Sacred Gold

Ich habe damals als ich noch 6 jahre alt war mir Sacred und später Sacred 2 aus der Stadtbibliothek ausgeliehen und hunderte von Spielstunden darin verbracht. Es hat mit Age of Empires und Age of Mythology meine Kindheit geprägt und ich spiele 20 Jahre später immer noch leidenschaftlich ARPGS wie Path of Exile und Last Epoch. Meine Hoffnung ist das es irgendwann noch ein Remaster oder einen Neuen Teil von dieser Legendären Reihe gibt.

Sacred is so addictive to play. I have put 773 hours into it so far over a long period of time.

An obscure and surreal ARPG drawing heavy inspiration from the second Diablo

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Sacred is a truly strange game. Like may ARPGs at the time, its developers saw the success of Diablo 2 in the year 2000, and wanted a slice of it themselves while adding enough new to differentiate their product from Blizzard's bestseller. This is why I woudn't call Sacred a "cheap copy" of Diablo 2 but rather a game that based its foundation on its hellish inspiration only to then go its own way, for better or worse...

“The game apologizes for the fact that it was unable to place a monster here. The NPC job market is currently undergoing a crisis.”

Sacred exudes most of the same flaws I had with Diablo 2 - over-reliance on investing as much XP into few specific skills as opposed to using your whole arsenal, fixation on specific pieces of gear and too much RNG in combat. While I know most people did not mind these things, I found that it took away from the experience for me, which is why I was disappointed to see the same already outdated formula in Sacred. That being said, Sacred's developers added enough of their own new "complexities" to keep the system feeling fresh and, to an extent, innovative.

Long before we got horse riding in Diablo IV, Sacred has already been offering a robust animal companion system where each horse has many different statistics to take into account, all while offering an elementary but functional horseback combat. In addition, Sacred's skill system is probably one of the weirdest things I've ever engaged in - you've got the traditional diablo-like offering of about 15 skills where you are supposed to choose a few of the one you'll be using the most and ideally level them up. Funnily enough, you can't do that directly, as you rely on the skill upgrades randomly dropping from enemies or popping up in vendor's offerings. However, this is where another major difference from most other ARPGs comes in - Sacred's signature "combo" system. See, the game pushes you to learn this strange and seemingly complex technique of combining multiple skills together in a chain, which you will then assign to one single action bar slot and use as a single ability. You might initially think it pointless as all it does is just cast each skill in a sequence, but the big advantage here stems from the fact that you are not using mana or any equivalent resource to use skills - they all just have a cooldown. This means that combo skills can help you create better tactical opportunities as you spend less time on needless micro-management of different buffs and auras you are supposed to cast frequently. When it works, it works really well.

Another aspect of Sacred I can't praise enough (and one you will notice right away as you start the game) is its absolutely stunning graphic artstyle. I am not sure if I ever saw a more beautiful 2-D isometric game from that era before Sacred came along. The lush forests, rivers, tundras - everything is an absolutely old-school eye-candy and it's this department where the game comes on top over most of the competition of the time. Unfortunately, same care does not extend to character models, which look like cheap models from games 10 years older. Effects and animations could also have been better and more engaging, but it's far from a deal breaker.

Finally, let's get to the meat and potatoes - gameplay itself. I've already discussed skills, but what about the moment-to-moment ARPG hacking and slashing? Well, it's fine. Just fine. Nothing world-shattering but also nothing offensively boring. It just get's old fairly fast, which is an issue I have noticed with plenty of APRGs I wasn't able to finish due to the sheer repetitiveness. That being said, each class feels substantially different in their skills and approaches so if instead of just slugging through the game with one single character you'd prefer experiment with different builds, you'd find that it's much more fun.

I can certainly see why Sacred has gone mostly unnoticed in a grand scheme of ARPGs. It does not do anything too wrong or too right. It took the safe, middle-of-the road approach with some nigh ingenious aspects, becoming one of those niche titles that few people know but those who do swear by it. All I am going to say by the way of recommendation is: don't expect miracles and you'll enjoy yourself.

Positives & Negatives

[table]
[tr]
[th] Positives [/th]
[th] Negatives [/th]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]+ Jaw-dropping old-school visual and graphic style - very few games fit the very definition of "picturesque", which also extends to many UI elements like the world map[/td]
[td]- Suffers from the typical "ARPG affliction" - it gets too repetitive, too fast[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]+ Decent offering of classes, each of which feels tangibly distinct[/td]
[td]- Sacred's story is too generic and forgettable, which isn't helped by the by-the-numbers quest structure and design[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]+ Impactful and fun-to-use skills[/td]
[td]- Sluggish combat that only gets decent after you acquire enough class skills[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]+ Innovative combo system[/td]
[td]- Cheap and uninteresting voice-acting[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]+ Subtle but well-made soundtrack[/td]
[td][/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]+ Very detaile character customizations - you can really pick and choose the specific combinations of proficiences you want focus on[/td]
[td][/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

An excellent classic Diablo-like, unfortunately hampered by technical difficulties on many modern systems that makes it unplayable - freezes during the initial loading screen during "fonts" or fails to load the intro videos.

Discussion forum fixes do not always work and the game remains unplayable.

Short review after finishing game on silver difficulty playing seraphim, exploring almost every pixel possible: A long, fun, buggy oldschool adventure worthy of songs.

Pros:
- A giant (and i mean MASSIVE) world to explore with great enviroments, towns, caves, dungeons and other fantastical places
- Average main story with good amount of sidequests and easter eggs
One of the best class systems, classes are unique (seraphim, demoness, vampire etc.) and each class has different playstyles (full melee, hybrid, mage, ranged, riding combat which changes playstyle)
- You upgrade skills by finding gems from quests or monster drops and you can also create your own combos with skills
- Great sound effects and music, highlight being the exploration music in areas
- Good amount of different monsters and bosses
- Great loot and set systems with an interesting mechanic where you can slot amulates and rings inside your gear

Cons:
- Very buggy game, random crashes, frezzes, some doors you can only open when you scan every pixel as you need to press at the exact pixel. Some of sidequests are bugged if you visit a place before you have the quest it can lock you out of the quest
- Bad distribution of monsters, some areas have barely any and some way to much, that holds true for the expansion where the monster rates are absurd and they are bulky, many monsters also have spells to hold you in place so you cant just run past them most of the time. As a melee character flying monsters are really hard to target
- Sidequest become repetative, also exploring the vast world isnt very rewarding for the time you spent

Great game and a relic of its past, If you are an rpg enjoyer and have some patience i can recommend this game.

Old but Sacred Gold

The Best Buttocks are Ever - Sacred is Forever
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Belle view
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Лучшие ягодицы у Серафимы-сестрицы

It's a dated game from 2004. There are some bugs and glitches, but you can get most of them fixed with fan patches. Sometimes saving the game would crash and i'd lose progress. It's an ARPG, but I didn't really find it fun.

Pro:
It looks ok
Audio is ok

Con:
Some bugs
Combat wasn't terribly fun
Enemies respawn constantly.
Quest seem to be pointless and not worth the effort
Dungeons aren't worth the effort
Undead skeletons need to be killed 3 times before they grant xp. Annoying.

It's a classic of the genre, the game goes flawlessly, the controls are not very convenient, but you can get used to it. It is very nice that the game from childhood can be run on the Steam Deck.

Blast from the past.

Nice games.

Great game

One Of The Best Games Of All Time.

I started playing this game when I was like 13 or so years old, saw my uncle playing this and thought it was so cool and immersive and the characters you play as was so awesome and had cool abilities. the world of Ancaria was so big to me back then, and even to this day it still is. As i got back playing this gem of a game as an adult now and realized HOW MUCH i missed these kinds of games.

Challenging enemies and bosses, decent and somewhat well placed portals to get to places quicker yet doesn't take away much progression as the main simple goal is to explore and finding secrets and silly side quests with their own stories to tell. Doesn't hold your hand constantly or even paint yellow paint or pathways to show you where you need to go without trying to insult your intelligence.

Everything about it is so damn fun, that the fact i'm literally going back to the old games of the past to have "Fun" and not be harassed with political agendas or messages that I don't give a damn about in modern "Games".

I play games to have fun and destress from hard work at my job, not ADD more stress.

It's a bit wishful thinking but I legit hope that indie developers and smaller studios would be able to bring back the good ol games and the triple A companies can go to hell for ruining what made games great and trying to milk us of our money with useless slops and microtransactions.

Hell, I even hope that someday someone would make a Sacred clone from both the first and second game, and not make the same mistake they did with Sacred 3.

Over 3000 Hours, 14 Years, and Still One of the Best ARPGs Ever:

I've been playing Sacred Gold since 2010, and after all these years, I’ve come back to it again—only to realise just how much this game still has to offer. With over 3000 hours invested (though only a few on Steam), I can confidently say this is one of the deepest and most rewarding ARPGs ever made.

The amount of depth in character building is insane. Maximising damage on specific builds isn’t as simple as just stacking one stat—it requires real calculations to balance skill levels, rune investments, and gear bonuses. Every decision matters, and true optimisation takes knowledge and planning.

The open world of Ancaria is still one of the best in the genre. Unlike most ARPGs that push you down a fixed path, Sacred Gold lets you explore freely, discovering hidden dungeons, dangerous enemies, and rewarding loot. The eight unique classes offer completely different playstyles, from the powerful Seraphim to the tactical Dark Elf and the Vampire, who transforms at night. The rune-based skill system adds another layer of strategy, making every character build feel unique.

Combat is brutal, fast-paced, and incredibly satisfying. With hundreds of weapons and armour pieces, combo-based abilities, and even mounted combat, there’s a level of depth here that few ARPGs can match.

Side quests can sometimes feel like a lot of running around, but that’s part of what makes this world feel alive. Every mission, every exploration, and every battle contributes to a larger adventure. And with multiple difficulty levels and endless replay-ability, Sacred Gold never truly ends.

Coming back to this game after so many years, I’m grateful to be playing it again. Sacred Gold isn’t just a game—it’s an experience that keeps calling you back. For those who love ARPGs and haven’t tried it, you’re missing out on one of the greatest of all time.

Even the graphics for its time were incredible. For an early 2000s release, Sacred Gold pushed the boundaries with its detailed environments, character models, and dynamic lighting. It still holds up surprisingly well when compared to other ARPGs from that era.

While you can play this game in multiplayer, it requires using a third-party application to get it working. However, it’s important to note that the multiplayer experience is extremely buggy and can be frustrating at times. Despite this, it’s still a great experience if you're looking to enjoy this absolute classic with friends.

ive loved the first 2 of the series since orginal release. og gamer here 43 years young lol

Absolute classic and really huge game with a decent story and humor.
Really felt nostalgic playing it again <3

El mejor juego de la galaxia, path of exile II es una copia de esto

Oldie but best.... I've been gone for a number of years, still enjoyable. Remember to follow all install instructions to a T. Good luck

Diablo 2.5, enough said

great classic game

The game is relaxing to play and the scenery is very pretty.

A fun RPG that has an enormous world to explore. There is a character to pick that fits every mode of play, from barbarian to demoness and more. This is a game that will give hours upon hours of play. Highly recommend this older game to D and D fans.

Better than diablo 4.
It's a classic.

Краще б і залишалась єдиною і неповторною.
Класний гек н слеш який має купу своїх цікавих ідей.

NICEEE ggggg !!!!!!!!!!

Love it

Still the best

An old Diablo clone, hours of fun

Very good game, played it before its still worth it.

I like this game

Played this game for many years, it was seen as a cross between Diablo and Neverwinter Nights. The play was simple, the map was massive, and the game just kept on giving. Most people think this game underrated, but once you started playing, it got addictive. I played this more than Diablo 2, which I am glad a coworker introduced this to me. It went under the radar, but still has a large following. If you want a good game and nostalgia, this is it. Besides, the commentary of the characters are often ironic and funny!

Best Sacred game and very good ARPG.

if your too much of a goober to learn how dgvoodoo works then unplug your pc for good. had 0 issues playing this on windows 11 one of the best rpgs ive played in a while GOOD GAME BUY IT CHUMPO

Great ARpg for Diablo 1 and 2 fans especially. Not as good, but offers a huge open world. Played a lot of this growing up, steam game time does not accurately reflect my experience with this gem. One of my fondest memories growing up give it a shot, i dont think you will be dissapointed.

yes

One of my favorite Childhood games. I played it together with my brother and dad (occasionally my mom would join) and we had a lot of fun. I loved the charakter of the vampire but in retrospectiv her abilitys where a little to advanced for my age. Lets see if i can finish the game now.

What can i say after years i still love this game it needs a re boot

I remember when I was a kid and someone told me: "I don't know if it's good or bad, but they say it's really long", and I fell in love at first sight. I installed, and entered a huge world, free to roam in any direction, only limited by the risk I wanted to take, with varied enemies, all types of biomes, and countless items to get, in a race to improve your character up to an absurd level limit and re-playable in five difficulties.

Pro:
- Long (if you like it).
- 7 classes with unique gameplay.
- The biggest world for a single player ARPG.
- Many secondary quests for each area and city.
- Variety of enemies and items.
- A community that is constantly creating mods.

Con:
- Long (if you don't like it).
- Few useful skills per class (the rest is filler).
- A guide to not bug some side-quests is recommended.

Needs:
- A dedicated server (the game is intended to be played online).

Want:
- A re-master. But! Only if is made by fans, for fans. Please, don’t allow to any company to 'fix what isn’t broken'. The only way we would like a re-master, is of THIS game, not a censored version for modern audiences converted in the fanfic of some snobs believing with rights to change other’s work.

Sacred Gold
pros:
//fast game with modern day graphics with easy controls that moves from location A to B to C and so on
//good amount of action and special effects
cons:
//a lot of difficult battles/boss battles
//a lot of overpowered enemies
//shop items require a lot of resources
//collecting resources are a grindfest
//very repetitive with objectives often placed too far on maps
//lack of directions/instructions
//your character is underpowered

//good game
Personal Suggested Purchase Price: $0.99 Or Less During Sale

This was my first pc game, it feel so good to be back!!! I love it <3

good game

Even today, it's worth Gold.

definitely one of my favorites

An oldie but a goodie

Very cool game. Bought it and first played it when it first came out in 2004. Love the open-world environment with an isometric view. It's like Diablo met The Elder Scrolls. Battle dynamics are cool. Major quests and side quests are engaging. Can choose up to 8 characters (the original release came with 6 characters) with their own skills and abilities. The world map is huge (bigger now in the expansion pack). Only con to this game is the lousy voice acting and dialogue. Other than that, I highly recommend this game.

Лютейшая гойда за гнома.
А так, множество мелких и довольно крупных недостатков, называть которые мне, конечно же, лень.

Sacred has become a massive hit after its release in 2004. First seen at my friend's PC, this game brought me into the world of action RPGs. Something in it hooked me from the start, although I was never into Diablo-like gameplay. I had a CD version back in the days, it was full of bugs and often crashed, but I still enjoyed it. In Sacred Gold you are lucky to have a stable version of the main game and all the expansions. Unfortunately, the progress from my old saves was unrecoverable, but at least I could import my character, keep the experience points and equipment.

To enjoy the game on the modern operating systems I recommend using 'dgVoodoo'. You'll have a stable framerate and fewer visual glitches.

Twenty years have passed, and the original development studio doesn't exist any more. But the people who created the determining game in the franchise would be glad to know that their work is still appreciated.

Perfection

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