Ultima 9: Ascension

By the time Ultima 9 rolled around, expectations were sky-high—and the result was… divisive. It looked gorgeous for 1999, with sweeping 3D landscapes and dramatic voice acting. But the story was muddled, bugs were rampant, and long-time fans winced at how lore was tossed out the window. Still, there’s a sense of grandeur to Ascension. The Guardian finally confronts the Avatar, and the fate of Britannia hangs in the balance. It’s a flawed finale, yes, but also ambitious. If nothing else, it proved that even legends can stumble—and that nostalgia often smooths over a very rough launch.