About Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness

MSRP: $29.95

Originally published on a 3.5' disk by Vitesse. Later published by Shareware Solutions II on a 3.5" disk, but as a fully commercial product, not shareware. Shareware Solutions II also offers it as downloadable purchase. This version takes nearly full advantage of all the advanced features of the Apple II<small>GS</small>. It is fully GS/OS based, 640x400x256, and synthLAB music.

As the story goes, the wizard Mondain was intent on world domination. Over 1,000 years ago, he created the gem of immortality and granted him invincibility. Mondain is evil. The gem of immortality is evil. These are indisputable facts because it says to in the playbook. However, you won't be seeing Mondain doing anything evil in the present world and time. The player controls a stranger from another world (Earth) come to the land Sosaria to save it and its people from Mondain. The fact that Mondain is immortal and invincibility makes this a difficult task. So the stranger will travel back in time to kill Mondain before he creates his gem.

This version was authored by 'Burger' Bill Heineman and represents the first game in The Age of Darkness trilogy from the Ultima series of games. This game did have the "Age of Darkness" title. But not the "The First Age of Darkness" book. There is also no box for this version. The 3.5" disk, 27 page play manual, 7 page reference book, were shrink-wrapped on a stiff piece of cardboard.