The Savage Empire
Encyclopedia
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire is a computer RPG set in the Ultima series, published in 1990. It is considered a "Worlds of Ultima
" game since it's not set in Britannia. It uses the same engine
as Ultima VI
(and Martian Dreams
).
and tropical Africa
. The valley of Eodon is actually on Earth, but it is inaccessible and unmappable.
At the time of the arrival of the Avatar, the place is under attack from the insect-like Myrmidex. The Avatar needs to understand and master some aspects of their stone-age tribal culture and their "jungle magic" to find a way to bring peace to the valley. The main plot involves getting all thirteen tribes to join in an alliance against the Myrmidex. Each tribe has its own demands before joining, ranging from defeating a Tyrannosaurus-Rex to recovering their holy statue. This mixture of worlds was created by a huge corrupted moonstone
that the Myrmidex possess, which has to be destroyed to prevent it collapsing in instability.
, using the game engine from the Super NES version of Ultima VII: The Black Gate
. The game was localized and planned for a US release, but that was eventually cancelled.
A remake project using the updated Exult
engine for U7 is currently underway.
Worlds of Ultima
The Worlds of Ultima series was a short lived spin-off of the well-known Ultima series of computer role-playing games.-Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire :...
" game since it's not set in Britannia. It uses the same engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
as Ultima VI
Ultima VI
Ultima VI: The False Prophet, released by Origin Systems in 1990, is the sixth part in the computer role-playing game series of Ultima. It was the last in the "Age of Enlightenment" trilogy....
(and Martian Dreams
Martian Dreams
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams is a computer RPG set in the Ultima series, published in 1991. It uses the same engine as Ultima VI, as did the first Worlds of Ultima game, The Savage Empire....
).
Plot
After the events in Ultima VI, the Avatar is transported by a friend's failed experiment with an obsidian Moonstone to the otherworldly Valley of Eodon, a large jungle-like world filled with various tribes. These tribes have been magically drawn from varying periods and locations in history, such as the aboriginal nations of MesoamericaMesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
and tropical Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. The valley of Eodon is actually on Earth, but it is inaccessible and unmappable.
At the time of the arrival of the Avatar, the place is under attack from the insect-like Myrmidex. The Avatar needs to understand and master some aspects of their stone-age tribal culture and their "jungle magic" to find a way to bring peace to the valley. The main plot involves getting all thirteen tribes to join in an alliance against the Myrmidex. Each tribe has its own demands before joining, ranging from defeating a Tyrannosaurus-Rex to recovering their holy statue. This mixture of worlds was created by a huge corrupted moonstone
Moonstone
Moonstone may refer to:* Moonstone , gemstoneWilkie Collins* The Moonstone, 1868 book by Wilkie Collins, considered the first detective novel in English...
that the Myrmidex possess, which has to be destroyed to prevent it collapsing in instability.
Super Famicom port
A port of Savage Empire was released in Japan for the Super FamicomSuper Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, using the game engine from the Super NES version of Ultima VII: The Black Gate
Ultima VII
Ultima VII: The Black Gate is the seventh installment of the Ultima series of computer role-playing games. It was released in 1992.The Black Gate was critically and commercially successful, being widely lauded as a high point in the series and as one of the best isometric RPGs ever created...
. The game was localized and planned for a US release, but that was eventually cancelled.
A remake project using the updated Exult
Exult
Exult is a free software reimplementation of the Ultima VII game engine. It enables play of Ultima VII: The Black Gate and Ultima VII Part 2: Serpent Isle, and their corresponding expansion disks Forge of Virtue and Silver Seed, on modern machines. In order to play these games, data files from the...
engine for U7 is currently underway.
Easter Eggs
- Three of the Avatar's traditional companions have counterparts in Eodon, though it is unclear if they are supposed to represent exactly the same characters; they do, however, react when addressed by their traditional names. Iolo is Triolo, a shaman and the Avatar's companion from the moment he gains consciousness. Shamino is Shamuru, a wayward warrior adopted by the Baraka tribe, found fighting a small, rat-like animal in the jungle. Dupre is Dokray, a powerful warrior of the Pindiro tribe who has formed an intense rivalry with Ugyuk, a local hunter of the Neanderthal-like Haakur tribe.
- Seggallion can be found somewhere as a cameo.
- The Three StoogesThree StoogesThe Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
appear as members of the Disquiqui tribe. Chafblum has a specific response if the player mentions the word "nyuk" to him. - There is a talking parrot in the stone city of the Nahuatla named Cleese, in reference to John CleeseJohn CleeseJohn Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
, and Monty Python's Dead Parrot Sketch.