• Publisher: EA Games
  • Release Date: Nov 2, 2004
Ultima Online: Samurai Empire Image
  • Summary: Traveling around a mysterious Asian environment filled with exotic beasts, expansive dungeons and scenic housing areas, players can strive to become a fierce Samurai, dedicated to the art of Bushido and focused on learning new physical combat abilities. These skills include Lightening Strike, a ferocious and fast single attack with a 50 percent hit bonus; Whirlwind, where a Samurai's powers increase as the number of enemies he's fighting multiply; and Honorable Execution, which is an attempt to eliminate an enemy with a single attack. Players also have the choice of joining the elite ranks of the Ninja, where they will concentrate on magical combat and stealth. The Ninja player will master many deadly arts that include Smoke Bomb, which they use to make themselves disappear. By using Animal Form, Ninjas can turn into seemingly harmless creatures like wolves and serpents, allowing them to move freely among their enemies. With the Mirror Image skill, Ninjas can confuse their enemies by creating up to four mirror images of themselves. In addition to becoming either a Samurai or Ninja, players will have new house customization themes and decorations to use as they build new homes or modify existing homes. [Electronic Arts] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. The latest Ultima Online expansion offers two new classes, ninja and samurai, and a renewed guild system. Otherwise the game is pretty much the same. Veteran UO players will enjoy, but if you are new, Samurai Empire is not the easiest way to begin. [Feb. 05]
  2. This is a game that has only one audience: players already in the world of Brittania. Anyone who has never played Ultima Online has absolutely no chance of grasping the momentous task of syncing with the various systems of the world.
  3. It's the exact same game you've been playing for about the past four years. Except with ninjas. [Feb 2005, p.81]

See all 4 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Negative: 2 out of 7
  1. RobertR.
    10
    Ive been playing for 7 years this game is so awesome and this will be a great addition to its variety of things to do ITS A GOOD GAME.
    • 1 of 1 users said yes
  2. JohnF.
    6
    Going against other serious MMORPG games such as Guild Wars, Everquest 2, and World Of Warcraft, this game has little to offer, other than a strong Japanese theme. Lackluster graphics and gameplay make this feel more like an expansion to the same Ultima Online that has been around for years, not like a worthy game of its own. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JackL.
    3
    This is a poor game to play if you've never played Ultima Online before, just has added classes and places to go, no really noticible graphic upgrades. Mybe it would be better if they upgraded graphics and made a bit better of a story line. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 7 User Reviews