So now that GOG has found it in it heart to release a few Ultima games for free, coupled with the amount of positive fan reaction I figure I have nothing really to lose by trying this series out. I will start with the Ultima 4 that is given away freely here so I had a few questions.

Is the free 4 different from the version included in the 4+5+6 combo pack?

Would it be a good idea to go back to 1, 2 and 3 after playing 4? Graphics wise I have no problem going backwards so if the most off putting part of the originals is "they haven't aged well" then I'll be okay.

And one more general question, I have never really heard much about this series other than how much people love it. Which really doesn't tell me much and is why I have never been motivated to actually ever try any of the games. I have in the past been quick to judge a game based on a single, sometimes minor, aspect while missing the true greatness of the game. So waht is it that people like about Ultima? Are there any features I should look for or look past while passing judgment on this game?

It's hard to put into words what people love about this series as we all have diffrent things we like and don't like about it, some like the morality system put in around 4, other people like the freedom and open ended nature the series has. So honestly all I can give you is what I loved about the series.

What I always loved about the series is the open nature of the game world, even when the series started the virtue system from 4-7 you still could do anything, want to murder Lord British you can, if you want to bake bread or harvest fields you can(well you can do that in 7 anyway) I also like how the series has always pushed the boundaries of RPGs even in the begining of the series, like Ultima 4 was the first game that not only encouraged you to be a actual hero but also didn't have the ciqued villian out to take over the world instead you were on a quest for self enlightenment and become a buddist type figure for a new religion/philosophy. Ultima V has you returning to a britannia were the vary virtues you help enstate have become twisted into tyrannical laws and you have become a outlaw as such your forced to be very careful what you say and who you say it too as people are parinoid and suspicous as you would expect from the oppressed masses, Ultima VI starts you off facing down a group of invading "demon" looking things only to find out well never mind I wont spoil it.

As for the combo pack, yes it's the same game BUT the extras are different as the manual in the 4-6 pack is the Ultima collection CD rom one while the one in the free version is the originals .

As for what to look past outside of controls in 1-5 it depends on which Ultima's your playing

in 1 it's weird and a bit quirky and very grind heavy, 2 is really out there and probley the third weakest game in the series(8 and 9 are the others with 9 being the worst/weakest) 3 Exodus is fun,again it's grindy and your party builds can either make or break your game, 4 the only real thing I can say is that the first half is talk to npcs, build virtues, lather rinse repeat, 5 I say the controls, 6 the interface and the fact that when it gets dark it's almost impossible to see anything oh and all items being treated as one unit even if there the same item so if you find 5 clubs the game will spawn five individual clubs instead of lumping them together . 7 the combat is weak and the inventory management is hit or miss and some people thought the story was a bit weak, 8 was just a glitchy rush job with alot of the more intresting elements having been cut due to EA wanting the game rushed out.

Thank you very much for that thorough answer. I'm installing Ultima 4 as I type.

Well if you want you can install the VGA graphic and Midi music mod for Ultima 4 it ups the tile set to a VGA one and adds the music that was in the other ports but wasn't available for the Dos version or if you prefer the orginal graphics then you can try XU4 which is a fan engine that allows you to play the game nativity in windows with the orginal graphics and the benefit of the classic music

I think there are a few reasons why the Ultima games were so appealing and still remain that way today. In Ultima, the designers really tried to instill a feeling of a living, open world that you could explore and interact with. Furthermore, the level of interactivity and exploration increased with each new game. While we are somewhat used to features such as music and NPC conversations in games today, this was all very new and groundbreaking when U4 was released in 1985. Starting in U5, townsfolk and shopkeepers have their own schedule, closing up shop in the evening. You may have to look for them relaxing in the tavern or in their homes, and they will even go to bed when it gets late. And starting in U6, nearly everything you see is an item that can be picked up and possibly used, and every building can be entered and explored. Contrast this with the "painted backgrounds" that many other games of the time had (e.g. Sierra adventure games), and even many today still have. This style of gameplay peaked with U7 and really began to decline with U8, which is one of the reasons why it has remained controversial.

The Ultima series was also original in that, starting with U4, there was no great evil wizard you had to go kill in order to win the game, which sets itself apart from most other RPGs. Instead, it explored ethical and moral themes and expected you to act accordingly. U4 was all about purging the evil within yourself and becoming enlightened in the philosophy of the eight virtues. This theme carries into the rest of the series. And while there are certainly antagonists that pop up like Blackthorn, the gargoyles, and the Guardian, the games cannot be beaten by simply defeating them in combat.

Regarding U1-3: They're very simple games, nowhere near as complex of a story as U4 onward, and the three of them together can be completed in a few days. U2 and U3 are a little less intuitive than U1 and are somewhat difficult to jump into because of how the food mechanics work. Hints about where to go and what to do are also a little hard to come by. Britannia is supposed to be the same world as Sosaria, but they look nothing alike. Continuity was a bit of an afterthought for RG in those days. Otherwise, they're nice in that they establish some of the ancient history.

Anyway, know that the Apple II versions of U3-U5 included music, but the PC version did not. There are fanmade patches that add music and even upgrade the graphics. U4 even has a fanmade engine, XU4, which I highly recommend using. (see the sticky thread for info on where to obtain them)

I hope that helps.

Okay, one more question. I noticed that the GOG extras include a Clue Book. Is this simply a book full of useful information or was the game made in such a way that it is physically impossible to play without constantly refrencing the clue book?

They were originally published separately, I believe. Just like Infocom and Sierra published hints for their games, for fun and ... profit.

It is definitely possible to complete the game without the clue book. The clues are all in the game. Just be sure to talk to everyone, ask them questions, keep a notebook of key information and people, and draw maps of the dungeons. Also pay attention to the visions the shrines give you when you attain partial Avatarhood.

Welcome to the "old school" method of RPG gaming. :)

Thanks. I was worried that it would be one of those games with puzzles that have no real solution but the exact method of passing it is spelled out in the book. This was in part meant to be a more subtle version of a code wheel. Groovy! It'll be like 4th grade all over again.

Here's some advice from a very long time Ultima fan. Start with Ultima IV to get to know the Avatar's character, and a bit about his companions. Look past the early graphics and lack of music or download some of the add-ons listed in the stickies for music and a different tileset, and enjoy the game for what it is. If you still want to try more, go for the Worlds of Ultima set, and try them out as well. I recommend you purchase the IV-VI set next, as that trilogy really gets into the Avatar's character and story. VII is a must-buy as it is a living, breathing world with a level of sophistication and interactivity that is still unsurpassed.

Chances are, once you play IV, you will likely get hooked on the series and want to buy the rest. Trust me. They are well worth it. Once you start getting involved in the stories, the graphics will not be an issue anymore.

I would recommend you read the cluebooks after being done with the pertinent games, even if you did not need to consult them. They are usually written in-character, and thus help build up the setting. Plus, they are a good read.

So the whole point of the game is not to Save the World/Princess/Long Lost Heir to the Throne but to complete a series of otherwise mundane tasks in an effort to advance stages in the 8 Virtue categories. Does this mean that Ultima 4 is responsible for what we now call Achievements in games today?

I like the way the class selection works and that I'm not rushed into a main story line. I'm now looking favorably at the other games in the series. From what I understand 1-3 are good for background information but 4 onward follows an over arching story line. Where do Worlds and Underworlds fit in? Do they relate to the story or can they be considered more as stand alone games?

lol I never thought of U4 that way...
The Underworld and Worlds games actually do have a place in the timeline but they aren't really "part" of the 4-9 narrative. Just for reference: UW1 and both Worlds games take place after U6 and UW2 takes place between U7 and U7 Part 2 (Serpent Isle.) I'm not sure if UW1 takes place before or after the Worlds games, or if it even matters.

Edit:: The Ultima Codex's About the Ultima Series page has UW1 placed before the Worlds games so I'd guess that's the accepted position in the time line. I'd personally put it afterwards but, like I said, I don't know if it really matters.

i'd be hard-pressed to concoct an excuse for either Worlds game being of any timeline, Underworld and/or Britannian significance whatsoever. :D

Well no, they have no significance to the Brittanian plot, but they DO have a place in the timeline as they are listed as official Ultima games. Unlike Escape from Mt. Drash or the Runes of Virtue games which are considered side games.