Rating: 
Summary: Superb RTS,even for those who don't know what RTS stands for
Review: Real Time Strategy (RTS) games do not often appeal to the action genre we have today with games like Quake III and Unreal Tournament. Sacrifice, however is an excellent blend of action and strategy that can easily appeal to these audiences. This game is similar to Warcraft for action, going to battles only after you know you have outnumbered and outpowered the enemy, but without the resource management required such as gold or supplies. This game's main points focus on organizing your units and attacking at the right place and time, while protecting your territory. Here's the basic story to Sacrifice: You are a wizard that tries to please 5 gods by doing tasks for them, only to realize that the gods constantly argue and you are eventually forced to choose one god or god alliences. The storyline is excellent as it is non-linear and new events unfold with every mission. Each of the 5 gods have 9 missions but it is only possible play all 45 missions by playing the game again and taking different paths with the gods, offering excellent replay value for this game. The worlds are gorgeous, having varied terrains with hills from lush green areas to barren wastelands. The level editor provides real-time level editing that shows you exactly what the level looks like while you're designing it. The only problem with this game is the camera angles. Sacrifice has a third-person perspective and at times you need to cast spells on your wizard, but your army always seems to be in the way and selecting the wizard is rather difficult at times. The camere angle is adjustable, but it takes some getting used to. In conclusion, Sacrifice is a unique game offering good amounts of both action and simulation. The game provides great playibility, excellent graphics, good sound, and most of all it is great fun, even for those like me who get bored easily by strategy games.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely entertaining RTS game
Review: This is the best 3D RTS game I have ever played. Spectacular graphics and sound effects even two years after it was released. As a wizard you control your creatures across vast landscapes of magical 3D worlds to battle with other wizards. You earn access to spells and creatures along the way depending on which god you serve in a particular world. Each creature possesses special traits and powers. Trying different offensive and defensive strategies is what makes the game so much fun. I recommend fast hardware if you are like me and want ALL the detail settings at "insane", like a P4 Northwood and a DirectX 8.1, 64/128MB video card. Ever thought you could be pulled up in a tornado and still live to win the fight? In Sacrifice you can. If anyone at Shiny is reading....Sacrifice 2!
Rating:
Summary: Worthy of a "Wizard Without a Home's" Time
Review: I've never played a game so original as Sacrifice. It cannot blow any other games away simply because it is in its own category. We'll call it a Real Time Third Person. In the game, you are Eldred, a wizard lord that has wondered about the planes looking for a world to inhabit (since he unintentionally destroyed his last one). With him is his imp familiar and guide, Zyzyx. He comes upon this world with five bickering gods, each with completly different takes on the world. You, as the player, chose to follow one, or occasionally serve the interests of a couple, of them. You march into war with the 3rd person perspective, spells, and souls. Souls are used to summon troops and spells can do just about anything else. The gameplay of this game is virtually flawless. It gets increasingly hard as you progress, but nothing becomes unbeatable. Patience is important in this game of games though, it takes time and strategy to get places. Beyond the gameplay is the intigueing story, twisted and delightful characters, and passable graphics even now (this was a 2000 release). A great game to get, especially for the price it has dropped to. If you are a gamer, play it for fun, if you are an artist, study the characters and be inspired, if you are a writer, listen to the story and be intrigued. I did all three.
Rating:
Summary: Sacrifice - Who needs to sleep anyway?
Review: This game has it all - visually stunning graphics, simple, well thought out interface, a sense of humour, and great game play. I picked this game up two days ago and have been playing ever since. If you are familiar with RTS, and in particular 3D RTS games like Battlezone, then you will feel right at home. The units are generated through summoning spells which are provided to you through a God that you are serving. Each of the Gods provide some form of melee and ranged, air and ground units to summon. Summoning units and casting any other spells in your repetoire requires mana. Mana structures need to be found, generated and gaurded so that a ready supply is available for casting - slow down on mana recovery and you will quickly find yourself without any units to do your bidding. Units are controlled much like other RTS games. Group your units, assign them a group number, command them to gaurd, attack, etc., and hold onto your err... hat. Enemy wizards attack fast so there is no time to slowly build up your forces. One final thing - did I mention that this game has the most awe inspiring graphics imaginable?
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT GAME!! AN RTS THATS FAST AND FASCINATING!
Review: FIRST OFF, MY KEYBOARD'S SCREWED SO PLEASE FORGIVE THE CAPS... I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOME PEOPLE CAN BECOME FRUSTRATED AND PAN THE GAME. SACRIFICE CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT, AND ITS NOT FUN TO GET STUCK IN A GAME BECAUSE YOU CAN'T WIN. LUCKILY, WITH SACRIFICE, ONE CAN COMPLETELY TURN THE TABLES BY LEARNING THE CORE MECHANICS AND STRATEGIES, SUCH AS DESIGNING HOTKEYS, FREEZING PLAY TO ISSUE ORDERS, AND PATIENCE. ONCE THIS IS DONE SACRIFICE REVEALS ITSELF AS A STAR. A VISUALLY STUNNING RTS, THAT DISPENSES WITH THE PART OF RTS GAMES THAT HAS OFTEN PUT ME TO SLEEP: LOONNNGG, SSSLLOOWWW BUILDUPS LEADING TO APERSONAL CONFLICTS, WHICH LEAD ME TO WONDER IF I HAVE ENOUGH TIME IN MY HECTIC LIFE TO WASTE ON THESE GAMES. SACRIFICE PROVIDES AN RTS WITH SEEMINGLY PARADOXICAL VIRTUES: ACTION ORIENTED GAME-PLAY, YET WITH COMPLEX AND FASCINATING SPELLS, UNITS, AND SECNARIOS. IT DOES HAVE SOMETHING OF A LINEAR PLOT, YET BY CHOOSING YOUR PATRON GOD IN EACH LEVEL, YOU ARE ABLE TO COMPLTELY ALTER YOUR POSITION IN THE PLOT THROUGHOUT THE GAME. FINALLY ALL THIS IS OFFERED WITH SUCH AWESOME GRAPHICS AND SOUND AS TO PUT OTHER RTS GMES TO SHAME. SACRIFICE IS NOT PERFECT. IT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT (THERE IS ONE MISSION I STILL CAN NOT WIN) BUT ONCE YOU LEARN THE CORE STRATEGIES, IT OPENS UP THE MOST EXCITING, BEAUIFUL AND VERSATILE RTS I'VE EVER PLAYED. IT EVEN HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS REPLAY AS EACH GAME CONSISTS OF ONLY 9 OUT OF THE 45 AVAILABLE MISSIONS (5 GODS * 9 LEVELS = 45 MISSIONS). FOR ALL I HAVE HEARD OF REPLAY, I HAVE NEVER ACTUALLT REPLAYED A GAME ONCE I'VE FINISHED, EVEN MY FAVORITES. WITH SACRIFICE, I JUST REACHED LEVEL 9 OF MY FIRST GAME AND I'M ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO MY SECOND. FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT DESPITE ALL MY PRAISE, THERE ARE MANY OTHER PC GAMES I HAVE ENJOYED MORE (DEUS EX, FINAL FANTASY, UNDYING...). MY POINT IS, I PRAISE SACRIFICE NOT OUT OF FAVOROITISM, BUT OUT OF TRUE ADMIRATION AND RESPECT. FAST, BEATUIFUL, GROUNDBREAKING...THAT'S SACRIFICE. THANX FOR YOUR TIME- BTC
Rating:
Summary: Throw away Diablo II... Sacrifice is in town
Review: I am a member of the press, and when I got my copy of Sacrifice for review, I have been playing it non-stop. It's been hard to take time to write the review! The game has: (1) The most amazing engine I have seen on the PC. (I think Intel wrote some of it) (2) The most amazing graphics I have seen. (I have an Nvidia card) (3) It's a full scale Epic RPG action strategy game (My favorite genre) (4) It has fantastic net-code... I have been playing other editors on Gamespy and the gameplay has been flawless (5) There is a level editor... It looks cool, but I have not had time to try it out yet Yes I am gushing, but only because I have been hoping the RPG game developers would finally make the break from 2D to 3D... So until Warcraft III comes out next year, Sacrifice is my No #1 pick for Christmas. - Mike Lois
Rating:
Summary: Shiny Does it Again, Brilliant!
Review: Gorgeous, Great Voice acting, well developed character, Awesome music.... Shiny has just developed an instant classic. You play a wizard who fled his homeland by travelling across the 'Astral Void' to a beautiful but mysterious realm which is the home of 5 gods: Persephone: goddess of Life. James: god of Earth. Stratos: god of the Air. Pyro: god of Fire. Charnel: god of strife and death. Finally a game that has a non-linear single player campaign. During the course of the game, you can listen to each god explain their predicament and offer assistance, in turn they grant you special creatures and/or spells to assist you in meeting the objective. The campaign also offers moral choices during regular play that can have a significant impact on the story! You may want to set up a library of save positions. The story is remarkably intertwined if you make more characters and play the other gods, you get to be part of the developments that the other gods spoke about in passing. The graphics are as dazzling as Shiny's MDK. You feel that you are a part of the experience and not just punching build icons as in other RTS games. Shiny went to the market and recruited some great voice acting as well as hiring a professional music studio to score the game. Each realm has it's own distincitive music. Beware though, the musical themes are quite catchy and you might catch yourself humming them. Another boon is that this RTS game bypasses the base building / researching / upgrading / tech tree icon smacking building slapping that dominates most of your time in the classic RTS arena. The action moves fast, very fast. Games can finish in mere minutes if your opponent(s) catch you off guard! This game is not without drawbacks [mostly because it's just plain tough!]. This is a borderline twitch game. You need to be able to work the controls fast and have a lightning wit in order to survive the most heated of battles. I strongly suggest selecting missions from only one god during the campaign so you can learn how that god's creatures and spells work. The same tactics you employ with one god may fail miserably if you chose to employ yourself with another god! If you frustrate easily when you lose, you might want to purchse this game with caution (or watch your superstar gaming friends get vanquished first). If you love a challenging, rich, immersive RTS gaming experience then this is the right game for you.
Rating:
Summary: soo good--i hate it
Review: This game is too addicting that I've lost sleep and actually played multiplayer over the internet! I don't play games very often. I did play Baldur's Gate and thought it was good but kind of boring sometimes. I read a review that said Sacrifice was more for hardcore gamers and maybe on the complicated side. But it was pretty easy with the extensive (but easy and fun) tutorials it comes with. The best part of the game is the help that Shiny gives. They've already put out three patches to add settings and improve on the game that didn't need to be improved in the first place! But it makes it better. Obviously, don't buy the game if you don't have the minimum requirements but if you do, you're in for a treat (as well as loss of sleep which I hate). It has great replay value because the single player has a campaign that has ~45 different endings depending on the choices you make, most importantly which one of the 5 gods you choose to support. You're a wizard that barely escaped your destroyed planet and get to choose which god to work with in this world. By the way, the voice acting is superb--one of the more powerful creatures of death you can summon creeps me out when he says things like "I HUNGER" --chills!, especially when you're playing way past your bedtime and it's cold and dark at 2 in the morning. They even got Tim Curry for one of the voices and the animation is awesome giving the gods very distinct personalities! The gods have different powers one is the goddess of life, the other is of earth, wind/lightning, fire, and death--and each have different creatures and spells. For example, if you choose the goddess of life, you get spells like "ethereal form" where you can temporarily become invulnerable or if you choose the god of earth my favorite is "halo of earth" where huge boulders tear out of the ground around you and spin around you and when you get near an enemy one (or some or all--depending on if it's still alive) go shooting off to bash and pummel it. Also, you get the ability to summon creatures that serve that god (like the druid for life goddess, storm giant for lightning/wind god). And some of these creatures have powers of their own that you need to put to good use; the druid can create a body shield that makes it less vulnerable to attacks, storm giant can call down chain lightning, etc. You choose a god for each level so if you keep picking the goddess of life she'll give you stronger spells and creatures that you can summon but at each level you have the opportunity to choose another god who'll give you the ability to use different kinds of spells and creatures. Careful though 'cause this may piss the other gods off and they'll refuse your help. This way, you have the opportunity to tailor your spells (picking the best from all 5 gods that fit your fighting style) and the creatures you can summon and also discover all the storylines. And that's not even scratching the surface of the game! Multiplayer is great too. You can choose to just play on your own against computer opponents or log on to the internet and play real people anywhere in the world! It also has a LAN connection that I haven't used. The graphics and gameplay are incredible but I didn't feel any difference in the game over the modem than just on my own computer. You can also design your own maps and play them or upload onto the internet to let others try or play with them or download theirs. Extremely fun. Maybe too much.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Ok, first of all I gave Sacrifice only 4 stars because the multiplayer portion really is not worth it at the time of this writing. Maybe after they get patch 3 up and running it will be worth a second look. With that aside I have to say this is one of the best games I have played...ever. I will not bore you with details about the plot or characters, you can read other reviews for that. I will just give you a run down on playability, system specs, graphics, etc. I am using an Athlon 850/256megs ram/and a Voodoo 5500 AGP. With this machine the game plays very smoothly and graphics are some of the best I have seen so far. As far as playing on lower end machines, I would have to say you probably would not have as many problems as you may think. You can always "tweak" settings to your system. I would stay with a Pentium 2,3,4, or Athlon only. The speed probably would not be as big a factor as your graphic card. The game play kind of like Battlezone. You are in 3rd person view and can control you players and participate in battles. There are some resource management in the form of "souls". The more souls you get(from battling opponents), the more troops you can build. This is a very easy to master setup. The learning curve is not steep at all. The 3 tutorial games are first rate and bring you up to speed slowly. If you like strategy games with great graphics and the ability to go anywhere on the massive game maps, this is for you. Oh by the way, there is a good bit of exploring to do on the huge maps. There are no load times, once a map loads that is it.
Rating: 
Summary: Sac
Review: The gameplay is great. Though the graphics my be outdated now, the plot of the game is very entertaining.
Playing the game online could be fun but the online players are emotional wrecks.
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