Index > of course I'm going to post this > If the classical clearance section at my record store had existed 20 years ago > Iron Maiden finally sell out > Do you have strong feelings about the different versions of Ultima?
Posted by Tabernacles E. Townsfolk (@billstrudel) on July 15, 2026, 1:13 p.m.
The only Ultima I I’ve ever seen available for purchase, going back to the Ultima 1-8 collection back before the ninth game, has been the 1986 EGA update/remake that plays as smoothly as Ultima IV.
Ultima 2 and 3 . Just a heads-up, you have to reinstall the game to start a new game of Ultima 2 (after your first). And in U2 if your HP or food pass 9999 they’ll scroll over to zero and you instantly die.
The big thing with Ultima 2 and 3 versions is that on GOG the graphics are full-on CGA. CGA can put out 16 colors through composite video, but on GOG this isn’t supported and you have to put up with magenta oceans and cyan forests. If your Apple emulator emulates composite CGA definitely go with that for these two games.
I believe the Ultima IV available online is all the same, unless the original game was gently restored or something in the 30 years it’s been available aa a free download. When it was first released to the Internet was when I first played Ultima – there was a popular graphics-pack mod that may still be out there. But beyond that there are no differences in the fifth game either, I don’t think. After that it’s all PC.