Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar Preview

Joystiq is offering a new interview/preview with BioWare Mythic lead designer Kate Flack, though unfortunately it follows the trend of previews that are essentially based on second-hand information rather than hands-on time or even a presentation, though at least they seem to have seen some screenshots of the title. Here’s a snippet:

As we’ve heard previously, the game is a reboot based on Ultima 4, so it will include many of the same situations and quests, but also updated content. Flack said the map is generally the same, though “we’ve expanded some things, we’ve moved a couple of things around on the map. We have quite a graphical fidelity now, so we’re able to go into more detail on what things look like.” The conversation system has changed as well. “You won’t sit there and try to get keywords when you’re clicking on things,” Flack said.

I got to see a few gameplay shots at Comic-Con (though, unfortunately, EA’s PR declined to approve those for posting), and the game does look like Ultima 4’s flattened isometric view, albeit with the generous additions of next-gen resolutions and models. Some of Sosaria’s original landmarks are in there as well, though they look more like later games in the series than Quest for the Avatar specifically.

Though we’ll be playing in the same areas, Flack said, it’s still not the same game. “Our version of it is set 21 years after the events of Ultima 4,” she clarified. “Ultima 5, 6, 7, 8 haven’t happened yet. Lord British is among the stars; he’s no longer there. Lady British has now taken the throne and we’ve found that one Avatar isn’t going to do it this time round, we need multiple Avatars and multiple people coming to try and repair the land.”

Thanks RPGWatch.