tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post4956635451835416865..comments2024-03-29T11:47:57.305-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Ultima Underworld: Om Cah Vincit OmniaCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-63525256917537997512021-12-08T09:52:48.630-05:002021-12-08T09:52:48.630-05:00Bragit was not the outcast leader, only one of the...Bragit was not the outcast leader, only one of themJim Morrisonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-24795360366131464572021-08-21T23:50:22.071-04:002021-08-21T23:50:22.071-04:00For the original question, I think the first game ...For the original question, I think the first game with true room over room would be 1991's Cybercon III. Its very impressive technologically, but unfortunately plagued by numerous problems, as it uses a very unique control scheme that makes actually navigating through the game a chore.MorpheusKitamihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16591271981112642781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-32577767681867302602021-08-21T22:35:42.438-04:002021-08-21T22:35:42.438-04:00David, I don't really see how the UU engine ca...David, I don't really see how the UU engine can be called 2.5D. The levels might be designed like tilemaps, but the actual gameplay is 3d with actual height, unlike Wolfenstein or Doom. You can jump over obstacles, walk under or over bridges and such. There are sections with actual platforming involving platforms of different heights. You can even leap off a bridge, land on the water below, and then swim under said bridge. Even if the bridges are objects as opposed to part of the level geometry, the fact you can do that proves that the gameplay and engine are true 3D as far as I can tell.cyan-birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09877642186239966068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-78684456216550712192019-08-25T18:11:03.117-04:002019-08-25T18:11:03.117-04:00Also Bethesda, Microsoft, Apple, Digital Homicide,...Also Bethesda, Microsoft, Apple, Digital Homicide, From Software, Phil Fish and David Cage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-10277291737951459522019-08-24T13:16:36.964-04:002019-08-24T13:16:36.964-04:00Kenny, when you're right, you're right. Ha...Kenny, when you're right, you're right. Ha. F Origin, and F EA.Dimentionalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15551331647484011521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-59129082434045418262019-02-02T16:23:57.657-05:002019-02-02T16:23:57.657-05:00Hi. As always, thanks for another terrific entry ...Hi. As always, thanks for another terrific entry in a great body of work!<br /><br />I've also experienced seemingly random hit point losses, and I wonder if yours might be for the same reason?<br /><br />Although I can't find any hunger indicator, whenever I start losing hit points, I eat, and it stops.Rangerous the Secondhttp://www.fategatesofdawn.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-62899957924569406052018-03-22T07:55:48.792-04:002018-03-22T07:55:48.792-04:00This could be the first depiction of toilets in a ...This could be the first depiction of toilets in a CRPG, but Space Quest II had toilets predating UU. It was isometric though, not truly 3D. You do have to visit the toilets, too!<br /><br />Then again, Hollywood has conditioned me that if I want to identify a hero (or villain), I should just figure out who never uses a bathroom!Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13431741012966569454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-52213254650821105622018-03-08T23:58:00.432-05:002018-03-08T23:58:00.432-05:00(Hopefully it's fine to hotlink this)
http://...(Hopefully it's fine to hotlink this)<br /><br />http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z5gnUgLMJg/U7I-1mg3JII/AAAAAAAA03M/-ZgDfczNj8I/s1600/Ultima+-+Quest+of+the+Avatar_024.jpg<br /><br />It even has toilet paper|kaisernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-22412071620005754802018-03-08T23:54:33.786-05:002018-03-08T23:54:33.786-05:00Ultima: Quest of the Avatar for the NES, a port de...Ultima: Quest of the Avatar for the NES, a port developed by Japanese company FCI, prominently featured western toilets on the second floor of every inn for inexplicable reasons. kaisernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-14878665166073250382018-03-05T23:18:20.314-05:002018-03-05T23:18:20.314-05:00I don't think Dark Forces allowed true room-ov...I don't think Dark Forces allowed true room-over-room. It was basically a DOOM-level engine that also supported limited polygon rendering that could be used to make bridges. I don't think it even supported the sloped surfaces that the later Build/Duke3D engine was famous for.<br /><br />It also had some advanced particle rendering abilities, which could be seen via a rotating Death Star hologram in the first level.<br /><br />I should also point out that Bethesda beat iD's Quake to the punch on full polygonal 3D and mouselook with Terminator Future Shock.HunterZhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17049065099652976143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-47543882862098969402018-03-05T09:17:55.696-05:002018-03-05T09:17:55.696-05:00Oh...space invaders makes the music more frantic w...Oh...space invaders makes the music more frantic when you're close to win too :)shankaohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06194425920878224732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-60370333385421059382018-03-05T08:04:16.307-05:002018-03-05T08:04:16.307-05:00Shadow of the Colossus changes the combat music ba...<i>Shadow of the Colossus</i> changes the combat music based on the context of the battle; if you're doing well, it becomes more triumphant in tone. Of course, that's much later than <i>UU</i>.<br /><br />It's not quite the same thing but 1993's <i>The Chaos Engine</i> changes the music to be more frantic and uplifting when the player gets close to the level's exit.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-16292000545841611362018-03-05T07:50:37.955-05:002018-03-05T07:50:37.955-05:00Hang on, someone completed Jet Set Willy? I cannot...Hang on, someone completed <i>Jet Set Willy</i>? I cannot believe such a thing!thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-90429096921915369012018-03-05T05:40:44.625-05:002018-03-05T05:40:44.625-05:00I don't remember if enemies you jump into also...I don't remember if enemies you jump into also take damage (like you do from jumping into walls). But I do remember that small area leading to the Ankh on level one to contain several bats, which I would jump into, then be attacked by....Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16594966196618648451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82971318793897225882018-03-05T05:36:47.786-05:002018-03-05T05:36:47.786-05:00Jumping around is fun! Also, for careful jumps, sh...Jumping around is fun! Also, for careful jumps, shift-J does a good job. <br /><br />Ultima Underworld 2 had the "Bounce" spell for even more fun! I seem to remember there were Boots of Bouncing somewhere in that game...Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16594966196618648451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-27162530925943130132018-03-05T05:30:55.899-05:002018-03-05T05:30:55.899-05:00I think it's an important fair warning to give...I think it's an important fair warning to give early: make sure you raise that Lore skill. Otherwise, you'll never know which items are magical and which aren't! There is a high-level identify spell in the game, but if you don't even know what's magical, there is just too much junk lying around to cast that spell on. For instance, an innocuous pair of leather boots or a leather cap can have an enchantment on them that make them much better than the chain or plate you'd usually be wearing by the time you found them.<br /><br />Don't worry overmuch yet, but do something about it at some point. I don't think there's too much magical stuff on level 1 (rkprcg sbe gur irel tbbq fprcger lbh nyernql sbhaq).Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16594966196618648451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-66772997236886387122018-03-05T05:26:28.437-05:002018-03-05T05:26:28.437-05:00If I remember correctly, the lever puzzle connects...If I remember correctly, the lever puzzle connects to the jumping puzzle you already solved, that led you to the master builder's grave. The levers would set the height of the platforms you can use to reach the grave, so solving the lever puzzle makes the jumping easier.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16594966196618648451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-12437180576663926102018-03-05T05:24:46.464-05:002018-03-05T05:24:46.464-05:00You can plant the seed anywhere with bare earth. A...You can plant the seed anywhere with bare earth. And you can pick the seed up later (the newly grown silver tree will disintegrate when touched just like the old one), to reset your "respawn point".Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16594966196618648451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-22053149292577541512018-03-04T14:36:32.448-05:002018-03-04T14:36:32.448-05:00Further notes:
- The dynamic music does more than...Further notes:<br /><br />- The dynamic music does more than one thinks at first. Not only does it change to battle music when a combat starts, it also smoothly changes to become more triumphant when the enemy is very low on hit points, and it becomes dark and foreboding when the player's hit points come close to zero. Which other games do *this*?<br /><br />- It's baffling how many little simulation aspects are unobtrusively integrated into the game. For example, in the screenshot above subtitled "The scene as Bragit described it", you can close and open the portcullis from inside the cell by using the pole (left-clicking on it when it's in the inventory) on the button (right-click) because the pole extends your reach and still works through the portcullis.<br /><br />- There seem to be more spells than those in the manual and quick reference card; at least, I found a note with the spell "Uus Por" for a "Large Jump" which I don't see in the list in the manual. I can't cast it yet though because I lack the runes.<br /><br />- At the end of the level my character already is much more powerful - with a sword skill level of 3, and plenty of mana for the "Magic Arrow" spell - which I find regrettable, because the desperate low-level scrounging at the beginning was really atmospheric.<br /><br />- The game already feels a lot like the much later Thief and System Shock 2.Bitmapnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-74618314529253138962018-03-04T14:32:02.311-05:002018-03-04T14:32:02.311-05:00Ultima Underworld is a game I intended for the las...Ultima Underworld is a game I intended for the last couple of years to try again.<br /><br />Back in the 90s I watched my brother play UW1 on an 486, but I didn't play it myself. Around 2002, after playing Ultima 7: Black Gate, I proceeded to the Underworld games, and chose UW2 because UW1's small view window, janky texture rendering and lack of sample-based sound effects bothered me. I played about half of UW2 until I lost interest or lacked the time to play further.<br /><br />Interestingly, over the years I've read several statements from people who preferred UW1 to UW2 because the latter has completely separate levels in different dimensions, whereas UW1 has one continuous dungeon with a better sense of place.<br /><br />So that I don't have to avoid reading the Addict's articles on UW1, I stopped pushing it into the future and started playing it yesterday. The small view window doesn't bother me anymore because I've got a much bigger monitor than in 2002, and for the sound effects and music I've installed the Munt MIDI emulator with the Roland CM-32L ROMs.<br /><br />And man, this game is still both revolutionary and a lot of fun. Here are some things I noticed in addition to the two articles we've had until now:<br /><br />- The first level is pretty ingenuously designed in my opinion. The first couple of rooms teach the game mechanics, but very soon multiple paths open up. It's likely that you will fall into one of the arms of the underground river at some point, and you'll have to get out of the water somewhere else, which means that for a while there is no familiar path back to where you came from. In my case I just used the opportunity to explore these other areas wherever I ended up, and later on the explored areas connected to a whole.<br /><br />- The level is big enough to feature lots of different discernible areas: the settlements of the humans, green goblins and gray goblins, another place where a couple of rogue green goblins live, a spiders' lair and a crypt. Despite the level layout limitations (tiles and 90° and 45° angled walls), the designer managed to give the areas their distinctive looks; for example the floor in the spiders's lair slopes up and down and the walls are very irregular.<br /><br />- It's a lot of fun to annotate the automap!<br /><br />- The low view distance makes the level appear bigger than it is, and the player moves into unknown areas more cautiously because he can't see far.<br /><br />- The points above lead to a sense of exploration that I haven't felt in a long time. Even the very first level pulls no punches and expects a lot from the player. Without the automap the place would be very confusing.<br /><br />- The first couple of rooms, monsters and NPCs serve as an excellent introduction. In contrast, many Ultima titles dump you right into the world, and then you'd receive a lot of lore dumps from the NPCs. UW2 does that too to an extent, IIRC. Generally I think a good beginning is very important and often not done right. For example, Dungeon Master 1 has a good beginning, but Chaos Strikes Back has a horrible beginning (you're dropped right into the middle of the dungeon without rhyme or reason), and Dungeon Master 2 has a mediocre beginning.<br /><br />- I found two staircases down, and an additional way down via the gray goblin's loo. Don't know yet if one of these leads to an isolated section on the second level.<br /><br />Here's a pertinent quote from Paul Neurath, the game's lead designer, about the game's level design:<br /><br />"Often people on the team chipped in for a variety of roles. For instance, we split up responsibility for design for the dungeon levels. As the "veteran" game design hand on the team, I did the first two levels, but the other levels were done by a variety of programmers, artists, and designers on the team - and for most this was their first game design experience. In hindsight, it was somewhat miraculous how well it all fit together in the end."<br />(From http://www.ttlg.com/articles/uw2.asp)Bitmapnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-52501057599540689502018-03-04T01:53:42.451-05:002018-03-04T01:53:42.451-05:00The King's Field comparison is a common one bu...The King's Field comparison is a common one but IMO way off the mark. The only thing they really have in common with UU is that they're first person dungeon crawlers.BelatedGamerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00897424082545246646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-58252216215536787092018-03-03T15:43:01.188-05:002018-03-03T15:43:01.188-05:00Castle Master (1990) also had toilets in 3D, it ac...Castle Master (1990) also had toilets in 3D, it actually had separate toilets for men and women - in a medieval castle.<br />Didiernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-77704093086376942722018-03-03T08:55:39.984-05:002018-03-03T08:55:39.984-05:00It's also a symbol that most of your players a...It's also a symbol that most of your players are going to be immediately familiar with. They could have used other grave markers from other cultures but, you know, before the internet and wikipedia and Google blah blah blah.Mr. Pavonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13286558267156792637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-23063499194953147782018-03-03T06:58:51.128-05:002018-03-03T06:58:51.128-05:00I'm not sure clone is the right term for these...I'm not sure clone is the right term for these, but I often hear King's Field compared to UU. The King's Field games are sort of predecessors to Demon's Souls / Dark Souls / Bloodborne. killias2https://www.blogger.com/profile/00398131197947456691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-21313317441761480592018-03-03T03:55:18.311-05:002018-03-03T03:55:18.311-05:00Plus who could forget the groundbreaking Spectrum ...Plus who could forget the groundbreaking Spectrum game, Diarrhea Dan.<br /><br />http://www.nordinho.net/vbull/attachments/other-cool-games/23944d1169510780-diarrhea-dan-dan.jpg<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com