This was one of the first games I ever played on a PC. I was eleven, had never heard of Ultima, but this game was hugely important for me. It sparked my interests in gaming and in philosophy. The importance and symbolism of the virtues in the game's lore intrigued me. I'm a lifetime gamer now, so I'm glad EA took this title and tried to make it mainstream. Sure, I remember all the bugs; the cutscenes stopped working and I couldn't get a blackrock sword. Still, I'm buying this and playing it for the nostalgia. The plot is linear, but there is a lot of exploration you can do in the game and some good treasure for doing so. The magic system has an extensive number of spells. The storyline has deep meaning for those who recognize it (the gargoyles separating themselves from humans and falling from their own pride, teaching knights to remember their lost honor, helping the people of Paws...) I felt a part of this world, I hated having to give up the Gringolet, I understood the urgency of saving Shamino, and I relished the satisfaction of purging the corruption from the runes. Richard Garriott and the Ultima team did a good job. A great job considering how much I still love this game. You people writing these reviews are worse than Trekkies. You are being unjust, unfair, and completely unreasonable. Quit QQing, let go of all the nerd rage that has caused you to hate a remarkable game (for 1999), and let people have their fun.
