Ultima VI - The False Prophet

History: With this game, Origin finally moved to the PC as main development platform. Technically, the game made a big step forward from a tile-based graphic display to a freely scrolling 2D engine. No more zooming in and out when entering towns. This was not completely revolutionary, however. Micro Illusion's Faery Tale Adventure had a similar graphics engine, as well as Origin's own game Times of Lore. Times of Lore also introduced the icon interface which partially relieves the player of typing commands. More new features are the use of character portraits in conversations, a paperdoll inventory system and a spellbook which contains the learned spells. On the other hand the world has become much smaller. Many castles and towns with multiple levels in Ultima 5 have now only one and there are less NPCs around. The 3D graphic engine of the dungeons was cancelled, they now use the same engine as the surface locations. After switching the development to the PC, Ultima games also became famous for sloppy testing and many showstopping bugs in the game.

The fantastic introduction sequence with most beautiful VGA graphics.

Character creation at the gypsy also is more colorful than before.

Background: This Ultima has one of the most interesting background stories. A new type of creatures, the Gargoyles has appeared in Britannia. They are highly intelligent and very aggressive. The shrines of virtue have been conquered by them and they also try to hunt and kill the Avatar who they call the False Prophet. While the Avatar tries to fight the new opponents, he also learns much interesting about their different culture and beliefs until he discovers that they are not evil, only desperate.

Each conversation has now its own character portrait. Even the NPCs in your party make remarks.

Mandrake the Bard has devised the best set of virtues so far.

Recommended Version: The PC version is the first Ultima which fully supports VGA graphics and soundcards. There are versions for other 16-bit computers but they only have the equivalent of EGA graphics. The original versions come with the usual cloth map and a "moonstone". A 3D remake of Ultima 6 for the Dungeon Siege engine, called Archon is in the works but not finished yet.

A dungeon entrance.

The dungeons are now downgraded to 2D, here the party fights some spiders.

Statistics:

Party with 1 created character and up to 7 NPCs.
80 different magic spells
Introduction of a spell book for learned spells
Dungeons/Outdoors/Buildings 2D
On-Screen-mapping: Yes
You can transfer the Avatar from Ultima 4+5

The Gargoyle city with its own unusual architecture and language.

Food for thought?

Morale: This Ultima has a very strong message of social acceptance which is very important in our real world with all the different cultures and races living together. The warlike Gargoyles with their very high intelligence and cultural development level and their seemingly completely different set of beliefs remind me of certain middle eastern nations. They call the Avatar "The False Prophet" because he has brought so much bad luck to them, but after learning their language and understanding some of their beliefs, the Avatar realizes that their society is not so much different. A social acceptance which is based on tolerance, respect and understanding of others, not on force, regulations and fanatism, this is that what we need.

Britannia