Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar

From Sega Retro

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UltimaIV title.png

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: RPG

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code

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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 inspring the people of Britannia.

Version Differences

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). 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.

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
93 №35, p61[1]
89 №4, p109
86 №105, p88/89
70 1993, p45
87 №10, p107
90 №4, p32/33
92 №9, p8/9[2]
100 №23, p60
94 №25, p47
95 №6, p30[3]
Sega Master System
 90
Based on
10 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[4]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[5]
ACE (UK)
93
[1]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
83
[6]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
89
[7]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
89
[8]
Console XS (UK) PAL
92
[9]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
86
[10]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
70
[11]
Game Mania (UK)
89
[12]
Joystick (FR)
87
[13]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
89
[14]
Player One (FR)
90
[15]
Power Play (DE)
86
[16]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
92
[17]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
100
[18]
Sega Power (UK)
94
[19]
Sega Pro (UK)
95
[20]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
92
[21]
Tilt (FR)
85
[22]
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, 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
Necretro-round.svg
NEC Retro has more information related to Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 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
  2. ↑ File:StheSegaMagazine_UK_09.pdf, page 8
  3. ↑ File:Segapro UK 06.pdf, page 30
  4. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 244
  5. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 323
  6. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "August/September 1990" (DE; 1990-07-27), page 64
  7. ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 109
  8. ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62
  9. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
  10. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-16), page 88
  11. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 18
  12. ↑ Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  13. ↑ Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 107
  14. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  15. ↑ Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 32
  16. ↑ Power Play, "8/90" (DE; 1990-07-13), page 126
  17. ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-05), page 8
  18. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
  19. ↑ Sega Power, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-10-30), page 47
  20. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 30
  21. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  22. ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1991" (FR; 1991-1x-xx), page 52
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