Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss

Spoony | Mar 25 2011 | more | 
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I don’t exactly get the rock-star welcome I kinda deserve upon this return to Britannia.

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  • http://twitter.com/iRiffMoleman Moleman

    Great to see you back doing videos Spoony!

  • http://www.facebook.com/Bleached.Soul Michel Alvarado

    Thank you spoony for being so damn sexy.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Casey-Goddard/634271938 Casey Goddard

    Good to see back again Spoony.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_R7GETAHD2ZIO3RDVNIWDSUU2T4 John Doe

    Man, I hate to sound like an ungrateful little shit, because this is awesome and all, but it just leaves me wanting more!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Collier/1278319809 Steven Collier

    Thank you for keeping me company during late-night cram sessions.

  • Anonymous

    I know you can’t see it Spoony, but right now the entire internet community is giving you a standing ovation for your return.
    As for the game, I know what you mean about the bad voice acting. A lot of game cutscenes had shoddy voice acting back then. The one I remember most fondly was Space Quest IV, but at least that was supposed to be a comedy, whereas this is meant to be taken seriously.

  • Anonymous

    This video was great! Nice to see the green screen effects again. I’m glad that you are back Spoony.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jim-Reese/1053353261 Jim Reese

    Great to have you back. Looking forward to this review, I never played this one. You pull off the mail-coat and cape nice man, it works for you. Though the guy in the yellow shirt behind you looks less than impressed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryne-Pearson/100000735295040 Ryne Pearson

    I wouldn’t mind the ability to write notes on maps to return. That would allow for the designers to make more confusing and secret filled dungeons without making the player completely lost.

    And yeah if I were the avatar I’d let the world die next time they have trouble, I mean you can’t keep providing a safety net for these people whenever a demon or evil warlock pops up.

    TEACH THEM SELF RELIANCE MAN

  • http://www.facebook.com/iramsden Ian Ramsden

    I love that game when i was a kid, didn’t finish it though unfortunately
    You’re right the maps and notes were the best, even some games today miss that
    It was an epic game, so many choices and so much to do, just excellent, and yeah aside from the shitty voice acting, that thankfully was few and far between

    teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a day, give a man a fish you get a pair of boots

  • http://www.facebook.com/iramsden Ian Ramsden

    I love that game when i was a kid, didn’t finish it though unfortunately
    You’re right the maps and notes were the best, even some games today miss that
    It was an epic game, so many choices and so much to do, just excellent, and yeah aside from the shitty voice acting, that thankfully was few and far between

    teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a day, give a man a fish you get a pair of boots

  • http://www.facebook.com/iramsden Ian Ramsden

    I love that game when i was a kid, didn’t finish it though unfortunately
    You’re right the maps and notes were the best, even some games today miss that
    It was an epic game, so many choices and so much to do, just excellent, and yeah aside from the shitty voice acting, that thankfully was few and far between

    teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a day, give a man a fish you get a pair of boots

  • http://www.facebook.com/iramsden Ian Ramsden

    I love that game when i was a kid, didn’t finish it though unfortunately
    You’re right the maps and notes were the best, even some games today miss that
    It was an epic game, so many choices and so much to do, just excellent, and yeah aside from the shitty voice acting, that thankfully was few and far between

    teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a day, give a man a fish you get a pair of boots

  • http://twitter.com/SolidGoldCEO SolidGoldCEO

    Does the “ghost of a horrible voice actor” remind anyone else of Orpheus from Venture Bros?

    • Anonymous

      “Do not be too hasty to enter, I had TACO BEEEEELL FOR LUNCH!”

      Should be no surprise I’m a big Venture Brothers fan, heh.

    • Anonymous

      “Do not be too hasty to enter, I had TACO BEEEEELL FOR LUNCH!”

      Should be no surprise I’m a big Venture Brothers fan, heh.

  • http://twitter.com/SolidGoldCEO SolidGoldCEO

    Does the “ghost of a horrible voice actor” remind anyone else of Orpheus from Venture Bros?

  • http://www.facebook.com/niQboy Nico Havia

    Your videos never let me down, Spoony.

    By the way, the ending song is Strange Brew by Cream if anyone’s interested. :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/niQboy Nico Havia

    Your videos never let me down, Spoony.

    By the way, the ending song is Strange Brew by Cream if anyone’s interested. :)

  • Anonymous

    Great. Now I REALLY want a T-Shirt of Spoony with the text “I’m the Goddamn AVATAR!”

    And I kind of feel bad; with all the “Bad Voice Actor” jokes, especially with the narrator, I thought to myself “good god, it sounds like some dork obsessed with Renaissance fairs!” and then Boom, Spoony’s dressed up in his wonderfully tacky Medieval outfit, and the more I loved it, the worse I felt for the ren-fair remark, heh. Just bad timing I guess (I’ll get you, Casper! The TRUE ghost of a bad voice actor!)

    As I often say, I just love how informative the Ultima videos are, because I really am unfamiliar with them. I’m so ignorant of them, that all I really knew for so long was when a few people mentioned Ultima Online to me when I talked about EverQuest way back in the late 90′s . This one in particular reminds me more of my Ultima-ignorance because I *REALLY* see the influence that the first 2 Elder Scrolls game took from this.

    I grew up as an 80′s NES kid, and had to stick mostly with consoles in my childhood, so big PC or DOS games just breezed passed me in my early life, and it’s just really fun watching the histories of these things.

    And is it just me, or is there just something absolutely delightful about fantasy game music with old, outdated audio-technology? I hear old music from this, or early Elder Scrolls (even that damn inn/merchant music), or old EverQuest midis (ah, Kelethin) and the fantasy-loving geek in me just melts with joy. I dunno, just the way I am (and now I REALLY feel bad for the “dorky ren-fair” remark after this last paragraph)

  • http://www.facebook.com/mmcabe1 Michael Mc Cabe

    Dare I say this but I kinda liked some of the voice acting. Okay yes it was bad, however I’m sure most of us have sat down and played a game of Dungeons and Dragons and well that’s what it reminds me of. Your friend the DM hamming it up when voicing the many character’s in the world.

    As for the game it’s self, see I remember picking it up as a used copy back in the early 90′s. And good god this became the game I played right as I went on summer break. Late nights spent hovering over the hint guide that someone had left in the box and wandering around. And Ultima Underworld had to be one of the most ahead of it’s time games I’ve played. Just finding a locked door and the ways you could get around it was fun.

    I think the only two things I disliked about it would be the ending wasn’t too good. And the magic system kinda sucked in my eyes. If I recall right, in order to cast spells you had to set up some runestones on this bar on your screen. However, you had to find all the runestones in the game and if you lost the manual or didn’t have a cheatbook well good luck casting a spell.

  • http://www.youtube.com/thefaustianman Faust

    Who are you? And can you send me some pizza rolls?

  • Anonymous

    Sooooooo…….did you ever find that daughter?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Foweraker/100000318540923 Matthew Foweraker

    I really like this review but I had to watch it twice because the first time I was distracted by the fact that you use the Castle in my home town for the dialogue backdrop.

    Man I am pathetic…

    Where did you get the picture?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-Foweraker/100000318540923 Matthew Foweraker

    I really like this review but I had to watch it twice because the first time I was distracted by the fact that you use the Castle in my home town for the dialogue backdrop.

    Man I am pathetic…

    Where did you get the picture?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Clayton-Blanchard/1027514832 Clayton Blanchard

    I thought about trying this game a few months ago. It looks like fun but at the same time confusing.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Olli-Johannes-Suvinen/1182935768 Olli Johannes Suvinen

    Ah, map feature sounds as awesome as it was in Lands of Lore 3.
    Wich was a really bloody game for it’s time even though it did require more computing power than most of the 3D games by the time.

    But I really have to admit, I love FPS dungeon crawlers like early Might and magic and D&D based games.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alexander-Caligiuri/1337182793 Alexander Caligiuri

    I agree with another commenter, did you actually find the daughter? I also liked your costume, sweet duds man.
    As for the trip we got to see you experience, there is a recommended dosage you know…

    • Anonymous

      The daughter is found on level 7, after you kill Tyball.

      THEN you have to find the three peices to the tripart key, the 8 artifacts of that “Sir” fellow, find the wizard-in-your-dreams bones on level 8, rebury them at his grave on level 5, return to level 8, open the central chamber with the tripart key, throw all 8 artifacts into the lava, then you and the slasher of veils are teleported to another dimention. Here, you must run along the green path (NEVER try and fight the slasher of veils, he is invincible…plus, the dimention inflicts damage to you) until you get to another moongate that takes you home.

  • http://crusaderreviews.blogspot.com/ Iron Criterion

    The horrible voice actors are infinitely better than any of the ones that featured in the CD-i Zelda games.

  • http://twitter.com/Eternal_Sonata Anthony Valunas

    Hahah, “Is thiiiissss Actionnnnnn fiftyyy-twooooo? Whoooooooooaaaaaaaaa!!”

    The green screen segment was boss too. Well done.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Konstantin-Akhmetov/100000303416185 Konstantin Akhmetov

    I half-expected to hear “Whoooo’s fuckin with myyy mediciiiin” in the end

  • http://suddenlyflash.wordpress.com/ Carson

    Woo, Cream. I’m sorry great review but wooo Cream.

  • http://suddenlyflash.wordpress.com/ Carson

    Woo, Cream. I’m sorry great review but wooo Cream.

  • http://twitter.com/AJRimmer5 AJRimmer

    Welcome back oh Spoony one. Loved your Pax videos, but glad to see a review up. Never played the Ultima games, didn’t have a comp that could handle the graphics, and I regret it more now after seeing Britania’s most Holy of Holys’ totally tripping balls at the end there. And what is with old school rpgs?

    Why does every king have an easily kidnap-able daughter? Why do they always send one lone fighter off to save her from the ravaging hordes? And why the fuck won’t they at least give you a sword?

  • http://twitter.com/AJRimmer5 AJRimmer

    Welcome back oh Spoony one. Loved your Pax videos, but glad to see a review up. Never played the Ultima games, didn’t have a comp that could handle the graphics, and I regret it more now after seeing Britania’s most Holy of Holys’ totally tripping balls at the end there. And what is with old school rpgs?

    Why does every king have an easily kidnap-able daughter? Why do they always send one lone fighter off to save her from the ravaging hordes? And why the fuck won’t they at least give you a sword?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1641579667 Henkjan Braaksma

    Aww man, I was hoping you’d do Serpent Isle, I’m curious about that one.
    Ah well, you’ve been busy, and this one was still great :D

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Roler-Dark/100000545592088 Roler Dark

    welcome back spooner, you’ve been missed, and… wow… that game sure is tripping… also… the developers of ultima sure love putting the avatar in arkward situations… i mean seirously

    in one game you save the world only to find that your house got robbed
    in another game you’re turned into freaking jesus
    in another game you are to blame for dooming an entire race of innocent demons

    just to name a few… seriously… what the hell!?

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1641579667 Henkjan Braaksma

      Ultima VII’s kinda awkward too. There you are, as hero of the land and messiah. 200 years ago. Now you’re forced to follow the RELIGION THAT REPLACED YOU. Owch.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1641579667 Henkjan Braaksma

      Ultima VII’s kinda awkward too. There you are, as hero of the land and messiah. 200 years ago. Now you’re forced to follow the RELIGION THAT REPLACED YOU. Owch.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=753345456 Octo Seven

    I really want to play the Ultima series now. Nice surrealist ending btw, Spoonadelic, spoon a dalek.. or something.

  • http://www.facebook.com/alexa.w.1 Alexa White

    Wonderful review again Spoony! The ability to write notes on a map seems wonderful. It would save a lot of time in a game spent backtracking like an idiot if you could write “Dead end here” especially in games where all of the walls and corridors look the same.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matthew-T-McHenry/20925881 Matthew T McHenry

    I love that avatar costume. Where did you get it?

  • http://twitter.com/ninjadragonliz Leanne Gover

    Wow! Oh so wonderfully Trippy. It’s so good to see your back. I love that bunny pajamas Kehehehe. Also I think I will be having nightmares about that freaky Demonic Dairy Queen lips monster.

  • http://twitter.com/RabidLemur Lizzie Hupcey

    Now that’s an outfit. I must again say thank you for doing this Ultima series. It continues to be fascinating, and I never would have known about all this otherwise.

  • Anonymous

    …Who’s been fuckin’ wit’ mah medicine..?

  • Anonymous

    Love the Avitar costume you’re wearing Spoony. And I love the bunny pajamas scene, hilarious!

  • http://www.facebook.com/GitzyHate Gitzy Bundy

    IIRC, isn’t the voice of the Baron done by Lord British? Well Richard Garriott – it’s hard to tell where he begins and his pseudonym ends… Which would help explain the bad voice acting — though that doesn’t explain how the ‘guard’ voice actor possibly got the job (and thus paid!)

    • http://www.facebook.com/PedroTimoteo Pedro Alexandre Timóteo

      Yes, the Baron is played by Richard Garriott. Listen to LB’s voice in the intro of Serpent Isle (“Indeed! Put it on the table!”); it’s clearly the same guy.

      • http://www.facebook.com/GitzyHate Gitzy Bundy

        Coder, Designer, Astronaut, Castle-Owner, Voice Actor – is there anything Richard Garriott can’t do? (apart from not get pushed out of the companies he creates)

      • http://www.facebook.com/GitzyHate Gitzy Bundy

        Coder, Designer, Astronaut, Castle-Owner, Voice Actor – is there anything Richard Garriott can’t do? (apart from not get pushed out of the companies he creates)

      • http://www.facebook.com/GitzyHate Gitzy Bundy

        Coder, Designer, Astronaut, Castle-Owner, Voice Actor – is there anything Richard Garriott can’t do? (apart from not get pushed out of the companies he creates)

    • http://www.facebook.com/PedroTimoteo Pedro Alexandre Timóteo

      Yes, the Baron is played by Richard Garriott. Listen to LB’s voice in the intro of Serpent Isle (“Indeed! Put it on the table!”); it’s clearly the same guy.

  • http://twitter.com/GeneralyWiggles General Wiggles

    spoony is back, there is a god.

  • http://twitter.com/GeneralyWiggles General Wiggles

    spoony is back, there is a god.

  • http://twitter.com/GeneralyWiggles General Wiggles

    spoony is back, there is a god.

  • http://www.facebook.com/RTRicharii Richard Richardson

    Spoony is the man BUT I was disappointed that his comeback was a Ultima review.
    Not to say it wasn’t a bit entertaining. I’m looking forward to next review after Ultima.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lonnie-Price/52703835 Lonnie Price

    Good to see you back spoony

  • jlo1220

    Not bad, dear boy. Not bad. But you got off easy really. If you came at me in the middle of the night after having been found in my daughters room dressed like Blackthorne I would have tossed your ass in the Stygian Anus on the other side of the underworld.

    Also, I keep waiting and waiting for the Ultima 8 video, it’s my favorite game in the series. Even if the Platforming sections were horrible.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kenneth-Dunlop/600725541 Kenneth Dunlop

    Ooh, I’ve been waiting for this one. I was afraid that Spoony wouldn’t review the ‘Underworld’ spinoffs. The sequel, Ultima Underworld II, is one of the few games I truly revere.

    I thought the voice acting in this game was cheesy, but good. “Treachery and doom!” is one of my favourite phrases more than a decade later.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kenneth-Dunlop/600725541 Kenneth Dunlop

    Ooh, I’ve been waiting for this one. I was afraid that Spoony wouldn’t review the ‘Underworld’ spinoffs. The sequel, Ultima Underworld II, is one of the few games I truly revere.

    I thought the voice acting in this game was cheesy, but good. “Treachery and doom!” is one of my favourite phrases more than a decade later.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ICDHG7TLTN6JVK6JMK3TKQFXKQ Mike Wallace

    The plot to Conan the Destroyer was better scripted and acted. Having never played the Ultima series it’s interesting to get this look into how it played out over the years. My first real RPG was Daggerfall and I can see a lot in Ultima Underground that flavored The Elder Scrolls series.

    If you are the Avatar, how come your stats don’t stay the same from one game to the next? I get that you might not have that demon-possessed black sword of soul-drinking insta-death (it’s probably propping up your kitchen table) but didn’t Lord British put you on the new Lord British’s Chewable Steroids regiment a few games ago to double-max your Strength? If I were the Avatar I would have grabbed that Baron by his golden bathrobe and bitch-slapped him until he gave me a fucking sword and at least a suit of armor. And then when I got to the bottom and saved the virgin girl I’d explain why her virginity is such a disadvantage and show her my Ninth Virtue. Aw yeah.

    I half-expected the ultimate evil of this place to be the Guardian, brought back by some convoluted plan to get his revenge on you. It might explain why the dead wizard would summon you back, but instead you just get a run of the mill demon. Like demons are such hot shit. Anyways.

    Good review, hilarious, I’m looking forward to part 2 and the inevitable drug crash. Maybe we’ll see the Avatar giving Lord British a Rusty Venture for his next trip.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_62VBF5YKLFR3GVSFX2P6H3OUCI Jay Eea

      I agree with what you said about the Elder Scroll games. Having played the UU games back in the day, I would go so far as to call the Elder Scrolls series its spiritual successor.

      Ultima Underworld also features mushrooms and Potions of Hallucination which screw with your vision. I thought that was funny.

      Fun games, especially for when they came out. Bica Sorr…. j/k

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ICDHG7TLTN6JVK6JMK3TKQFXKQ Mike Wallace

        Arena and Daggerfall definitely have Ultima Underworld flavors. Morrowind was later and really gave the setting a much-needed personality-boost.

        All I really remember from Daggerfall was the chorus of “Halt!” from the city guards when I robbed a place, and the full-frontal nudity. I was fourteen or so at the time. *Laughs*

        I could so go for a potion of hallucination right now.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_62VBF5YKLFR3GVSFX2P6H3OUCI Jay Eea

      I agree with what you said about the Elder Scroll games. Having played the UU games back in the day, I would go so far as to call the Elder Scrolls series its spiritual successor.

      Ultima Underworld also features mushrooms and Potions of Hallucination which screw with your vision. I thought that was funny.

      Fun games, especially for when they came out. Bica Sorr…. j/k

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_62VBF5YKLFR3GVSFX2P6H3OUCI Jay Eea

      I agree with what you said about the Elder Scroll games. Having played the UU games back in the day, I would go so far as to call the Elder Scrolls series its spiritual successor.

      Ultima Underworld also features mushrooms and Potions of Hallucination which screw with your vision. I thought that was funny.

      Fun games, especially for when they came out. Bica Sorr…. j/k

    • http://www.facebook.com/GitzyHate Gitzy Bundy

      There was some kind of explanation is one of the games of why you go all weak, but it was the kind of thing like “well, that’s what going through gates will do to you”. Very tacked on.

      For the Guardian – well that’s because Spoony has messed up a little in the ordering. Ultima Underworld was released before Ultima VII (well, it was released on the same year, but is meant to be set before ultima vii) and so no Mr. Guardian. Yet….

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ICDHG7TLTN6JVK6JMK3TKQFXKQ Mike Wallace

        I tend to avoid magical portals for fear of being regressed to my awkward teen years or developing transporter psychosis.

        I had an inkling this game came before The Black Gate. The sharp drop in cut-scene quality seemd the biggest give away.

  • http://cassave.deviantart.com/ Anonymous

    One of the few games where you not only had to sleep and eat AND check if your food wasn’t spoiled, otherwise you got poisoned. That and you could pick up a fishing rod, and go fishing in an underground river 8) Awesome game…

  • http://profiles.google.com/joe.england Joe England

    And, hey, is it just me, or is the term “abyss” kind of a misnomer? I mean, from the looks of that map, these dungeons are built into the bulk of a mountain. Volcano. Whatever. Point is, most of the levels are well above sea level. If they just added windows, it’d be a medieval condominium.

  • Anonymous

    Well this explains what took you so long to post this video, you were tripping on shrooms half the time xD

  • Anonymous

    Well this explains what took you so long to post this video, you were tripping on shrooms half the time xD

  • Psy Crow

    The purple face becomes Giygas at 2:49. :O

  • Psy Crow

    The purple face becomes Giygas at 2:49. :O

  • Anonymous

    Thank you for reviewing this one. I never beat it. I was too young to understand something as complex as this game when I played it, but this was the first RPG I ever played. I am quite nostalgic about it. It was, also, the first game with voice acting I ever came across. Voices in a video game blew my mind.

  • Anonymous

    Thank you for reviewing this one. I never beat it. I was too young to understand something as complex as this game when I played it, but this was the first RPG I ever played. I am quite nostalgic about it. It was, also, the first game with voice acting I ever came across. Voices in a video game blew my mind.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Adam-Doran/100000584164074 Adam Doran

    well i got myself this game and dosbox now just to figure out how to work it so when i am around veteran rpg players i can say i play it old school

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Adam-Doran/100000584164074 Adam Doran

    well i got myself this game and dosbox now just to figure out how to work it so when i am around veteran rpg players i can say i play it old school

  • Anonymous

    Didn’t this all start because Ultima IX apparently sucks!? What a strange trip this has been…

  • Anonymous

    Didn’t this all start because Ultima IX apparently sucks!? What a strange trip this has been…

  • http://www.giantbomb.com/profile/cornbredx/ CornBRED-X

    Awesome episode Spoony. The ending was hilarious.

  • http://www.facebook.com/xfirefly Tori Maier

    Spoony! It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve visited your site. I like the new canvassy texture background and the cool sketchy looking “Follow TSE On…” icons.

    Great video; looking forward to part deux. :-)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Baron-von-Graves/819905450 Baron von Graves

    Spoony wishes he had a footlong morning-boner…

  • http://www.facebook.com/kacper.matuszewski Kacper Iwo Matuszewski

    man, what’s the name of the trippy song in the end?????????

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Janne-Karjalainen/1788510835 Janne Karjalainen

      Strange Brew by Cream

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Edward-Trejo/762770374 Edward Trejo

    I’m strongly reminded of Interplay’s Stonekeep when I see the gameplay footage from this. I believe it came out in 1994, and in a way it kind of represents a transition for these types of RPG’s, being more evolved than Ultima Underworld and Daggerfall, but less so than later games such as Morrowind. It even allowed you to write on the map in exactly the same fashion. It’s a shame that Stonekeep never got the sequel that was planned for it, though.

  • Anonymous

    Oh please don’t tell me that’s a onsie.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mike-Smith/100000649166219 Mike Smith

    7:01 Wow, is there a part in one of the older games where you have to face a copycat/mirror universe version of your own party? That’s pretty cool!

  • http://twitter.com/Shada67 Shada67

    Welcome back Spoony! You look awesome in the Avatar gear (too bad the bunny costume was photoshop – that scene seriously made me squeak and choke on my Pepsi).

    Wonderful review, and look forward to part 2.

  • http://twitter.com/Shada67 Shada67

    Welcome back Spoony! You look awesome in the Avatar gear (too bad the bunny costume was photoshop – that scene seriously made me squeak and choke on my Pepsi).

    Wonderful review, and look forward to part 2.

  • http://twitter.com/Shada67 Shada67

    Welcome back Spoony! You look awesome in the Avatar gear (too bad the bunny costume was photoshop – that scene seriously made me squeak and choke on my Pepsi).

    Wonderful review, and look forward to part 2.

  • http://twitter.com/Shada67 Shada67

    Welcome back Spoony! You look awesome in the Avatar gear (too bad the bunny costume was photoshop – that scene seriously made me squeak and choke on my Pepsi).

    Wonderful review, and look forward to part 2.

  • http://twitter.com/Shada67 Shada67

    Welcome back Spoony! You look awesome in the Avatar gear (too bad the bunny costume was photoshop – that scene seriously made me squeak and choke on my Pepsi).

    Wonderful review, and look forward to part 2.

  • http://trueliberty.us icecycle66

    1:05- I see 88 buttons.

    1:53- The Stygian Abyss also introduced the “banana steering” mechanism.

    2:42- Holy wiggling mustache! That’s some sweet CD technology right there.

    2:56- What the hell, did he throw her out the window? Or is he like Cloak and just sucked her up in his great abdominal orifice?

    3:23- I fear the dungeon that follows being captured by men with dildos on sticks.

    3:35- So…you have a problem with the voice actors, eh?

    4:44- All these people have blue jaundice.

    5:26- And blue teeth.

    6:56- Nice cod piece.

    7:47- Fuck+Fuck=Double Fuck

    8:40- Max Payne beta

    9:10- Miles is bringing evidence home again.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve never played Ultima Underworld, but this makes me think quite a bit of the Etrian Odyssey games: Minimal plot, manual mapping (complete with notes and icons!), and you having to lead your group to success despite starting out with nothing.

    I look forward to part 2.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve never played Ultima Underworld, but this makes me think quite a bit of the Etrian Odyssey games: Minimal plot, manual mapping (complete with notes and icons!), and you having to lead your group to success despite starting out with nothing.

    I look forward to part 2.

  • Anonymous

    Man. The music sounds like chiptunes from Ecco.

  • Anonymous

    Man. The music sounds like chiptunes from Ecco.

  • http://profiles.google.com/rikavich Sean Riker

    Some of my fondest childhood memories

  • http://profiles.google.com/rikavich Sean Riker

    Some of my fondest childhood memories

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Högklint/755589262 Tim Högklint

    great end :D

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tim-Högklint/755589262 Tim Högklint

    great end :D

  • http://twitter.com/goldwyrm Marcus Alexandre L G

    They could be talking about that other Stygian Abyss…. you know, that one that wasn’t EVER mentioned before and NEVER appeared after this game. And which is located in that island with a volcano that doesn’t exist!

    And for the Avatar part… well, in Ultima VII there’s some NPC’s that also think you are just a person lying that you are the Avatar. There is even a side quest about a innkeeper that got in trouble thanks to one of the many false Avatars. This particular one you can even find in-game.

    Granted, the Ultima VII is set a whole 200 years later in Brittania, but it could be the a similar case of disbelief.

    (Marcus, lawyer of the random dumb NPC’s)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001218463429 Tim House

    Oh come on! Those voice actors weren’t that bad! I’ve heard way worse.
    Like way, WAY worse! Rip-your-ears-off worse!

    • http://www.facebook.com/ScottySunday Scott Fowler

      Well, seeing as the voice acting was done by the Origin staff themselves (The Narrator sounds like Richard Garriott? Fairly sure it is him) I’m willing to be a bit more forgiving.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Oliver-Meyer/1288596186 Oliver Meyer

        Exactly. It may sound horrible now, because we’ve become used to hearing professional voice actors in games. Back then, however, more often than not the staff would do the (sparse) voice overs themselves to cut cost.

        And you know what? It was ok. Back then you were thankful if you had any spoken lines in your games. I can still remember the time when the mere concept of digitized speech in video games just blew my mind.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brandon-Greif/100002116448083 Brandon Greif

          Harvey Finevoice spoils us.

      • http://www.facebook.com/people/Oliver-Meyer/1288596186 Oliver Meyer

        Exactly. It may sound horrible now, because we’ve become used to hearing professional voice actors in games. Back then, however, more often than not the staff would do the (sparse) voice overs themselves to cut cost.

        And you know what? It was ok. Back then you were thankful if you had any spoken lines in your games. I can still remember the time when the mere concept of digitized speech in video games just blew my mind.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001218463429 Tim House

    Oh come on! Those voice actors weren’t that bad! I’ve heard way worse.
    Like way, WAY worse! Rip-your-ears-off worse!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ian-Knau/649383700 Ian Knau

    I didn’t know anything about the Ultima series when I got this game on a demo CD. That and the fact that I was a little kid with no internet.. my friend and I concluded that this game took place in MY abyss..that’s right..my ass. XD You walk around inside my poopy ass caves swarding monsters. XD

  • http://dragonacesg7.livejournal.com/profile Dragons_Dusk

    Where did they find those VAs? I’ve heard better deliveries in the cafeteria at my high school.

  • http://dragonacesg7.livejournal.com/profile Dragons_Dusk

    Where did they find those VAs? I’ve heard better deliveries in the cafeteria at my high school.

  • http://www.facebook.com/imaeatchurface Anthone Jason Licari Lamb

    I always liked games like this, but at the same time I couldn’t stand to play them for long. The claustrophobic environment, the darkness, the feeling of helplessness, not knowing what’s around the next corner, and the eerie music always put me off. The polygon walls creeped me out too, for some reason. The scarcity of healing items and magic didn’t help, and if your weapons were as durable as saltine crackers, like in Shadow Tower, that seals the deal on its own. I had to brutally abuse save states just to survive. Screw survival horror, dungeon crawlers are what REALLY test your nerves.

    Sure, the same things are in Fallout 3 and New Vegas, but at least there I could be confident in my weaponry and abilities. I wasn’t paranoid that my only weapon was going to suddenly break in the middle of a fight, or that the enemies just around the corner would completely annihilate me even though the ones in the last room were pansies.

    Like I said, I really did like them a lot. Especially the loot part of it. I just can’t stand the confinement and pressure for very long.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Timo-Takalo/503889411 Timo Takalo

    For a while I was worried you’d skim over the Underworlds like the World of Ultimas since you did U7 first. One thing I’d correct you on, though: Garamon and Tyball were not the founders of the colony in the Abyss, but a guy named Sir Caribus. As for Tyball’s plan, my understanding was that his intention of binding the Slasher into the girl’s body was that it would then be under his control.

  • Anonymous

    Glad to see a new review. And a great one, at that.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeffery-Adam-Phillips/842790540 Jeffery Adam Phillips

    Dude, what’s with the trippy last world? See, this is why they shouldn’t have drugs in Britannia. lol

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OHQVHS2VVOZAD7T2AJUOAUSMHE Agustin Aldo

      Spoony: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the mindfuck!

      Paranoia, paranoia
      Everybody’s comin’ to get me
      Just say you never met me
      I’m runnin’ underground with the moles
      Diggin’ holes
      Hear the voices in my head
      I swear to God it sounds like they’re snoring
      But if you’re bored then you’re boring
      The agony and the irony, they’re killing me, whoa!

      I’m not sick, but I’m not well
      And I’m so hot cause I’m in hell
      I’m not sick, but I’m not well
      And it’s a sin to live this well

      MINDFUCK

      • Anonymous

        Damn, I love Harvey Danger.

      • Anonymous

        Damn, I love Harvey Danger.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matt-Hayden/1720262285 Matt Hayden

    Great to see you back Spoony and as strong as ever. Looking forward to the rest of the forthcoming Ultima reviews!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Matt-Hayden/1720262285 Matt Hayden

    Great to see you back Spoony and as strong as ever. Looking forward to the rest of the forthcoming Ultima reviews!

  • Earthbound_X

    Wow! This looks just like the first Elder Scrolls game! Wish I could get Arena to work correctly on Dosbox, but that last time I tried, it had major frame rate issues I couldn’t figure out how to fix.

    This game looks like a ton of fun though. Might try to see if I can find myself a copy.

  • http://shadowdancersworldo.blip.tv/ Shadowdancer21b

    I love your “Avatar” costume.

    • Anonymous

      Likewise. It’s pretty damn sexy.

      • Anonymous

        That it is! I want one now.

    • Anonymous

      Likewise. It’s pretty damn sexy.

  • Anonymous

    Usually when a reviewer puts on a costume and tries to do a skit, I groan, but these ones were pretty damn hilarious. Great review.

  • Anonymous

    Usually when a reviewer puts on a costume and tries to do a skit, I groan, but these ones were pretty damn hilarious. Great review.

  • Anonymous

    So the wizard was trying to seal the ultimate evil inside a living person and then entombing them in order to keep said evil from taking over all of creation…

    So this could technically be the inspiration for the Diablo series?

  • Anonymous

    So the wizard was trying to seal the ultimate evil inside a living person and then entombing them in order to keep said evil from taking over all of creation…

    So this could technically be the inspiration for the Diablo series?

  • Anonymous

    Wow, reviews of the two Ultima Underworlds? What a surprise. I didn’t even expect a new video when I went here to… check for one, let alone did I expect two new reviews. Awesome.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1106444075 Zach Foster

    This was an amazing game, one of the first PC games I ever played. Unfortunately, my Mom started playing it and became obsessed with it, so we had to fight for game time. Thanks Spoon man.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1106444075 Zach Foster

    This was an amazing game, one of the first PC games I ever played. Unfortunately, my Mom started playing it and became obsessed with it, so we had to fight for game time. Thanks Spoon man.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jovan-Stipic/1520802005 Jovan Stipic

    so worth the wait

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jovan-Stipic/1520802005 Jovan Stipic

    so worth the wait

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jovan-Stipic/1520802005 Jovan Stipic

    so worth the wait

  • Anonymous

    I Loled so hard at “this game looks awesome” bit. And i still do…..
    Keep it up good Sir Spoony.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EN4JPXII46I6QZHAFFV5HVJOHU Ken

    first person rpgs suck end of story

    • Anonymous

      I beg to differ.

    • Anonymous

      I beg to differ.

    • Anonymous

      I beg to differ.

    • Anonymous

      i hope you burn in teh fires of hell for that comment

    • http://www.facebook.com/pete.bucci Pete Bucci

      To the fires ov xibulba with you HEATHEN *thunderclap*

    • http://www.facebook.com/pete.bucci Pete Bucci

      To the fires ov xibulba with you HEATHEN *thunderclap*

    • http://www.facebook.com/pete.bucci Pete Bucci

      To the fires ov xibulba with you HEATHEN *thunderclap*

  • Anonymous

    What song is that at the end?

  • Anonymous

    What song is that at the end?

    • Anonymous

      Strange Brew by Cream.

  • Anonymous

    What song is that at the end?

  • Anonymous

    What song is that at the end?

  • Anonymous

    Good god. That guard needs subtitles.

  • Anonymous

    Good god. That guard needs subtitles.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Helm/1389412634 James Helm

    Spoony in a bunnysuit… god, not an image i needed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Helm/1389412634 James Helm

    Spoony in a bunnysuit… god, not an image i needed.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KQZM4I3JX6F27LT4EM2Y27IFMU Corey

    its kinda is stupid that the king who wants his daughter saved would’ve at least give the guy a sword or something so as to increase his chances of rescuing her, and wow is everybody in the world of ultima an idiot because the character you play as in the game has saved that world and his own so many times that there should be a statue of him in every castle.

  • Princess Stabbity

    The bunny suit scared me…
    However, the Avatar costume? Glorious.

  • Anonymous

    To be fair on the Baron not believing you that you are the Avatar: If someone who looked like Jesus claimed to be the returning messiah I sincerely doubt people would believe the guy. With hundreds of years passing between your times saving the world I can imagine people trying to claim they are the Avatar all the damn time.

    • Bill Cassinelli

      And let’s not forget Sullivan, a con artist from Ultima VII who went around, claiming to be The Avatar.

  • http://www.facebook.com/blue.jess Jesse Bull

    This made me want to play my first Ultima game. Was never a fan of this style of RPG but this looks like some quality old school fun. DosBOX go now!

  • Anonymous

    Wow, Spoony looks goddamned MANLY in that avatar getup!

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SRNNAQ4533PMD6MMPUCGCVS2XQ BreezeAir

      That’s what thinking of Chuck Norris does to you. You’ve been warned.

      • Anonymous

        No it doesn’t, because chuck norris is not manly.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Helm/1389412634 James Helm

          *gasp* BLASPHEMY! Forgive him Lord Texas Ranger, she knows not who she mocks.

          • http://twitter.com/disastertourism Chris Confer

            I’m with melissia on this one. Chuck Norris is an uncool hack who forgot you’re not supposed to swallow when you deepthroat your own ego.

        • http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Helm/1389412634 James Helm

          *gasp* BLASPHEMY! Forgive him Lord Texas Ranger, she knows not who she mocks.

      • http://twitter.com/IanHaverkamp Ian Haverkamp

        no Chuck norris is an horrible actor, and in alot of movies he is in the main cast he is acted like he his 9000 rimes better than god. this guy deserves none of the atention he desrevers in my opinion… and if you ned your manley actor god guy that plz choose Willis for the love of

    • Sajeh

      (I can’t believe I am necroing this but what the heck, I’m bored, and you were chosen to get my pointless reply)

      I just love when girls say stupid things like that; are you no better than the puny insensitive superficial men?

      SO, I can only imagine that women must feel neck deep shit depressed with all the sentimental BS like super models, porn actresses, hairstyles and make up.

      Hey, I might be one in about 78% of the male population (and not knowing it yet) that is sexually attracted to women, just the way they are. Hell, I would expect my future girlfriend to be a lazy 90s kid with just a nerdy t-shirt and baggy jeans, watching internet reviews and nerdy TV-shows.

      It is hard to believe, but I swear, that I have never had a girlfriend. Half the looks, half the brains, half as nerdy, would still want her, but I must be doing something wrong, haha, am I right guys? Oh fuck it.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1442290943 Derek Thomas

        I’ll tell you what you’re doing wrong. You’re sharing too much. As a man, you need the following.
        1. Confidence
        2. Assertiveness
        3. The ability to have a conversation with a woman
        4. A physical body that you keep in shape along with good grooming habits.

        Those are just the basics. Those WILL and SHOULD get you into a relationship, but they won’t keep you there. I don’t have time to write an essay on how to stay IN a relationship and be happy and healthy.
        After that? If you’re not finding a girlfriend then it’s most definitely the area your in and you should think about moving.

        • Sajeh

          Wow, it was a joke, take it easy. I don’t want a relationship. If I wanted to contribute to planet Earth and it’s population, with offspring and heroic acts for the better of mankind, I would not be here right now. No one is better than anyone when it comes to gender. I wish to be on another planet, and as they say “there is one for everyone out there”, yeah well the female equivalent of me doesn’t want to be in a relationship either, and wish she were on another planet.

          But thanks for your experiences, I hope someone out there will make good use of them. Proceed a good day sir.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1442290943 Derek Thomas

        The “nice guys finish last” trope is old. Course when I was 18, 19 I felt the same way. It’s just something that comes with experience. Most of the time the reason nice guys finish last are
        1. They’re not assertive and don’t exhibit any kind of masculinity besides being alive and having genitalia.
        2. They’re not actually that nice of guys. But could just be boring, abusive, etc. You name it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ares-Lancaster/1290777953 Ares Lancaster

    Do you think Aang has to deal with this crap?

  • Anonymous

    I saw Deathbats! O.O

  • Mark Marchesini

    IS THIS ACTION 52?!

  • Anonymous

    The Salvador Dali comment was genius. Very much so.

  • http://twitter.com/JagarTharn Artemiy Andreyev

    Huh. Well, The Elder Scrolls: Arena is extremely similar to this one.

    • ramses ijff

      I think An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire would be a bit more appropriate comparison. Single, massive dungeon and all that (and quite decent)

      • http://twitter.com/JagarTharn Artemiy Andreyev

        Well, I didn’t play Battlespire, only Daggerfall and Arena.

  • Alex Perez

     And yet the voice acting is still better than Zeno Clash.

  • Bill Cassinelli

    Richard Garriott/Lord British. I love the guy, but what a bad voice actor. Apart from his narrating and playing the Baron in this one, his lines were downright laughable in Serpent Isle, especially when he yells: “Indeed, put it on the table. Stand back!” in the intro.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kjedrzejak Kamil Jedrzejak

    leather thong nice 

  • Luca C

    Oh jeez, Tenacious D.

  • jagarcia0705

    Spoony: (speaking in a weird voice) Is this Action 52? Might as well-FFFire phazorsss…NNNOOO…Belay that order…Arm the photon torpedoes!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001815743893 Slurpy McSmooflekoogin

    Ah, Looking Glass studios… You made ‘Thief’, Stygian Abyss, and System Shock 1 and 2 – among other games. I am so very sad that you’re defunct now.

  • DraculaAlucard1

    Since “The elder scrolls” & “Deus ex” are on the next gen consols, are they gonna make “System Shock” on the next gen systems too?

    • http://www.facebook.com/people/Vaughan-MacDonald/100000473507885 Vaughan MacDonald

      Yeah, it’s called Bioshock

  • http://www.facebook.com/rahb.shprinjer Rahb Shprinjer

    Love the “horrible voice actor” bit. I get a chuckle every time.

    • http://www.facebook.com/rahb.shprinjer Rahb Shprinjer

      You’re seriously impressing the shit out me with this series. The care you put into talking about, and poking fun at, these games is kind of touching. It is easy to tell these games mean a lot to you, and that rocks. Too many comedy game reviewers focus on poopy games. But you’re able to take classics, games people are normally afraid to make fun of (from what I understand), and riff the hell out of them. Good for you.

  • http://www.facebook.com/dtilson1 Daniel Tilson

    “Treachery and doom. My brother will unleash a great evil. Brittania is in peril.”

    “You know, you sound like a jackass.”

    “… Get in the ****ing portal.”

    “…’Kay.”

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