Ultima VI: The False Prophet

The Good
This was my first Ultima game I've played and probably the first true RPG game with a 3rd person perspective. Ultima VI is one of those games that really embedded a significant influence on me that I will always regard as "the good ol' days".

A very user friendly game for those who have never played RPG games or the Ultima series before. It has a very good if not great story line. Ultima VI and probably other Ultima games kind of bring a sort of virtual reality where a kid and his computer game always wanted to be a hero of some sort...to actually be a hero in all those games he's been playing. The intro portrayed that fantasy, you in front of your computer being summoned out of know where suddenly being recognized as an Avatar - which means in Hindu Mythology the embodiment of a God in human form.

You really don't have to know much about the previous Ultima games to play this game. The story plot kinda gives the story where its been a hundred more years since your last return, so your practically a myth (everyone in Britannia are immortals in the sense that they don't die of old age) so some character from the previous Ultima games may recognize you.

The flexibility of the adventure gives you time to explore to your own leisure. This game has numerous puzzles, most have nothing to do with the story line to finish the game, but those were probably the best ones. Despite that the walkthrough is actually provided in the manual, it still doesn't stop you from playing the game if not only thrills you more. It's probably because everyone hates being stuck while playing a game. They trusted you enough to give you a detailed walkthrough of the game, considering that there's a lot of things you can do aside from the main plot.

The motto of Origin Systems is "We create worlds". That's one company I know that lived up if not more to that concept. The world of Britannia is astounding. It's not just background graphics when you walk around. You can explore (by foot) the whole damn continent. Every once in a while you find a cave or abandoned house with magical items and stuff which make exploring a top priority. Even great modern RPG's like Arcanum or Baldur's Gate doesn't come close to the freedom of game play. They're too much stuck with the main plot. In Ultima VI, the main plot is just a mini quest. It doesn't introduce you to a new story line that changes the whole story like modern day RPG's, Ultima VI totally depends on your discreation. When and where is totally up to you. There's no such thing as a wrong move or action that destroys the chances of a perfect ending. That reasurrance has a very nice feel of security.

One of the greatest features that made Ultima VI a game to remember is item management. I have never seen a game before that had the total freedom to manipulate items with so much freedom. Almost every item available can be used even though some are useless, like chairs. You can either sit or move them, but at least you can manipulate them, they're not just an immovable object in most games. The fun part of this feature is the puzzle solving that has to do with objects. The developers did they're best to try to hide secret doors by putting objects in front of them to hide. Everytime you see a room but see know door, your compelled to find out where the entrance is...moving objects around, practically re-arranging everything to find that one secret door.

The plot has one of the best moral embedded stories I've ever seen. It's about the evil of human ignorance and prejudice. Which is portrayed by the fear of the local populace towards the "demon-looking" gargoyles portrayed as the evil of the land. Even one of the best RPG games I've played: Final Fantasy VIII lacks the "moral story", as it's more into romantice scenes.

I don't know how the developers did it, if there was one game that taught a child about everything to be a Paladin or champion of goodness. This game would be it. This game babysits kids better than most humans I know.

The Bad
Besides the occasional "bugs", there were some puzzles that I haven't solved, which was kinda annoying - and was not in the manual (the prophecy). The manual doesn't provide the non-story puzzles. Other than that, it was pretty much...perfect!

The Bottom Line
If you want to know the Ultima series better, this is a great place to start! Say hello to Sherry the mouse for me, I'm gonna miss her!

This review is dedicated to Shamino, Iolo and Dupre. The best companions from UItima an RPG fan could ever wish for.

Thou art the Avatar. Thou shall triumph and good shall prevail!

The Good
While the previous Ultimas may have been superior in one way or another, Ultima 6, the first to use a 256-color graphic interface, is easily the best of the “new” Ultimas. For its’ time, Ultima 6 was a breakthrough in combining gameplay and story. The really great thing about almost all of the Ultimas is the fact that while you are cast as a “good guy”, you don’t have to act that way. And you get to build and ride in a hot air balloon, which is quite possibly a first for any RPG game.

The Bad
Dated graphics, and the fact that this game zips along like a crack fiend on newer machines mars an otherwise excellent game. However, the speed issue can easily be fixed with a copy of MoSlo.

The Bottom Line
If you only play ONE Ultima game in your entire life, make it this one!

The Good
This was a good game, but a definite let down from Ultima V. For me, the good Ultimas began with IV and ended with VI. I to III are kinda interesting as historical footnotes while VII to IX are modern nightmares.

If you can't tell yet, I'm an Ultima fan (or was). Heck, I can read 'em runic symbols faster than you can say, "Abracadabra!" Beginning with IV, Ultima worked its magic on me. I really was made to feel like an avatar on a noble quest when I was playing IV and V. But while VI's sound and graphics were superior to V's on an absolute level, the combined effect did not draw me into the world of Britannia as much as V (or even IV). I don't know what happened from V to VI, but VI became just another RPG. Good, but not great.

The Bad
For the first time since Ultima IV, the charm of Ultima was broken.

The Bottom Line
Read my review for Ultima V, it's all there.