Ultima: Runes of Virtue II Game by FCI, Origin, and PonyCanyon Inc Reviewed by Nitro nitro734@hotmail.com Size: No idea Save: Automatic battery save. Released: 1993 Works with: all Gameboy systems **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: I saw this game at a used game store for $10 cn and I had to pick it up. I've never played an old Ultima game, but this classic RPG has got me hooked. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: You start out as one of 4 characters, each with different strengths and weaknesses. Your main obvjective is to rescue the imprisoned mayors from towns around the world and put a stop to the black knights wrong-doings. The combat is real-time, similar to zelda games, where you find (or buy) different weapons and armor, aim, and shoot. Enemies lurk around every unknown doorway, and some can only be harmed by certain weapons. The gameplay is completely non-linear. You can go where-ever you want on the world map, as long as you can board and capture a ship. The world is littered with towns, villages, and caverns for you to explore, and some of the puzzles are quite challenging. Liked: Non-linear gameplay, gives you more freedom to explore the world. I also enjoyed the wide selection of weapons, each with different abilities Hated: sometimes with all the freedom, you forget where your actually going. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Bad. Just bad. The People, monsters, and buildings look incredibly blocky. They could have done a lot better here. The graphics are going to hurt game. Liked: Once you start playing the game, you forget about the graphics in all the fun your having. Hated: People look like stick-men. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Another section that was poorly done. The music is too simple, and repetative. I'd suggest turning the volume down, but some of the sound effects are helpfull in some areas, so its not entirely horrible. Liked: Sound effects help you by letting you know what your doing. Hated: everything else. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Amazingly well done, comparable to more modern RPGs. You never know whats going to be on the other side of a door because you cant see until its opened! I think thats a brilliant idea, if only we saw it more often...another thing I liked was the automatic save. Whenever you go up or down a ladder, the game automatically saves for you. Sometimes this works to your advantange, sometimes you make a mistake and it costs ya, but it adds a little more playtime, so its not all bad. There is one major problem I have with this game though. Ships. They are fun to sail around and to venture into new caves, and you even need to use one to beat the game. My problem? there is a limited number of them in the game. and they can be destroyed, or disabled. This happened to me and now I am unable to enter the final dungeon. As for play control, the game scores high here too. the menu systems are easy to learn, although if you can find a manual it wouldnt hurt to review a few things before jumping in. Your character moves with the D-pad, and has weapons set to the A and B buttons. Start brings up menus, and select pauses. Liked: easy to learn, fun to play Hated: battery save can be somewhat troublesome at times. **************************************************************************** Improve: Graphics and Sound. a GBA version of this game would be awesome, but I doubt that'll be happening. RIYL: This game is a sequel, so check out Ultima: Rune of Virtue if you enjoyed this one **************************************************************************** Final Words: This game suprized me, and if you see it, buy it immediately. One of the better RPGs made for original gameboy. The Graphics and sound are the game's only flaws and would have scored much higher otherwise. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: 5 Graphics: 2.5 Sound/Music: 2 Play Control/Game Design: 3.5 Personal Opinion: 4.5 Total: 17.5/25 Final Score: %70 **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: I've never looked for any.