Ultima™ 8 Gold Edition

This is the 1st Ultima I played. Gameplay and story for the first 30% of the game (above world) was fun, but once you have to go underground to advance the plot,gets tedious as hell, lots of platforming jumps and the character/control system clunky as. Terribad. Plot towards the end also wasn't to my liking. ONLY for Ultima 8 fans or those who didn't complete the game all those eons ago. Watch Spoony's review on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkgxJhJB6-w

This title was my introduction to the Ultima series... Sure, the melee action sequences are not that original (mouse-clicking fest) and often unforgiving (you really need to pick your fights carefully especially in the beginning), it is a big departure from previous installment in the series (more action-oriented), it does suffer from a couple of minor bugs and yes, the jumping sequences are fun the first time, but get annoying after that (as the game lacks the sophisticated jumping engine of a true platformer). However... the environment is great! The attention to detail that went into this game is on par with the previous installments of the series, but the rendering engine is gorgeous and allows for more breath taking locales than previous feasible in the series... and the environment is more interactive! Now, you can move things around to find things hidden underneath (like a key under a pillow... or blasting a pile of wood to get to a door behind it), you can move pieces of wood around and use them as a jumping platform or to create stairs (it does require patience mind you), you can jump from balconies to make your escape, etc. The magic system is beyond anything I have ever seen in other games and there are... 4 of them! Unlike in many other games where you just learn spells and cast them, in this game, you actually have to read books & scrolls, talk to teachers, fellow rites and prepare your spells... and there are sometimes dire consequences if you get it wrong ;). The dialog and storyline are also strong and while not as virtuous, definitely on par with the rest of the series otherwise. The story more linear than in the previous installments of the game (however you still have to make small storyline choices at various points), but intricate enough that you need to use your noggin to figure things out rather than just go from point A to point B. And of course, the environment is very open with a lot of nooks and crannies to explore (and hidden loot to find :P). And finally, yes, you don`t have a party. You travel alone and you do carry a stupid helmet through the entire game. Well, the later is unfortunate, but the former does mean that you have to do less group baby sitting and can spend more time focusing on your character, your environment, your spells :) and the story. Overall, the games has some flaws, but it is gutsy, unique and intricate. If I could, I'd give it 4.5 stars.

There is very little to say about this game. 1. It is not Ultima. No party, no virtues, nothing that made the original games good. 2. The story is ludicrous. Really, really bad. 3. The fight mechanics are aweful. 4. The game is completely unfinished, you find several doors that wont open, plots that are unfinished. 5. The inventory is aweful! 6. Grafics are worse than in Ultima VII! 7. No map, no runestone, nothing! 8. The successor is ultima IX. So if you want so know how the story ends, you have to play the worst game EVER! Oh, and by the way: In this game, you need to kill Children to succed! As the Avatar! Save your money and, more importantly, your time and dont buy this BS.

I have the best memories playing this game. I played it in high school with my friend who was also playing it at the time. We would chat on the phone about the game and discuss what we were doing and where we got stuck (mainly me asking him for hints on how to get past bits! :D). I love the different schools of magic. Each was so different and it was so fun learning each of them. The world felt amazing and set my imagination on fire (and still does when i think about this game). I loved it.

This is a game which have been collecting bad reviews through the time, yes. But this is a great game with a great pack (music, ambience, story and gameplay) and addicting to play!