Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Gameplay


 *  See also: Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (NES)/Getting Started

Introduction
In Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar you control a hero and a team of eight adventurers in a quest across the fantasy world of Britannia. During the game, the party members can progressively acquire several weapons and armors, but also many other items and a wide array of spells.

Ultima 4 is a role-playing video game. Specifically, it belongs to the sub-genre of American-style RPVGs.

Three aspects that can define the genre of role-playing video games are listed here, and they apply to Ultima 4 as well:
 * 1) Text is an essential part of the game, and the heroes have to talk and interact with non-evil characters to proceed in the adventure.
 * 2) There is freedom of exploration, all the areas are connected by an "overworld", and areas that have been previously cleared can usually be re-visited; in other words, the game is non-linear.
 * 3) There are permanent upgrades, in the form of enhancements of the various attributes of the characters (attack, strength, magic etc.).

Japanese-style RPVG focus more on the plot, while American-style RPVG like Ultima 4 focus more on exploration and "body-building" of the characters. Nevertheless, all three aspects are present in every role-playing video game.

Game versions
Ultima 4 was ported on twelve different systems and consolles.

Similar games

 * Ultima 5 and Ultima 6, that together with Ultima 4 constitute the Age of Enlightment trilogy;
 * Ultima 3, Ultima 7 and Ultima 7 Part 2, where the player still controls a team of heroes.