Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss - Origin/Mindscape RRP œ39.99
                      (RPG for PC only)

                     Reviewed by Roy Sims

Before I get started, have a look at the hardware requirements you
need to be able to play Ultima Underworld:

386SX, 386 or 486 PC system.
2 Megs RAM and minimum 475k of expanded memory.
Hard drive.
256 colour VGA.

Once you have recovered from the format sticker on the front of
the box it's time to install the game onto your hard disk. Once
all of that is out of the way, you will see exactly why the
requirements are so high.

I have to confess that I have never played any of the other Ultima
games. From the boxes and pictures I'd seen they looked rather
naff in my opinion. You know, overhead display, stick men walking
around - that kind of stuff. Apparently with each new release they
improved considerably and are now up to VII at the last count and
they now only bear a passing resemblance to the first few games
which probably isn't a bad thing. Well, Ultima Underworld is
unlike any of its esteemed relations. In fact, it's quite unlike
anything I've ever seen on a home micro.

It's going to be difficult explaining why, because even the
screenshots on the back of the box don't do it justice. The most
impressive part of the game is the real feeling of being there.
The 3D routines employed move at such a fast and smooth rate that
you run through corridors, swim in underground rivers and it looks
like you're really there. The viewpoint is similar to Dungeon
Master but when you move it scrolls past properly, unlike in DM
and similar games where you move in steps. What the programmers
have done is map bitmap graphics of the walls, floors, ceilings,
etc onto solid 3D generated walls. This is where the speed of the
PC is used to best effect. If you watch someone else play it from


a short distance away I'm sure you'll think you were watching
video footage rather than generated graphics. People and monsters
also roam about in this environment quite happily.

The only real drawback to this system is when you bump into
something close up. As you can appreciate, bitmap graphics look
best from the distance they were meant to be viewed at. The
graphics are rescaled when you are further away (which looks okay
as most of it is hidden in shadows) and when you are closer, and
this is where the problem lies.  The graphics become very blocky
as they are expanded to fill the screen.  Once you get used to it
though it ceases to be a problem.

The atmosphere generated by this system is immense, but what of
the game? Well, it's your usual magic and monster fantasy romp
with you scouring the underworld and fighting off all manner of
creatures along the way. There is a magic system but it isn't the
best I've encountered and takes some getting used to. The actions
are all mouse or keyboard controlled. There are a group of icons
on the left of the main display for examining objects, using them,
taking them, opening doors etc. Fighting is a little awkward in
the 3D system. Your arm shoots out and punches the air, and on
occasions you still hit the creature which is a good few feet
shorter than you when really you would have missed easily.

The game includes a self-mapping system and is presented on a
nicely faded scroll on screen. It almost looks like it was drawn
with charcoal and water colours. Soundwise it supports all of the
usual boards but as I only have the standard internal speaker I
can't say if they are any good or not. Needless to say the PC
speaker sound is terrible, but it is on nearly all games so it's
not Origin's fault.

There is a conversation feature built in but it is really nothing
more than a multiple choice answering system. Anyway, I'm more
used to bumping off monsters than talking to them!

The box comes with a little bag with a draw string which contains
a small collection of metal runes. These are also found in the
game and are employed in the magic system. You will also find four
booklets and a map of the first level to help you out.

The 3D environment is the most impressive aspect of the game, but
there appears to be a strong computer RPG inside too. If you
want a game that generates a planet's worth of atmosphere then
this is an experience worth having.