GameInformer Wants to See Ultima Come Back, Too
GameInformer has published a list of ten RPG franchises that, in their opinion, are in need of a comeback. And on the second page (the list is in alphabetical order, rather than in any sort of ranked order), there’s Ultima:
Ultima
We’re not talking about the spin-offs games that are only related by name. We want a true new main entry in one of the most influential RPG franchises. The series was known for its captivating worlds that made you want to piece everything together, and it never held your hand throughout the trek. These days open-world games are in high demand; we couldn’t think of a better franchise to make a comeback that could compete with the big dogs, such as Fallout, Elder Scrolls, and The Witcher. Ultima was doing the things that make these games captivating long before their existence, such as a living world populated by people going about their lives and having tons of side quests to keep you playing. Thankfully, Ultima mastermind Richard Garriott is currently working on a spiritual successor to the series, entitled Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues, but we’d still like to see a single-player experience that captures the wonderment and endless possibilities that occurred when we stepped into an Ultima game.
Well, of course Ultima is on the list. How could it not be?
I’m still debating on whether to play Shroud as a single-player or multiplayer, and surprisingly finding myself more and more leaning toward single…. or both, maybe? One character on each? I don’t know! I like MMOs, but I like MMOs because they’re a world that doesn’t end. Perpetual evolution. Sadly, though, I can really do without all the other people.
I don’t like getting to the end and then needing to do forced grouping in raids and dungeons. I’m not a fan of the heavy grinds associated with marginal increases in power. I don’t need to show off to anybody else. And I certainly don’t like the attitude I get from other players who judge how I play.
So I may do both, but I may spend most of my time in single-player. 🙂
If you’ve got two character slots, or the cash on hand to buy a second, then the “both” option isn’t a bad one.
If you like online play, that is. Which I generally don’t; I’ll be in the single player mode almost assuredly. I’m in it for the story, not the post-story, top-level grind.
Yeah, that’s the catch, though. I generally don’t, either. However, the last game I played that was offline, but used a lot of MMO-ish designs (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning), I got tired of really quickly. Some mechanics work exclusively better when there are other people involved, even if you don’t interact with them directly.
Heh, whereas I loved Reckoning and would happily play it again. Different tastes, I suppose.
The thing about Reckoning that worked, which hasn’t yet worked for SotA, is that for as MMOish as the main game felt, for as measured in pace and as methodical as much of the gameplay was, the combat engine was hyperkinetic, and alternated between chaotic and tactical. It was kind of at odds to the rest of the game, but (paradoxically) it tied it all together and made the game just…flow.
SotA hasn’t had that to date; the combat has felt as clunky and slow as in any MMO one could name, as has the rest of the gameplay. I gather that the current Release has sped the combat up some, which could be a godsend…but I’ve not had time to test it for myself.
Good point. And see, I just saw the combat in KoA like any other action-MMO on the market, so even I saw that as just another MMO-ish feature. But yeah, Shroud’s combat right now is… well… yeah. But here’s hoping they realize that, as far as public perception goes, that seems to be people’s biggest hangups. So hopefully that’s where they will be putting a lot of effort.
Massively just completed one of their “Choose My Adventure” series, in which one of the writers play through a games beginning zones, trying out combinations dictated by the community. They did heavily stress that the game is still in development, but especially with combat they were not flattering at all, and the comments echoed that back. I would really like to see Shroud do well, but let’s face it, we’ll still play it no matter what. 😛
Ooof…I just read those MassivelyOP summaries. Who knew that I could laugh quite so hard at the use of the word “apiary”?
I’ll give Shroud as much leeway and leverage as I can, and if its combat systems improve to the point of being “I don’t mind it” or better, I’ll probably finish it. But let’s face it: I have three kids, two Scout sections to manage, two podcasts, a job, and my wife wants us to do more with the various church groups we are part of (and she’s not wrong about that). Oh, and also the Codex here. I don’t have time to waste on a game I don’t enjoy playing.
So I earnestly hope I enjoy playing Shroud when it’s finally “done”.
I’m the same way. The MMO aspects of Shroud are cool but all I really care about is the single player experience that enchanted me the first time I played Ultima IV.
I am a big MMO fan, after not buying/playing UO at release because I was so disappointed that it didn’t tell a story, I gave in after a few months and got absolutely hooked. But with with SotA I am mostly looking forward to the single player experience. I am just not into all the MMO stuff anymore because I don’t even have the time to really get into it, even if I wanted.
Don’t get me wrong, I am very impressed with what Richard and his team are creating here. The level of interaction is a dream come true for my younger self and many MMO fans, but again, for me, the story mode is where it’s at.
So yes I would also LOVE a real new Ultima, Ultima X with the best possible technology and best possible “development circumstances”. It should, of course, not just be an EA project done by eg. Bioware. It has to be lead by Richard Garriott with his own team with fresh ideas. I am sick of the Bioware formula and scared of an Ultima done by people who have no idea what Ultima is really all about.
I am still not sure if SotA will offer a good single player experience. It still feels, looks and plays like an MMO. The devs would have to change so many things for this game to feel like a true SP RPG…
I’m not the biggest fan of the combat, but they have begun to put more focus on the single player aspect in the last few releases, so…I’m still hopeful that it’ll have something to offer those of us who aren’t looking for an MMO.
I would like to see more detailed worldbuilding typical for single player RPGs. I could help there if they wanted 😉
Sadly I doubt we’ll see another AAA Ultima game for some time. EA already has the Dragon Age franchise under its belt and doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to have another sword and sworcery RPG series. I’d love to see what a developer like Obsidian could do with the Ultima series.
You’re probably right, and I’ve been saying for a couple of years now that what I wish EA would do is take a cue from Ubisoft and farm out Ultima to a smaller studio…the same way Ubi farmed out Might & Magic to Limbic. The end result of them doing so was a highly-regarded new M&M game that really captured the feel of the old games but still stayed modern in many respects; I’d love to see something similar done for Ultima.