Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar 1985

Released: September 16, 1985
Genre: Role-playing (RPG)
Platform: Apple II
Developer: Origin Systems
More info: Wikipedia IGDB

Where to buy

On sale: $2.49 $4.99 -50% as Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar on Steam More deals on GOG Steam, and in RPG
Digital: GOG $2.49-50% Steam
In a collection: Ultima 4+5+6

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Physical: Search on Amazon

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Is it still worth playing?

Origin Systems' 1985 role playing game for the Apple II, designed by Richard Garriott, where the goal is to become the Avatar, a model of the Eight Virtues, rather than to defeat a villain. The ruler Lord British sets the quest: master the virtues, collect artifacts and descend into the Stygian Abyss for the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom. The virtues shape the game from its first screen, where a fortune teller poses ethical dilemmas and your answers set your class and starting place. After that they rise and fall with your actions, so giving alms raises Sacrifice and fleeing a fight is not valorous. Each has a shrine, which needs the matching rune and a mantra repeated three times in meditation. The world is open, most quests can be done in any order, and saving is not allowed in dungeons. Virtues that follow what you actually do still make every choice in a town a matter of character today.