Looking Glass Founders Unveil Ultima Underworld: Ascendant

Most old school PC Gamers will fondly remember the Ultima Underworld series of Fantasy RPG games, and many have been asking for an updated version. Whether you want to call it a reboot, a modernisation, or a comeback, one thing is for sure – gamers want to see this series transported to the modern era. Looks like the original creators of these games have the same desire, and have started a Kickstarter Campaign to bring their latest concept into modern reality. It's called Underworld Ascendant.

Often called a Masterpiece by avid gamers, the Ultima Underworld series, almost single-handedly catapulted the Fantasy RPG genre from top-down, tile based design into the 3D (first person) design that is all the rage now. The first game, Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss, came out in 1992, and is still a classic today. Of course, the available technology was a lot different in '92 compared to what we have available today. Hoping to reinvigorate the Ultima series, and reinvent the Fantasy RPG genre at the same time, the original team behind Ultima Underworld hope to raise enough money through Kickstarter to make this new concept a reality.

The new game will feature a brand-new character creation system, Modern Physics Simulation, Modern Ai Routines, Gorgeous Graphics, a compelling storyline, and will allow the player to truly play the game however they want. The ability to solve problems or approach an in-game situation any which way you as a player see fit, have been major features in the developer's games, such as Thief: The Dark Project, or the original System Shock. This feature has inspired countless other game designers and resulted in such excellent titles such as: Deus Ex, Bioshock, and even the indomitable King of modern Role-playing games: Skyrim. The new game will allow players to make their own choices of how to interact with the in-game world.

Paul Neurath, founder of the project, and also founder of the famous game company, Looking Glass, seems quite enthusiastic about the new project: "We're bringing back the classic single-player, immersive underworld adventuring that made the original great. But we're also innovating. We're pushing forward with our new Improvisation Engine; going deeper than any other game in creating a living, breathing fantasy world hidden beneath the earth; trying out a new approach to co-op play with a friend, and more. The team here at OtherSide has set itself the lofty goal redefining the fantasy RPG for this generation of gamers, much as we did for the last generation."

For more information on the game and/or to contribute to their goal of raising $600,000 for development, head over to their Kickstarter Page