"The first good Ultima game shows that there will be great things in the future..."

Ultima, the most well known and longest running series of PC RPGs. This is actually the second in the series (there was an Ultima 0, official name is Akalabeth). The series starts off slow, but Ultima I is a good game that you should play if you like classics.

Gameplay - 4/10

While the game play is simple, it is fun. You can choose to be one of four races, and four classes: fighter, cleric, wizard, and thief. The game starts off very slow (actually, all Ultima games do), with you having to spend most of your early time gathering money and food (required for survival). But once you have established your currency and food, you start going on quests for the kings. The kings reward you when you return victorious on each quest.

There is four big continents to explore, and quests to do on each one. There are several vehicles to help you get around more quickly than you can on foot.

The game is pretty easy, but it keeps your attention long enough to play through the whole thing, unlike Ultima II which has no extra quests or anything to do.

Control - 10/10

You'll have no trouble with the controls. You only have to remember a single key for each command, and there's only a few.

Story - 1/10

A very simple story. The evil necromancer Mondain has released evil beasts upon the lands of Sosaria, and no reason is given in the manual as to why he did so. The beasts have been preying on people and ravaging the land. The people have called upon you to slay Mondain to end this all.

Audio - N/A

The blips and bleeps are almost impossible to hear, and there is no music in this game. Therefore I can't score this game for audio.

Video - 3/10

The graphics are very simple, but colorful and good.
In the world map, the game shows you and monsters as big tiles, and everything looks good. In towns and castles, people are about 1/4 the size of the world map and look very different. Finally, in dungeons, you move around in simple-line first person perspective.

Replayability - 2/10

Although this game is good for a single play through, there isn't much that will make you want to come back to it again, except maybe once in a great while.

To buy or to rent? - The only way you'll easily get it is by getting the Ultima Collection, which has several must own games in it, so I say buy it.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 01/08/01, Updated 10/30/02