If you can believe it, Origin Systems’ masterful RPG, Ultima 4, was released thirty years ago today.

The importance of Ultima 4, especially to the history and ongoing design of Western RPGs (and Japanese RPGs too, to a degree, although those owe a far greater debt to Ultima 3) is difficult to overstate. This was the game that really started to take RPGs in a different direction, since it was among the first RPGs to do away with the concept of a big bad; there is no real end boss in the game. That isn’t to say that there aren’t copious quantities of monsters to fight and best as you progress through the game; Ultima 4 is a very grind-heavy title to be sure. But it is to say that in the end, the biggest obstacle to success in the game is…you, the player, and how you embody (or fail to embody) the Eight Virtues of Britannia. It’s a game, ultimately, about you, who you are as a person, and where your morals and ethics are at.

Indeed, it was the first game to really introduce the idea of moral decision-making as a progression mechanic; those of you who greatly enjoy all the hard decisions thrust upon you by Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or The Witcher owe a debt of gratitude to Ultima 4 for introducing the idea that yes, an RPG could in fact be the vehicle for a morality play.

The Ultima series has been hailed as the most important game series ever, and it is Ultima 4 that started it on the road to being that. Ultima 4 itself has been hailed as an unparalleled pioneer in gaming, and it has been used as an example of how to incorporate thematic depth into game design. Richard Garriott lists it among his favourite Ultimas, and countless game developers cite it as an example and an inspiration.

To celebrate the game today, I’ve got a few interesting things lined up. Stay tuned. And why not fire up the game for yourself today and give it a play? If you have need of a copy, you can get it for free at GOG.