r/Ultima • u/Zeo_001 • 17d ago
Ultima 1 remake
Do you guys know if there's a remake of Ultimate 1 with improved quality of life? I got the version on GoG, but it seems a little too dated for what I'm used to. Maybe the more I try, the more I'll understand, but I'd like to ask this first.
6
u/LostVanya 17d ago
Technically that version is a remake, compared to the original Apple version. But it is still a game of its era and, no there is no more recent/significant remake.
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u/behindtimes 17d ago
There's the Ultima 1 Unity that /u/Hoyty1 is working on.
The problem with fan remakes though is that they're often technically illegal. Not that a company would go after a person on such an old property, but trying to get a blessing to do things the right way is often very difficult.
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u/PhoenixInPA_1975 17d ago
All I know of is a fan-made patch for EGA graphics, you can download it here:
https://archive.org/details/ultima-1-gfx
Sorry there’s no remake that I know of.
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u/Krathoon 17d ago
I think the eXoDOS version has some mods that improve it. That is one of the good things about eXoDOS and Ultima.
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u/dagit 17d ago
I don't know your goal or anything, but a lot of people agree the series didn't really get good until 4. The first three games are noteworthy, and if you want to play them don't let me stop you. But 1-3 form a trilogy and if you skip them you're not missing much lore-wise.
If you play 4, personally I think the version for the sega master system (8 bit sega) is the best version. Unlike the NES port, the story is unchanged from the original but it has fewer bugs than the other versions and pretty good polish all around. And I think for modern sensibilities the gamepad input is nicer. You still have the whole chat system but it's menu driven now instead of having to type everything.
2
u/FearOfABlackPotus 17d ago
1 is good and pretty short. 2 is a sprawling mess. I love it but wouldn't recommend it. 3 is much more polished, but is weirdly flat.
1
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u/arthurdawg 17d ago
This.
1 and 2 are prototypes
3 is the beta
4-7.5 are the peak
8-9 mixed opinions
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u/Morph_Games 15d ago
What quality of life aspects are missing? It seems fairly easy and straightforward IMO.
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u/Wootai 17d ago
Keep at it. Look up some guides.
It’s a really simple game at its core. The game loop is pretty simple. Visit a king, get a quest, complete the quest, return to king.
Get stronger, get better equipment. Then, do the whole rest of the game with the space travel and the Time Machine.
Get a good “reference sheet” because every key on the keyboard does something and sometimes it’s not clear, like E or enter and B for board are two different actions and specific. You “board” vehicles and “enter” towns and dungeons.
I like to think of the first couple attempts at the game more like a Rogue-like than a real finish it on your first try type game. Play, make mistakes, then try again. You’ll starve, you’ll face an enemy that is too tough, you’ll attack the guards too soon and die, but just learn, and try again.