Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress (1982)
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress is a 1982 rpg video game made by Origin Systems.
Minax, student and heir to the fallen wizard Mondain, has torn holes in time itself, scattering her forces across four historical eras and allowing evil to seep into every epoch. The Avatar's precursor, unnamed and unformed, must piece together what weapon and which moment in history might close those wounds. Ultima II's willingness to span prehistoric Earth through a distant sci-fi future set a template for the series' restless ambition, even if its mechanics were still rough-hewn. Published through Sierra before a royalties dispute pushed Garriott to found Origin Systems, it marks the last Ultima made outside his own house.
Quick answers
What is Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress about?
Minax, student and heir to the fallen wizard Mondain, has torn holes in time itself, scattering her forces across four historical eras and allowing evil to seep into every epoch. The Avatar's precursor, unnamed and unformed, must piece together what weapon and which moment in history might close those wounds. Ultima II's willingness to span prehistoric Earth through a distant sci-fi future set a template for the series' restless ambition, even if its mechanics were still rough-hewn. Published through Sierra before a royalties dispute pushed Garriott to found Origin Systems, it marks the last Ultima made outside his own house.
When was Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress released?
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress was released on 24 August 1982.
Who made Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress?
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress was made by Origin Systems.
Similar games
Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress in our writing
- Companion guide: The Golden Age of the CRPG: 1981 to 1999
- Companion guide: Origin Systems: We Create Worlds
A few thoughts on Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress
Fallout: New Vegas covers similar ground: a world built on the wreckage of something that came before, with factions and histories layered thick enough that any choice carries weight. Both games treat the gap between how civilizations present themselves and what they actually are as the real subject matter.
Antagonists Whose Grief Makes Them Dangerous
Minax's rampage against Sosaria is rooted in obsessive love for the dead Mondain. The games that land their villains hardest give them a wound that explains everything without excusing anything.
Sequels That Escalate the Stakes
Ultima II doubled the geographic scope, added whole sections of Earth, and raised its villain's reach to history-scale. These sequels matched or exceeded their predecessors in the same way.