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 ole-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.

Year	Port	Notes
1985	Apple II	The original port.
1985	Atari 8-bit	Essentially identical to the original port.
1985	C64	Some improvements to graphics and RAM requirements, but very long loading times.
1985	MS-DOS	Some improvements to graphics, but no music at all.
1987	MSX & PC-8801	Japanese only; almost identical to the original port, with improved graphics.
1987	PC-9801	Japanese only; almost identical to the original port, with further improved graphics.
1988	Amiga & Atari ST	Great improvements to graphics and sound, especially in dungeons; mouse is featured.
1989	NES	REMAKE. Very different graphics and music; reduced dialogues; controls modified for joypad. The Japanese version features many more inhabitants in the towns, with longer dialogue.
1990	Sega MS	Further improvements to graphics; controls modified for joypad; overhead dungeons instead of first person; released in Japan, Europe and South America, but not in North America.
1992	FM Towns	Japanese only; essentially identical to the MS-DOS port, with added music.

Summary

Original version	(1985) Apple II
Most popular port	(1985) MS-DOS
Most advanced ports	(1985) Amiga (1990) Sega Master System
Remake	(1989) NES
Fan-made upgrade	(2001) Upgrade patch for MS-DOS port

Comparison screenshots

• 

  (1985) MS-DOS

• 

  (1988) Amiga

• 

  (1990) Master System

• 

  (1989) NES remake

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.