Ultima (series)

Ultima is a celebrated series of open world fantasy role-playing video games.

Created by Richard Garriott for Origin Systems, the series helped establish many core norms for the computer role-playing game genre. Along with titles like Wizardry and Might and Magic, Ultima is considered a seminal influence on gaming history. By 1997, the series had sold more than 2 million copies. While the games mostly focus on fantasy fiction, they often incorporate science fiction elements as well. The stories primarily take place in a realm called Britannia, which is ruled by a benevolent leader known as Lord British.

The narrative follows a protagonist who is a resident of Earth. In the earliest games, this character is referred to as "the Stranger." However, after the events of Ultima IV, the character attains the title of "Avatar." This title signifies that the hero has become a spiritual leader and an embodiment of the values held by the people of Britannia.

The main series is organized into three distinct trilogies, which are referred to as "Ages." The first is the Age of Darkness, consisting of Ultima I, II, and III. These games are set in a world named Sosaria. During the cataclysmic events of this age, Sosaria is sundered, and three-quarters of the land vanishes. The remaining portion becomes the land of Britannia. The second group is the Age of Enlightenment, which includes Ultima IV, V, and VI. The final group is the Age of Armageddon, covering Ultima VII, VIII, and IX. This final trilogy is sometimes called the "Guardian Saga" because of its primary antagonist.

The Age of Darkness focuses on traditional conflicts between heroes and villains. In Ultima I, the Stranger must defeat the wizard Mondain by using a time machine to shatter his Gem of Immortality. Ultima II follows the sorceress Minax, who attacks Earth and opens doorways to various historical locations. Ultima III introduces Exodus, a foe described as being neither human nor machine. Exodus is depicted as a self-aware artificial intelligence. This third installment was notable for introducing a player party system, a mechanic used in many later games.

The Age of Enlightenment introduced much deeper complexity to the gameplay. Ultima IV shifted away from simple combat to focus on a complex alignment system. This system is based on the Eight Virtues, which are derived from the Three Principles of Love, Truth, and Courage.

To become the Avatar, the player must achieve enlightenment in every Virtue to reach the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. Ultima V involves the Avatar returning to save the true king from a tyrant named Lord Blackthorn. Ultima VI explores themes of racism and xenophobia as the Avatar attempts to reconcile the cultures of humans and Gargoyles.

The Age of Armageddon is characterized by careful planning and a central villain. Richard Garriott noted that Ultima VII was the first game in the series where he planned the entire trilogy ahead of time. This trilogy follows the struggle against an entity known as the Guardian. In Ultima VII, a group called the Fellowship attempts to create a gateway for the Guardian to enter Britannia. In Ultima VIII, the Avatar is exiled to the world of Pagan, which is ruled by god-like Elemental Titans. The series concludes with Ultima IX, where the Avatar discovers that the Guardian is actually an evil part of himself that was expelled long ago.

Beyond the main series, many spin-offs and collections have expanded the Ultima universe. The Worlds of Ultima series includes titles like The Savage Empire, which features a jungle world with thirteen primitive tribes. Another spin-off, Ultima Underworld, uses a first-person perspective to tell stories set in the Great Stygian Abyss. There have also been many collections, such as the Ultima Collection released in 1998, which included the first eight games on CD-ROM. These games have reached a wide audience, including significant success in Japan through console ports and tie-in media like manga.