Editor’s Note: After numerous requests from readers, we are slowly easing into our PC coverage. For you veteran mouse jockeys, consider this an exhaustive review of a game you may have overlooked. For the console purists, keep an anxious eye peeled for the impending PS3/360 release!
We’re also giving away some Sacred 2 swag, including T-Shirts and a Limited Edition copy of the game. Keep it locked!
Release: Nov 7th 2008 (UK), Nov 11th 2008 (US)
Developer: Ascaron
Publisher: Koch Media / CDV Software
Genre: Role-Playing Game
More than a decade ago, Diablo was released and changed the face of gaming forever. Following in the wake of that landmark title and its standout sequel, numerous games have attempted to recapture Blizzard’s magic for their own. Though many have tried and failed miserably, studios keep coming back to the well. Developer Ascaron Entertainment is no exception, and their most recent offering, Sacred 2, is a promising step towards reliving the glories of gaming’s past.
Welcome to Ancaria
Despite the fact that – numerically speaking – the game should fall after the original Sacred, it is in fact the original’s predecessor by almost two thousand years. Taking place in the land of Ancaria, the game follows the conflict of two rival factions of High Elves, on the brink of all-out civil war. At the heart of the conflict is a strange material called T-Energy, which is the sole source of magical power for the High Elves. It is believed that whoever controls the T-Energy, will retain control of the regions people. Ultimately, the decisions that the player makes over the course of the campaign will determine the outcome of the conflict and much more!
From character customization to weapon personalization, Sacred 2 emphasizes an expansive volume of choices that can be slightly overwhelming. Further compounding the confusion is a very limited introductory tutorial that leaves something to be desired. The main topics that are neglected include instructing the player on navigating the game world and interacting with the inhabitants. That is not to say that it is impossible to learn the controls, inventory and leveling system, it just seems that the developers assume the players are familiar with the genre. Lapsed gamers or those that are uninitiated to this style of gameplay have to deal with the steep learning curve that is associated with mastering the games mechanics.
Before setting out into Ancaria, a hero avatar must be selected. At the beginning of the game, there are almost no options for customization other than choosing from one of six vastly different character classes. Among the different character classes are a Seraphim, High Elf, Dryad, Shadow Warrior, Inquisitor and Temple Guardian.
For those that are well versed in the Sacred universe, the Seraphim are the one returning character class from the original. Other character types like the High Elf, Dryad, Shadow Warrior and Inquisitor are what many would consider to be classic archetype classes featured in numerous other fantasy games. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Temple Guardian class is the definite wild card. Not only is the Temple Guardian the most peculiar of the available classes, but it also seems very out of period to see what can only be described as a man-dog, (“I’m half man, half dog. I’m my own best friend.” – Spaceballs) with a laser attached to its arm, in a primarily Tolkien inspired setting. No matter what your choice, you can rest assured that you will eventually shape the character as you see fit.
The initial shortcoming of limited customization is remedied as the game advances. Throughout the process of leveling up, an abundant amount of wardrobe, weapons, and armor will be made available. Attributes points, are also gained though level progression, which can then be applied towards developing what skills, abilities, and powers are in your arsenal. Pick carefully, because these choices can ultimately affect how you play the entirety of the game.
When your avatar is effectively equipped for battle, a gigantic expanse of land, covering over 22 miles of terrain, presents itself for exploration. Other than areas that are triggered by specific quest events, the entire landscape is available for the player to roam freely. As exploration turns to questing, the various different environments will shift in a way that constantly keeps the experience fresh. Despite the fact that art assets are reused on a regular basis, there are enough differences in the architectural structure and environmental elevations to keep from getting lost and/or inadvertently backtracking.
Meet the Neighbors
Further emphasizing the immensity of content, almost every character that appears on screen can be interacted with in some way, shape, or form. If the character is standing in a neutral position on the screen, this means that they mean you no harm. Communicating with said NPC’s normally can either result in being offered one of the abundantly available side quests or information that will help progress the storyline. Thankfully, most encounters are very brief, consisting of very concise dialog trees. This is a welcome change from other titles that have seemingly unending amounts of dialog, that tell you nothing more than you already know.
Though conversing with the locals is an interesting diversion, the real meat of the game lies in the combat. Attackers differentiate themselves from normal town folk by being as aggressive as possible. The moment that they appear on screen, they make a mad dash directly towards the hero, flailing their weapons wildly in the process. Enemies that you encounter in both scripted battles and random exploration are never inconsequential due to the fact that they level along with the player. Every enemy has the chance to strike you down, so it is critical that the player is always on guard.
Speaking of combat, Sacred follows the simple two mouse button combat system. The left click launches into a melee attack directed at the perusing adversary, while the right click can be used to summon any number of different magic attacks. In order meet your true potential in battle, it will become critical to either map your own shortcut keys or utilize the game’s recommended settings. This will help streamline the overall battle experience and preserve precious hit points.
As you dispatch wave after wave of foes, your character will begin to accumulate the experience points necessary to level-up and acquire the new skills necessary to progress through the game’s tougher encounters. Another added benefit will be the tremendous volume of loot that is dropped by the dead. If sifting through a tremendously enormous list of weapons, in search of the perfect combination of sword and shield sound like fun, then this is the perfect game for you.
A Hot New Ride
Early on in the game there is a lot of walking that takes place. As if the developers were reading the player’s mind, when the monotony of walking gets to be too much, suddenly there is an opportunity to unlock mounts. The main benefit of utilizing the mount is accelerating travel, but this comes at the cost of limiting the number of available attacks. Once again rewarding those that put in the time to level grind, increasingly more powerful beasts will become available as you evolve. These creatures will have the ability to have their attributes upgraded as well as don customizable armor.
If the single player storyline fails to impress, it is good to know there are a several options for online play. Most players will prefer to play through the entire campaign in coop. Up to five players can relive story, while still gaining experience and loot that can be applied to their single player avatar. Luckily, for those who don’t like to play nice with others, there is a free-mode where literally anything goes, including PvP with as many as sixteen different players.
On the superficial side of things, the hero’s character model is extremely detailed. The same, however, cannot be said for the hordes of procedurally generated townspeople that inhabit the world. Most NPC’s that you come into contact seem to be cut from the identical mold, which can lead to confusion when you try to claim a reward after completing quests. Nevertheless, the redundant appearance is excusable from a development standpoint, because it makes more sense for the developers to spend time adding additional content like quests and environments, rather than customizing every drone on screen. The appealing part of the whole package is that Sacred 2 is not very hardware intensive and will look good on almost any system.
Continuing in a long line of successful fantasy based action-RPGs, Sacred 2 helps bring the classic mechanics of Diablo into the next generation of PC gaming. Featuring extensive character customization options, seemingly limitless amounts of loot, online multiplayer, and an enormous landscape jam-packed with unique content, the game will keep you playing well into the New Year.
Ascaron Entertainment has proven that PC gaming is far from dead. In fact, this might just be a new beginning.
*SACRED 2 is also slated for release on the PS3 in March 2009, and the Xbox 360 “Q1 2009.”
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