Games Database
PC
Adventure: Role Playing
| Viewed: | 3D | Genre: | Adventure: Role Playing |
| Media: | CD | Arcade origin: | No |
| Publishers: | Electronic Arts
(GB) |
Released: | 5 Apr 2002
(GB) |
| Ratings: | 15+ | ||
| Accessories: | Control Pad | ||
Summary
In Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge, players face evil forces that have aligned their powers in an attempt to take control of Britannia. Integrated into the story is Lord Blackthorn, an evil tyrant who controls most of the new, fantastical monsters. Present throughout UO’s five-year history, Blackthorn, in a quest for power, has undergone a transformation that has left him half human and all evil. His forces lend a dark, edgy twist to the game.
As players progress through Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge, they will discover McFarlane’s new and exotic monsters. Players will encounter monsters throughout the world, but will not meet all of the creatures immediately. Their appearance is triggered by specific game events that are part of the ongoing storyline. While all 30 creatures are included on the game disk, they will be introduced over time, often through dynamic episodic fictional content releases. In essence, the fictional content releases will weave new storylines into the game every four to eight weeks, injecting even more action and excitement into the UO world on a continuous basis.
UO’s monsters are challenging to defeat because their artificial intelligence is orientated toward strategic combat tactics as opposed to simple skill gain. For example, players will have to discover which combat or magic tactical combination works on a given species of monster. As players immerse themselves in the game, they will constantly discover new game elements unfolding, as part of fictional episodes. In most cases, players’ actions will determine the outcome of in-game events. For instance, if a group of monsters is trying to overpower a town, the players can band together and push the monsters back. However, without a strong player response, the town can be lost to the monster.
In addition, a new Virtue System will be woven into UO, adding depth to the dynamic storyline. The system allows players to be rewarded or denied virtues based on their choices and behavior during the game.
New UO players will quickly become engrossed in the latest version of the game with the assistance of an intuitive help feature and stronger starting character templates, which allow new players greater opportunity to strengthen their skills and abilities early in the game. Players will discover more than 30 new items to craft, collect and trade in the world of Ilshenar—the backdrop for Ultima Online Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge and location of Blackthorn’s castle. In addition the game supports the MP3 file format, allowing players to change the music in the game. Players simply substitute their own MP3 compatible music files in place of those in the game.
As players progress through Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge, they will discover McFarlane’s new and exotic monsters. Players will encounter monsters throughout the world, but will not meet all of the creatures immediately. Their appearance is triggered by specific game events that are part of the ongoing storyline. While all 30 creatures are included on the game disk, they will be introduced over time, often through dynamic episodic fictional content releases. In essence, the fictional content releases will weave new storylines into the game every four to eight weeks, injecting even more action and excitement into the UO world on a continuous basis.
UO’s monsters are challenging to defeat because their artificial intelligence is orientated toward strategic combat tactics as opposed to simple skill gain. For example, players will have to discover which combat or magic tactical combination works on a given species of monster. As players immerse themselves in the game, they will constantly discover new game elements unfolding, as part of fictional episodes. In most cases, players’ actions will determine the outcome of in-game events. For instance, if a group of monsters is trying to overpower a town, the players can band together and push the monsters back. However, without a strong player response, the town can be lost to the monster.
In addition, a new Virtue System will be woven into UO, adding depth to the dynamic storyline. The system allows players to be rewarded or denied virtues based on their choices and behavior during the game.
New UO players will quickly become engrossed in the latest version of the game with the assistance of an intuitive help feature and stronger starting character templates, which allow new players greater opportunity to strengthen their skills and abilities early in the game. Players will discover more than 30 new items to craft, collect and trade in the world of Ilshenar—the backdrop for Ultima Online Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge and location of Blackthorn’s castle. In addition the game supports the MP3 file format, allowing players to change the music in the game. Players simply substitute their own MP3 compatible music files in place of those in the game.
