Ultima 9: Ascension - PC

This is the final and ninth chapter in the famous Ultima series by Richard Garriott. As the hero Avatar, it will be up to you to save Lord British and his people from the evil Guardian who has devastated the landscape and corrupted the eight sacred virtues. Your weapons against this evil in Ultima Ascension will be valiant combat, magical prowess, and knowledge of the eight virtues.

Ultima IX: Ascension stands as one of the most significant games released in recent years. Not only is it the most recent proper installment in the Ultima series, but it is also the final game in the long-running and highly respected line of role-playing games. Furthermore, Origin has confirmed that Ultima IX will be the last single-player game it will ever release.

A major departure from the previous games is that Ultima IX abandons the traditional top-down perspective in favor of a third-person fully-3D engine. While this may concern fans of the series, the new perspective is largely unobtrusive, and the game is filled with references to earlier games. Ultima IX also does a great job of introducing newcomers to the world of Britannia.

The game features a stunning three-dimensional Britannia that effectively conveys the seamless alternate reality that Ultima fans have always hoped to see. From lush vegetation to diverse subterranean settings, the detail in every location in Britannia is vast and remarkable. However, the game's ambitious design ultimately caves in due to inconsistent quality and many technical problems.

Even with its impressive visuals, Ultima IX struggles with graphics performance. Its poor performance can make extended play sessions difficult. Equally disappointing is the subpar voice acting, which trivializes the game's characters and premise. Moreover, the overly linear structure prevents players from fully exploring Britannia and comes with its own set of problems. The combat system is inept, and the game is riddled with glitches, crashes, and quest problems.

As a result, Ultima IX presents itself as a mixture of epic and farce. Despite its beautiful scenery and grave situations, the game's technical issues and average gameplay quality make it a questionable experience. However, devoted fans of the Ultima series may still feel compelled to see the series reach its long-awaited conclusion.

Despite these drawbacks, Ultima IX marks the end of a significant era in role-playing games and will always hold a special place in the hearts of the devoted Ultima community.

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