Hey guys,
I've been thinking on getting into Ultima (I played U8 when I was a kid and always wanted to have U7), but I've found for the earlier titles in the series that, well, the graphics are a bit too old for me to swallow (I wasn't even born when U4 was released!) and, though I know graphics aren't everything, I fear I'll be annoyed by them, particularly those of 4 and 5.

However, I'd like to experience the games/stories, so would it be a good idea to go for the fan remakes? There's a U4 remake using the NWN engine (And I have NWN from GoG :P) and there's a U5 one using the Dungeon Siege engine (Why isn't DS on Gog?!). Do you guys think I should go for those, since I'm almost sure I won't be able to stand the originals up to U5?

It's all a matter of opinion, of course, but I don't think you'll be too annoyed by the graphics in V at least; they're somewhat primitive, but nicely-drawn and detailed, about on the level of a Genesis game if not only slightly worse.

IV is another matter, as that game does rather show its age; you can, however, install an alternative tileset that upgrades the visuals to almost the level of V. It's included as part of the patcher utility that's been linked to several times already on this forum.

As for the remakes, I haven't played any of them myself so I can't give you my opinion there. If you have NWN already you may as well give the IV remake a try, though.

Heard that the NWN U4 is not very good.

I played the DS Ultima V Lazarus remake. It was fantastic, though there are a few mods you need (IMO) to make it not completely frustrating (been a few years, but the look up mod was one and the other is one that changes how the mayor of Yew responds to you). They made it, IMO, OVERLY realistic in some ways. Still it's phenomenal.

That said, there is still charm in the original.

There's also the Ultima VI Project DS mod that recreates U6. It's great as well, and doesn't seem to suffer as much from the over realism, but its also significantly bigger than Lazarus. I put about 60 hours in, was about 1/2 to 2/3 the way through, before life intervened an I had to take a break. I keep meaning to go back in finish, but it hasn't happened yet.

If you're worried about graphics or playability, Ultima IV has been available for years online for free (and legitimately) and I believe is still offered free from GOG separately. Try it out, first, then see if you need to upgrade.

Ultima 4's were quite the turn off at first, almost working against my imagination. Took a while, but I've gotten over them now.

U5s are actually pretty artistically drawn and pleasing to the eye though. Probably because Garriott was no longer responsible for drawing all the graphics!

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Use the upgrade patch. It makes Ultima IV's tiles look similar to Ultima V's.