodies, cloth maps.....

Now games are on a little DVD style box and just stuck on a shelf with not much PR (Unless your Bethesda)