Sacred Impressions

A PC version of Sacred was released earlier this year. As an action RPG in the vein of Diablo, Sacred on the PC featured a few interesting gameplay innovations that gave it a unique flavor. At this year's CTIA conference, we were able to get a look at the mobile version of Sacred, which will run on Java-enabled phones.

Sacred's most attractive feature is its large, open-ended world. The developers at Elkware have stated that it takes 45 minutes to walk from one end of the gameworld to the other. Within that vast landmass are varying types of settings, including deserts, grasslands, and tundra. As in the PC game, Sacred's colorful graphics give you a third-person, isometric view of your character and the surrounding land. You'll be able to interact with various non-player characters, including merchants, from whom you can buy equipment; and quest-givers, who will unlock the game's 34 different quests. In total, the main storyline in the game should keep most players busy for more than 20 hours.

You'll also be able to choose from three different character classes: "magic," "close combat," and "custom" (the latter of which can be a customized hybrid of the first two character types). Your combat style will vary depending on which class type you choose, and how you decide to customize your character as you gain levels in the game. Those who prefer weapon-based combat will be able to fight using four basic weapon types such as swords. Magic users can choose from up to 12 different spells.

Fans of the action RPG genre should find plenty to like about Sacred. If nothing else, the game promises a ton of content to keep you busy for hours on end.