Computer ports of Ultima Underworld
Ultima Underworld was not widely ported to other systems. Unlike privious games, Ultima Underworld was written only for the PC in the western video gaming market. Japan, however, later saw releases for the PC-9801 and FM Towns systems (as well as a PSX-port).
The Original Game[edit]
The IBM PC Original[edit]
The original IBM PC version of Ultima Underworld was released in March 1992, using a custom-built engine with 3D-environments which were revolutionary at the time.
The game does run at a 320x200 resolution with 256 colors and sound support is limited to either Soundblaster or Roland MT-32. The sound effects are all pumped through the Adlib-mode and the only digital effects are the speech in the introdutcion. As stated above, the 3D-engine of the game was highly impressive at the time - for comparison, Wolfenstein 3D, which came out two months later, was way more primitive. However, the origin of the game as a non-Ultima product is very obvious, as many strange things remain that do not mesh well with the world of Britannia.
The game was retailed on either four 3.5" or five high density 5.25" floppy disks. On later compilations, it came fully patched on a CD.
IBM PC – intoduction
IBM PC – in-game
The Japanese Computer Ports[edit]
The PC-9801-Port[edit]
The PC-9801-port of Ultima Underworld was published in 1993 by Electronic Arts, a year after the initial IBM PC release.
Graphics from the IBM PC version were upscaled to the PC-9801's maximum resolution of 640x400; however, with no artwork redrawn, only the game's text takes advantage of the system's greater fidelity (and even that not in the cutscenes). The game, unlike the original, does not sport speech in the intro. Additionally, the audion quality of the music is notably inferior to the music in the original.
Additionally, due to the high demands on the hardware, a 16-color version of the game was released in 1994. However, as of this day no screenshots have emerged, how this 16-color version did fare compared to the original artwork.
The PC-9801 port was retailed on either eight 3.5" or seven 5.25" floppy disks.
PC-98 – introduction sequence
PC-98 – in-game
The FM Towns-Port[edit]
In 1993, this port for the FM Towns was published by Electronic Arts.
Like the port for the PC-98, this port has its graphics upscaled to 640x400, but again only the text takes advantage of that, otherwise the artwork stayed untouched. Interestingly, while the game was published on CD, the game does not take advantage of that fact for the music, which is created by the computer's sound chip. Instead, the audio tracks are used for the speech in the into - a puzzling decision.
The game retailed on CD-Rom only.
FM Towns introduction
FM Towns conversation
See Also[edit]
| Computer Ports | |
|---|---|
| Games | Ultima I ☥ Ultima II ☥ Ultima III ☥ Ultima IV ☥ Ultima V ☥ Ultima VI ☥ Savage Empire ☥ Underworld ☥ Underworld II |