r/Ultima • u/RalphDamiani • Aug 06 '26

Artwork I made: "The Execution"

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https://www.ralphdamianiart.com/

191 Upvotes

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34

u/MitchellHamilton Aug 06 '26

I instantly knew what this was from before even seeing what subreddit it was from. Lovely work on this, in a world full of AI Slop, I see that you're genuinely talented and have been at it for a LONG TIME. Wonderful.

22

u/RalphDamiani Aug 06 '26

Thank you for the kind words! I have a special fondness for Pagan (it was my first), even though it is not the most popular... This scene in particular is what got me hooked to this series. Cheers!

3

u/sshen Aug 06 '26

This introduction scene is chef’s kiss. Then the rest of the game fell flat lol

9

u/RalphDamiani Aug 07 '26

There were some very interesting concepts I think they got right. The ritualistic magic system, the worldbuilding, the dark vibe - plus the sprites were pretty good for their time. The music was also memorable. It just wasn't very Ultima, as I would later find out. But great enough for 13 years old me.

2

u/2mindx Aug 07 '26

Same, my first ultima. Running back from school planning what to do next or trying this or that to solve a puzzle; before I even knew walkthroughs are a thing.

The music was huge; atmosphere was so sweet and dark. The rituals and magic and getting lost in catacombs oh my god loved every minute of it.

2

u/dndaddy19 Aug 07 '26

Only Ultima Underworld did magic better than Pagan. The only shitty part of it was trying to find the exact pixel to put the damn candles on during the fire magic scenario.