Ultima The Ultima Underworld I & II Thread

[Tuco Benedicto Pacifico]

Bit of a tangent, but... Did they ever complete that Unity port for UU?
Is it currently in a RELIABLY playable state?

 

[JBro]

Bit of a tangent, but... Did they ever complete that Unity port for UU?
Is it currently in a RELIABLY playable state?

No, but I think Hank Morgan is back on the job.
https://github.com/hankmorgan

 

[vota DC]

IIRC the 'random' stats generated are sequential, so if you pick a class and randomize the stats 18 times, then quit the game and do it all again, you get the same identical stats.

As for getting 30 Strength with a Druid, it's impossible to do so in UU2 now.

In UU1 the Druid's stat-range is Str: High, Dex: Low, IQ: High.
In UU2 the Druid's stat-range is Str: Med, Dex: Med, IQ: High.

In UU2 only the Fighter and Paladin classes have Str at High, but the Ranger and the Shepherd cannot be ruled out as their random stat-bonuses may land a high Str-value. So those four have a shot at Str 30, the others do not.

In uu1 paladin carries less stuff than fighter.

 

[ShaggyMoose]

I seem to recall there were some central staircase points in UU1 where you could dump key items and get them back at any time without too much effort? Of course, it probably took a while to open this section up.

 

[Tuco Benedicto Pacifico]

No, but I think Hank Morgan is back on the job.
https://github.com/hankmorgan

Oh well, see ya in five years.

 

[Unkillable Cat]

I seem to recall there were some central staircase points in UU1 where you could dump key items and get them back at any time without too much effort? Of course, it probably took a while to open this section up.

Most of the central staircase is collapsed, but there are probably several good places within the Abyss where everything is within an equally long distance.

Clever usage of the Moonstone can help loads with this as well.

Personally I always used King Goldthirst's bedroom, but due to engine limitations it's probably better to have a few locations scattered across different floors to store your loot.

 

[Dave the Druid]

Bit of a tangent, but... Did they ever complete that Unity port for UU?
Is it currently in a RELIABLY playable state?

Nah. For the time being I've been using Ultima Underworld Portable. Really easy to set up with the GOG versions. Works for both games. It's DOSbox staging, properly set up with the MT-32 soundtrack. It's got the brightness hack enabled and an option to toggle on and off a wasd+mouselook hack in the launcher. Until hell freezes over and the source code leaks its the best way to play them today imo.

 

[LarryTyphoid]

Am I the only one who likes the jumping puzzles in these games? Gives the dungeons a great feel of verticality. Underworld 2 feels like a fantasy version of Super Mario 64 at times.

 

[Maggot]

I appreciate their existence in a 1992/1993 game but it's annoying that the only reliable way to make longer jumps is by using the mouse driven controls.

 

[Morpheus Kitami]

I feel like I would have appreciated them more if I didn't feel like I was rolling the dice as to whether or not the game would let me successfully jump somewhere. The jumping physics don't really feel right and the games are pretty unique in how they feel wrong. The player's collision box is off and the game establishes how off it is early on in a way that doesn't really work for it.

 

[Spukrian]

Am I the only one who likes the jumping puzzles in these games? Gives the dungeons a great feel of verticality. Underworld 2 feels like a fantasy version of Super Mario 64 at times.

As I remember it, the jumping was much easier in the second game than in the first.

 

[Snufkin]

I hear those Ultima underground games are classics, but whenever i start them i get huge DERP feel.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

I hear those Ultima underground games are classics, but whenever i start them i get huge DERP feel.

The controls and interface require some time to acclimate, but it's well worth the effort for the strong exploration and level design. Be certain to play The Stygian Abyss first, since it has no real connection to the Ultima series (Ultima references were belatedly worked into the game, after Origin became the publisher), while the second game has a tougher introduction that might have expected players to retain knowledge from the first game.

 

[JBro]

Had to bust out the guide because some of this shit is fairly obtuse.

 

[Maggot]

Had to bust out the guide because some of this shit is fairly obtuse.

Make sure to use the generic interaction mode instead of constantly switching between look, key, use, etc.

 

[Mr. Pink]

It could be happening...

 

[JBro]

It could be happening...

WHAT

 

[Lyre Mors]

It could be happening...

Seriously, wtf?

 

[Modron]

Seriously, wtf?

ITZ

 

[octavius]

It could be happening...

Puberty at last?

 

[KeighnMcDeath]

I know the unity question was already asked but I wanted to watch an older video. Damn! The shit ya gotta do (also, I can’t make out his screen very well).

 

[ryz]

Had to bust out the guide because some of this shit is fairly obtuse.

Make sure to use the generic interaction mode instead of constantly switching between look, key, use, etc.

What is "generic interaction mode"? Playing UW1 with the mouselook patch and am on floor 3 right now. It's a blast.

 

[Maggot]

Had to bust out the guide because some of this shit is fairly obtuse.

Make sure to use the generic interaction mode instead of constantly switching between look, key, use, etc.

What is "generic interaction mode"? Playing UW1 with the mouselook patch and am on floor 3 right now. It's a blast.

If you don't select one of the use modes, the game will generally handle it for you based on context when interacting with npcs, doors, items.

 

[ryz]

Nice, thanks. Is there a hotkey for drawing one's weapon? Also do items like the fishing pole and pickaxe have special functions? If yes is there a reliable way to "use" them or to know which items are useful? Interactions in this game aren't really *explicit*

 

[Unkillable Cat]

These replies are based on the UI of the base game, but you should be able to manage.

Is there a hotkey for drawing one's weapon?

Not that I recall, but it's been a while.

Also do items like the fishing pole and pickaxe have special functions? If yes is there a reliable way to "use" them or to know which items are useful?

The fishing pole can be 'Used' on a body of water to catch fish (or was it when close to a body of water?) Anyway, click the bottom left-hand icon on the fishing pole. No bait is required.

The pickaxe can be used to break down the 3d polygonal-looking rocks into smaller rocks. This is required at least once in-game to reach certain places and things. (Use in same way as above.)

Interactions in this game aren't really *explicit*

Try dragging a cob of corn onto a lit torch.