Ultima I™: The First Age of Darkness is a pioneering computer role-playing game created by Richard Garriott and published by Origin Systems. Originally released in 1981, it became one of the earliest influential RPGs in gaming history. The game places players in the fantasy world of Sosaria, where they must defeat the evil wizard Mondain. Players create a character, choose a class, and explore a vast open world filled with towns, dungeons, and space travel elements.
The gameplay blends top-down exploration with first-person dungeon crawling. Combat, questing, and character progression are central to the experience. Despite its simple graphics by modern standards, Ultima I introduced ambitious ideas such as open-world freedom and nonlinear exploration. Its innovative mechanics laid the foundation for future RPG titles. The game remains a classic milestone in the development of computer role-playing games.
Features
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One of the earliest computer RPGs.
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Open-world fantasy exploration.
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Character class selection system.
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Top-down world map navigation.
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First-person dungeon exploration.
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Turn-based combat mechanics.
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Quest-driven progression.
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Unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements.
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Character leveling and upgrades.
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Single-player adventure experience.
System Requirements
Minimum:
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OS: MS-DOS / Early PC systems
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Processor: Apple II / IBM PC equivalent
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Memory: 64 KB RAM
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Graphics: CGA/EGA compatible display
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Storage: Floppy disk drive required
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Sound: PC Speaker support
