Console Ports of Ultima IV

Ultima IV is an interesting case in that there actually exist two console versions of it. Nintendo wasn't happy that Origin had deveolped a port for Sega as well and the threat of going to the courts delayed the Sega port. However, the threats proved empty, creating the interesting situation to compare two console versions of the same game.

It is very interesting how totally different they are from each other. Both games were released in 1990.

The Nintendo Version
The Nintendo Version for the NES is practically the same conversion idea as the NES-Port of Ultima III. The graphics are a little less colorful this time, but still very anime-like. The interface, like the last conversion, was completely removed from sight, apart from the moon phase-indicator.

The sound of the game was changed, with none of the music of the original remaining. The new music is not as repetitive as the one of the previous port, but still after some time reportedly tempted players to mute the TV. Sound FX was the standard of the time.

The game had content changes, which include:


 * Complete removal of the intro, meaning that the game jumps right to the virtue test.


 * No option for a female Avatar, also the name annoyingly can only be 5 letters long.


 * Gamplay changes like at the shrines or after finding the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom.


 * Annoyingly, monsters are invisible on the map, until the player runs into them.


 * The battle system has become very slow.


 * Many tiles, like water, have no animation, which looks real odd.


 * The party size was reduced to four without a reason. The game goal of showing leadership to all professions is lost with this.

The Sega Version
This version for the Sega Master System is very interesting, since unlike the Nintendo port, it stays very close and faithful to the original. This already starts with the game box, which not only uses the original box art (and as the only Ultima IV port, also uses the picture in-game), but also included a paper map of Britannia (the same as in the original), The History of Britannia and The Book of Mystic Wisdom, only shrinked in size, and a detailled manual. This is a lot compared to the NES port, which only had a short instruction booklet.

The game itself is very much like the 16-bit versions on the computers, only with much improved graphics (meaning "western-style" graphics). The music is the same as the original's, only of course also in improved quality. The game also includes the complete introduction.

There are essentially only two changes in the game:


 * The first is the dialogue system. The player can only ask things he/she knows about (as in Ultima VII).


 * The second concerns the dungeons. While it would have been possible to show them in 3D, all the dungeons are 2D from the top, which makes navigating in them easier and they also resemble more the Ultima VI dungeons.

Additionally, the game was mostly released for the Master System in Europe and only few units reached the USA. Also, there are three different language versions (complete translation of game and manuals): German, English an French.