Sacrifice

About

Sacrifice is a fantasy real-time strategy game with both single-player and multiplayer modes for up to four players. The game features an intriguing story with five distinct paths, an all-star voice cast, and stunning visuals. With its high replayability and humor, Sacrifice offers a unique and engaging experience for players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 425 reviews

story59 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Sacrifice is a unique blend of RTS and RPG elements, allowing players to summon creatures and cast powerful spells while directly controlling a wizard in battle.
The game features an engaging storyline with multiple paths and choices, providing high replayability as players can align with different gods for varied gameplay experiences.
The voice acting is top-notch, featuring a talented cast including Tim Curry, and the game's humor and art style contribute to its charm, making it a memorable experience.

The game suffers from outdated graphics and clunky controls, which can make gameplay frustrating, especially for new players unfamiliar with its mechanics.
Many players experience compatibility issues on modern systems, leading to crashes and difficulty running the game, particularly with the Steam version.
The AI can be inconsistent, and some players find the difficulty curve uneven, with certain missions being significantly harder than others.

story
176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
65%
2%
The story of "Sacrifice" is highly praised for its innovative multi-linear narrative, allowing players to choose between five gods, each offering unique missions and spells that significantly impact the gameplay and story progression. The game features exceptional voice acting and a richly detailed plot filled with memorable characters and plot twists, providing a compelling experience that encourages replayability through its branching paths and multiple endings. Despite some gameplay issues, the overall narrative and atmosphere are considered a standout aspect, making it a classic in the real-time strategy genre.
- “If you are a fan of real-time strategy, fantastic voice acting, an amazing story, and plenty of replay value with different choices that provide a variety of spells and creatures to summon as well as different god endings, you need to get this game.”
- “The game is brilliant and has an amazing story and style to it.”
- “The storyline has one ending but multiple paths you can pursue, with some missions being incredibly challenging while others are a breeze to go through so expect some variation if you choose to be the vassal of different gods in your playthroughs.”
- “The game has a lot of flaws, but it's a good game; it definitely kept my interest and I wanted to see where the story went and how it ended. It has a lot of replay value because you get a different spell with each different god you serve during each level, so it's got a lot of replayability.”
- “The first missions seem to have almost no impact because they're minor (so even if you're not the one doing x, it will still happen), but as you progress in the story, there's definitely major differences between, say, a Charnel playthrough versus a James one.”
- “As the story goes on, the ones you didn’t choose to side with will stop offering you missions, making your choices a bit more impactful. But really, the game is offering one campaign for each god, and if you want to see them all, you might as well stick with one at a time.”
gameplay
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The gameplay of "Sacrifice" is widely praised for its unique blend of real-time strategy, role-playing, and action elements, allowing players to summon units and cast spells while navigating a rich narrative. While the mechanics are innovative and engaging, some players note issues with balance and difficulty, particularly regarding the snowball effect in missions and the limited resource management of souls. Overall, the game is considered a classic with a compelling gameplay experience that remains enjoyable despite its dated graphics.
- “The gameplay itself is innovative and quite unique both for its time and still today, and it's quite fun to basically build your own faction as you can mix and match units and spells from the different gods depending on the choices you make in the story.”
- “Unique and engaging mechanics as well as a fun tree of creatures/skills to explore under each of the 5 different gods.”
- “This is an amazing RTS game with a great sense of humor, art direction, and unprecedented gameplay - all in a fantasy world that is truly fantastic, no elves, orcs, or dwarves here.”
- “The gameplay does have its problems, however, mainly in how snowbally each mission is; once you get over the initial hurdle and gather some souls, it's usually just a downhill roll from there.”
- “The only downside to the gameplay I can think of is the fact that since the souls you use to summon units are a limited resource on every map, you may not be able to recover from a series of losses in a match.”
- “Probably most people like it for all the very nice things: music, voice acting, story, overall originality... but looking under all the shiny things, you can get uninterested rather soon considering the dated graphics, the chaotic combat that really is not too great, and the many mechanics and features that seem to have little strategic value or even significant impact on the battlefield.”
graphics
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
70%
9%
The graphics of "Sacrifice," while considered dated by modern standards, are often praised for their unique and imaginative art style that has aged surprisingly well since its 2000 release. Many players appreciate the game's distinctive visual design and the charm it brings, despite acknowledging that the technical fidelity may not impress today's audiences. Overall, the graphics are seen as a minor drawback compared to the game's engaging gameplay and storytelling, with some expressing a desire for a modern remake to enhance the visual experience.
- “That’s because Sacrifice is one of those games where every individual aspect, from the gameplay and story to the visual design, animations, and graphics, has received an incredible amount of love and attention.”
- “While the game’s graphical fidelity may not impress players today as much as it did back in the year 2000, the deliberately weird and otherworldly visual design gives Sacrifice an utterly unique and timeless look, with strange creatures flapping and skittering across alien landscapes as they engage in mortal combat to please the gods.”
- “The graphics look quite good for their time (2000!), especially thanks to the character designs, and Sacrifice was also one of the first games to use anti-aliasing, terrain change, and other advanced technologies, which actually makes it feel more like a 2004-2006 game, which is quite an extraordinary achievement.”
- “The graphics are unfortunately very dated but that's about it.”
- “Graphics may look outdated, but the idea behind and its implementation is awesome.”
- “The graphics are pretty outdated in this one though and it's something that may be difficult to overlook, especially if you're having a hard time getting engrossed into the game.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
35%
9%
The game boasts high replayability due to its non-linear story, multiple gods to serve, and a variety of spells and creatures that change with each playthrough. With 45 unique missions and the ability to choose different paths and strategies, players can enjoy countless combinations and outcomes, making it a favorite for those who appreciate depth and variety in gameplay. Despite some flaws, the engaging campaign and multiplayer options further enhance its replay value.
- “If you are a fan of real-time strategy, fantastic voice acting, an amazing story, and plenty of replay value with different choices that provide a variety of spells and creatures to summon as well as different god endings, you need to get this game.”
- “The storyline is also pretty interesting, and the fact that you can choose a different god for (almost) every mission makes for good replayability - the campaign lasts 10 missions and 9 of those are different for each god, so that's a total of 45 different maps and scenarios to play through if you want to be thorough (which I definitely recommend).”
- “Incredible replayability since you can play so many different ways.”
- “Decent replayability with 5 gods and 9 missions per playthrough.”
- “The story is good and the number of different spells and troops are the strongest points of this, giving it some decent replay value.”
- “Whatever units and spells you acquire vastly depends on the deities you choose as the story progresses, thus making the game replayable due to the large amount of combinations that can be created.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
25%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised as one of its standout features, with many reviewers highlighting its atmospheric quality and memorable soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some note that the soundtrack isn't extensive, it is described as high-quality and effective in setting the mood, complementing the game's unique gameplay and story. Additionally, the voice acting is also commended, contributing to the game's immersive audio landscape.
- “One of the best soundtracks in gaming history.”
- “The music is just awesome, so great at mood setting.”
- “The soundtrack is memorable and no game element seems odd or out of place, as bizarre and surreal as the game world is.”
- “In terms of atmospheric sounds and music, it does enough to get by, but it could be better.”
- “With voice acting of Tim Curry and music by Kevin Manthei, one would think the game would excel.”
- “It's not a large soundtrack but it is full of quality music to enjoy as you immerse in the monstrous chaos and war.”
humor
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a cynical and whimsical tone, blending old-school charm with absurdity, such as summoning a cow to attack enemies. Players appreciate the clever integration of humor into the storyline and gameplay, with memorable spells and quirky character interactions that enhance the overall experience. The game's unique comedic style, reminiscent of titles like Earthworm Jim, is praised for its ability to complement the narrative rather than feel forced.
- “This is one of those games that oozes with old school charm and humor.”
- “There are funny spells like the bovine, where your wizard summons a large cow from the earth, launches it into the sky, and like a dive boarder, the cow plunges toward your targeted enemy, making it a one-shot kill.”
- “The humor interlaces with the rest of the game beautifully instead of being forced like in so many other games.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
13%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich and surreal qualities, effectively reflecting the twisted personalities of its characters and realms. While the atmospheric sounds and music could be improved, the soundtrack is noted as a standout feature that enhances both exploration and combat. Overall, the unique and immersive atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal, making it a must-play despite some gameplay flaws.
- “These twisted personalities are reflected in the realms and people they rule, and atmospherically, it is wonderful to explore.”
- “All the creatures are twisted horror versions of mythical monsters, some palette-swapped of other creatures, but I’ll let that slide because the atmosphere is top-notch.”
- “All the creatures are twisted horror versions of mythical monsters, some palette-swapped of other creatures, but I’ll let that slide because the atmosphere is the tops.”
- “Oh, the game has its flaws too; later battles tend to run on too much, and there's not enough room for error, but it's such a surreal atmosphere, it's a must play!”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The stability of the game varies significantly across platforms; while the Steam version is plagued by bugs that can render some missions unplayable, users report smooth performance on Windows 7/10/11 without issues like lag or crashes. However, the Steam dashboard seems to exacerbate these problems, leading to additional glitches.
- “It runs great on Windows 7, 10, and 11.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action scenes.”
- “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “While the Steam version is quite buggy, to the point where some mission paths are simply unplayable, there hasn't been a game like Sacrifice either before or since.”
- “What's more, Steam's dashboard does not get along with Sacrifice, causing all manner of bugs and glitches whenever I bring it up.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's optimization is notably lacking, as it was not designed to run efficiently on modern computers, leading to performance issues that limit its accessibility. Originally, it required high-end setups of its time, which restricted its market and contributed to the developer's financial struggles despite the game's critical acclaim.
- “The performance and functionality of the game are impressive, showcasing the potential of what it could achieve with further optimization.”
- “It probably was due to many factors, but one of the main ones would be that it was quite a performance-dependent game, and only top PC setups of its time could run it properly, making it sort of the Crysis of its time.”
- “I consider this one of the best games ever made to this day, despite its optimization challenges.”
- “Keep in mind it hasn't been optimized in any way for current computers.”
- “It probably was due to many factors, but one of the main ones would be that it was quite a performance-dependent game and only top PC setups of its time could run it properly, making it sort of the Crysis of its time. Thus, the actual market for the game was quite tiny, and the company that developed it ended up in huge losses and never recovered. I find this ironic, as I consider this one of the best games ever made to this day.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and slow, often describing it as boring and unengaging, with some even suggesting it could serve as a sleep aid.
- “Tedious, slow, great for falling asleep.”
- “This game is just tedious and boring.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for its strong writing, impressive character designs, and high-quality voice acting, contributing to an engaging narrative experience. The overall presentation, enhanced by advanced graphics for its time, further elevates the characters and their development.
- “The music is great, the character designs are great, the writing is great, and the voice acting is great.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Many users feel that modern games prioritize profit over player experience, viewing them as corporate cash grabs and money-making machines.
- “Nowadays, games are just corporate cash grabs and money machines.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should.”
- “It's frustrating to see essential content locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra.”