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{{Header Nav|game=Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness}} | {{Header Nav|game=Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness|num=3}} | ||
{{Game | {{Game | ||
| | |title=Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness | ||
|image=Ultima I box.jpg | |image=Ultima I box.jpg | ||
|developer=[[Origin Systems]] | |developer=[[Origin Systems]] | ||
|publisher= | |publisher=[[California Pacific]], [[Sierra Online]], [[Origin Systems]] | ||
|genre=[[Role-playing game]] | |genre=[[Role-playing game]] | ||
|released={{sys|apple 2}}{{na|1980|September 2}}{{na|1986}}{{sys|a8bit}}{{na|1982}}{{sys|c64}}{{na|1986}}{{sys|dos}}{{na|1987}}{{sys|msx2}}{{jp|1989}} | |||
|systems=[[Apple II]], [[Apple IIGS]], [[Atari 8-bit]], [[Commodore 64]], [[MS-DOS]], [[MSX2]], [[NEC PC-8801]], [[NEC PC-9801]], [[Sharp X1]] | |||
|players=1 | |players=1 | ||
|preceded by=[[Akalabeth: World of Doom]] | |preceded by=[[Akalabeth: World of Doom]] | ||
|followed by=[[Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress]] | |followed by=[[Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress]] | ||
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The game was one of the first definitive commercial computer role-playing games, and is considered an important and influential turning point for the development of the genre throughout years to come. | The game was one of the first definitive commercial computer role-playing games, and is considered an important and influential turning point for the development of the genre throughout years to come. | ||
{{Continue Nav}} | |||
==Story== | ==Story== | ||
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The time machine itself also needs to be found. Purchasing a space shuttle and travelling into outer space is a prerequisite of this: the Stranger must become a space ace, by destroying twenty enemy ships, in order to complete the game. Once this task has been completed, rescuing a princess will reveal the location of the time machine. The Stranger will then travel back in time and face Mondain before he has completed the gem of immortality. | The time machine itself also needs to be found. Purchasing a space shuttle and travelling into outer space is a prerequisite of this: the Stranger must become a space ace, by destroying twenty enemy ships, in order to complete the game. Once this task has been completed, rescuing a princess will reveal the location of the time machine. The Stranger will then travel back in time and face Mondain before he has completed the gem of immortality. | ||
{{-}} | {{-}} | ||
== Versions == | == Versions == | ||
The following table is based on the review by '''''Teran'''''<ref><small>[http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/pc/ultima1/index.shtml RPGclassics.com]</small></ref>. | The following table is based on the review by '''''Teran'''''<ref><small>[http://shrines.rpgclassics.com/pc/ultima1/index.shtml RPGclassics.com]</small></ref>. | ||
{| {{prettytable}} | {|{{prettytable}} | ||
! Year !!width=130| System !! Notes | ! Year !!width=130| System !! Notes | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| The very first version of Ultima. Technically not impressive but historically a ground-breaking version. | | The very first version of Ultima. Technically not impressive but historically a ground-breaking version. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1983 || [[Atari 400]]/800 | | 1983 || [[Atari 400]]/800 | ||
| The only version that is actually based on the first Apple II version and not falling in the time of remakes. Considering its age, it is still an impressive piece of software and highly playable. | | The only version that is actually based on the first Apple II version and not falling in the time of remakes. Considering its age, it is still an impressive piece of software and highly playable. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1986 || Apple II | | 1986 || Apple II | ||
| Major re-release under the title "Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness" in 1986. Gameplay-wise it's identical to the old version. Graphically it's slightly better, everything looks more colorful. | | Major re-release under the title "Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness" in 1986. Gameplay-wise it's identical to the old version. Graphically it's slightly better, everything looks more colorful. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1986 || [[Commodore 64]] | | 1986 || [[Commodore 64]] | ||
| Another fine version. Graphics are neat, the loading times are bearable and playability is very high. | | Another fine version. Graphics are neat, the loading times are bearable and playability is very high. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| {{yes|In contrast to the very bad looking MS-DOS versions of ''[[Ultima 2]] and [[Ultima 3]]'', they used the 16 color EGA-palette for this conversion. The result is a very good looking version. Since there are no loading times at all, the gameplay is considerably faster than with the other homecomputer versions.}} | | {{yes|In contrast to the very bad looking MS-DOS versions of ''[[Ultima 2]] and [[Ultima 3]]'', they used the 16 color EGA-palette for this conversion. The result is a very good looking version. Since there are no loading times at all, the gameplay is considerably faster than with the other homecomputer versions.}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1988 || [[MSX2]] <br/> [[NEC PC-8801]]/[[NEC PC-9801|9801]] | | 1988 || [[MSX2]] <br/> [[NEC PC-8801]]/[[NEC PC-9801|9801]] | ||
| These versions were released by the Japanese publisher [[Pony Canyon]]. Besides '''Japanese translation''', some enhancements in the graphic department and some music, they are very similar to the remake version for western homecomputers. | | These versions were released by the Japanese publisher [[Pony Canyon]]. Besides '''Japanese translation''', some enhancements in the graphic department and some music, they are very similar to the remake version for western homecomputers. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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[[Category:Origin Systems]] | [[Category:Origin Systems]] | ||
[[Category:California Pacific]] | |||
[[Category:Sierra Online]] | |||
[[Category:Apple IIGS]] | |||
[[Category:NEC PC-8801]] | |||
[[Category:NEC PC-9801]] | |||
[[Category:Sharp X1]] | |||
[[Category:Single player]] | |||
[[Category:RPG]] | [[Category:RPG]] | ||