Talk:Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss
What do you call "complete Ultima Underworld"?[edit]
The line "A complete version of Ultima Underworld" can mean two things to me. It can mean both Ultima Underworlds, or it can mean a more complete version of the first game (whatever that would be). I think this need clarification, but since it seems to be based on a copy and paste from http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/ultima-underworld-the-stygian-abyss/trivia (currently at the bottom) (not my idea of authoratiative) this might be difficult to confirm or deny. AngusM 19:37, June 4, 2010 (UTC)
- Complete vs. a demo version of the game. There was a demo version of Ultima Underworld that was included with Ultima VII and PC Gamer always (at least back when I was getting it) comes with a disk of demo and shareware games but occasionally includes complete version. -- Fenyx4 19:53, June 4, 2010 (UTC)
- I rewrote the note slightly, since I have a copy of this CD. It does contain the full version of Underworld I, as well as Ultima I and 10 other games. Its listed as a "classic games collection". I added the same note to Ultima I. Browncoat Jayson 20:13, June 4, 2010 (UTC)
FM-Towns Port[edit]
In the Trivia section is mentioned: "The Japanese FM-Towns version came with a truly bizarre trinket: an Ankh Paperknife!"
Why is this FM-Towns port not mentioned in the "Differences between the ports" Section?
- Because there are no differences. It is a 1:1 copy, so there was nothing to write about. I nonetheless now have put a mention in.--Tribun 14:51, July 22, 2010 (UTC)
PC 98 version[edit]
There was also a PC 98 version (1993) of the game, but is (just like the FM-Towns) identical (except for the text) to the English PC version. It contained a set of translated manuals, a paper map (slightly different layout as original) as well as an ankh-shaped paperknife as trinket. --Arthgon (talk) 11:17, 23 April 2016 (UTC)
unused NPCs accessible via the summon monster spell[edit]
I can't find any mention of this anywhere on the internet. There are three unused NPCs that you can access with the Summon Monster spell, if your stats are high enough. About the Summon Monster spell...I don't know exactly how it works, if it's tied to your experience level or casting skill, but it seems to have "tiers" of monsters that improve as I progress through the game and build my character (this must mean it isn't tied to INT because you can't increase INT). IIRC there are three tiers; the unused NPCs are in the third tier - the one with the fire elementals, golems, shadow beasts, etc. If you use a hacked character with crazy high stats, you summon glitchy invisible things that slow down the game. Anyway...
First, there's a generic yellow-robed, light-skinned mage with Bronus' portrait. If you talk to him he has a couple of different lines that are randomized. You can't reply to him, and after speaking to him his status goes from "mellow" to "friendly". If you talk to him again you go into the dialogue window again but he doesn't say anything, and then his status changes to "upset". You can summon other mages but this one is the only one that talks. Second, there's a generic ghoul with Kneenibble's portrait. He says the same thing every time you enter the dialogue window; you have three three things you can say to him, each with a different response. He then turns hostile, although you can keep talking to him; the dialogue stays the same. You can also summon a red ghoul but it doesn't talk. Third, there's a generic dark ghoul with a unique portrait that you would otherwise never see, as there aren't any dark ghouls in the game that can talk. It has the exact same dialogue and behavior as the generic ghoul.
Just thought I would let you guys know, as I can't find any mention of this in any wikis, walkthroughs, etc. No video of it either AFAIK. I can't be the only one who's seen this stuff but I haven't seen anyone on the net talk about it. --JC (talk) 15:26, 4 September 2019 (UTC)
- Intriguing. What you're describing sounds like it could be... 100% bugs? Maybe unfinished bug-ridden work? Did you get the feeling? The Ultra-Mind (talk) 18:55, 4 September 2019 (UTC)
- Not so much bugs as it is unfinished content, although the mage's blank dialogue box and mellow-friendly-upset mood changes are pretty bug-like and something you don't see anywhere else. However their dialogue text is typo-free and it's all brand-new unique stuff that you can't see anywhere else in the game. They are not accessible without using the Summon Monster spell, so I guess the developers didn't realize that using Summon Monster would sometimes spawn the unfinished NPCs when it's drawing from the highest monster tier. I'll see if I can make a video demonstrating it. As I mentioned, it's easily accessible without doing any kind of weird glitches, but you do need to be high level/have high spellcasting. I have a save file I can use to easily get some footage. Just need to figure out how to use FRAPS. --JC (talk) 18:32, 2 November 2019 (UTC)
- I recorded some videos of the NPCs, but this site doesn't allow video uploads. Can I upload them as zip files or should I host them on Dropbox or something? They're very small, well under the 64 MB limit. --JC (talk) 17:40, 17 November 2019 (UTC)
- YouTube? The Ultra-Mind (talk) 15:50, 19 November 2019 (UTC)
- I recorded some videos of the NPCs, but this site doesn't allow video uploads. Can I upload them as zip files or should I host them on Dropbox or something? They're very small, well under the 64 MB limit. --JC (talk) 17:40, 17 November 2019 (UTC)
- Not so much bugs as it is unfinished content, although the mage's blank dialogue box and mellow-friendly-upset mood changes are pretty bug-like and something you don't see anywhere else. However their dialogue text is typo-free and it's all brand-new unique stuff that you can't see anywhere else in the game. They are not accessible without using the Summon Monster spell, so I guess the developers didn't realize that using Summon Monster would sometimes spawn the unfinished NPCs when it's drawing from the highest monster tier. I'll see if I can make a video demonstrating it. As I mentioned, it's easily accessible without doing any kind of weird glitches, but you do need to be high level/have high spellcasting. I have a save file I can use to easily get some footage. Just need to figure out how to use FRAPS. --JC (talk) 18:32, 2 November 2019 (UTC)
I created the article Cut NPCs in Ultima Underworld, which you can update to show all the relevant information.--Tribun (talk) 14:02, 26 November 2019 (UTC)