Gameplay Sacrifice (video game)

in sacrifice, players control character third-person perspective. pop-up menus show formations characters army can assume.

wizards can cast spells harm opponents (combat spells), heal damage taken, or summon creatures. more advanced combat spells affect large areas of battlefield, taking form of tornadoes , volcanoes. casting spells requires energy, game represents in form of mana. recovery of mana slow, wizard accelerates process staying close or altar. close proximity 1 of several fountains of mana scattered across world increases or recovery rate well. wizard can monopolize mana fountain erecting structure known manalith on it. because mana can regained, infinite resource. souls other type of resource in game; used, along mana, summon creatures, form mainstay of players offensive capability. unlike mana, souls limited in quantity. players start few souls , increase resources locating unclaimed souls, or converting souls of unfriendly creatures wizards have killed.

summoned creatures classified 3 classes: melee, ranged, , air (flyers). in rock-paper-scissors manner, each class counter another. melee creatures inflict more damage ranged opponents, cannot retaliate against flyers, in turn vulnerable can attack @ range. several creatures have special abilities, such creating protective magical barriers, becoming invisible, or immobilizing opponents. 2 units, manahoars , sac doctors, have special purposes. manahoars recharge summoner s mana channeling energy manaliths him or her. sac doctors summoned extract souls of fallen opponents , bring them altar conversion. these units summoned hold sacrificial rituals required desecrating enemy altars; killing sac doctor disrupts process.

the spells , abilities of creatures designed along ethos of 5 gods. persephone, great healer, bestows followers powers of regeneration , nature. counterpart, charnel, god of strife, celebrates death , decay; creatures undead , spells drains life of others. other 3 gods—james, stratos, , pyro—govern natural elements, granting followers abilities associated earth, air, , fire, respectively.

unlike other real-time strategy games released in or before 2000, sacrifice s gameplay not focused on large-scale management of resources , bases. instead, game emphasizes micromanagement of players units; success in game linked meticulous control of individuals or small groups overcome enemies. players order armies assume formations pressing assigned key or navigating through pop-up menu. order can given moving mouse in specific patterns without waiting menu appear.

single-player campaign

sacrifice s single-player campaign begins meeting between protagonist eldred , blind seer mithras on war-torn world. through voiceovers , cut scenes rendered game engine, eldred recounts mithras background , events led world s current state. eldred tyrannical emperor ruled on world of jhera. however, days of rule numbered: subjects rebelling, , enemies gathered @ borders of realm. turning mystical arts solution, eldred summoned demon, marduk, eliminate opposition rule. marduk proved uncontrollable , ravaged jhera. eldred fled world , mithras stand on. world—having suffered past cataclysm—was riven collection of 5 floating islands. god rules on each realm, seeking impose or own agenda. rivalries among gods aggravated mithras s prophecy of traitor amongst them. sensing opportunity new lease on life, eldred offers service gods.

the campaign spans ten missions. in each mission, player chooses god eldred champion, receiving creatures , spells god. player can build selection of units , spells different gods changing eldred s allegiance between missions; selections used in later missions or multiplayer sessions. game progresses, player s choices align eldred 1 god. aside stated goals in each mission, there secret objectives if accomplished bestow bonuses eldred s attributes (magical , physical resistance, more mana, etc.).

midway through campaign, eldred encounters marduk again. demon taunts wizard , announces world suffer same fate jhera. eldred warns gods; believe 1 of them supports demon , fall upon each other eliminate traitor. last stage of campaign, eldred has helped 1 god kill others. after end of wizard s narration, mithras reveals himself marduk. stratos, traitor, had planned demon appear on world , deliver prophecy gods. marduk berates eldred naivety , starts final battle. after defeating demon, player chooses 1 of 2 endings eldred: stay , last god rule world, or leave , seek destiny in other worlds.

multiplayer

sacrifice features capability players play matches against each other on computer networks; 4 players (human- or computer-controlled) can participate in multiplayer match. 4 modes of play available: skirmish, slaughter, soul harvest, , domination. skirmish s gameplay similar of single-player mode; player wins match banishing others wizards. winner of domination wizard controls number of manaliths. goal in slaughter amass kills, while wizards in soul harvest have collect souls.

initially, multiplayer games played on small-area networks of computers (local area networks), or on internet through integrated matchmaking service. later software patches added online rankings , capability connect computers via internet protocol suite (tcp/ip), allowing play on internet without matchmaking service. macintosh version s matchmaking, handled gameranger, had installed through patch. multiplayer matches cannot played between different computer platforms.