Sacrifice is a unique real-time strategy video game that combines action and RPG elements of controlling a wizard and tactical and strategy aspects of commanding a small army of units. Set in a magical dimension full of weird creatures, arrogant gods and a mysterious demonical threat, Sacrifice is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that every gamer must embark on.
Origins and uniqueness of Sacrifice
One of the most underrated games of all time, Sacrifice is a real-time strategy with RPG elements that was published in 2000. The game was created by Shiny Entertainment with the most development being done by just four employees. The company drew numerous inspirations from history, art and culture such as the main antagonist being named Marduk, after the Babylonian god of war.
Although a financial flop, the game won many awards and gained a cult following of players that loved its humor, soundtrack, voice acting and story, which was created by the lead designer of Starcraft, James Phinney.
The compelling story and uncanny characters
A true passion project and a unique game, Sacrifice tells a story of a wizard that comes to a dimension ruled by a group of gods that constantly fight for dominance over each other's lands. The main protagonist and player character, a wizard named Eldred, was once a powerful emperor on his homeworld of Jhera. To seek more power and crush his opponents, the wizard-emperor summoned an ancient demonical being - Marduk. The demon proved to be too strong to be controlled and destroyed Eldred's world. Our protagonist managed to escape his dimension along with a blind seer Mithras.
This is where the story of the game begins. Eldred and Mithras come to the land that is made up of floating islands as a result of a past cataclysm. The islands are ruled by multiple gods, each seeking to dominate the others. They welcome Eldred as a potential champion to serve their cause. The player can choose one god and stick with him until the final mission or switch sides during the game - which opens up numerous different ending scenarios. The final twist is that Marduk also came to this and wants to destroy it, and only Eldred can stop him.
A video game ahead of its time
Unlike other strategies of that time, Sacrifice focuses more on unit management, tactics and story and character development than on usual resource-gathering and battles. Apart from its hybrid gameplay, the game was known for its peculiar design of its creatures, overall graphics as well as a great cast of voice actors, with Tim Curry and Brad Garrett among others.
Many video game journalists and experts consider Sacrifice a pioneer for many things such as mouse-gesture control system, originality in design of units or emphasis on voice-acting. A sequel was requested for years by thousands of fans, but it seems that Sacrifice will become a hidden gem that everyone needs to find for their own.
Key Features
- Interesting, out-of-the-box story
- Unusual designs of creatures and characters
- Fantastic voice-acting
- Graphics and gameplay features way ahead of its time
- An innovative mouse-gesture control system
- Amazing soundtrack
- Unique video game - not like any other
