Summary
- Release Year: 1993
- Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
- Platforms: DOS
Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle: A Journey into the Heart of Balance
Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle is a classic role-playing game released in 1993 by Origin Systems. It is the second part of the Ultima VII saga and continues the story of the Avatar, the hero who saved Britannia from the Guardian in the previous game.
Serpent Isle takes place 18 months after the events of The Black Gate. Batlin, the leader of the Fellowship, has disappeared, as well as Iolo’s wife Gwenno. A map is found that points to the Serpent Isle, where the Guardian is still planning to destroy Britannia. Lord British sends the Avatar and their companions to this new land to investigate.
Upon arriving on Serpent Isle, the Avatar and their companions quickly discover that a great imbalance is upon the land. The three principles of Order, Chaos, and Balance are out of sync, and it is up to the Avatar to restore harmony.
To do so, the Avatar must learn the philosophies of the original inhabitants of Serpent Isle, the Ophidians. The Ophidians worshipped giant serpents that symbolized the principles of Order, Chaos, and Balance. By understanding the Ophidian philosophies, the Avatar can learn to control the principles and restore balance to the island.
Gameplay
Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle is a role-playing game with a top-down perspective. The player controls the Avatar and their companions as they explore the world, interact with NPCs, and battle enemies.
The game features a non-linear storyline, meaning that the player can choose to complete quests in any order they wish. The game also features a variety of puzzles and riddles that must be solved in order to progress.
Setting
Serpent Isle is a large and diverse land, with a variety of different environments to explore. The island is home to a variety of creatures, including humans, elves, dwarves, and goblins.
The island is also home to a number of ancient ruins and dungeons, which are filled with traps and puzzles. The Avatar and their companions must explore these dungeons in order to find the items and information they need to restore balance to the island.
Characters
The Avatar is the main protagonist of Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle. The Avatar is a hero who has saved Britannia from the Guardian in the previous game.
The Avatar is joined by a party of companions, including Iolo, Shamino, and Dupre. Each companion has their own unique skills and abilities, and the player can choose to use any combination of companions they wish.
Reception
Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its large and detailed world, its non-linear storyline, and its challenging puzzles. The game was also praised for its innovative use of the Ophidian philosophies.
Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle is considered to be one of the greatest role-playing games of all time. The game has been praised for its depth, its complexity, and its replayability. The game is still enjoyed by many gamers today, and it continues to be an inspiration for modern RPGs.
Legacy
Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle has had a lasting impact on the role-playing genre. The game’s non-linear storyline, its challenging puzzles, and its innovative use of the Ophidian philosophies have all been influential in the development of modern RPGs.
The game has also been praised for its strong female characters. Iolo and Gwenno are both strong and capable women who play important roles in the story. This was a groundbreaking achievement for a role-playing game at the time, and it helped to pave the way for more female characters in video games.
Ultima VII: Part Two – Serpent Isle is a classic role-playing game that is still enjoyed by many gamers today. The game’s depth, complexity, and replayability make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.
Review Score
9.5/10
Art
Cover Art
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