Ultima IX: Ascension

November 24, 1999(26 years ago)·Full Release

Origin Systems

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Franchise: Ultima

★

7.5

19 user ratings

★

6.2

20 critic ratings

★★★★★★★★★★

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VOTES

Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure

Platforms:PC

Action Fantasy Stealth Open world Single player Third personESRB RP

Summary

Get ready to begin an unforgettable journey as the legendary best-selling role-playing series makes its triumphant return. In the 9th and concluding chapter of a 20-year saga, you'll return to Britannia for one final grand adventure. As the brave Avatar, only you have the power to rescue Lord British and his people from the malevolent Guardian who has ruined the land and corrupted the 8 sacred virtues. Armed with courage, magic, and wisdom in the 8 virtues, you'll confront evil in Ultima IX: Ascension, the ultimate role-playing experience ever crafted for the PC.

Storyline

At the start of Ultima IX, the Avatar somehow finds himself back on Earth for an unknown period before returning to Britannia. The game begins shortly after the events of Ultima VIII, where the Avatar is taken to a Britannia now under the control of the Guardian. He arrives in Britannia atop a mountain overlooking the Guardian’s fortress in Terfin. The Avatar is then brought to Stonegate by Hawkwind the Seer (from Ultima IV), who tells him that massive columns have appeared across the land, and their corrupting power has led to plagues, famine, and other disasters. Under their influence, the people of Britannia have distorted the true meaning of the Virtues. The Guardian is aided by Lord Blackthorn, who commands the Wyrmguards and enforces the Guardian’s rule over the populace. As the journey continues, the Avatar discovers that the Guardian has taken the Runes of the Virtues and corrupted them into the glyphs that power each column. Much of the game involves exploring dungeons to reclaim these glyphs and visiting the Shrines of the Virtues to meditate and purify them. Eventually, it is revealed that the Guardian is in fact the Avatar’s own dark counterpart, and the only way to save Britannia is for the Avatar to ascend to a higher realm, taking the Guardian with him. The player can achieve this by casting an Armageddon spell behind a Barrier of Life, which transports both the Avatar and the Guardian beyond Britannia to a higher plane.