Impressions on Sacred 3

[grimwold 28]

Hi I just wanted to know what are your impressions on sacred 3 here on dark matters. I have been on the steam forum to get a fair biased review and well, it become quite a hostile place . I didn't realize sacred had so many fans.

So has anyone picked it up? What are your impressions so far? And what is in it for me. A cheap old loot addict? The biggest point people are making about the game is also the price. Many people are saying at best its a 15.00 title with little content or quality. Thank you ahead.

[Metraton 8]

Well, if you consider ARPG to be "cheap old loot addict", then probably I should recommend you to buy the game, support the developers in one of the biggest crimes in the history of gaming and later weep over your money.

I won't criticize the gameplay, because I haven't tried it. I've quit and uninstalled during the tutorial. You can find gameplay reviews from the so-called "open-minded" gamers.
If I play the game, I want to be immersed in it. And while it's true that, despite all the greatnesses of Sacred 2 - it ended up "a game with everything, except for soul" - at least Sacred 2 had "everything". Sacred 3 has... nothing? Like, literally.
As one good member of this forum has said somewhere in this section - if the game offers no customization, no insight, no thought and planning - it's not worth being played. And I wholly agree. Sacred 3 has no stats, no loot, no skill customization. The only thing I've heard about it - are some weapon spirits. Probably something like weapon proc effect or something, with added puns as you play.

I've first started to feel disgust towards the game from the trailers. I hate swagging. This is literally the opposite of immersion, the opposite of RPG. Sacred 3's swagging can only be rivaled by Wildstar. But if only it was about swag...
The characters are so low - I'd say S1 succubus(or whatever she was) is a charmer.
Safiri warrior, and his description, literally begs to call him the N word. And not just for racist. I think even the most prudent and polite person would think of nothing else, but this word, after looking at the character and reading his history.
Almost the same about Khukri. Take asian person, label him as mongolian archer, put him as some cult mega-hero of ancient poems. Voila, you've got yourself a "fictional" character...
Ancarian "lady" is the baby of Windrunner and Xena. And I don't want to think how this baby came to be... But I am certain it had something to do with Disney Princess castle nursery...
Seraphim... are no longer sacred angelic beings. German(or correct me there) fantasy of Ascaron may have created stipping angels with something I can't say in english that passes for "belt". But at least it delivered, so long as the age rating was correct. Deep Silver's vision of Seraphim - is a spandex paladin with punk(or whatever it's called) hair. What's worse, they've publicly confirmed that seraphims have orgies as their normal activity.
Malakhim probably came to be as a character with no history, reason or goal. "Hey, let's impersonate a griefer, who'd grief on NPCs, instead of players? -Yeah, great idea, let's make him cool, opposite of Seraphim. That'd widen the target audience."

The intro, the comments during tutorial - it's just... I don't know. If you have bad taste in humor or are high/drugged - perhaps the game would deliver. I play to feel RPG, not to constantly have the 4th wall of my sanity cringe and twitch.

I have no idea how ANY kind of Sacred fan would play "Unsacred 3". Just... no idea. I mean, even if somehow the gameplay CAN be considered "fair", as far as slashers go(and I don't play that genre), the TITLE, the characters... It just won't let you play it as you would've wanted to.

I don't want to put my tinfoil hat on, but I think this game is a design by Deep Silver to bury the franchise. Cheap to make, easy to sell for the fanclub. No loss, no title. Because otherwise I see no reason for this game, or for this gameplay+title to exist. It just doesn't correlate. Hurts the brain.


So good luck with your choice, I hope it won't be difficult...

Edited August 1, 2014 by Metraton

[S-P 6]

Well I was one of the ones that preordered it. Well it certainly is not a sacred game, more like a hacknslash game. There are no drops other than gold (which you can't actually use) as far as can see. There also gold/green globes that drop which replenish your health and energy bars. I've only played an hour and I'm struggling to stay interested in the game. I want to at least complete the game so I can at least get my moneys worth. Oh, almost forgot you get a new weapon when you beat the end level boss.

 

So If you haven't got it I would probably suggest you don't bother as the only thing that is Sacred is in the name, and the Seraphim.

[podgie_bear 184]

So If you haven't got it I would probably suggest you don't bother as the only thing that is Sacred is in the name, and the Seraphim.

Did anybody really expect any other after all we have seen?

[Silver_fox 397]

So If you haven't got it I would probably suggest you don't bother as the only thing that is Sacred is in the name, and the Seraphim.

From what I've seen in "let's play" videos and first reviews, it does not have even that much. The title remains, but the Seraphim is not what she used to be. The previous installments didn't picture her as a generic spandex-wearing superheroine that would be more at home at Marvel or DC Universes than in Ancaria. Nor did they limit her to using simple boring sword swings for the entirety of the game.

 

Surprising as it is, I think that DarkMatters is a wrong place to ask for first impressions about S3. People here are all ARPG fans, and after hearing the first news about the upcoming S3, we all became skeptical at best, disheartened at worst. I don't think many people of this community considered a day one purchase or a pre-order - we all were waiting for gameplay videos and reviews.

 

I told it before that I personally won't buy this game because its genre switched to something I don't normally play, but I still tried not to voice major disappointment for as long as there were not enough information to judge the game by. Now, however, we have some info on our hands... There are three "let's play" videos here in another topic. I admit that I felt bored after watching even one of them to the end. Only 15 minutes, about 5 of which is an opening trailer, and I felt that I've seen all the game has to offer during the other 10. 3 types of monsters, 4 types of attacks, the same boring trap and shield disabling actions. Repeat. Judging by reviews, it does not get better with levelling up or campaign progress, because the only thing you gain with levels is that you start to overpower the enemies and difficulty goes down, making repetitive action boringly simple.

 

And the humor... the first two games did not take themselves too seriously, but they did not shove an awkward attempt at humor in your face during every dialog, at the rate of one joke every half-a-minute of gameplay. Maybe the humor of the first two games was not always smart and well-thought, but it wasn't that trite and vulgar, and the fact that it appeared mostly in characters' idle states, side quests, and other secondary things made discovering the jokes and Easter Eggs into pleasant experience. But S3... I'm starting to understand why some of the previewers mentioned the necessity of beer and friends - I'm not sure that this game's style and humor would be to the liking of a sober person who just wants to spend an evening with his computer.

 

One more thing that has to be said as a warning: this game was originally meant to be played in multiplayer team, or at least with AI companions. Later the devs removed AI followers, but did nothing to redesign certain levels of the game that are just not fun solo. Quoting one of the reviews:

Often, you have to stay rooted in one place while performing mundane busywork, like spinning a wheel or charging up a magic shrine while mobs of monsters attack at you. That's not fun either for the solo player or the co-op participant who ends up on wheel-spinning duty.

Just imaging plying this alone with nobody to watch your back...

 

For those who still doubt, I thought I'll leave "No Commentary" gameplay videos here, just to let the game speak for itself.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhyHpTN8TMg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8QvHDit2sU

[grimwold 28]

Thank you all. And thank you metraton you have cleared a lot of things up for me. Its a very very sad day. I loved sacred 1 and 2. Its such a shame. Maybe its time few minutes of silence to reflect on this terrible day.

I agree silver fox its not the type of game I normally play. I am all about the stats and loot.

Edited August 1, 2014 by grimwold

[Dobster 39]

Here is the first review with a 30 minute video

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/08/01/sacred-3-review/

[SX255 630]

One mad dwarf as weapon spirit, no TGs or ANYTHING from Sacred 2.

The map is Sacred 1 vanilla without any parts of Underworld

The villains are as generic as they come

Nothing else to say...

RIP S3, and stay dead. I'll just stay here on guard with my shovel ready for DLC resurrections.

[Metraton 8]

Я конечно извиняюсь, но называть серию Sacred как RPG это... вы серьезно? И какую же роль я отыгрывал все эти годы? Наверное роль хомячка, который из-за корявой защиты игры лишился лицензии.

I would assume that you understood what I said, and despite both of us being russian, I will retain courtesy to the forum to keep it English.

Sacred is ARPG, but still RPG. The intro of Sacred 2 may not have been overly explanatory, but at least it was... well, epic. To this day. Not to mention that it has shown characters and even a boss. It gave you an idea of what you are going to be.

The intro of S3 can hardly be called a trailer. Just some merged slideshow with narration done by such despicable voice that I don't even want to know why. It has raised more questions than given answers(why is Aria so sexist? Where is the underground punk barbershop that makes all the hairstyles? How many gods have Telari got laid if she has so many dinners planned? What the hell happened in the world without the perspective of an indie game?), has not shown any performance or introduced you to the game and basically jumped to the ragged exchange at that table, where you are told that... Yeah, you are Jean Grey'ed into the battle. And in the battle, there is nothing to help you start, but the crack-lines of Aria and extremely plain mechanics.

That is not RPG.

 

When I hear why I am called, what do I look like, where do I appear, who meets me, who do I fight, when I can see that first generic quest that asks me to punish big bad tutle egg stealer(or whatever it was called) - that is RPG. It may not be highest sort of RPG, but it is still somewhat immersive.

 

Edited August 1, 2014 by Metraton

[grimwold 28]

Yea there was a lot of text to read in sacred 2. And it did feel like a rpg. Not as immersive as a fully voiced rpg,but still a very good rpg. Often there was two much text. Overall though I loved the rpg aspects of sacred 2 . My favorite quest was the one featuring the aliens. A great little surprise.

[Thorin Oakshield 260]

DreD linked at my FB-page to a review of Rock, Paper, Shotgun, in which S3 got reviewed as "This game is properly, unambiguously rubbish".

 

Need to say more?

 

Thorin

[SX255 630]

Both old games ware progressive, simple, big and flexible. They let you do what you wanted to do, and encouraged you to go out and do it. They had a year of lore each, and lots of mysteries. I still am left to guess if there is a huge derelict space station orbiting Ancaria or not.

 

S3 is not only generic as they come, but it is also short. It skipped through about 2-3 hours of gameplay footage that looked exactly the same and that was about half of the game right there.

Edited August 1, 2014 by SX255

[SX255 630]

The only thing S3 leaves me wanting to get the game is the ever long question:

Can you dodgeroll through the whole game or not?

[Flix 5,095]

Hi I just wanted to know what are your impressions on sacred 3 here on dark matters.

 

Not really interested enough to even talk about the game or have an opinion.

[Little Faith 24]

I am convinced that Sacred 3's biggest problem is that it's called Sacred 3.

 

I mean, what probably happened was that Keen Games was developing what is probably their most ambitious project to date, an entirely new ARPG with a heavy emphasis on the "A"-part as well as co-op multiplayer. Then Deep Silver acquires the Sacred franchise and goes: "Hey, one of our studios is already developing an ARPG. If we get them to shoehorn in a Seraphim somehow we have that franchise sorted."

Then Keen Games new game get to have the Sacred brand hanging like a millstone around it's neck, while the Sacred fandom go "What the hell happened to our game?"

Typical suit logic at work here. I actually feel more sorry for Keen Games than I do for us. Well, I'm still bummed that Ascaron wen't bust, but that's a slightly different issue.

[Knuckles 904]

Looks like Grim Dawn and Unbended for me....I couldn't even get through more than 15 minutes of one of the 'Let's Play' videos....the dialog was simply horrible IMHO and the attempts at humor were lame and uninspired. Sacred had some very understated, witty and subtle humor....this seems more like grade school humor to me...not gonna bash gameplay itself as I have not played it and will not play it...just not my type of game

[Ysne58 236]

Like a said in another thread. I don't even want to try. It makes me want to cry.

I am still playing sacred 2.

[Metraton 8]

I am convinced that Sacred 3's biggest problem is that it's called Sacred 3.

 

I mean, what probably happened was that Keen Games was developing what is probably their most ambitious project to date, an entirely new ARPG with a heavy emphasis on the "A"-part as well as co-op multiplayer. Then Deep Silver acquires the Sacred franchise and goes: "Hey, one of our studios is already developing an ARPG. If we get them to shoehorn in a Seraphim somehow we have that franchise sorted."

Then Keen Games new game get to have the Sacred brand hanging like a millstone around it's neck, while the Sacred fandom go "What the hell happened to our game?"

Typical suit logic at work here. I actually feel more sorry for Keen Games than I do for us. Well, I'm still bummed that Ascaron wen't bust, but that's a slightly different issue.

True, but as RockPaperShotgun review shows - it's not at all just title.

 

Of course, first of all the title is the fanrobber and hopekiller. A total ransack of the franchise. I doubt it was so peaceful, though. If an average gamer can play Sacred 2 and visit this forum, how can an industry worker, who develops an apparent sequel - not know ANYTHING about the game or fans? They were either FORCED to make this design... or these Keen games should go to mental asylum for life.

 

Then there is the bad humor. Even for a fancy-pants game, like BL2 or Wildstar, this is overkill. So while it could possibly deliver to an uninitiated gamer, any reasonable person would spit on the game, regardless of the title.

 

And finally - gameplay. It's not even that spectacular. I thought Diablo 3 is a total dumbdown, but this slasher is not even trying. It has nothing in it that could be called unique.

 

 

So if it was called "Inconceivable quest for belligerent epicness", it may have passed for 5/10 title among it's niche group of fans. Because it was be quirky, slashy and... well... nameless.

But with title comes responsibility. Not just for fans - for the franchise. You can't make Call of Duty 100500 - a turn-based strategy. Or Civilization 6 - a shooter. Maybe not the best comparison, but the difference between products is about the size of that.

The current released title is a terrible game which likely won't even find it's fan niche. Like I said - I don't know what have they had in mind for this game, but it's either sinister or clinically imbecile.

Edited August 2, 2014 by Metraton

[Little Faith 24]

I'll rephrase: This is suit logic at work.

 

You are thinking as a gamer/fan/developer, not a marketroid/moneyman.

 

Think of it from the suits at Deep Silver's viewpoint:

 

1. You just acquired the Sacred franchise. If you don't do something with it soonish chances are that people are going to forget/lose interest. I'm not talking about us who hang around on a Sacred fansite, I'm talking about the general gaming audience here. Sacred were never a huge "household brand". If they just sit on it for years chances are the brand recognition has all but disappeared (save for for a few fansites like this one), and then the franchise is not worth the acquisition, even if it was gotten cheap at a "fire sale".

 

2. Assembling an entirely new team to make a Sacred game costs money and represents a rather big risk. Again the Sacred brand might have some brand recognition and fan loyalty behind it, but it's not a clear winner.

 

3. It just happens they have a team already working on an ARPG. Given time and money have already been spent on that project you might as well rebrand it and have it be the new Sacred sequel. Clear balance-sheet thinking here. Also having two ARPG's out at the same time might mean your products are competing with each other. Not something you want to happen as a publisher.

[S-P 6]

The only thing S3 leaves me wanting to get the game is the ever long question:

Can you dodgeroll through the whole game or not?

Yes, sort of. If you have an game pad then probably yes but if you are using a mouse like me it's difficult to implement, I spent most time rolling backwards. Dodging is one of two skills that you can have, two seems to be the max. Combat arts are also limited to two as well, you just choose new ones when they are unlocked (using gold).

[grimwold 28]

Thank you all . I might pick it up when its £5.00 with all the dlc. I will wait for unsacred.

[Metraton 8]

2. Assembling an entirely new team to make a Sacred game costs money and represents a rather big risk. Again the Sacred brand might have some brand recognition and fan loyalty behind it, but it's not a clear winner.

I absolutely agree, I don't deny this kind of mentality. It's just that it also falls under "sinister" category. Because stupid or greedy or opportunistic - they willingly branded a... completely different game... as Sacred. I don't know, what consequences they have thought of, but I believe it will end like I said a few posts above: "Cheap to make, easy to sell. No franchise, no problem." Then they can make whichever RPG they want.

Edited August 2, 2014 by Metraton

[SX255 630]

Well, the fan base told them 2 YEARS ago (when the first screenshots came out) that their direction for the game was very wrong. They didn't listen and now they will get exactly what they deserve.

[grimwold 28]

Its just all very sad. Very few games had the exploration elements of sacred. I loved finding the temple from dusk till dawn or the many other Easter eggs. Overall though talking about backlash sacred 3 has been totally wiped. Steam, meta critic user scores and many reviews call the game terrible and lazy. And all deep silver has done is bent over,smile and take it. Then again after what happened to rebirth I am not surprised they seem to like it.

[colif 36]

Having a Seraphim in your game and having the old classes as spirits does not make this a Sacred game. All the things they excluded are why its not a Sacred game. I wasn't expecting much but this is beyond my imagination. I am glad I didn't buy this, all the talk of Sacred has done is make me rebuy Sacred 2 gold and replay it again.

I read you can finish Sacred 3 in 10 hours and do all the quests, you can't even get out of region one in Sacred 2 (if you do all the side quests anyway) in that time.

People on Steam say its dumbed down for consoles. No, this is a mobile game, consoles can handle Diablo 3, they can handle more than 2 attacks at once, they can handle inventories too, and open world maps. This is an Android game.

I may appear new here but I have played Sacred 2 before. I actually registered here again to see your opinions on this game. Its nice to see all the old faces are still here