Ultima IX: Ascension

                  Reviewed by Vic Horsley

I hadn't looked at a game since last year although I do have a
couple not yet played. I chose Ultima Ascension, played a little,
lost my way, started again, more mistakes, start again. When I'd
mastered it, I liked it and decided to do hints and tips as I went
along which was my effort for the magazine.

Here's the background to the game from the official website:

Prepare to embark on an adventure beyond imagination with the
return of the best selling role-playing series of all time. In the
9th and final chapter in the 20-year legacy you return to
Britannia for your last epic quest. As the heroic Avatar, only
you can save Lord British and his people from the evil Guardian
who has devastated the landscape and tainted the 8 sacred virtues.
Valiant combat, magical prowess and knowledge of the 8 virtues are

your weapons against evil in Ultima IX: Ascension, the most epic
role-playing game ever created for the PC.

Key Features:

Immerse yourself into the world of Britannia like never before.
The stunning 3D graphics and 3D sound blur the lines between
fantasy and reality, accompanied by a riveting soundtrack, mixed
at ORIGIN's THX certified sound studio.

Live the epic saga through seamlessly integrated combat,
adventure, and puzzle-solving.

Interact with the over 200 intriguing characters that live in the
world of Britannia. All with full speech recorded by professional
actors and scripted by a professional screenwriter.

Experience the richest fantasy environment ever created. With day
and night cycles, weather effects, real-life physics and the

ability to manipulate every item in the world, you'll forget it's
only a game.

Engage over 60 unique creatures and monsters using the most
innovative combat system ever created.

Conjure 45 incredible spells using circles of magic, alchemy, and
rituals.

Uphold the 8 sacred virtues (Honesty, Justice, Humility,
Sacrifice, Valor, Compassion, Honor, and Spirituality) as you
become a legend.

Designed by the Ultima creator Richard Garriott - a.k.a. Lord
British.

System Requirements:

MINIMUM
Windows 95 or 98
266 MHz or faster Intel Pentium II processor
64 MB RAM
8x CD-ROM drive (1200K/second transfer rate) using 32-bit Windows
95/98 CD-ROM driver
8 MB 3D graphics Accelerator with DirectDraw and Direct 3D or
Glide compatible driver
640 x 480 screen resolution
DirectX 7 compatible sound card
600 MB free hard disk space, plus space for saved games
(additional space required for DirectX 7 installation)
Keyboard, mouse

RECOMMENDED
400 MHz or faster Pentium II processor
128 MB RAM
1 GB free hard disk space plus space for saved games
16 MB 3D graphics accelerator using the Voodoo3 chipset
DirectX 7 compatible sound card with EAX and DirecSound3D support


One very big annoying problem with this game is that it crashes
over and over again. The further one gets into the game, the
greater the problem. It definitely needs some patches to improve
it. It's such a pity because it's a really enjoyable game.  Saving
is of a priority but if there are too many saves recorded it just
adds to the crashes. I suggest no more than five saves before
deleting but keeping the oldest of those saves until the next
deleting session and then repeating the procedure.

It is possible to load Ultima 9 with very little in the way of
graphics and sound effects but I have the impression that this
would spoil the game and its make up and I believe vital points
would be missed, although I doubt there would be so many crashes.

I wasn't surprised that Sue couldn't find a walkthrough for this
game on the internet. It's really huge and it's possible to go
wherever you wish. There is a main stream to the story but how you
get there is up to you. Also there are many side plots which you
may or may not do. This is entirely up to you. A guide is given on
what to do next after you finish a quest but you are also able to
go off and cover other smaller problems and then come back. It
would take a very large book to cover all the scenarios and I
venture to suggest that this is why it was never attempted.

This is not a game I would recommend to anyone, purely because of
the crashes involved. The graphics are great, the storyline is
above average. The music although good can be a little repetitive
but it can be turned off if wished. Oh dear, those crashes. I'm
not sorry to see the last of this game.










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