Sacred 2 not as good as S1?

[nugget 0]

Hullo!

 

I started S1 a few months ago, and was totally charmed. I fell in love with it, lock, stock and barrel, and even spread it to a few other friends via gog.com.

 

Then I got my grubby paws on Sacred 2 about 2 weeks ago, and... I feel like it's really not even half as good as S1. I'm posting here because I'd like to get other people's opinion's, too. Maybe there's something I've not seen yet, etc etc. Counterpoints are welcome, but don't flame please.

 

I really love/loved S1. Running all my chars through gold now on S1 (so you can judge my S1 evolution), and still have a ton of things to discover and see that I *want* to discover and see. (Sacred Gold is my version). I think pretty soon, I'm going back to it instead of playing Sacred 2. Sacred 2 shall be my 'when I feel like playing WoW but not actually playing WoW and don't feel like doing the attention that GW requires'. S1 is, like GW - I feel like playing that game!

 

In no particular order, the reasons why I feel Sacred 2 isn't as good...

 

1) Charmless characters.

I'm sorry, not a single one (I have made all but guardian and shadow warrior now) is even half as charming as the least charming s1 char. The HE is particularly jarring. It's weird to have a toon who cares more about experience than I do. And the seraphim is an unknowing self-righteous religious bigot. In S1, at least she wasn't so obvious about it. -_-

 

2) Voiceovers are horribad.

Makes me sad because S1 voiceovers were so good.

 

3) Mobs really aren't all that funny anymore.

The kobbies make me feel vaguely bad, and the skellies 'you won but you had healing potions' is quite lol. but... they don't match up to SCHNIEPEL!

 

4) Too...many...rats...

I have played rpgs for years, and it's like all the rats of the rpg world migrated to Sacred 2. What I think is, there were supposed to be more mobs... rats were placeholders, then they had to ship.

 

5) Storyline makes no sense at all even when you read it.

I'm up to chapter 6, I have been rushing, and reading the storyline and I still have no idea what I'm doing, or why. I'm just going from arrow to arrow. In S1, the storyline made me care about it eventually. ^_^ And I liked rushing up to the palace to confront and squish deMordrey.

 

6) Left click targetting to autoattack is so broken.

-_- so all my chars try to abandon left click as soon as possible just so they can spam right-click. I don't find this fun.

 

7) LAG on spacebar healing and switching combat arts.

Don't really think this needs explanation but... -_- I like being able to switch combat arts fast. I prefer instant switch combat arts (s1, bindable to function keys as well) rather than some laggy crap.

 

***

 

So... in the balance, what does Sacred 2 have that s1 doesn't do as well or better? Graphics. It has graphics. And IMO, that's all it has. even the skilltrees in Sacred 2 are an illusion of complexity. because the lag on Combat Art switching makes it so that either I combo it, or I don't switch Combat Arts much.

 

*

 

So guys, am I missing something? I really wanted to love Sacred 2 as much as I love S1. But I don't. Do things get better? My highest toon is level 50. But all the stuff I'm complaining about - I don't really see it getting better when getting bigger.

 

What are the bright spots I'm missing - anyone who loved S1 able to tell me?

 

(The Blind Guardian concert quest does rock though. =) )

[Antitrust 32]

So... in the balance, what does Sacred 2 have that s1 doesn't do as well or better?

Map. Much better map.

 

No longer will you fail a time quest after travelling half an hour in the wrong direction to get some silly carpenter's wife which just happened to get surrounded by wolves, in a very remote area that you can get to through a single narrow passage that is impossible to see...

Edited January 27, 2010 by Antitrust

[chattius 2,531]

You can execute combat arts with speed casting by just pressing 1,2,3,4,5. You can edit a file so you can attach a weapon slot to a combat art.

 

Most fun are the details:

Stumbling over a statue and reading something like: Prinz Poldi, at each big battle he was sitting on a bank. Prinz Poldi is the nickname of a soccer (this soccer is just for americans, everywhere else people are smart enough to name it football. How can a game be football if you mainly throw and hold the ball)-player in the german national team. At each european or world championship he had to sit on the bank with the reserve players.

 

Or the car exhibition, the bus stop with the skeleton because noone invented a bus yet, the crime scene like CSI, ...

[Knuckles 904]

Hi and Welcome Nugget

 

Don't worry...this is a flame-free zone

 

I have to agree with you. Sacred 2 seems to be missing something that made S1 sooo much fun. I just can't put my finger on it. Maybe after playing S1 for 4 years I had certain expectations or pre-conceived notions as to what Sacred 2 would or should be like. I do like playing Sacred 2, but it just hasn't sucked me in like S1 did.

[Rotluchs 82]

+1 ...

 

I like Sacred 2, but my only 'love' is and always will be S1-UW.

I think mostly because back then everything was completely new, fresh and soo damn exciting and overwhelming...

 

so many stuff that really felt 'handcrafted' and so many details..

and the old 2d-iso view-style camera+gfx..

the easter-eggs, the unique char-classes and their skills...

just 'everything'

 

(unfortunately, also a game bugged like that was also new to me

... but even with all it bugs it had and those it still does,

this game still beeing my fav, 'best-ever' title speaks for itself and

the outstanding qualities it can offer besides it's unique quirks)

 

for me, all this still remains unrivaled, even until to date..

 

 

I was veeery disappointed when Sacred 2 came out, (and I'd have totally preferred a 2nd addon over the new Sacred 2)

 

because on the one hand lots of the stuff I didn't like in S1UW didn't got fixed/changed

(like darn complicated item/rune management/swap, weired ineffective interface.. 'many' clicks for one simple action)

(still no 'real' international world-lobby: the US+EU eg. have their own in Sacred 2, but in S1 even the europeans got separated from each other.. IT,FR,GER,EN restricted etc)

 

on the other side, ofc Sacred 2 has improvements you'd miss in S1-UW, but they are rare... (imho)..

but some things that changed - forgive me - I'd personally even call 'regressions' instead of improvements..

 

the world/content got bigger, sure but at the expence of important dev-time that would have been needed to 'handcraft' and 'manually adjust' everything..

you can see that especially when it comes to the design of certain areas on the map, or the whole item-subsystem, and the 'unique/legendary' items that got created by a generator and weren't manually tweaked regarding stats etc..

I got go more into detail and name hundreds of other expamples but I'm gonna stop right now..

 

in the end, Sacred 2 just looks more 'modern' , but that alone wasn't never ever enough for me...

 

what made me switch and stick with Sacred 2 simply is the fact

that they shut down the closed S1UW lobby, and abandoned S1-UW reg adding content/fixing bugs..

 

so for me its only Sacred 2 in order to play a sacred-ish game

in closed-hc with some friends out of the community (and those guys totally make up for the lack of Sacred 2)

 

 

..hmm.. recently I wanted to reinstall SUW gold, and noticed I had deleted all my exported hc-chars I had back then

now I really miss 'em, had all 12 216-toons backed up on dvd, its gone..

 

huh^^ at least there's something nice left over here on the forum, now I could say that's my 'legacy' .

 

http://forum.sacredeng.ascaron-net.com/sho...ead.php?t=41841

 

 

Greetings RL

 

(and nah.. I don't miss either s1uw OR Sacred 2 'that' much as it now looks like.. or do I?)

Edited January 27, 2010 by Rotluchs

[nugget 0]

You can execute combat arts with speed casting by just pressing 1,2,3,4,5. You can edit a file so you can attach a weapon slot to a combat art.

 

Most fun are the details:

Stumbling over a statue and reading something like: Prinz Poldi, at each big battle he was sitting on a bank. Prinz Poldi is the nickname of a soccer (this soccer is just for americans, everywhere else people are smart enough to name it football. How can a game be football if you mainly throw and hold the ball)-player in the german national team. At each european or world championship he had to sit on the bank with the reserve players.

 

Or the car exhibition, the bus stop with the skeleton because noone invented a bus yet, the crime scene like CSI, ...

 

Is there a trick to this? When I use 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 - there is an *appreciable* lag when switching. And because I press fast, I get the old Combat Art happening, or it sticks on the old Combat Art or... any number of things, all of which mean that I experience lag when using 1-2-3-4-5, and so have to keep staring at the buttons to make sure they have changed and are pressed. Same thing happens with the spacebar, which means that instead of just tapping it lightly (a-la s1), I have to pound on it. XD

 

I'm all for excitement in games, but this is not the sort of excitement I like.

 

>.> Is there some sekrit way to make it not lag? Please share! XD

 

I agree that the little details are still there. They just seem... different. Dunno how else to put it. Rotiuchs and Knuckles have said what I felt, that inspired this post in the first place. >.> I realise now that I might sound like I think Sacred 2 is a crap game - I don't. But something is missing. And since I haven't played them both since the 'old days' as it were, it can't be nostalgia. Hoom!

[claudius 104]

For left clicking you should find a target and hover the mouse over that target. Then hold down the LMB until they are dead. You will hit repeatedly. Once the first target is dead hold mouse cursor over second target and hold down the LMB until they are dead. Rinse and repeat.

 

 

For combat arts (not in a combo) Hold down both LMB and RMB. You will execute the combat art when available but otherwise left click attack.

 

Cheers!

[nugget 0]

For left clicking you should find a target and hover the mouse over that target. Then hold down the LMB until they are dead. You will hit repeatedly. Once the first target is dead hold mouse cursor over second target and hold down the LMB until they are dead. Rinse and repeat.

 

 

For combat arts (not in a combo) Hold down both LMB and RMB. You will execute the combat art when available but otherwise left click attack.

 

Cheers!

 

Thanks for trying to help, but I know exactly how left click attack works. It works exactly the same as in S1, but I find that for me, in a 3d environment, the mechanic isn't all that good. Especially with ranged characters, who stupidly like to run up to the thing the moment it's dead. I know about holding down ctrl as well, but I still dislike the mechanic in a 3d world.

 

FWIW I have customised my camera angles so that the view isn't that WE PUT A CAP ON you're HEAD default, but more like the 'normal' mmo view. I loved the isometric in S1, I *hated* the default camera in Sacred 2.

 

I take it, then, that the lag I experience for Combat Arts and spacebars - also documented on the official Sacred forum, is not fixable in any way, shape or form. Oh wells!

[colif 36]

I should go back and not rely on memory, but the map may look better in Sacred 2 but it seemed bigger in Sacred 1. Not sure if its character size but the desert in S1 seemed immense but the one in Sacred 2 doesn't. There are just as many trees in the way in Sacred 2, but they aren't as wall like as S1 was, you don't have to run along edges to find that tiny gap, as Antitrust mentions.

 

I liked S1 until UW was released, the changes made to WE just ruined it for me. I tried to play another class but it just didn't work.

 

I miss the usable Easter eggs from the 1st game, the sunnies were just funny to wear. Easter eggs took a less obvious approach in Sacred 2, they are all around you but you can't really interact with them much (Empty Office & Blind Guardian would be the exceptions).

 

Sets that included weapons is a thing I miss too. I miss spiders the size of houses, I used to like killing them.

 

Patches that break more than they fix... I don't miss that. Every time I loaded an S1 patch I had to worry about what quests wouldn't work afterward. That wasn't so bad in Sacred 2 (from my experience)

[nugget 0]

I should go back and not rely on memory, but the map may look better in Sacred 2 but it seemed bigger in Sacred 1. Not sure if its character size but the desert in S1 seemed immense but the one in Sacred 2 doesn't. There are just as many trees in the way in Sacred 2, but they aren't as wall like as S1 was, you don't have to run along edges to find that tiny gap, as Antitrust mentions.

 

I liked S1 until UW was released, the changes made to WE just ruined it for me. I tried to play another class but it just didn't work.

 

I miss the usable Easter eggs from the 1st game, the sunnies were just funny to wear. Easter eggs took a less obvious approach in Sacred 2, they are all around you but you can't really interact with them much (Empty Office & Blind Guardian would be the exceptions).

 

Sets that included weapons is a thing I miss too. I miss spiders the size of houses, I used to like killing them.

 

Patches that break more than they fix... I don't miss that. Every time I loaded an S1 patch I had to worry about what quests wouldn't work afterward. That wasn't so bad in Sacred 2 (from my experience)

 

Heehee! I agree on the map, though I still run into the trees like a maddened lemming because I'm using custom 'mmo view' to play, so it can be harder to see. That's not Sacred 2's fault though - I like that view for full 3d worlds. <.< >.> As for the desert in S1... the first time I was supposed to go and give Treville water, I got totally lost in the desert. XD

 

Spiders! No house spiders? J00 make me sad. I only just madly ran through Sacred 2 so I could try out gold. But.. for me I think the keeper is still S1. >.> I wish I liked Sacred 2 more, it's so pretty. No house spiders.

 

As a latecomer, regarding patches, I have the good life, as it were. Sacred Gold (from gog.com) played fine 'out of the box' for me. Sacred 2... >.< For some reason, it took me about 7 hours to get it to run on Win 7, and due to my custom camera angles, it still bugs out about 20% of the time after I talk to an NPC... or during a boss fight. The camera jerks madly and I lose all keyboard commands other than Esc... not pleasant. -_- My semi-working workaround is to zoom in to max on the npc before talking to them - but that doesn't quite work for boss fights.

 

Luckily (or unluckily), as a DW seraphim, not a single fight in silver was challenging enough for that to matter. -_- Makes me a bit sad in a way - I found dragons exciting in S1. Of course, I would aim to try to kill them in under 30 seconds, but... that was because TBH, I was slightly afraid of them. (Which is good!) I wanted to kill them as fast as I could because I knew they could kill me. As opposed to Sacred 2 and my seraphim going well. I'll just stand here and pelt and pot until he dies. Whoever he is! All of him! =/ Someone tell me Sacred 2 improves with regards to boss killing being interesting as the difficulty level ramps up?

[claudius 104]

I like sacred 2 and sacred 1. Your posting almost makes me want to install S1 but I am trying to level up high in Sacred 2 and only so much time. Usually I like games even ones that other people criticize harshly like Oblivion, Dungeon Lords, Two Worlds etc...

 

 

I did get frustrated in S1 when I got lost like Anti says. But otherwise I thought they were both fun games. I am a much better understanding of how to build Sacred 2 characters. In sacred 1 I was afraid to make my own ideas. I just played published power builds.

[locolagarto 15]

Hullo!

 

 

7) LAG on spacebar healing and switching combat arts.

Don't really think this needs explanation but... -_- I like being able to switch combat arts fast. I prefer instant switch combat arts (s1, bindable to function keys as well) rather than some laggy crap.

 

the lag you might be seeing has to do with casting speed. the hero can only cast 1 thing at a time. (duration of effect can overlap). this is built into the game and casting speed plays a huge part in how fast you can change Combat Art and fire. on Melee Aspects the casting speed comes from a weapon lore. on Spell aspects in comes from the aspect lore. so its not about how fast you switch buttons, but how fast you have built your character to cast.

 

as for the health lag.... bugs me when I need one bad and the hero is in the middle of a Combat Art.

[Antitrust 32]

the lag you might be seeing has to do with casting speed. the hero can only cast 1 thing at a time.

Nah, what he means is the game's responsiveness, which sucks big time.

[nugget 0]

the lag you might be seeing has to do with casting speed. the hero can only cast 1 thing at a time.

Nah, what he means is the game's responsiveness, which sucks big time.

 

I think I might mean both... because in the end that translates to lack of responsiveness dunnit? XD I don't know what's causing it, I just know it's there!

 

Though FWIW I don't think it's the casting speed, because it happens even on 'instant' cast things like dashing alacrity.

 

^_^ I have gone back to playing S1 instead, now that I have finished the storyline I couldn't even keep track of in Sacred 2.

 

I think part of what I was missing, other than what I listed above, is that S1 feels much more tactical/strategic to me, for some reason. And responsive. YAY MAI SPACEBAR WURKS AT WUNCE AND SO DO MAI SWITCHES.

[colif 36]

So casting speed would help a Shadow Warrior after all, I probably knew it did before but I have forgotten stuff.

 

It could be casting as if there is just 1 channel to cast things through, and you have just pressed a long caste spell before the instant cast, it still has to wait for the previous spell to finish. If it was dual channel, then you could heal and fire at same time. But they all use the same timer.

 

I felt same way when I learned that there were no house sized spiders, my 1st run through was full of anticipation of wondering what they would look like now. Alas, they haven't evolved yet since Sacred 2 is set before S1, so best we get are spitting spiders and Giant Scorpions, which can be just as hard to deal with. No slugs that zoom along surface and stun you, so I don't mind that much.

 

There are more bosses in Sacred 2 and they just aren't all dragons. The difficulty of game after Ice and Blood was released is much better now, Silver can actually be challenging at some points, I have started a new character in last 2 weeks and I can tell the difference. Resistances start to actually count once you hit the swamp now.

[nugget 0]

There are more bosses in Sacred 2 and they just aren't all dragons. The difficulty of game after Ice and Blood was released is much better now, Silver can actually be challenging at some points, I have started a new character in last 2 weeks and I can tell the difference. Resistances start to actually count once you hit the swamp now.

 

Oo ok, good to know about the difficulty. TBH, I finished it on silver and didn't find anything difficult - but it could be my seraphim's build also.

 

Maybe on gold things will matter...

 

^_^ There should be some kind of easter egg to show how tinyspiders evolved into !

[colif 36]

If they ever make S3, it would be nice to have the spiders that were car sized (or they could be bigger and the big ones were just extinct by time of S1), as it would make sense to have S3 between 1 & 2.. who cares about chronological order.

[nugget 0]

Or they could be BIGGER THAN DRAGONS! Then when you keel dem, dey break apart into LOTS of tiny spiders that you also have to keel and and and and...

 

*deep breaths*

 

The thing is, IRL I LOATHE spiders. I hate dem wif their horrid legs and and and.. oog. >.> *madgiggles*

[Spunky 16]

Ah yes, the huge spiders in S1 where great, remember when I was playing in the desert and the Sakkara Priests did resurrect them after you had killed them, great place for loot & XP.

[Timotheus 416]

In short, my answer is "Yes"

 

I have tried to like Sacred 2, but let's be honest, having to try says it all. I don't like the game, it feels unresponsive, slow paced and I find it lacking in the "fun factors".

So yeah, I liked S1 better, and I doubt I'll like S3. S3 will probably be a mainstream title, and IMO, Sacred was never about being mainstream.

[nugget 0]

^_^ Thanks everyone for convincing me that while there may be some things I have not considered (such as increasing casting speed to try to get more responsiveness from the gurgleargh that are my Combat Arts atm in Sacred 2), that I am not some strange delusional weirdo. Just a weirdo!

 

>.< Cause I kept saying to myself - why do I not love this game? It's so beautiful... but no lurve, no hearts going pitter-pat, no staying up all night and going, 'Eek the birds are tweeting!'

 

I would definitely still like to know if there are more 'look nugeet, it gets bettah here' gems in Sacred 2, though. So if y'all are feeling generous wif gems, I would certainly poke at Sacred 2 to try to find dem!

[junkcollector 21]

One of the best things (to me) about Sacred 2 is that you can use the WASD keys to move your character. But I really loved the Wood Elf from Sacred 1; the Dryad just doesn't work for me...

[nugget 0]

One of the best things (to me) about Sacred 2 is that you can use the WASD keys to move your character. But I really loved the Wood Elf from Sacred 1; the Dryad just doesn't work for me...

 

Ooh dat's true. I do like the WASD. Now if only I could turn OFF click-to-move in Sacred 2...

 

As for the chars not matching up, ya well. =/

[junkcollector 21]

...Now if only I could turn OFF click-to-move in Sacred 2...

 

That would be awesome...