Underworld Ascendant
Sequel to Ultima Underworld with emergent gameplay and mixed reception.
Underworld Ascendant is a first-person action role-playing game developed by Otherside Entertainment and published by 505 Games. It is the sequel to Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss and Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds, and was released on Microsoft Windows on November 15, 2018. The game is notable for its emphasis on non-linear progression, simulated systems, and emergent gameplay, as well as its troubled development and generally negative reception at launch.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Underworld Ascendant
- Developer
- OtherSide EntertainmentAdditional work by Fullbright
- Publisher
- 505 Games
- Designer
- Tim Stellmach
- Producer
- Paul Neurath
- Artist
- Nate Wells
- Engine
- Unity
- Series
- Underworld
- Released
- Windows · November 15, 2018 · PlayStation 4 · June 20, 2019 · Xbox One · June 26, 2019 · Linux, macOS · August 19, 2019
- Genre
- Action role-playing, dungeon crawler
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Windows · PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Linux · macOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Players assume the role of the Avatar, a human magically transported into the Stygian Abyss. Character creation involves selecting skills without predetermined classes, and the game is played from a first-person perspective. The Abyss is inhabited by three factions—Dark Elves, Dwarves, and Shamblers—along with non-aligned NPCs; supporting any faction affects the balance of power and faction reactions. The game uses an 'Improvisation Engine' to provide multiple unscripted solutions to scenarios, emphasizing emergent behavior over discrete puzzles.
Reader's Guide
Underworld Ascendant was developed by Otherside Entertainment, founded by Paul Neurath, designer of the original Underworld games, after EA granted a license for the Underworld setting in 2014. A Kickstarter campaign in February 2015 raised $860,356 against a $600,000 goal, though some features like modding tools and cooperative gameplay remained unfunded. The core team consisted of only six people, including Looking Glass Studios veterans, with advisors such as Austin Grossman and Warren Spector. The game continued raising funds on its website, exceeding $932,000. 505 Games became publisher in August 2017. Despite a planned September 2018 release, the game launched on November 15, 2018, to generally negative reviews, with critics citing an unfinished state, bugs, and a poorly implemented save system. A substantial update on February 14, 2019, addressed many criticisms, adding a functional free save system, level design changes, and bug fixes. Ports for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One followed in June 2019, and for Linux and macOS in August 2019.
Did You Know?
- The game was originally announced as Underworld Ascension in July 2014 before being renamed.
- The Kickstarter campaign raised $860,356, exceeding its $600,000 goal.
- The core development team consisted of only six people.
- A substantial update on February 14, 2019, added a functional free save system and numerous bug fixes.
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