Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
DOS - 1993
Also released on: FM Towns
Description of Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
Ultima Underworld II is a first person perspective fantasy role playing game. You play the famed Avatar - saviour of the realm of Britannia in Ultima Underworld I. Unfortunately, whilst paying a visit to the King's castle the whole place has been encased in an unbreakable shield. Thus leaving you to die a slow lingering death whilst the forces of the evil Guardian ravage the country! The only way to free yourself and your friends is to journey through numerous different 'worlds' locating items and doing tasks that weaken and finally destroy the barrier. You choose from a good range of character types who's experience and advancement comes from not only fighting but also exploration.
Well, what is it like?
The interface is mouse controlled, clicking on various parts of the screen moves you, holding a button down in the correct action mode allows you to fight, look, pick things up, talk etc. The plot that you move through is linear. Certain events trigger each subsequent step. However, a larger part of the game is opened to exploration at each step. This means you know what you have to do but there are also other things to keep you busy. The magic system is based on runes which you collect during the game. It is slightly awkward to use but that really just encourages you to plan ahead. The combat is real time and involves charging around wildly swinging your sword or axe and relies on both your personal skills and the current skills of your character. Quite a large proportion of the game is puzzle based and you can usually progress by intellegent actions or brute force.
Graphics and Sound
The graphics are 320x200x256c and the game gives you an action area of just less than half the screen. This was very good when the game was released and still serves well now, even my old 386DX/40 coped on the highest detail level. The motion is smooth although as you get close to objects they become pixellated. The sound is quite atmospheric although, as with almost all the games I play, I dispensed with the music shortly after I started.
Summary
This game has a very well thought out story which gives it excellent game play. Although combat is an integral part of the game it is designed to be played in many different ways, the only real imposition is that you have to play a 'good guy'. Otherwise you will have to kill the people you need to help you and the game will be unfinishable. Incidentally, there are a few known bugs. The most worrying of which is known as the servant strike bug which stops you from completing the game at a much later stage. There is a patch available to fix this. This is one of the best games I have played. It is excellent. It's parent, Ultima Underworld I is similar and almost as good.
Review By GamesDomain
External links
Comments and reviews
Sluggo 2023-08-06 0 point
All the Ultima Games are available on GOG.com. At this time they are all on sale for under 2 bucks. Normally they are 6 bucks each and 3 of the Ultima Games are FREE on GOG.com. They are charging $1.49 to buy Both of the Ultima Underworlds games.
I saw a comment saying this was not on GOG, so I wanted to keep people informed.
P.S. I loved the Ultima Games
IsofNoConcern 2021-06-28 0 point
Has just been delisted on GOG.com.
No word yet if and when it's going to return, maybe under new ownership?
BWyuh 2018-07-12 2 points
This and Stygian Abyss were and still are amazingly engrossing games. I bought the original CD's for these and play them still. I cannot get enough of the underworld. Come, join us!
wadoman 2017-03-16 0 point
How do you get this game to run? I downloaded it, but there is no instruction on how to start it.
SuperHappyFunTime 2016-01-31 1 point
just like the ultimaunderworld that came before this one
has lag issues, but a nice little dungeon crawler.
too bad I can't make the game look any better, I played
around with editing the CONF file and using some of the scalers
they have but the game characters still look blocky and ugly
up close, oh well.
have a superhappyfuntime day my people!!!!!!!!!!!!
moonbug 2014-12-30 0 point DOS version
You can get the patch for this game here:
http://ultimacodex.com/archive/uw2/uw2soft.html
Ignore the ftp.cdrom.com links though (that site is long gone)
JAY DEE 2014-10-28 -1 point DOS version
my mouse lags badly in conversation choices,hard to choose
ZZZ 2013-07-06 2 points DOS version
Highly rated game when it was released. It may be the best of the classic Ultima games. Pre-internet: I got pretty far without a walkthrough. Be sure you have the official faq and patch info. Search for "ULTIMA UNDERWORLD II" "INITIAL FAQ/INFORMATION" with quotes. It ran flawlessly to the end when I followed this document.
respectful citizen 2012-05-06 2 points DOS version
to be honest with games this old im annoyed that we have to still buy them. i wouldn't think of getting a pirated new game. im sure 3d realms and id software arnt hunting down pirated game websites which have a fake copy of wolf 3d on them anymore. however i am guilty of not owning bf2 and all the expansion packs+ various splintercell games.
blackbeard 2011-09-08 2 points DOS version
Aaaarrrh! Ye be dealin' copyrighted material 'ere an' advertising Good Ol' Games' web treasure cove simultaneously??? What kinda landlubbers are ye, canna decide between bein' a pirate an' a respectable citizen?
Paradigm 2011-02-23 2 points DOS version
Although this is a great game, I ran into a problem early on. Once you have solved the "prison world", more facets of the gem allowing travel between the different realities do not open up like they are supposed too. This only seems to happen in DOS Box. Has anyone else encountered this problem?
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Share your gamer memories, give useful links or comment anything you'd like. This game is no longer abandonware, we won't put it back online.
Buy Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds is available for a small price on the following website, and is no longer abandonware. GOG.com provides the best release and does not include DRM, please buy from them! You can read our online store guide.
Game Extras and Resources
Some of these file may not be included in the game stores. For Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, we have the following files:
636 KB (DOS)
Other Releases
Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds was also released on the following systems:
FM Towns
- Year: 1995
- Publisher: Electronic Arts Victor, Inc.
- Developer: Looking Glass Technologies, Inc.
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