Japanese clue books

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A large number of Japanese clue books were released by various companies in Japan to assist with the games and their console ports from Ultima III to Ultima VII. Books were, of course, also written for the original computer versions.

Books Sorted by Game[edit]

Ultima Trilogy I Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book. The English part of the title is "ROLE PLAYING GAME HANDBOOK". Japanese forms the remainder of the text. Drawing of medieval armour and armaments can be seen. There is also a crystal ball on the ground.
Ultima I II III Handbook

Ultima I II III Handbook

Title: ウルティマI II IIIハンドブック (Ultima I II III Handbook)
Publisher: BNN
Author: 生田治 (Osamu Ikuta), 松本浩 (Hiroshi Matsumoto)
Published: April 25, 1990
Original List Price: ¥1600
Length: 224 pages
ISBN: 4-89369-105-8

While the exact contents of this publication are not known, it is known that in the style of the publisher, the book was printed in monochrome and collects solutions for the first three games. It was published at the same time the collection was released in Japan for the FM Towns.

Ultima III Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book titled "Ultima™". Japanese serves as subtext as well as other tag lines and notations. An anime drawing of medieval warriors battling monsters is included.
Ultima Perfect Solution

Ultima Kanzen Kouryakuhou (Perfect Solution)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 完全攻略法 (Kanzen Kouryakuhou/Perfect Solution) 〜恐怖のエクソダス〜 (Kyofu no Exodus/Fearsome Exodus)
Publisher: ポニカ出版 (Ponica shuppan/Ponica publishing)
Author: Tatsuya Yoshimura, Hiroshi Suga, et al.
Published: October 10, 1987
Original List Price: ¥380
Length: 96 pages
ISBN: 4-594-00178-5

This is a clue book for the NES-port of Ultima III from PONICA Publishing, written by Tatsuya Yoshimura, Hiroshi Suga, et al. and published October 10, 1987 for a price of ¥380. The book offers materials for a clue book: character tips, the items, weapons and armour, all maps and a complete solution. Of note is, that the book has two more editions, which do differ in their layout and parts of the content. Only the final version includes a small two-page comic. The revisions were called Perfect Solution Technique and Perfect Solution Technique Final Revision.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima". Japanese serves as subtext as well as other tag lines and notations. An anime drawing of medieval warriors battling monsters is included. Credits are given to "©Origin Systems, Inc." and "©PONY CANYON, Inc."
Ultima Perfect Solution Technique

Ultima Kyofu no Exodus Kanzen Koryaku Technique Book (Perfect Solution Technique)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 恐怖のエクソダス (Kyofu no Exodus/Fearsome Exodus) 完全攻略テクニックブック (Kanzen Kouryakuhou Technique Book/Perfect Solution Technique Book)
Publisher: 徳間コミュニケーションズ (Tokuma Communications)
Author: 野村宏平(Kouhei Nomura), 柴尾豊太郎 (Toyotaro Shibao) aka 柴尾英令 (Hidenori Shibao)
Published: November 10, 1987
Original List Price: ¥600
Length: 128 pages
ISBN: 4-88658-040-8

The evolution of the Perfect Solution above. It basically contains the same content, only somewhat expanded.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima". Japanese serves as subtext as well as other tag lines and notations. An anime drawing of medieval warriors battling monsters is included.
Ultima Perfect Solution Technique Final Revision

Ultima Kyofu no Exodus Kanzen Koryaku Technique Book Kanketsuhen (Perfect Solution Technique Final Revision)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 恐怖のエクソダス (Kyofu no Exodus/Fearsome Exodus) 完全攻略テクニックブック (Kanzen Kouryakuhou Technique Book/Perfect Solution Technique Book) 完結編 (Kanketsuhen/Final Edition)
Publisher: 徳間コミュニケーションズ (Tokuma Communications)
Author: 菊島恵三 (Keizo Kikushima), 臼杵明宏 (Akihiro Usuki)
Published: December 30, 1987
Original List Price: ¥400
Length: 64 pages
ISBN: 4-88658-074-2

Considering this advertised itself as a final edition, with only half the pages, this book was radically cut down from Perfect Solution Technique. On the final two pages it does contain a short comic strip.

Cover of a book almost entirely in Japanese. A series of anime warriors are apparently in combat against unseen enemies.
Perfect Guidebook to Overcome

Ultima Kyoufu no EXODUS Kanzen Hissho Guidebook (Perfect Guidebook to Overcome)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 恐怖のエクソダス (Kyofu no Exodus/Fearsome Exodus) 完全必勝本 (Kanzen Hisshoubon/Guidebook for Perfect Victory)
Publisher: JICC出版局 (JICC shuppankyoku/JICC publishing)
Author: ベニー松山 (Benny Matsuyama), コルクあちや&ノースリーブス (Cork Achiya & No Sleeves), 佐野玲子 (Reiko Sano)
Published: November 9, 1987
Original List Price: ¥380
Length: 64 pages + map
ISBN: 4-88063-320-8

This is another clue book for the NES-port of Ultima III. It was released by JICC in November 1987 at a retail price of ¥380 and is 65 pages long. While basically containing the same information as the book from PONICA, it sports many highly deformed anime illustrations and is printed in full color. A foldout map containing maps of all the dungeons and the overworld was included.

Ultima IV Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book titled "Ultima". Japanese text is sporadically spread out. A drawing of a woman, dressed as a mage faces forward, holding an orb with an ankh inside.
Ultima IV Clue Book

Ultima: Seija eno Michi Guide (Quest of the Avatar Guide)

Title: Ultima: Seija eno Michi Guide
Publisher: Book Ltd. / Tsushin
Author:
Published: September 1989
Original List Price:
Length: 15 pages
ISBN:

There is only little information about this Ultima IV clue book. It is for the NES-port of the game and is printed in color. It provides maps of all the towns, as well as shop table, a moongate map and an explanation of the Virtue system. As far as could be reconstructed, the short length of the book is due to it being part of a series of short books to give basic help for Famicom games. The books had at least one re-issue with a new cover.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima". Sporadic Japanese text is placed throughout. An anime of a woman with long blonde hair and clad in medieval armour and armaments is featured.
Ultima IV Clue Book

Ultima: Seija eno Michi Guide (Quest of the Avatar Guide)

Title: Ultima: Seija eno Michi Guide
Publisher: Book Ltd. / Tsushin
Author:
Published: September 1989
Original List Price:
Length: 15 pages
ISBN:

Re-issue of the book above with a new cover.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima". Some Japanese text serves as part of the title as well as sporadic text elsewhere. The center features the drawing of a map with Japanese, runic and Latin text. 4 screenshots from a console game are inset.
Guidebook for Perfect Victory

Ultima Seija he no Michi Kanzen Hissho Guidebook (Guidebook for Perfect Victory)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 聖者への道 (Seija he no Michi/Road to Saint) 完全必勝ガイドブック (Kanzen Hisshou Guidebook/Guidebook for Perfect Victory)
Publisher: JICC出版局 (JICC shuppankyoku/JICC publishing)
Author: 北枕獲 (Eru? Kitamakura), 外山鹿之介 (Shikanosuke Sotoyama?Tonoyama?), 久生・K (Kujo? K), 作山哲広 (Tetsuhiro Sakuyama)
Published: October 20, 1989
Original List Price: ¥660
Length: 128 pages
ISBN: 4-88063-663-0

This clue book was made for the NES-port of Ultima IV, is printed fully in color and contains among other things an explanation of all the classes, the monsters, a map of the moongate system and maps of the towns together with the offered services. While the language barrier prevents further analysis, a walkthrough is most likely included as well. Of note is, that illustrations for all of the classes (including Avatar) were drawn.

Cover of a book titled "Quest of the Avatar Hand Book". Japanese text also serves as part of the title as well as a subtitle. A drawing of a shining ankh appears at the top left. In the center is a logo consisting of a circle encompassing other circles as well as straight lines.
Ultima IV Handbook

Ultima IV Handbook

Title: ウルティマIVハンドブック (Ultima IV Handbook)
Publisher: BNN
Author: 竹山正寿 (Seiju Takeyama), 岡田明美 (Akemi Okada)
Published: March 22, 1988
Original List Price: ¥1600
Length: 220 pages
ISBN: 4-89369-045-0

While the exact contents of this publication are not known, it is known that in the style of the publisher, the book was printed in monochrome.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima" with a variety of other text in Japanese. An anime of a medieval-clad character holds an ankh. In the background, beams of light stab the ground through clouds.
Perfect Solution Technique Book

Ultima Seija he no Michi Kanzen Koryaku Technique Book (Perfect Solution Technique Book)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 聖者への道 (Seija he no Michi/Road to Saint) 完全攻略テクニックブック (Kanzen Kouryakuhou Technique Book/Perfect Solution Technique Book)
Publisher: 徳間コミュニケーションズ (Tokuma Communications)
Author: 岩本政雄 (Masao Iwamoto), cooperated with 岩瀬忠 (Tadashi Iwase)
Published: October 10, 1989
Original List Price: ¥650
Length: 112 pages
ISBN: 4-88658-186-2

Another clue book for the NES-port of Ultima IV. This one was printed fully in color and besides the walkthrough itself contains among other things a character creation guide, an analysis of the classes, a detailed book of magic, a bestiary, and of course maps and guides to all locations. The book does sport numerous specifically drawn illustrations and all the maps are hand-drawn as well. There was one revision of the book, as seen below.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima" with a variety of other text in Japanese. An anime of a medieval-clad character holds an ankh. In the background, beams of light stab the ground through clouds. Credits go to "©RICHARD A. GARRIOT", "©ORIGIN SYSTEMS INC." and "©PONYCANYON (sic) INC."
Perfect Solution Technique Book Final Revision

Ultima Seija he no Michi Kanzen Koryaku Technique Book Kanketsuhen (Perfect Solution Technique Book Final Revision)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 聖者への道 (Seija he no Michi/Road to Saint) 完全攻略テクニックブック (Kanzen Kouryakuhou Technique Book/Perfect Solution Technique Book) 完結編 (Kanketsuhen/Final Edition)
Publisher: 徳間コミュニケーションズ (Tokuma Communications)
Author: 岩瀬忠 (Tadashi Iwase)
Published: November 10, 1989
Original List Price: ¥480
Length: 64 pages
ISBN: 4-88658-200-1

This basically is a cut-down version of Perfect Solution Technique Book. While the content is the same, it was heavily compressed, losing many illustrations, while others were shrunk. That way they managed to reduce the page count to half of the original.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima IV Way of the Avatar". A drawing of a man on a rocky point confronts a stormy sea holding a staff with an ankh filial is included.
Way of the Avatar Notebook

Ultima IV Avatar ho no Michi Notebook (Way of the Avatar Notebook)

Title: ウルティマIV (Ultima IV) アバタールへの道 (Avatar He no Michi/The Way of the Avatar) ノートブック (Notebook)
Publisher: ASCII
Author: editorial staffs of ASCII LoGiN magazine, including Tetsuo Kanai (金井哲夫)
Published: September 1, 1987
Original List Price: ¥880
Length: 181 pages
ISBN: none (treated as magazine)

This book was released as 別冊ログイン (bessatsu LoGiN/LoGiN supplemental volumes) September 1987. Since it was treated as a magazine, it's not seen as a true book, even though it is very much so. The book was written for the Japanese computer port from Pony Canyon and not only sports all and everything a solution itself needs, but basically all of the information the player could ever want. Additionally, the book does sport a lot of custom-made art, making going though the book an interesting experience, even if one doesn't understand Japanese.

Ultima V Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book with "Ultima® V" in gold lettering. In a duller shade of gold is "Warriors of Destiny™" in a Gothic font. "Clue Book" appears in white above a symbol consisting of a circle with several joining lines inside.
Ultima V Clue Book

Ultima V Clue Book

Title: ウルティマV クルーブック (Ultima V Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス (Locus)
Author: 佐藤俊之 (Toshiyuki Sato), 平井太郎 (Taro Hirai), 水田俊彦 (Toshihiko Mizuta)
Published: December 20, 1990
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length:
ISBN: 4-7952-7621-8

This is a clue book for the Ultima V from Locus/Seiunsha, written by Toshiyuki Sato, Taro Hirai, and Toshihiko Mizuta. It was published December 20, 1990 for a price of ¥1800. It is known that the book is for the computer version of the game and that it is not printed in color, with maps being the raw tile data from an editor.

Cover of a book with Japanese text. A photograph of a portion of a stone structure, like a keep, is featured.
Ultima V – Complete Analysis

Ultima V Tettei Kaiseki (Complete Analysis)

Title: ウルティマV (Ultima V) 徹底解析 (Tettei Kaiseki/Complete Analysis)
Publisher: ASCII
Author: 竹内誠 (Makoto Takeuchi)
Published: October 31, 1990
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 181 pages
ISBN: 4893660748

This clue book for Ultima V is for the computer version (as the console version was never released in Japan). It is printed in monochrome and while the maps are from an editor, it does contain special illustrations for things like section headers and armour. Besides the obvious walkthrough the book at least contains a map of Britannia with all locations, maps and guides to the cities and keeps, solutions to the dungeons as well as an analysis of items, such as armour.

Cover of a book with Japanese text. The English portion of the title reads "WARRIORS OF DESINTY HANDBOOK". A high-resolution graphic of a crown with a cross on top is featured. In the background can be seen a logo with a circle encompassing other circles and various straight lines.
Ultima V Handbook

Ultima V Handbook

Title: ウルティマVハンドブック (Ultima V Handbook)
Publisher: BNN
Author: 竹山正寿 (Seiju Takeyama), 岡田明美 (Akemi Okada)
Published: September 20, 1991
Original List Price: ¥1900
Length: 256 pages
ISBN: 4-89369-116-3

This clue book for Ultima V is printed in monochrome. While the maps at first look like from an editor, they actually are hand-drawn. The book does sport numerous illustrations specifically made for this publication. Besides a walkthrough, it at least contains maps and guides to all places, a map of Britannia with all places of interest, a character guide (with portraits) and a fold-out map of the Underworld with all places of interest.

Ultima VI Clue Books[edit]

Scan of the cover of a book titled "Ultima® VI Clue Book". Some additional Japanese acts as subtext. A drawing of a medieval-clad man armed with a sword and shield stands with his foot on the chest of an anguished gargoyle.
Ultima VI Clue Book

Ultima VI Clue Book

Title: ウルティマVI クルーブック (Ultima VI Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス (Locus)
Author: 金井哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai)
Published: November 30, 1991
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 168 pages
ISBN: 4-7952-7625-0

This is a clue book for Ultima VI from Locus/Seiunsha, written by Tetsuo Kanai. It was published November 30, 1991 for a price of ¥1800.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima VI". Japanese text serves as subtext, tag lines, etc. An anime drawing of a man with long, blonde hair and dressed from neck to toe in shiny armour is prevalent. He is wearing a long, white cloak with an emblem that includes and ankh.
Ultima VI – All about the False Prophet

Ultima VI Clue Book – Itsuwari no Yogensha no Subete (All About the False Prophet)

Title: ウルティマVI (Ultima VI) 〜偽りの預言者〜 (Itsuwari no Yogensha/False Prophet) のすべて (No Subete/All About Thereof)
Publisher: JICC出版局 (JICC shuppankyoku/JICC publishing)
Author: Hiromu Inoue
Published: May 20, 1992
Original List Price: ¥880
Length: 112 pages
ISBN: 4-7966-0325-5

This clue book is 110 pages long and contains maps and hints for important quests in the SNES-port of Ultima VI. It originally retailed for ¥880 and was published by JICC on May 20, 1992. It contains color maps of all cities in Ultima VI, black and white maps of all dungeons, a large fold-out map of Britannia, and character art for all playable characters. It was written by Hiromu Inoue.

Cover of a Japanese book. The only English text is "Ultima VI". A drawing of a man clad in medieval armour and armaments with his foot on the chest of an anguished gargroyle is included.
Ultima VI – Victory Solutions

Ultima VI Itsuwari no Yogensha Hisshou Kouryakuhou (The False Prophet Victory Solutions)

Title: ウルティマVI (Ultima VI) 偽りの預言者 (Itsuwari no Yogensha/False Prophet) 必勝攻略法 (Hisshou Kouryakuhou/Victory Solutions)
Publisher: 双葉社 (Futabasha)
Author: さいとうよしこ (Yoshiko Saito)
Published: May 12, 1992
Original List Price: ¥700
Length: 112 pages
ISBN: 4-575-28165-4

This clue book for the SNES-port of Ultima VI is printed in full color. Besides the obligatory walkthrough, it also contains an explanation of the game mechanics, guides and maps for all locations, a party roster map, an overview of all the enemies in the game, and a detailed list of all important items in the quest.

Cover of a Japanese book. The only English text is "THE FALSE PROPHET HANDBOOK". A drawing is featured of a man clad in medieval armour and armaments standing with his arms defiantly raised, on a slain dragon.
Ultima VI Handbook

Ultima VI Handbook

Title: ウルティマVIハンドブック (Ultima VI Handbook)
Publisher: BNN
Author: 飯島一彦 (Kazuhiko Iijima)
Published: November 25, 1991
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 200 pages
ISBN: 4-89369-160-0

While the exact contents of this publication are not known, it is known that in the style of the publisher, the book was printed in monochrome.

Cover of a Japanese book. A photograph can be seen of what appear to be archeological relics of ancient equipment.
Ultima VI Advanced Manual

Ultima VI Advanced Manual

Title: ウルティマVI アドバンスドマニュアル (Ultima VI Advanced Manual)
Publisher: 大陸書房 (Tairiku Shobou)
Author: 曠野一光 (Kazumitsu Arano)
Published: July 11, 1992
Original List Price: ¥1922
Length: 208 pages
ISBN: 4-8033-3880-9

Little is known about this publication, not even for which platform the clue book is for.

Runes of Virtue Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book titled almost entirely in Japanese. The only English text is "Ultima VI". A drawing of a medieval warrior and a mage are engaged in combat with a large armored man. Bats can bee seen in the background apparently emanating from a cave, which provides the only illumination.
Runes of Virtue Victory Solution

Ultima Ushinawareta Rune Hisshou Kouryakuhou (Runes of Virtue Victory Solution)

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) 失われたルーン (Ushinawareta Rune/Lost Runes) 必勝攻略法 (Hisshou Kouryakuhou/Victory Solutions)
Publisher: 双葉社 (Futabasha)
Author: 中島理彦 (Norihiko Nakajima)
Published: January 12, 1992
Original List Price: ¥680
Length: 112 pages
ISBN: 4-575-15205-6

No information about the contents of this book has surfaced yet.

Savage Empire Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book titled "Worlds of Ultima® The Savage Empire Clue Book". A spear-armed primitive warrior and armed with a 19c firearm are being set upon by a tyrannosaurus rex. The scene takes place in a ruined building which consists only of a portion of a wall.
Savage Empire Clue Book

The Savage Empire Clue Book

Title: ウルティマ サベージエンパイア クルーブック (Ultima Savage Empire Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス(Locus)
Author: 金井哲夫(Tetsuo Kanai)
Published: April 30, 1993
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 160 pages
ISBN: 4-7952-7629-3

No information about the contents of this book has surfaced yet.

Ultima Underworld Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book titled "Ultima® Underworld™ Clue Book". A drawing of a medieval-clad man descends a staircase is seen. A monster with natural, spiked armour lays in wait for him.
Ultima Underworld Clue Book

Ultima Underworld Clue Book

Title: ウルティマ アンダーワールド・クルーブック (Ultima Underworld Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス (Locus)
Author: 金井哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai)
Published: January 25, 1994
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 160 pages
ISBN: 4-7952-7630-7

Quite a bit more is known about this Japanese clue book for Ultima Underworld, therefore it has its own article:

Japanese Ultima Underworld Clue Book
Cover of a book titled "Ultima® Underworld™". Some Japanese text forms the subtitle. A PlayStation logo is in the upper right. A drawing of a medieval-clad man descends a staircase is seen. A monster with natural, spiked armour lays in wait for him.
Underworld Solution Guide

Ultima Underworld Solution Guide

Title: ウルティマ (Ultima) アンダーワールド (Underworld) 攻略ガイド (Kouryakuhou Guide/Solution Guide)
Publisher: 毎日コミュニケーションズ (Mainichi Communications)
Author:
Published: March 31, 1997
Original List Price: ¥980
Length: 80 pages
ISBN: 4-88563-783-2

Little is known about this publication, other than that it was published for PSX-port of Ultima Underworld.

Cover of a book titled "Ultima® Underworld™ The Stygian Abyss". A couple of sentences in broken English follow. Some Japanese text forms subtitle and tag line. The background is either a natural rock formation or an artificial one in ruin.
Special Solution for Victory

PlayStation Hisshouhou Special Ultima Underworld (Special Solution for Victory)

Title: プレイステーション (PlayStation) 必勝法スペシャル (Hisshouhou Special/Solution for Victory Special)
Publisher: 勁文社 (Keibunsha)
Author:
Published: April 30, 1997
Original List Price: ¥1070
Length: 144 pages
ISBN: 4-7669-2710-9

Little is known about this publication, other than that it was (logically) published for PSX-port of Ultima Underworld.

Ultima VII Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a Japanese book with a black background. Title is "Ultima® VII The Black Gate". Other Japanese text serves as a subtitle and various other textual notations. A drawing of an ankh appears in the center.
Ultima VII – Victory Solution

Ultima VII the Black Gate Hisshou Kouryakuhou (Victory Solutions)

Title: ウルティマVII (Ultima VII) ザ・ブラックゲート (The Black Gate) 必勝攻略法 (Hisshou Kouryakuhou/Victory Solutions)
Publisher: 双葉社 (Futabasha)
Author: 佐藤俊之 (Toshiyuki Sato)
Published: January 15, 1995
Original List Price: ¥750
Length: 80 pages
ISBN: 4-575-28391-6

This book was written for the SNES-port of Ultima VII. It is printed fully in color. While the language barrier prevents knowing the exact contents, examination reveals that, besides a required walkthrough, the book contains an explanation of how to play the game, a map of Britannia with all important places marked, and solutions to the dungeons (which is beneficial, as most of the game consists of dungeons).

Ultima Underworld II Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book titled "Ultima® Underworld™ II Clue Book". Some Japanese text forms the subtitle. An opening in a natural rock formation reveals a man clad in medieval armour working his way up or down a staircase. A metal leg and talon can be seen in the foreground, through the opening.
Ultima Underworld II Clue Book

Ultima Underworld II Clue Book

Title: ウルティマ アンダーワールド・クルーブック (Ultima Underworld Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス (Locus)
Author: 金井哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai)
Published: September 22, 1995
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 248 pages
ISBN: 4-7952-7636-6

No information about the contents of this book has surfaced yet.

Ultima VIII Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book with the title "Ultima VIII® Pagan™". Some Japanese text serves as a subtitle. The background is a screenshot of Ultima VIII but much of that is obscured by flames. At the center is a glowing, red pentagram with a red arm extending from the center of it. A small man clad in medieval armour is standing in the palm of the large hand.
Ultima VIII Clue Book

Ultima VIII Clue Book

Title: ウルティマVIII ペイガン クルーブック (Ultima VIII Pagan Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス (Locus)
Author: 金井哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai)
Published: May 30, 1996
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 122 pages, with two perspective-view large maps
ISBN: 4-7952-7643-9

No information about the contents of this book has surfaced yet.

Ultima Collection Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a book titled "Ultima Collection". Most of the rest of the text is Japanese. Artwork has several medieval figures, not all of which are human, blended into the background with a full body depiction of one in the foreground, in front of a logo consisting of a circle encompassing several other circles and straight lines.
Ultima Collection Official Clue Book

Ultima Collection Nihonban Koushiki Clue Book (Official Clue Book)

Title: ウルティマ コレクション 日本版 (Ultima Collection Nihonban/Ultima Collection Japan Edition) 公式クルーブック (Koushiki Clue Book/Official Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス (Locus)
Author: 金井哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai), アバター原田 (Avatar Harada) aka 原田一郎 (Ichiro Harada)
Published: May 5, 2000
Original List Price: ¥3200
Length: 328 pages
ISBN: 4-89814-091-2

No information about the contents of this book has surfaced yet, though it can be assumed that since this is for the Ultima Collection, that content from previous clue books from Locus was re-used while adding in the missing games.

Ultima IX Clue Books[edit]

Cover of a Japanese book. The English portion of the title reads "Ultima IX Ascension". The book has stylized metal reinforcements at all 4 corners. At the center is a drawing of a man clad in medieval armour hovering above a large, humanoid hand that appears poised to grab him.
Ascension Perfect Program

Ultima IX: Ascension Perfect Program

Title: ウルティマIX: アセンション (Ultima IX: Ascension) パーフェクトプログラム (Perfect Program)
Publisher: 高橋書店 (Takahashi Shoten)
Author: 佐久間康文 (Yasufumi Sakuma), 重信普律 (Fritz Shigenobu)
Published: March 20, 2000
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 160 pages
ISBN: 4-471-36057-4

This clue book for Ultima IX is printed fully in color. Interesting is, that the book uses renders from cutscenes that were dropped as high-detail illustrations. Thanks to an English table of contents, it's know that the book besides the walkthrough itself includes a story-section, item and spell descriptions, an analysis of the creatures and tactics against them and an explanation of the virtues.

Cover of a Japanese book that has an image of a book at its center. The English portion of its title is "Ultima Ascension". "Windows 98/95" can also be seen. The top center of the book depicts a man hovering with his arms out.
Ultima IX Official Clue Book

Ultima IX: Ascension Koushiki Clue Book (Official Clue Book)

Title: ウルティマIX: アセンション (Ultima IX: Ascension) 公式クルーブック (Koushiki Clue Book/Official Clue Book)
Publisher: ローカス (Locus)
Author: 金井哲夫 (Tetsuo Kanai)
Published: March 31, 2000
Original List Price: ¥2000
Length: 312 pages
ISBN: 4-89814-092-0

As of this writing, no information about the content of the book is known.

Cover of a Japanese book with the English portion of its title as "Ultima Ascension". Japanese completes the rest of the title. "Windows 98/95" can also be seen. The background is a high resolution graphic of a man in medieval clothes with a sword on his hip, and arm out stretched. His head is tiled down.
Ultima IX: Ascension Complete Guidebook

Ultima IX: Ascension Complete Guidebook

Title: ウルティマIX: アセンション (Ultima IX: Ascension) コンプリートガイドブック (Complete Guidebook)
Publisher: 勁文社 (Keibunsha)
Author: 金本太郎 (Taro Kanamoto), 長谷川健太郎 (Kentaro Hasegawa)
Published: April 10, 2000
Original List Price: ¥2000
Length: 144 pages
ISBN: 4-7669-3456-3

As of this writing, no information about the content of the book is known.

Cover of a Japanese book. The English portion of the title reads "Ultima IX Ascension". The book has stylized metal reinforcements at all 4 corners. At the center is a drawing of a man clad in medieval armour with his arms outstretched.
Ultima IX: Official Guidebook

Ultima IX: Ascension Koushiki Guide (Official Guidebook)

Title: ウルティマIX: アセンション (Ultima IX: Ascension) 公式ガイド (Koushiki Guide/Official Guidebook)
Publisher: ソフトバンク パブリッシング (Softbank publishing)
Author: Chris McCubbin, David Ladyman
Translator: 太田有香(Yuka Ota)
Published: April 22, 2000
Original List Price: ¥1800
Length: 184 pages
ISBN: 4-7973-0973-3

As of this writing, nothing is known about the content of the book, though it is highly likely that it is just a translation of Prima's Ultima IX Strategy Guide.

Gallery[edit]

  • Inside of a comic book with medieval-clad characters and a mythlogical creature. All writing is Japanese.

    The comic in Perfect Solution Techique Final Revision

  • Photograph of a large sheet with maps and Japanese writing.

    The foldout map from Perfect Guidebook to Overcome

  • Inside of the Quest of the Avatar Guide

    Inside of the Quest of the Avatar Guide

  • Photograph of the inside of a Japanese publication with cartoon maps.

    Inside of Ultima IV – Guidebook for Perfect Victory

  • Photograph of the inside of a Japanese publication with cartoon drawings of medieval characters. The English words "PALADIN" and "RANGER" are visible, which include character stats for each.1

    The classes from Perfect Solution Technique Book

  • Photograph of the inside of a Japanese publication with cartoon drawings of medieval characters. The English words "RANGE", "TINKER", "MAGE", and "SHEPHERD" are visible, including writeups of character stats for each as well as brief textual descriptions in Japanese.

    The bestiary from Perfect Solution Technique Book (note the uncensored Nixie)

  • Photograph of the inside of a Japanese publication with cartoon drawings of medieval figures and monsters.

    Inside of Ultima V – Complete Analysis

  • Photograph of the inside of a black and white Japanese publication, including drawings of a variety of garments.

    Inside Ultima V Handbook

  • Photograph of the inside of a black and white Japanese publication, including drawings of several portraits of medieval characters, most of which are human.

    Inside Ultima V Handbook

  • Photograph of a black and white, folded page in Japanese. Most of the paper is dedicated to a map of a large island with a lake in the center and an island in the center of the lake.

    Inside of All about the False Prophet

  • Photograph of the inside of a Japanese publication with close-up maps of towns and aother artificial formations.

    Inside The False Prophet Victory Solutions

  • Photograph of the inside of a Japanese publication with physical maps, maze maps, and screenshots from a computer game.

    Inside of Ultima VII – Victory Solution

  • Photograph of the inside of a colorful Japanese publication with a variety of drawings and Japanese text. The subtitles "GAME PLACE" and "HOW TO PLAY" appear in English.

    Inside of Ascension Perfect Program

External Links[edit]

Foreign Language Books
Japanese The Genesis of Ultima ☥ Japanese clue books ☥ Japanese Ultima Underworld Clue Book ☥ Official Fanbook
German Ultima IX German clue book ☥ X‑Games Ultima IX clue book
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