Windows

Ultima Online: Renaissance

Niemand wird wohl ernsthaft daran gezweifelt haben, dass eine neue Version von Ultima Online schlechter sein würde als der "Vorgänger". Es handelt sich nach wie vor um eins der besten (Online) Rollenspiele, wenn nicht sogar das beste. Die Künstliche Intelligenz der Gegner stieg merklich an. Tumbe Gesellen, deren Wegbestimmungsroutine schon klitzekleine Kiesel auf weiter Flur zur Kapitulation zwang, gehören der Vergangenheit an. Eine Aufteilung in das mehr oder weniger friedliche Trammel und das kriegerische Felucca schont nicht nur Anfängernerven. Der Einstieg in Origins phantastische Welten lohnt mehr denn je.

Trendsüchtige mögen 3D-Perspektiven vorziehen, aber der Iso-Blick von UO hat einen unschlagbaren Vorteil: Übersicht. Wenn’s im Dungeon zur Sache geht, will ich nicht mit Mausartistik um die eigene Achse tanzen, sondern wissen, was hinter mir ist und meine Taktik darauf abstimmen können. Außerdem ist Britannia die einzige Welt, in der Spieler wirklich Spuren hinterlassen. Baue ich ein Haus, dann steht es sichtbar in der Landschaft. Sicher, für Einsteiger ist das überkomplexe Ultima Online immer noch eine harte Nuß, aber wer Realismus liebt, kann eigentlich keine andere Wahl treffen.

Qua gameplay nog steeds niet te kloppen maar het wordt wachten op de opvolger voor een GRAFISCHE update.

All in all, it seems that Origin has made a good choice - providing the safe, more friendly environment that many players demand, but without crippling their original system and disappointing its die-hard devotees. If you abandoned Ultima Online for EverQuest or Asheron's Call because you didn't appreciate being the target of every adolescent power tripper with an enchanted sword, you may want to give it another try.

The game is essentially the same as it's always been -- this update is pretty much a collection of patches and isn't terribly new. However, it fixes many of the long-standing problems the game has had from its early days. These new changes make the game much more playable for new characters, casual players, or those who like the economic aspects of the game. The party system and related fixes have also made it a rather more social game, rather than a haven for individualistic troublemakers. The way this update is packaged and the specific updates included are obviously designed to draw in new players, people who have perhaps never played RPGs or online games before, as it touts the "worldwide community" aspect of the game, which is really old news to anyone who wasn't born yesterday. They've got a lot of competition out there, but they still sometimes act like they're the only game in town.

The true RPG elements and skill systems are more firmly embedded in UO than in any other related title, and as such the various changes that UO: Renaissance brings with it only serve to enhance that potential enjoyment. However, despite their overall simplification, Everquest and Asheron's Call have brought some changes of their own which in turn have put UO in a different light. For instance, the latter still lacks Everquest's cohesive and truly "at your own pace" quest system, as well as its appropriately mood-setting graphics. Eventually, the Ultima legacy may ultimately prove to outdate itself, as Ultima Online 2 is set to be released six months down road, and looks as though it will redefine the very concept of online gaming, much as the original once did. Still, what's available now is far better than it's ever been; if you've ever been curious to give Britannia a spin, now's the perfect time.

Pour résumer complètement ce nouveau package, le seul intérêt de Ultima Online est de proposer un jeu agréable avec une foule de possibilités peu habituelles. Du côté technique, UO a bien mal vieilli et je conseillerais vivement l'attente d'Ultima Online 2 qui, lui, fera sûrement un petit malheur.