Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn's Revenge

Ok, i realise this is a rather late review but I thought I would give it a shot anyway.From all my gaming experiences UO remains my favourite online role playing game. I had been playing for a number of years before I got this expansion and I was kind of disappointed.The 3d graphics are not as useful or as easy to follow I find as the 2d originals - this may well be just my own personal preference but I guess that is what reviews are all about! As for new features yeah you get ANOTHER new land continent to explore with a few more beasties but overall I am beginning to feel that they are milking this title now and its time to move on. It was (and still is) great in its hey-day but that day is gone, lets invest the time and money in something new.If you STILL adore UO then by all means its worthwhile but times change.

I only started the Ultima Online games a matter of weeks ago but already I am hooked. Ultima Online is a great game for fans of dungeons and dragons and newbies to role playing alike. You create a character and "live" in a world, where you can get a job, make friends (and enemies), battle, go on quests.... there are endless possibilities and I am doing the game no justice by listing only these because this is only the very basic things you can do.Lord Blackthorn's is suitable for both beginners and long-time users of UO. For beginners you get to enter the world of UO and experience all of the above and much more. You get to enter a world where battles are fought and won, friendships are made and broken and where ANYTHING can happen. The only limit is your imagination.For current users, you can get 30 new monsters (designed by Comic artist Todd McFarlane) as well as a new emphasis on the virtue system. It also unlocks to 2D players for the first time the facet of Ilshenar as well as a complete update of the 2D artwork. Music files will now be stored as MP3's also, allowing the user to customise their game even further.The only complaints I have is that the lag time can be quite bad at times, and I really think that something needs to be done about this. Also the support for UK users is not as good as elsewhere, and if you don't have a credit card it can be quite hard to pay the montly charges by buying GameTime because you have to pay in $ and you have to buy it from the USA. Please note that there is a monthly subscription you have to pay to use the game. The first month's subscription is free (it is included in the price of the game).However, despite these, the game is still highly enjoyable and should not be shunned.

I would agree with the original reviewer for new players to Ultima Online, but for existing players, Lord Blackthorn's Revenge reeks of profiteering on the part of EA/OSI. Something of a slap in the face for people, like myself, who bought Third Dawn because they were told that it was the only way to get to Ilshenar, the only truly new thing that the expansion brings is new art and music for the game.Players who did not get Third Dawn will no doubt appreciate being able to have access to Ilshenar in the 2d client and although it is moderately priced, there is very little in the way of new material for those existing players who already hand over their money monthly to EA. A good deal for players new to the game, but only for the most avid existing fans.