@MrMAdiusC Step 1. do things to raise your standing in the 8 virtues i.e. give to the poor, let non evil/monsters creatures flee from a fight, ect. Step 2. once you gained partial Avatarhood in a virtue find the key too, mantra and location of it's shrine(not far from it's corresponding town) and meditate there for 3 days do this for all 8, now find 7 party members again one for each virtue and head to each of the eight dungeons and find a special stone.
I believe Ultima III for Apple ][ was the first soundtrack for a personal computer game. (There were sound effects in prior games, but not sound tracks). Can anyone think of an earlier example? Does anyone know who wrote the Ultima III music?
Wow... This really makes me sad. Sad because this reminds me of my early childhood and that those times never come back. Such a great game, one made with love, unlike most games these days...
@Ceaker247 second to that. i spent full month at a friends house at around '88 when i was 13 playing through ultima IV. my mother asked if my mail should be diverted to that address
This game had such an ADVENTURE feel to it. It's something I think is lost nowadays with games. To those who were to young to play this game when it was released, these games are harder than what u guys play. No automaping, no quest highlights to make everything easy. Pad and pen baby!
Not sure if it's nostalgia or the fact this game actually was a REAL RPG game instead of a graphics contest but I burned many an hour letting Ultima IV & my Atari 800xl let my imagination run wild. I play it using DOSBox & still find myself intrigued at it's ability to let me escape from reality for a while. Gotta love it.
Ahh... This brings me back good memories, at the good old days, when the story and play were more important then the graphics. Ultima IV stands for me on the second place of the Ultima RPG.
My Favorite of all the ultima's. I would love to see this redone in 3D like Ultima 9. But have the world much bigger then Ultima 9's. Adn not mess up any of the Game it's self. Like adding stupid stuff to it. Just make it that if you can touch it. You can use it. Just like in Ultima 7.
This game (and Ultima III ) are the reasons why I still have the C64 I bought back in 1983. There are no other games that will give you the original RPG experience like Ultima 3 and Ultima 4 will. I still have the maps I drew 25+ years ago..
actually theere is a Linux version od this game with new graphics and sound but keeping the style that makes this game so fucking awesome, if you want to try it then add a third party media, i dont really remember wath media had this game so i will put them all. also, i dont know if these medias would work on another distro other than mandriva 2009 so see your self if you're a linux user
I would love Richard to come back and make a new ultima in the same style as IV and V. Just make some very nice 2d graphics and weave another great tale. Ultima V's story was so cool. going into dungeons down to underworld. Great stuff.
Agreed! I miss the old-school tiled graphics from back then, as well as the epic storytelling. Can't remember how many hours I logged in Ultima III/IV on my Atari 800XL, but they were many and have stuck with me all these years later. Marks of truly great games.
To me playing Ultima IV and hearing that haunting music was like stepping into an ancient and forgotten land full of wonder and mystery. Quite unlike say AD&D computer games which never had that suspension of disbelief in their worlds. Baldur's Gate was fun but felt fake.
You said it. I think Garriot's own personal enthusiasm and obsessions really comes through in these early Ultimas, unlike these modern "Games By Committee".
@Umma6umma I agree. He hit his stride with Ultima IV. This became his "world". I am unaware if you played the earlier Ultimas', however, Ultima I-III were essentially D&D with orcs, elves, clerics, and even bobbits!
@willconq so true,Garriot considers Ultima 4 and 7: the black gate his masterpieces and the best of the series, though for me it would be 4, 5, and 7 those were my favorites of the main series.
@blacbraun Agreed. I had the Atari 800XL version, and playing it each time was an escape from the real world for awhile. Such rich environments and characters, all rendered gloriously in 8-bit graphics. We truly lived in the glory days of computer fantasy gaming.
@kirk1968 I never knew the 800XL had a version of Ultima IV. It was a golden age of role playing games. Of computer games in general. When the computer and interesting and intelligent games rules (not like now).
@blacbraun Yep! It was an amazing time...games came with cloth maps, metal trinkets, and BOOKS to draw you into the game's realm. Today we get PDF files and a DVD-ROM, pretty much it. Really miss the old studios' attention to art direction and detail, which seem to have been sacrificed for the sake of money. Well, we at least got to experience the "golden age" firsthand :) It just doesn't seem like an experience with today's games, more like a task list.
@Umma6umma There is no Music on the IBM PC / MS-DOS version, only Apple II, Atari 8-bit and Commodore 64 I believe (this one is the Commodore 64 version)
@siskavard the PC version of Ultima 4 didn't have music unless you snag a midi mod for it but it wont have the same warm c64 sid sound but eh nothing's perfect there is also a vga graphic mod for the pc u4 as well if your intrested
It certainly was. Not in terms of graphics but in terms of sound, play balance, and a whole new way of character advancement. No longer was gold and strength the only qualities, virtue was the most important goal of all!
It wasn't too complex for me! I fill the entire map with treasure chests! Unfortunately, I couldn't do the same for the sea! Damn those monsters on the sea!! >=P
I guess back then, they encourage people to finish those RPG games! Now a day, they just make sure YOU never finish in any of those MMORPGs.... lol!!
Oh, the only way to kill Lord British is to commandeer a galleon, raise the pirate flag, sing the pirate song, and fire the demi-culverin at him! Isn't that the objective of the game.... storm the castle!?
Hehe.... I probably should go play FPS and RTS now such as Dungeon Keeper! See the Dragon and the Bat like Griffin! They should be un-chained and free to kick some pathetic hero wannabe arses!!
yah this was an awesome day the first day i played this. i remember getting home and opening the box to check out the map and all.. then loading up to this awesome soundtrack!
Wow, this brings back memories of long nights of playing U4 on the C64 with the mesmerizing sound of the SID chip music. One of the best games ever, thanks for posting.
yea i remember long ago setting up my C64 which had been sitting in a box for years and at about 3 AM after figuring it all out, hearing the intro music to ultima IV and almost crying :)
Wow ... even nearly 20 years later ... I still remember the music. Haunting and beautiful melodies done by Kenneth W. Arnold (I think) who also composed the music for Ultima III also on the C-64.
Ultima IV is free at the Good Old Games website, works on XP, Vista and 7
lingojac 1 month ago
how the fuck do you play this game?!?!?!?!
MrMAdiusC 2 months ago
@MrMAdiusC Step 1. do things to raise your standing in the 8 virtues i.e. give to the poor, let non evil/monsters creatures flee from a fight, ect. Step 2. once you gained partial Avatarhood in a virtue find the key too, mantra and location of it's shrine(not far from it's corresponding town) and meditate there for 3 days do this for all 8, now find 7 party members again one for each virtue and head to each of the eight dungeons and find a special stone.
Evilmonkey66699 2 weeks ago
DeaconVorbis,
Kenneth W. Arnold wrote the music for Ultima III, IV, and I think V as well. Great stuff that triggers a flood of memories for so many of us.
dcc1974 2 months ago
I believe Ultima III for Apple ][ was the first soundtrack for a personal computer game. (There were sound effects in prior games, but not sound tracks). Can anyone think of an earlier example? Does anyone know who wrote the Ultima III music?
DeaconVorbis 5 months ago
Love this intro! Love it! Probably the greatest intro ever!
likegaston 6 months ago
Wow... This really makes me sad. Sad because this reminds me of my early childhood and that those times never come back. Such a great game, one made with love, unlike most games these days...
Ceaker247 1 year ago 2
@Ceaker247 second to that. i spent full month at a friends house at around '88 when i was 13 playing through ultima IV. my mother asked if my mail should be diverted to that address
elaintahra 4 months ago
Oh, I loved the music of this game. C64 version here, too.
Shashkoila 1 year ago
This game had such an ADVENTURE feel to it. It's something I think is lost nowadays with games. To those who were to young to play this game when it was released, these games are harder than what u guys play. No automaping, no quest highlights to make everything easy. Pad and pen baby!
Scottyl35 1 year ago
The greatest RPG of all time
blindrobotz 1 year ago 5
Not sure if it's nostalgia or the fact this game actually was a REAL RPG game instead of a graphics contest but I burned many an hour letting Ultima IV & my Atari 800xl let my imagination run wild. I play it using DOSBox & still find myself intrigued at it's ability to let me escape from reality for a while. Gotta love it.
1Bonehed 1 year ago
Ahh... This brings me back good memories, at the good old days, when the story and play were more important then the graphics. Ultima IV stands for me on the second place of the Ultima RPG.
Arcachnar 1 year ago
My Favorite of all the ultima's. I would love to see this redone in 3D like Ultima 9. But have the world much bigger then Ultima 9's. Adn not mess up any of the Game it's self. Like adding stupid stuff to it. Just make it that if you can touch it. You can use it. Just like in Ultima 7.
MSFproductions 1 year ago
@MSFproductions no you wouldn't like to see it redone just look up the psx ultima underworld and see how crappy it is
THISSONGISBULSHIT 1 year ago
Best game ever made ! Best serie of all time !!!! i played Ultima when i was young and the music is still in my mind ....
xavosmont 1 year ago
This game (and Ultima III ) are the reasons why I still have the C64 I bought back in 1983. There are no other games that will give you the original RPG experience like Ultima 3 and Ultima 4 will. I still have the maps I drew 25+ years ago..
kathyf123 2 years ago 5
actually theere is a Linux version od this game with new graphics and sound but keeping the style that makes this game so fucking awesome, if you want to try it then add a third party media, i dont really remember wath media had this game so i will put them all. also, i dont know if these medias would work on another distro other than mandriva 2009 so see your self if you're a linux user
fexuzdannie 2 years ago
I would love Richard to come back and make a new ultima in the same style as IV and V. Just make some very nice 2d graphics and weave another great tale. Ultima V's story was so cool. going into dungeons down to underworld. Great stuff.
cook1tj 2 years ago
Agreed! I miss the old-school tiled graphics from back then, as well as the epic storytelling. Can't remember how many hours I logged in Ultima III/IV on my Atari 800XL, but they were many and have stuck with me all these years later. Marks of truly great games.
kirk1968 2 years ago
the music is so good man :D
MarderLerry 2 years ago
To me playing Ultima IV and hearing that haunting music was like stepping into an ancient and forgotten land full of wonder and mystery. Quite unlike say AD&D computer games which never had that suspension of disbelief in their worlds. Baldur's Gate was fun but felt fake.
blacbraun 2 years ago 15
You said it. I think Garriot's own personal enthusiasm and obsessions really comes through in these early Ultimas, unlike these modern "Games By Committee".
Umma6umma 2 years ago
@Umma6umma I agree. He hit his stride with Ultima IV. This became his "world". I am unaware if you played the earlier Ultimas', however, Ultima I-III were essentially D&D with orcs, elves, clerics, and even bobbits!
willconq 2 months ago
@willconq so true,Garriot considers Ultima 4 and 7: the black gate his masterpieces and the best of the series, though for me it would be 4, 5, and 7 those were my favorites of the main series.
Evilmonkey66699 2 weeks ago
@blacbraun Agreed. I had the Atari 800XL version, and playing it each time was an escape from the real world for awhile. Such rich environments and characters, all rendered gloriously in 8-bit graphics. We truly lived in the glory days of computer fantasy gaming.
kirk1968 1 year ago
@kirk1968 I never knew the 800XL had a version of Ultima IV. It was a golden age of role playing games. Of computer games in general. When the computer and interesting and intelligent games rules (not like now).
blacbraun 1 year ago
@blacbraun Yep! It was an amazing time...games came with cloth maps, metal trinkets, and BOOKS to draw you into the game's realm. Today we get PDF files and a DVD-ROM, pretty much it. Really miss the old studios' attention to art direction and detail, which seem to have been sacrificed for the sake of money. Well, we at least got to experience the "golden age" firsthand :) It just doesn't seem like an experience with today's games, more like a task list.
kirk1968 1 year ago
Whoa theres music?
I had such a hard time getting this to run on windows, but found DOSBox and it seems to work, but I never heard any music!
siskavard 3 years ago
You might be missing a setting to emulate the sound blaster or adlib card, hence no music.
Umma6umma 3 years ago
@Umma6umma There is no Music on the IBM PC / MS-DOS version, only Apple II, Atari 8-bit and Commodore 64 I believe (this one is the Commodore 64 version)
TheRealTeaRex 9 months ago
Yes there is music. What you are seeing is the C64 version of the game. Probably the best version ever made.
kathyf123 2 years ago
this version isnt dos, its c64 which was far superior to most pc's (dos) for music and sound.
achillesian 2 years ago
@siskavard the PC version of Ultima 4 didn't have music unless you snag a midi mod for it but it wont have the same warm c64 sid sound but eh nothing's perfect there is also a vga graphic mod for the pc u4 as well if your intrested
Evilmonkey66699 1 year ago
long live lord british
jahovahut 3 years ago 13
he doesnt own origin anymore :o
MintyMoogle 2 years ago
This game was way ahead of its time.
IpONu4money 3 years ago 5
It certainly was. Not in terms of graphics but in terms of sound, play balance, and a whole new way of character advancement. No longer was gold and strength the only qualities, virtue was the most important goal of all!
blacbraun 2 years ago
This and Ultima III are the fathers of all RPG games. Terrific fun playing those games.
kathyf123 3 years ago 5
ロード・ブリティッシュ？
・
itokenn210 3 years ago
You said it brother
UMpt835 3 years ago
And to think the designer of this game is floating around in space right now as I type this.
Umma6umma 3 years ago 7
@Umma6umma in ultima 1, you actually COULD go into space...
Danswan24 1 year ago
@Umma6umma and now he is in austin texas (same city I live in)
THISSONGISBULSHIT 1 year ago
Ah Nostalgia!!! Thanks for posting this. It makes me want to start up my c64 emulator and play this all over again.
jkeigh 3 years ago
I had this game for my Master System. It was a great game but too complex for a 12 year old^^
HipHop1981 4 years ago
HipHop1981,
It wasn't too complex for me! I fill the entire map with treasure chests! Unfortunately, I couldn't do the same for the sea! Damn those monsters on the sea!! >=P
I guess back then, they encourage people to finish those RPG games! Now a day, they just make sure YOU never finish in any of those MMORPGs.... lol!!
IronJackalTw 3 years ago
HipHop1981,
Oh, the only way to kill Lord British is to commandeer a galleon, raise the pirate flag, sing the pirate song, and fire the demi-culverin at him! Isn't that the objective of the game.... storm the castle!?
Hehe.... I probably should go play FPS and RTS now such as Dungeon Keeper! See the Dragon and the Bat like Griffin! They should be un-chained and free to kick some pathetic hero wannabe arses!!
IronJackalTw 3 years ago
yah this was an awesome day the first day i played this. i remember getting home and opening the box to check out the map and all.. then loading up to this awesome soundtrack!
ssidiouss 4 years ago
Wow, this brings back memories of long nights of playing U4 on the C64 with the mesmerizing sound of the SID chip music. One of the best games ever, thanks for posting.
LMDAVE29 4 years ago 2
yea i remember long ago setting up my C64 which had been sitting in a box for years and at about 3 AM after figuring it all out, hearing the intro music to ultima IV and almost crying :)
d5h 4 years ago 3
Wow ... even nearly 20 years later ... I still remember the music. Haunting and beautiful melodies done by Kenneth W. Arnold (I think) who also composed the music for Ultima III also on the C-64.
Thanks very much for posting.
nightowl8936 3 years ago