Ultima™ 8 Gold Edition

Yes, I bought this a number of years ago when I saw it in a store, after having not paid much attention to the gaming world for a while. I thought "another Ultima! Outstanding!" and looked at the box, which indeed promised a darker side, etc. as you can read in the official description here. I wondered why it was on sale for so little. Soon I found out. The platforming issues were fixed - which had made the original version unplayable - but don't be fooled, this is not a true, quality Ultima game. On the basis of plot, character interaction and everything else that the Ultima series was beloved for, this has no real relation to its predecessors. If you don't actually care about the Avatar's story or the moral "decisions" you are forced to make in this game, perhaps you could enjoy parts of it (although the platforming is still ridiculous). That begs the question of why someone would want to start with this game, however, when there are many, many better standalone RPGs. The story (such as it is) is essentially erased for Ultima IX in any case, so that makes it even less worth a play. I recommend you spend your hours (and money) elsewhere.

I stumbled upon this game as a free extra the accompanied our first family PC. I was unfamiliar with the Ultima series, so was not biased by poor critical reviews from Ultima fans. As a child who loved fantasy fiction, this was an amazing game and to be honest nothing I have played since has measured up. Perfect, I was so guttered when I saw that the next installment went 3D.

I played this game in its entirety when it was new and was eagerly awaiting its release on GOG following the releases of the other Ultimas so far. While many Ultima fans would say Ultima VII Parts I and II marked the high point of the series and I would not disagree with them, this is a good and very fun game too. As you can see on this page, the game's graphics look amazingly good considering its age. Like Ultima VII, this is an oldie that has aged well I would say. The gameplay is a departure from Ultima VII in that you as the Avatar are alone in the world, continuing the Guardian saga. The much maligned jumping puzzles are not nearly so prevalent as the hoopla over them in the past might cause one to think and I never had a lot of trouble with them anyway. I do not have good Mario skills either. It just wasn't a big deal and really didn't detract from the experience in any way significant enough that I even recall it. I would not let stories of jumping put you off from enjoying another great Ultima game. It's a little bit more action RPG which is a nice change of pace from the previous installments. Yet, there is still a large and interesting world to explore with plenty of monsters to meet and defeat. And of course, it is fun to see where the story of you and the Guardian continues to take you. If you enjoyed Ultima VII, I would urge you to give this one a fair shot. I don't think you'll be disappointed. It is in many ways more of the same special Ultima goodness. I know I am sure looking forward to a replay now that I can again after so many years thanks to GOG and EA. You are the Avatar! You must go forth to save Britannia yet again and you shall fear no jumping!

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.