S2FA - Overview

Basic Info.

USA Release Date: Nov. 11, 2008 (PC) & Feb. 17, 2009 (XBOX and PS3)
Genre: Action Role-Playing Game (ARPG)
Platform: PC, Xbox 360
Rating: TBD
Developer: Ascaron Entertainment
Publisher: TBD

Vision

Sacred 2 – Fallen Angel is an Action RPG that combines compelling story and free-roaming gameplay in a huge, seamless world.
The world is filled with numerous enemies, main quests and side quests.
As in Diablo and Sacred, enemies appear in huge numbers creating large scale battle scenarios.
Compared to other Action RPGs, Sacred 2 – Fallen Angel focuses on hunting and collecting unique items.
Character leveling, as well as collecting and accumulating combat art skills, incentives gamers to continue playing.

Highlights

Huge, seamless world without loading between level borders
Two campaigns: “Light” and “Shadow”
Six unique characters
Modifiable combat arts: The player will be able to modify any combat art during the development of his character
Unrestricted mounted battle: Each character will be able to ride various mounts and engage in melee and ranged combat without any restrictions
Sacred 2 offers six different gods: the player will be able to choose one of these deities. Each god will provide the player with a specific, powerful combat art
Sacred 2 features rag doll physics and other special effects
The game offers a complex emotion system that combines model animations and facial expressions
Real-world simulation: The simulated world of Sacred 2 is controlled by a macro AI that analyzes the current game situation to determine world behavior
New multi-player arena-mode: Fight against other players or specific enemies in the arena to ascend the leaderboard
Customized characters can be used in all game modes. For example, a player can start a story campaign, then join a free roaming multiplayer session, and return to continue the story afterwards
Also Featuring:
- Customizable characters with a variety of hairstyles, skins and accessories to choose from
- Mercenaries can be hired in addition to the minions acquired via quest completion
- Real world atmosphere created through NPC conversations and more
- Numerous Easter eggs
- Vast new game world

Additional Xbox Only Highlights

Two players on one Xbox 360 can play cooperatively. This can be combined with LAN or Live sessions
Full support of Xbox Live, leaderboard and achievements. There will be one leaderboard for each game mode.
Intelligent hero facing adjustment in combat.
Console-optimized interface design and navigation.

Strong Multiplayer Focus

PC:

• Various multiplayer modes: story, free PvE arena, PvP arena, hardcore
• 3D Lobbyworld, buddy support and matchmaking
• Best Weapon/Best Armor/Online Ranking Lists
• Ability to trade items and gold via Lobbyworld
• Downloadable items

Xbox:

• Various multiplayer modes through Xbox Live Gold account: story, free roaming, arena, PvP arena, hardcore
• Xbox Live Lobby, buddy support and matchmaking
• Best Weapon/Best Armor/Online Ranking Lists
• Ability to trade items and gold via Xbox Live
• Option for downloadable items - potential storage via memory card

PC Game Modes

- Campaign Mode:
Up to six players may join to play the campaign. The players will be automatically placed into a party; the host will administer the save game.

- Free Mode:
A set number of players may play on one server. They will have the following options:

Free play (PvE) with up to 16 players
Player vs. Player (PvP) in groups up to five players

Players can choose from unlimited (regular) or limited (hardcore) lives for their characters

Offline:

- Single Player:
Player fights on his own, but will be able to hire AI-controlled mercenaries

- LAN:
The number of players who will be able to play simultaneously in a LAN session typically depends on the capacity of the local server

All multiplayer options will be available. There will be an additional campaign mode for up to four players.

Generally, the session server for a LAN game will have to register at the internet lobby before starting the game.

Online:

- Open Games:
Online games that are connected via the lobby, but they take place outside of the closed Ascaron Net

- Closed Games:
Online game that are connected via the lobby and take place inside of the closed Ascaron Net

- Lobby World:
In this area, online players can meet each other, chat, trade, and arrange their Sacred 2 multiplayer sessions

Xbox Game Modes

Single-Player Campaign:
Player plays solo, following the storyline. He can hire AI-controlled mercenaries.

Single-Player Free Mode:
Unlimited gameplay without storyline.

Multiplayer Campaign:
Invite up to three other players to join in your campaign.

Multiplayer Free PVE:
Unlimited game to gain experience for four players versus AI enemies.

Multiplayer Arena:
Fight against specific groups of enemies in an enclosed arena to ascend the PVP leaderboard.

Multiplayer PVP-Arena:
Fight against another player in an enclosed arena to ascend the PVP leaderboard.

Cooperative Mode:
Two users on one Xbox 360 can play together. This mode can be combined with all other modes described above.

Six Unique Characters

Seraphim
Shadow Warrior
Inquisitor
Dryad Scout
High Elf
Temple Guardian

• Each with distinct gameplay style
• Specific character attributes: aspects, magic, skills & abilities
• Special mounts for each character
• Further specializations within each character class

TECH SPECS PC VERSION

Minimum Specs:

2.6 GHz Pentium IV processor or equivalent (Dual Core 2.4 GHz for integrated graphics [mostly in laptops])
1024 MB RAM
20 GB free Hard Drive (HDD) space with at least 4 GB swap-file.
DirectX9.0d compatible graphics card with 128 MB RAM and support of Pixel Shader 2.0 (nVidia GeForce 6600, ATI Radeon X1300 or Intel Integrated Chipset, 945GM or above)
DirectX9.0d compatible sound card
Internet or email connection for unlocking online key
Windows XP, XP64, Vista, Vista64
DirectX9

Recommended:

Dual Core 2.4 GHz
2048 MB RAM
20 GB free Hard Drive (HDD) space with at least 4 GB swap-file.
DirectX9.0d compatible graphics card with 512 MB RAM: nVidia (GeForce 8800 GTX, ATI Radeon HD 3800)
DirectX9.0d compatible 5.1 surround sound card
For multiplayer games DSL modem (internet) or 100 Mbit network card (LAN)
Windows XP, XP64, Vista, Vista64
DirectX9

TECHNICAL FEATURES XBOX VERSION

General:

PAL/NTSC and HDTV 19:9 with 1280x720 pixels and full-screen anti-aliasing.
DVD-streaming / Optional HDD-streaming to provide large seamless world (25 square miles + dungeons). Users can walk around for hours without loading delays.
11 different world regions / texture sets.
Constant frame rate (min. 30fps throughout the whole game).
Dolby Digital 5.1 sound support.

Graphic Engine Details:

Real-time shadows.
Dynamic light source.
Fluid simulation (particle flow).
Cloth simulation.
Shader 3.0 support.
Fully animated vegetation.

Game Engine:

Game engine supports full multi-threading usage of the three Xbox 360 processors.

Thread 1: Main thread (DirectX core, logic)
Thread 2: Fluid simulation (particle flow)
Thread 3: Physics and cloth animation
Thread 4: AI, DVD Streaming
Thread 5: Sound mixing and music streaming
Thread 6: Network

Middleware:

Granny
Speedtree
Angeia Physics
Kynogon-AI
Miles Sound System
Bink

Ascaron Fansite