Difference between revisions of "Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar"

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Revision as of 11:20, 2 February 2020

n/a

UltimaIV title.png

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Peripherals supported: FM Sound Unit
Genre: RPG

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
DE 		9501
Sega Master System
FR 		9501
Sega Master System
UK 		£39.9939.99[2][3] 9501
Sega Master System
BR
Non-Sega versions

This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, known as Última IV in Brazil, is an entry in the Ultima series of RPGs created by Richard Garriot at Origin Systems. It was originally released in 1985 for the Apple II computer, before being brought to the Sega Master System five years later in 1990 (the only Ultima game to be released on a Sega platform).

Ultima IV is the first in the "Age of Enlightenment" trilogy, and though references Ultima III: Exodus and prior games, knowledge of previous adventures is not strictly necessary to understand Ultima IV.

Gameplay

Ultima IV is unusual as unlike other games in the series, there is not a defined end boss, or overarching villain in which the player needs to defeat. Instead, the player goes on a spiritual quest as "The Avatar" under instructions of Lord British (a.k.a. Garriot) to promote his eight virtues; honesty, compassion, valor, justice, sacrifice, honor, spirituality and humility, becoming a better person in the process and inspiring the people of Britannia.

History

Legacy

Despite the game being created by an American company, the Master System version of Ultima IV was only released in Europe (in English, French and German variations) and Brazil (although a US version was advertised to arrive in the summer of 1990 at a price of $49.95[5]). The direct sequel, Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny was released in 1988 and skipped Sega platforms, however at one stage the spin-off Ultima Underworld (which takes place after Ultima VI: The False Prophet) was set to arrive on the Sega Mega-CD.

Versions

The Master System version is very much like the Apple II original, however features updated graphics, music and gives its dungeons are played from top-down perspective (as opposed to the pseudo-3D first person view seen in the original). The NES version, released a year prior, makes more significant changes in terms of art design to appease a Japanese audience - the Master System version is hence seen as the more accurate of the two.

Magazine articles

Main article: Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Power (UK) #13: "December 1990" (1990-11-01)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #107: "October 1990" (1990-09-16)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
93 [2]
89 [12]
86 [13]
70 [14]
70 [15]
70 №1999, p142
89 [16]
87 [17]
90 [18]
92 [19]
100 [20]
94 [21]
95 [22]
Sega Master System
 87
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[23]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[24]
ACE (UK)
93
[2]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[25]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
89
[12]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
89
[26]
Console XS (UK) PAL
92
[27]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
86
[28]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[29]
Game Mania (UK)
89
[16]
Joystick (FR)
87
[17]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
89
[30]
Player One (FR)
90
[31]
Power Play (DE)
86
[32]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[33]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[20]
Sega Power (UK)
94
[21]
Sega Pro (UK)
95
[22]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
92
[34]
Tilt (FR)
85
[35]
Sega Master System
 85
Based on
20 reviews

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Master System, UK
UltimaIV SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
UltimaIV SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
50x50px
Manual
UltimaIVBookOfWisdomSMSEU.pdf
The Book of
Mystic Wisdom
UltimaIVHistoryOfBritanniaSMSEU.pdf
The History
of Britannia
UltimaIVSMSMapFront.jpg
Map (front)
UltimaIVSMSMapBack.jpg
Map (back)
Master System, EU

Ultima IV Quest of the Avatar SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, FR
UltimaIV SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
UltimaIV SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, DE
UltimaIV SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
UltimaIV SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
UltimaIV SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
UltimaIV SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
UltimaIV SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 b52d60c8
MD5 c54c1a2559cec189f53e794177d002af
SHA-1 a90e21e5961bcf2e10b715a009c04e7c2017a3b1
512kB Cartridge (EU) 8kB backup

References

  1. ↑ ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 165
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 ACE, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-xx), page 61
  3. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-16), page 117
  4. ↑ Supergame, "Setembro 1991" (BR; 1991-09-xx), page 29
  5. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "July 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 52
  6. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 168
  7. ↑ ACE, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 102
  8. ↑ Sega Power, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 2
  9. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 98
  10. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 58
  11. ↑ ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 92
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 109
  13. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-16), page 88/89 (88)
  14. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 85
  15. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "1993 Video Game Buyer's Guide" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 45
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 107
  18. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 32/33 (32)
  19. ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-05), page 8/9 (8)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 47
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 30
  23. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 244
  24. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 323
  25. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1990" (DE; 1990-07-27), page 64
  26. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62
  27. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
  28. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-16), page 88
  29. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 18
  30. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  31. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 32
  32. ↑ Power Play, "8/90" (DE; 1990-07-13), page 126
  33. ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-05), page 8
  34. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  35. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 52
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