Ultima 5 Lazarus

If you own Dungeon Siege you can download this mod for free.
Ultima 5 (Lazarus) is a real roleplaying game. It is not as difficult as Wizardry but in the wake of what I call partial roleplaying games (Morrowind, Oblivion, Diablo, Everquest, or World's of warcraft.) Those games I just mentioned are good games but they are just too easy and many of these games now have action elements. I do not mind that as I am playing Gothic 2 at the moment, but I still prefer an oldschool roleplaying game. To me the Baldur's Gates, Betrayal at Krondor, Wizardries, and even the D & D goldbox series are more fun.

I do not like a roleplaying game that does not use a party. I loved baldur's gate 1/2 but hated Neverwinter Nights.(I loved to design my own mods in Neverwinter nights however and did enjoy playing in a group.) I really tried to like NWN and played 2 expansions but finally realized the game was no good.

Anyways Ultima 5 has so many great aspects. There is a real world here where people go about their daily lives and all can be spoken to. Each person has a unique portrait. You need to learn the schedules of citizens, guards and sometimes monsters. You can try to steal something like bread or you can just make it yourself. Anything goes here. In Ultima 7 I went into a nursery, picked up some dirty diapers and threw them at an enemy rogue trying to kill me. He ran away yelling "damn thee." It's pretty cool.

Party combat and character building is what a roleplaying game is all about to me. Wizardry 1/5/8 were the best games for this but Ultima is decent in this respect and makes up for it with superior storyline and dynamic world which Wizardry does not have.

Lazarus is a true conversion of Ultima 5 once you learn the Dungeon Siege engine. Everything is top notch from the music to the graphics.

Here is a review: