PSX-port of Ultima Underworld

Ultima Underworld (PSX) – CD and cover

Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss is the sole Ultima ported to the Sony PlayStation (PSX), released in 1997.

Description[edit]

This marks the last time a console port of any Ultima product was produced, and was only released in Japan with no localization anywhere, not even an announcement like with Savage Empire's SNES-port. The port was released five years after the PC version of Ultima Underworld, and numerous changes were made to update the engine to standards of the time. Most of the items and dungeon designs remained the same, but NPC and monster models were overhauled significantly. Lacking the benefit of mouse and keyboard input, the port has some difficult gamepad controls, but it is no worse than the various Dungeon Master- and Eye of the Beholder-ports.

Included with the Game[edit]

Memoirs of Sir Cabirus (heavily reduced)

Differences[edit]

All of the creatures and NPCs were converted to polygon models. All terrain textures and items still use the original graphics, albeit blurred.
The game is fullscreen, with indicators like health, mana and torch visible. The inventory and the spellcasting area are in separate menu screens.
The introduction and ending were redone as full motion videos, with additional dialogue.
Numerous character portraits were changed to give them a more anime-like look.
All of the music was remixed. Most of it resembles to the original music.
The port has many digital sound effects, while the original had no digital sound effects (apart from the voice acting).
The inventory bug present in the original PC release of Ultima Underworld is also present here. While this was fixed in later PC releases of the game, it can cause loss of plot-critical items in the PSX-port, making saved games unbeatable.