Reception
| Reception | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| PC Review | 9 out of 10 |
| PC Zone | 94 out of 100 |
| PC Format | 93% |
According to Paul Neurath, Ultima Underworld II and its predecessor together sold half a million units. Paul Presley of PC Review called the game "huge", and praised its atmosphere. He also lauded the game's increase in variety and graphical detail over its predecessor. However, he hoped that the next game in the series would support adventuring parties, and wrote that, unlike its predecessor, the game does not feature "anything that takes it to a higher plateau to wait for the others to catch up". However, he summarized the game as "magnificent", and wrote, "If someone were to hand me £40 and say buy either Underworld I or II, I'd take the sequel any time." David McCandless of PC Zone wrote, "Nothing can completely prepare you for the freedom the game gives you ... It's about as close to Virtual Reality as you are ever likely to get from your mouse driver." He praised the game's "atmosphere"-creating sound, and called its graphics "stunning"; he stated that, with a high-end computer, "dungeons can move like a film". However, he noted that the game's predecessor created a tighter and more involving atmosphere, and that Ultima Underworld II's length meant that "there's a lot of empty space between 'excitement points'." He summarized that "there really is nothing you can do with this game except sit there, dribble slightly, and say 'blimey' every eight to ten minutes."
The Toronto Star's William Burrill wrote, "Ultima Underworld II is without rival the best fantasy role-playing game in this (or any parallel) world." He praised its automap, and noted that "those who played ... Ultima Underworld will appreciate the improved graphics". However, he believed that the control system "takes a little practice to get used to", and stated, "This is not a game you can master quickly or play in a night. It has its frustrations and its flaws, despite its brilliance of design". He finished by stating that "those who are patient will be richly rewarded with a game like no other." Computer Gaming World's Doug Sencat enjoyed the game's graphics, and praised the plot, conversations and 3D world for giving a sense of "being there". However, he noted that the game's movement was "a pain", and found that learning to navigate the environment was initially "frustrating". He was unfavorable toward the linearity of the game's plot and dialogue trees, and toward the NPCs' inability to take actions independent of the player. He described the game as "a long and grueling quest", and stated, "Many times, seems more frustrating than enjoyable". Although he summarized it as "a relatively high-quality game", he finished, "By the time I finally saw daylight again, emerging from the Labyrinth, I must admit that it wasn't exultation I felt, but sheer relief."
Read more about this topic: Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth Of Worlds
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—Walter Pater (1839–1894)