The Age of Enlightenment Saga (also known as the Age of the Avatar Saga) refers to the time period of the second bunch of Ultima games. This also includes The Savage Empire, Martian Dreams, and Ultima Underworld I.
Overview[]
The Age of Enlightenment Saga takes place in a time of prosperity for Britannia; the war in this time period is a spiritual one, the people long for a meaningful foundation on which to base their lives. Other lessons must also be learned about the dangers of racism, prejudice, and the dangers of basing strict laws on an ethical system. In the Stygian Abyss (Ultima Underworld I) however, survival under even the most difficult of circumstances has to be learned, while at the same time virtue has to be upheld as many of its inhabitants, despite their looks, are peaceful. Other worlds, Eodon and Mars, then call for different solutions.
Protagonist[]
- The Stranger (until the end of Ultima IV)
- The Avatar
Notable Locations[]
Villains[]
- Your own dark side (Ultima IV)
- Lord Blackthorn and the Shadowlords (Ultima V)
- Gargoyles (initially), racism and misunderstanding (Ultima VI)
- Myrmidex Queen (Savage Empire)
- Raxachk (Martian Dreams)
- Tyball and the Slasher of Veils (Ultima Underworld I)
Real world notes[]
The Ultima series really began to come into its own in this period. Ultima IV, especially, was hailed as a groundbreaking game for its innovative use of ethical conundrums - the enemy was more often the player's own dark side, and it brought many questions to the forefront. The game could only be won by following the Eight Virtues ... there was no "big bad guy" to defeat.
Ultima V takes on the faults and dangers of taking an ethical system and turning it into strict laws (legislating morality), while Ultima VI tackles the concept of racism, and how seemingly-minor misunderstandings can lead to heinous tragedy.
Compared to this, the villains in the Worlds of Ultima subseries and Ultima Underworld I are more conventional, through they have quite of story behind them.
See also[]
Other Ages[]
- The Age of Darkness Saga
- The Age of Armageddon Saga
- The Age of the Shards Saga
- The Age of Alucinor Saga