Origin's Innovative 'Virtual Reality' Worlds Revealed

Origin's record of innovation didn't stop with Wing Commander: this trio of CGW advertisements promotes Ultima Underworlds I & II. These classics created "the first continuous-movement, 3D-dungeon, action fantasy" - which is to say that they're early RPG-derived ancestors of the first person shooter genre which dominates gaming to this day. Wolfenstein 3D, which was released soon after The Stygian Abyss, ultimately became more popular, but the Los Angeles Times preferred Underworld, saying "the 3D perspective lends an element of virtual reality not seen in other first-person adventures. A rich texture of character and story detail combine to keep a determined adventure involved for hours." An improved sequel, Labyrinth of Worlds, was immediately developed with upgraded gameplay and graphics. The team behind the games went on to develop System Shock, a similar RPG/shooter mix. Wing Commander fans should look out for a special CD-ROM release which includes both Wing Commander II and the second Underworld.

Some games can't be showcased with a few screen shots and some descriptive text. Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss - a game of action, motion and movement - is one of them. We hope this attempt to capture the excitement of the Underworld sends you running to a software store for a look at our demo. Because only there can you truly experiene this incredible journey. If your favorite retailer doesn't have an Ultima Underworld demo yet, ask them to call ORIGIN. We'll send one out right away."