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

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Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

System(s): Sega Master System

Publisher: Sega

Developer: Origin Systems,

Sega

Genre: RPG

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
DE	199x		9501
FR	199x		9501
UK	1990-12^[1]	£39.9939.99^[2]^[3]	9501
BR	1991-09^[4]

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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.

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.

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.

Magazine articles

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

Promotional material

Print advert in Sega Power (UK) #13: "December 1990" (1990-11-01)
also published in:

Computer & Video Games (UK) #109: "December 1990" (1990-11-16)^[6]
ACE (UK) #39: "December 1990" (1990-11-xx)^[7]
Sega Power (UK) #14: "January 1991" (1990-12-06)^[8]
Computer & Video Games (UK) #110: "January 1991" (1990-12-15)^[9]

Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #107: "October 1990" (1990-09-16)
also published in:

Computer & Video Games (UK) #108: "November 1990" (1990-10-16)^[10]

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[19]

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

50

^[20]

ACE (UK)

93

^[2]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

83

^[21]

Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)

89

^[11]

The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)

PAL

89

^[22]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

92

^[23]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

86

^[12]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

70

^[24]

Game Mania (UK)

89

^[25]

Joystick (FR)

87

^[15]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

89

^[26]

Player One (FR)

90

^[16]

Power Play (DE)

86

^[27]

S: The Sega Magazine (UK)

PAL

92

^[17]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

100

^[28]

Sega Power (UK)

94

^[29]

Sega Pro (UK)

95

^[18]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

92

^[30]

Tilt (FR)

85

^[31]

	85
Based on 20 reviews

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

Master System, UK
Cover
Cart 50x50px Manual The Book of Mystic Wisdom The History of Britannia Map (front) Map (back)

Master System, FR
Cover
Cart

Master System, DE
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

References

NEC Retro has more information related to Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

↑ File:ACE UK 40.pdf, page 165
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 File:ACE UK 35.pdf, page 61 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 35.pdf_p61" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:CVG UK 107.pdf, page 117
↑ File:Supergame BR 03.pdf, page 29
↑ File:VG&CE US 18.pdf, page 52
↑ Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 168
↑ ACE, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 102
↑ Sega Power, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 2
↑ Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 98
↑ Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 58
↑ ^11.0 ^11.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 109 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p109" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^12.0 ^12.1 File:CVG UK 105.pdf, page 88 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 105.pdf_p88" defined multiple times with different content
↑ File:EGM US 015.pdf, page 85
↑ File:EGM US BuyersGuide 1993.pdf, page 45
↑ ^15.0 ^15.1 File:Joystick FR 010.pdf, page 107 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 010.pdf_p107" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^16.0 ^16.1 File:PlayerOne FR 004.pdf, page 32 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 004.pdf_p32" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^17.0 ^17.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 09.pdf, page 8 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 09.pdf_p8" defined multiple times with different content
↑ ^18.0 ^18.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 244
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 323
↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1990" (DE; 1990-07-27), page 64
↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62
↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 18
↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
↑ Power Play, "8/90" (DE; 1990-07-13), page 126
↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
↑ Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 47
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 52

[:File:ACE_UK_40.pdf_p165-1] File:ACE UK 40.pdf, page 165

[:File:ACE_UK_35.pdf_p61-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 File:ACE UK 35.pdf, page 61 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 35.pdf_p61" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_107.pdf_p117-3] File:CVG UK 107.pdf, page 117

[:File:Supergame_BR_03.pdf_p29-4] File:Supergame BR 03.pdf, page 29

[:File:VG.26CE_US_18.pdf_p52-5] File:VG&CE US 18.pdf, page 52

[:File:CVG_UK_109.pdf_p168-6] Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 168

[:File:ACE_UK_39.pdf_p102-7] ACE, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 102

[:File:SegaPower_UK_14.pdf_p2-8] Sega Power, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 2

[:File:CVG_UK_110.pdf_p98-9] Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 98

[:File:CVG_UK_108.pdf_p58-10] Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 58

[:File:CGtC_UK_04.pdf_p109-11] 11.0 ^11.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 109 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p109" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:CVG_UK_105.pdf_p88-12] 12.0 ^12.1 File:CVG UK 105.pdf, page 88 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 105.pdf_p88" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:EGM_US_015.pdf_p85-13] File:EGM US 015.pdf, page 85

[:File:EGM_US_BuyersGuide_1993.pdf_p45-14] File:EGM US BuyersGuide 1993.pdf, page 45

[:File:Joystick_FR_010.pdf_p107-15] 15.0 ^15.1 File:Joystick FR 010.pdf, page 107 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 010.pdf_p107" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_004.pdf_p32-16] 16.0 ^16.1 File:PlayerOne FR 004.pdf, page 32 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 004.pdf_p32" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:StheSegaMagazine_UK_09.pdf_p8-17] 17.0 ^17.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 09.pdf, page 8 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 09.pdf_p8" defined multiple times with different content

[:File:SegaPro_UK_06.pdf_p30-18] 18.0 ^18.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content

[19] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 244

[20] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 323

[:File:ASM_DE_1990-09.pdf_p64-21] Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1990" (DE; 1990-07-27), page 64

[:File:TheCompleteGuideToSega_UK.pdf_p62-22] The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p146-23] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146

[:File:EGM_US_008.pdf_p18-24] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 18

[:File:GameMania_UK_05.pdf_p81-25] Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p136-26] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1990-08.pdf_p126-27] Power Play, "8/90" (DE; 1990-07-13), page 126

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p60-28] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60

[:File:SegaPower_UK_25.pdf_p47-29] Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 47

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p72-30] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72

[:File:Tilt_FR_097.pdf_p52-31] Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 52

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 |ACE UK 39.pdf|ace|39|102
 |SegaPower UK 14.pdf|segapower|14|2
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