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Sacred 2: Fallen Angel
Publisher: cdv Software Entertainment
Developer: Ascaron Entertainment
Genre: RPG
Release Date: May 12, 2009
Platforms: Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC
ESRB: M - Mature
Reviewer: Eric
I really do think Ascaron Entertainment was trying their best to give gamers
a console version of Diablo. The sheer mention of Diablo will get anyone excited
so much that they might be willing to install Diablo 2 again on their PC. But
why do that when you can play Sacred 2 on your Playstation 3 or Xbox 360?
Sacred 2 plays just like Diablo. For a game that looks like it should be played
on the PC only it works real well on the Playstation 3. Ascaron Entertainment
took everything from the PC version and made sure it got into the console
version. I am really glad Ascaron went with this approach but do you know how
much is in this game?
Maybe Ascaron Entertainment could have made things easier. You’ll have to hold
down one of the triggers while you use a thumbstick to select what you want to
do. Battling is easy since you hit one of the four main buttons, but going
through all of the different options is a pain. The reason I am not telling you
what button to hit is because I forget sometimes. You are telling me there was
no better way to do this?
Then when you get into the different options you have to use the d-pad to move
through the screens (I think it is the d-pad, again it is overwhelming). Usually
in games you will have to use the triggers to switch the screens but Sacred 2
does it differently? I love the fact that they did their best to get the PC
version on a console but there wasn’t another way to do this?
I also really dislike how the quests are done. The actual quests themselves are
fine, nice arrange from finding children, going to find treasure in caves, and
killing a certain monster. That isn’t my main gripe. My main gripe is these
quests take away from the main quest. What is the main quest? I have no fucking
idea!
You are too busy running around finding these quests to pick up that you don’t
know what is going on in the game. Almost like the controls I was clueless with
this part of the game. There are just so many quests to pick up and they just
have you running around here and there. Why couldn’t some of these quests tie
into the main one? It seems like that would have been a real cool concept but
finding those items for the church is more important since you get experience
and gold. Screw you main storyline in Sacred 2.
Really I am not being funny. I can’t possibly remember what this game is about.
I know there are two paths to choose from and out of the six characters to pick
from the start you at one of those paths right away. This was the same problem
with the first Sacred too. The main story is put on the back burner right away
and that is why Sacred will never take down the real action role playing game
champion, Diablo.
There are six characters to choose from - the Seraphim, Dryad, Shadow Warrior,
Inquisitor, High Elf, and the Temple Guardian. Each of the characters has their
own skills and strengths. In reality you can equipment almost anything with the
characters, just one or two weapons and armor and unique to that class. It gives
you a wide range of things to do with your characters. Early on you might want
to make your magic users warrior based since the game is hard to start out, but
you can switch to something else without problems. The flexibility you have with
this game is enjoyable.
The graphics are comparable to Diablo 2, which was released how many years ago?
I don’t mind how things look but let’s be honest. There should have been some
improvement with the graphics and before anyone says it the close-up graphics
are not an improvement for the genre. This camera angle with the game will show
the clipping while close to objects, the lack of details in certain creatures,
and…and just a look back at games 10 years ago.
Sacred 2’s mini map at the top right of the screen is a good idea gone badly.
There are small silver arrows that tell you where to go for your quests and then
small ass silver circles. I wear glasses and they are pretty strong and I still
have a hard time seeing these. I am constantly hitting the select button to see
where to go for my quests. At no point in the game is this mini map helpful. It
would be so much better if you could turn this map off. I would say maybe an
update would fix the problem but it has been almost a year after the games
release, I don’t think it’s going to happen.
Character voices are not all there. Some of the voices sound like they were
either forced to do these lines or they wanted to get their money and leave. And
those sound effects…at times they sound out of place real bad. I’ll be fighting
and my quest partner will make these noises that sound deranged and pathetic.
Oh and the games music. I really enjoy Blind Guardian and when I saw their name
on the case I got a smile. A power metal band doing music for an RPG, it makes
sense. Well when the game starts you see a black screen with white lettering
that reads PRESS START. No epic music. So I hit start and did my thing and
nothing. Only at a few points in the game did I hear some good music. I was
expecting to hear some bitchin’ Blind Guardian tones the whole time. What we get
are some tunes here and there and then a few solid points. Can you sense how I
am upset?
Guess what though the online play is awesome. Either make a game and have
friends join or make an open world where anyone can join (you can get lucky
still, trust me). The first Sacred game had a ton of crashing issues and it
looks like Sacred 2 on the PS3 has no crashing issues (I’ve heard there are
problems with the PC version of the game). Once you get in a game put on your
headset and enjoy the game. There is a reason why I am writing this review now,
I still enjoy this game and it’s been nearly a year!
Final Verdict
Sacred 2 proves that you don’t have to have the best looking game to be fun and
long lasting. It has almost been a year and this game is still a lot of fun to
play on and offline. Sure it looks outdated and the music might not be as good
as it should have been, but if you have a game that plays like the legendary
Diablo on a console then you have got to give it credit.
Rating Breakdown
Gameplay: 8 out of 10
+ It plays just like the great Diablo and it is on consoles!
- It would have been nice if the controls were tweaked just a
bit.
Story: 6 out of 10
+ Sacred 2 has a story, but some of the quest stories are
much more memorable.
- I know the game has a story but what is it?
Graphics: 8 out of 10
+ Ten years ago these sorts of graphics were great and
honestly they still are decent looking.
- The close-up camera angle is really bad and it shows how
old the game is.
Audio: 6 out of 10
+ When Blind Guardian is at their best in the game Sacred 2
shines.
- Sound effects are sort of weak, same with some of the
spoken dialogue.
Replay Value: 10 out of 10
+ This game is still a lot of fun to play especially with
friends online.
- Nothing.
Overall
7.60 out of 10
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