Ultima Online: Age Of Shadows

Ultima Online is the granddaddy of massively multiplayer online role-playing games, but let’s face it, it is dated graphically and the player interface is cumbersome.

After washing away the MMORPG game Origin (demonstrated at E3 several years ago), which was the proposed future of the Ultima universe, Electronic Arts released a series of expansions that was supposed to upgrade the game. From Third Dawn to Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge, all the upgrades did was treadmill the same paths as before with little significant change to the core game.

Enter the fifth expansion Age of Shadows. The graphics are the same, the interface still has the same problems, but the game makes significant changes to the combat system of the series, introduces a new architectural element, a new land, two new classes of characters and new magical item combinations.

The two new classes added to UO Age of Shadows are at opposite ends of the spectrum ­ the paladin and the necromancer. Both classes are based in magic, though the necromancer’s skills tend toward the darker side, like animating the dead. The paladin is the more chivalrous of the two and has some nice portal-style spells (called Sacred Journey). The necromancer, though the look of the character leaves something to be desired, can also assume different forms (though each comes with a cost), such as wraith, lich, vampire or horrific beast.

Malas is the new landmass and it is quite large, but rife with danger. One of the basic complaints with gamers was that Britannia was becoming too crowded with houses, eradicating the viable hunting areas or making them harder to navigate because of the proliferation of buildings. Malas can accommodate approximately 1,500 houses or guildhalls, and with the customizable building interface (which is similar in style to the house building in EA Games’ The Sims franchise), the new range of structures should be infinitely more interesting than it used to be.

While these are certainly nice tweaks, the most interesting changes were made to the combat system (and yes, there are still a host of low-level mobs, like mongbats, that must be killed to begin with and character growth can take a long time).

With introduction of weapons that can do specific types of damage, players are challenged to spend more time and attention to the rudimentary elements of the game ­ as in upgrading armor for the challenge they face. Armor can be geared to certain styles of attacks, such as cold or fire spells. In the past, your avatar’s armor was protection against all types of attacks, but no longer.

This holds over to the weapons as well. As you gain skill points, you can upgrade your attacks for the weapon you use. You can activate a weapon’s primary special move (like paralyzing blow, shadowstrike or bleed attack ­ to name but a few) with 70 skill points and add a secondary attack at 90 skill points. A total of 10 new weapon types have been added to the mix in the game ­ including bone harvester, scepter, pike, crescent blade, composite blow and repeating crossbow.

While these elements certainly add more flavors to the game, there are some worn and tired elements that desperately need to be addressed. First is the graphics. This is a game that is best played in a window, not full-screen, on your desktop. Why? Because using a high-resolution monitor, even on lower settings, and allowing the game to occupy the full screen shows how antiquated the graphical elements can be. It just doesn’t look all that good. And the player interface, including the backpack, and paper doll, needs to undergo some changes as well. Players can literally have so many pop-up windows open that it is hard to see the game world, let alone work in it.

There have been virtually no changes to the game sound since it’s inception.

Ultima Online Age of Shadows has introduced some very nice elements to the series, and this game continues to have a place in the world of MMORPGs. That said, this game might be fighting an uphill battle to attract new players, because of some of the stock elements of the program. UO is an old friend, and it is nice to see it get a facelift in areas where it was foundering through the years. But this is a multimedia vehicle and the game itself is starting to fall significantly behind in tantalizing the eyes and ears of game players.

This game is rated Teen for blood and gore and violence.
 

Gameplay: 7.8
The mapboards are big and there are several quests and opportunities to do things other than treadmill in the monster-bashing/leveling mode.

Graphics: 6.9
The look of the game is basically the same, and this game is best played in a window on the desktop. Going full screen on a high-resolution monitor only shows how antiquated the game is. The animation is average and the special effects are nice, but this game really does lack the eye candy sported by its competitors. Something should be done about the font used to explain quests and aid the adventurer. It can be hard to read at times.

Sound: 6.5
Very little has changed in this regard.

Difficulty: Medium
The player interface is cumbersome and there is a learning curve. You will find yourself running in circles until you get yourself leveled up enough to attempt the better quests the game has to offer.

Concept: 7.5
This game is the first significant change to the UO universe in some time. Revamping the combat system, adding a huge new territory, and some of the other changes do make the game better.

Multiplayer: 7.8
This is a game that will allow players to solo, but does reward them for fellow quests and adventures. The social interaction is well done.

Overall: 7.2
The game presents some significant changes to the world, which is a good thing. However, if EA Games wants to keep pace with the MMO world, especially with some major competition coming up (like World of Warcraft, Star Wars Galaxies and Lord of the Rings), it will need to address the graphical elements of this world and some of the other weaker aspects of the program. Granted this is a bit of a conundrum simply because to introduce major graphical changes will likely severely affect its base population and those happy with the way the game looks now (and don’t want to spend more money on an improved look to the game). UO is an old friend, and Age of Shadows makes it more interesting to play.