[revgfw]http://cdn.xlcgamingnetwork.com/news/images/2014/08/01/Sacred3-reviewscreen/Sacred_3_pic2.jpg[/revgfw][font=Comic Sans MS][size=125][quote][b]It’s finally here, Sacred 3 is the fourth game in the Sacred series and Deep Silver has appointed new developers Keen Games with the task of continuing the franchise. Sacred 3 is billed as an arcade Hack’n’Slash/RPG that has a strong focus on co-op play. The game also strolls down a new path when compared to previous Sacred titles with Sacred Citadel acting as a prequel to this one. Sacred 3 has the looks of Diablo with the heart of an arcade Hack’n’Slash. The main question is do Keen Games get the balance right, or do they fall off the scales into hell?[/b][/quote][/size][/font][hr][/hr]
Sacred 3 is bursting with multiple personalities that are portrayed across the main story and other areas like the weapon spirits. The game does a great job to install that arcade feel where it doesn’t take itself seriously and hits you with comical one liner’s. It also takes the mickey out of the Hack’n’Slash genre with some well placed sarcasm in conversations. Set in the war of Ancaria you control one of four legendary warriors. Lord Zane – the evil genius (or idiot) wants to become a God. He also wants to get his hands on the heart of Ancaria – The artefact is what’s holds the world together. Lord Zane allies himself with demons, some rather impressive ones, in order to open the gates of the underworld. The only question is will you be able to stop him?
The game focuses highly on classic arcade style fun and games with very competitive co-op team play mixed in. While the game has you fighting as a team to bring down Lord Zane with some great co-op special moves, there is also your own score to keep tabs on. The major thing missing here though is online leaderboards for your scores. All your attacks have a point score so you will want your attacks to be as elaborate as possible using a mix of your standard and special moves to come top of the lobby. This and the mix of some RPG elements does make this an ideal co-op title to break open a few beers too and grab your mates to partake in some friendly co-op but competitive arcade action.
Gone is the open world of the previous games to be replaced by a map marked out with main missions and various side missions. The side missions act as an introductory to new enemies as well as grinding for gold and some other items like health potions and smart bombs. The main missions work out at about 20mins in length, equalling roughly 8-10 hours in one play-through excluding DLC. Gameplay is your usual clear out areas of demons, turn wheels, and defend walls etc to proceed. Add in the usual mix of eccentric and elaborate mini bosses, larger than life main bosses and floor traps, and you get a fun filled experience. You have everything ranging from stone demons, lizard like dinosaur creatures and spiders to name a few, oh God the spiders!
The game does fall into the trap of same enemy, different coat of armour and attack moves which is a bit of a shame. Bosses though are your comical egotistical maniacs for a thirst for violence and your death. I liked the fact that they antagonise you as you fight through the level, with references back to Zane. When it comes to boss battles they are action packed with each offering something new in terms of attack style and pattern. While the battle with Zane is good, there were other bosses that stole the limelight for me.
There is an element of exploration but it is limited and not as open as you would expect. That’s not to say you shouldn’t roam as some of the locations are just stunning to see. There is treasure chests containing gold to find but it’s just not that high a priority. This seems due to the looting from the previous two Sacred titles having been taking out. The only reference to looting is the treasure chests and weapons falling from defeated bosses. This can be seen as a Sacred game in name only and could have been so much more if there was looting. The replay value does take a hit but it is still a joy to play and a great co-op game for fans of the arcade Hack’n’Slash genre.
There are four classes to select from which are, Safari, Khukuri, Seraphim and Ancarian. Each class is represented by a masterful warrior from various lands, two men and two women. Steroid induced muscle bound male fighters check, and scantly clad femme fatale also check. Marak from the Safari class is great for close combat and defending the team when encounters get up close and personal. Vajra from the Khukuri is an accomplished archer and has perfected the art of distant combat. Clair from the Seraphim class has speed and agility on her side and is no stranger to the sword. Finally we have Alithea representing the Ancarian class who is no stranger to polearms as well as a master in poisons.
The combat stays true too and is a great example of how an arcade Hack’n’Slash games should be. It makes you look cool kicking demon ass and is a breeze to learn with upgrade trees to personalize your characters fight style. Each of the characters has their own unique weapons, co-op move and Combat Arts. You start off with one weapon but others are dropped by bosses as you level up. It seems there are three weapons per character. Combat Arts are your special moves and you can equip two at any one time, one light and one heavy. These are very impressive with a fair few to choose from and offer a great way to get you and the team out of trouble. Claire can blow enemies back as well as summing a circle of electricity for a period of time for example, were as Marak can breathe fire and so fourth. Most are unique but I have spotted a few similar in style. The weapons and Combat Art upgrade trees open up by levelling up your character and using the gold to buy once you achieve the required character level. Some of the upgrades branch out where you have to choose one or the other where you will be trading off attack for defence etc.
The Skills and Weapon Spirits are the same for all characters but they have the ability to be enhanced too. Skills can be upgraded just like before where the Weapon Spirits a slightly different(more on that in a sec). You have two types of skills the first being defensive where you chose to be able to dodge attacks or block attacks. Then you have your passive which are a choice of execution and revive. The execution will allow you to take an almighty leap to kill a downed foe and revive helps revive team mates. The execution move unfortunately seems to be the same animation for all characters.
The Power of the Weapon is in its Spirit.
The Weapon Spirits is one of the features that stand out so I will explain it a little more. They do not have upgrade trees instead leveling up as you play through the game and its difficulties. I count 10 in total after my play through each having up to four levels. You can only activate one to take to battle with you giving positive and negative effects on the players. The effectiveness depends on the level the spirit is at for example the Demoness allows your attacks to set enemies alight while inflicting damage as you chain attacks. The downside to this is damage taken is increased by ten percent. So you can see that with a team of four players you can mix things up giving you different fight strategies.
Weapon spirits also have their own unique personality portrayed via one liners that pop up as you fight. The Battlemage is tainted with a fair amount of sexual innuendo like “I will still respect you in the morning”. My favourite the Vampire hits out with quirky one liners like “I’ve brought a friend to drink”, “never drink alone”, and one of my favourites “I’m not the spider eating kind of vampire”. While they soon become repetitive – if you don’t switch it up a little – they still produced some lol moments and I haven’t had the chance to try them all out yet. Fans of the franchise will notice some of these spirits are based on characters from previous sacred titles.
Graphically the game looks amazing with some great lighting effects and the number of enemies you can see on screen making for some great action packed battles. The isometric view is along the same lines as games like Diablo so you get to see all the action as it happens. The camera at certain points changes to a more 2D scrolling view to let you see events in the background. There is great variety to the locations on offer which are well designed and look gorgeous. The eerie town of the dead has a graveyard that will have you breaking a few laughs reading the inscriptions. Then there is the Fungul Forest which has such an enchanting ambiance with its various green tones and psychedelic colours. The graphics are one of the games strongest points pulling you into the atmosphere of each location.
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][size=125]The Good Things[/size][/font][/b]
- Plenty of unique locations on offer.
- The visuals are just gorgeous .
- Everything an Arcade Hack’n’Slash should be.
- Some well placed humour and sarcasm which will get a few chuckles.
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][size=125]And The Bad[/size][/font][/b]
- Gives mission scores but no online leaderboards.
- Side missions could have done with more variety.
- Sacred in name only compared to the first 2 games & no looting.
[b][font=Comic Sans MS][size=125]My Verdict…[/size][/font][/b]
Sacred 3 is everything a co-op arcade Hack’n’Slash should be with a topping of some RPG elements. The focus is on co-op play with local and online and a seamless drop-in/drop-out feature and some great co-op power moves. The game is bursting with multiple personalities provided by some well placed humour and sarcasm, not taking itself too seriously. The focus on co-op provides hours of entertainment among friends. It might be a team game but you will be finding ways to better your score than the others to be top of the lobby. It’s good that there is some branching in the upgrade trees that force you to choose one way or the other which helps personalizing your fighting style.
For those looking for a title that continues the style of Sacred 1 and 2 you will be disappointed as the looting form these games are non-existent. What Sacred 3 does do is provide a great arcade Hack’n’Slash experience and fans of this genre will love it. It’s a perfect game for sitting chilling with mates and providing action packed fun with a competitive co-op edge. If you are a fan of arcade Hack’n’Slash titles then you should give this game a go.
[quote][b][font=Comic Sans MS][size=150]Action packed Arcade Hack’n’Slash title with stunning visuals and locations.[/size][/font][/b][/quote]
[star8][/star8]
