If it seemed like the oft-delayed console version of Ascaron’s action role-playing game was still a bit rushed, that’s only because it was. Xbox 360 owners who pre-ordered the game from GameStop found that the redemption codes for their promised carrier imp bonus were not working, while PlayStation 3 users discovered that local co-operative game play couldn’t be taken online as promised. CDV is currently actively working to fix these issues, according to updates scattered across their website and forums.

On top of these issues, over at Team Xbox, Sacred 2 community team management member Christiane assures forum-goers that a patch to implement a trading feature in live co-op will be implemented soon as well.

Sounds to me like the game wasn’t quite finished when it shipped. Luckily we live in a time where console games are patched as easily if not easier than PC titles. Thanks to Paul for keeping us updated on the incoming fixes!

Sacred 2 media has skewed heavily towards the Xbox 360 up until now, so it’s nice to see some images from the PlayStation 3 version. Not seeing a big difference between this and the 360, other than the fact that someone at Ascaron has been boning up on how to create compelling screenshots. Definitely looking good. Here’s hoping the delays that have plagued the console version were used to make sure the game plays as well as it looks.

Developer Ascaron Entertainment has filed for bankruptcy protection in its home country, Germany.

Their newest game, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, hit the PC last November and the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 ports are due out this May. But as decent as the game’s been doing so far, that four year development cycle apparently murderised the company’s finances.

Here’s the statement posted to the developer’s official site:

On Tuesday 14th April 2009, Ascaron Entertainment GmbH, Germany, went into administration at the regional court in Bielefeld, Germany.

Due to the protection offered by German administration rights, Ascaron intends to use this as an opportunity to secure the future of the company.

We, the executives of Ascaron Entertainment GmbH, thank all our fans for their superb support and assistance in making Sacred 2: Fallen Angel the success it is today.

Our special thanks go to all our employees. Without the dedication and motivation of all the staff Sacred 2 would not exist. We are also proud to announce that development of Sacred 2 on Playstation3 and Xbox 360 is now complete. Sacred 2 will be available on both formats in May 2009. We would like to wish all console gamers a fantastic fantasy experience with Sacred 2.

The server and services of Sacred 2 multiplayer and the Securom game activation are unaffected and will continue as usual. Please see the press announcement below for more information. Further updates will be provided in due course.

With kind regards,
Heiko tom Felde
Ascaron Entertainment

Sacred 2 developer bankrupt [GameSpot]

CDV Software and Ascaron Entertainment deliver Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners to the world of Ancaria in mid-May, announcing the official release date for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.

North American Xbox 360 owners are definitely getting their hands on Sacred 2 come May 12th, and while the official press release doesn’t list the PlayStation 3 version, CDV assures us that it will be released at the same time.

It will definitely ship the same time as the PS3. It’s just a few days behind in the Sony approval/submissions process. We expect to announce Gold status next week.

So now we know the reason for the original delay back in March, and we only have less than a month to wait before the Diablo-esque action role-playing game hits store shelves.

Unless of course we live in the UK, where it ships on June 5th.

Console owners wishing to travel the lands of Ancaria will have to delay their vacation plans, as the release date for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 slips to May.

Released last November for the PC, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an expansive isometric action role-playing game with multiple character classes and engaging online play. Originally slated for a March 24th release on the consoles, publisher CDV dropped us a line informing us that the target window would be missed.

Just a quick note to let you know that the release date for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 has been changed. The new retail release date is May 12, 2009. If you could update the entry in your database immediately, it would be appreciated.

I would have let you folks know sooner, but I just spent the past two hours trying to find our release date databases, which do not exist.

We’ve replied, inquiring as to the reason for the delay, but have yet to get a response. We’ll just assume it isn’t done yet and move on.

The latest trailer for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel focuses on T-energy, the mysterious power that fuels the world of Ancaria’s magic.

At least it begins focusing on it, and then quickly devolves into a fight between the Seraphim character and one of the Inquisitors from the game. It’s the strangest little transition, really. The narrator at the beginning could have been talking about anything leading up to the fight.

Cheese. A delicious dairy product long sought-after for its creamy goodness, whether eaten alone or as a topping to apple pie.

Then BOOM! A fight breaks out.

Having played and reviewed the PC version of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, I find myself both eagerly anticipating and dreading the console release at the same time. The gameplay is really perfect for consoles, but I thought that about the PlayStation version of Diablo and that didn’t turn out nearly as well as I had hoped. If they can manage to keep things moving fluidly and the multiplayer is as rich as it is on the PC, Sacred 2 could be one of the best multiplayer RPG experiences on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

The main draw of the newly-released 620MB update would have to be the Sacred 2 network, which is essentially an online community for Sacred 2 players that adds an extensive ladder and highscore ranking system to the game. Players can win ranks and orders, compare their character and guild information, or use the social network to meet friends to play with. There’s even a Hall of Fame and a Heroes’ Cemetery to help immortalise legendary characters.

The update also brings with it 20 new opponents, new armour and weapons, a new snow region, and a new holiday quest line that results in a set of armour even Santa Claus would wear.

SACRED 2 – Fallen Angel: Content update including beta version of SACRED 2 network now available!

ASCARON, a leading German manufacturer and developer of games software, and Deep Silver, the games label of Koch Media, a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products, today announced an extensive content update, including the beta version of the long-desired SACRED 2 network, for the popular action RPG. The holiday update (620 MB) will be published on December 17, 2008.

The update is packed with new features such as new armour, a brand new snow region, a whopping 20 new opponents and spectacular new weapons. In addition, a completely new series of quests guarantees tons of gaming fun and provides a special set of armour specifically designed to get you into the festive spirit. Naturally, many game details were improved as well, making for an even better gaming experience.

The first beta version of the SACRED 2 network includes an extensive ladder and highscore ranking system allowing you to compare your own performance to that of other community members. You can even win ranks and orders, and legendary characters are immortalised in a Heroes’ Cemetery and a Hall of Fame. You can also use the social network to create your own profile then contact other users, make new friends, or arrange some multiplayer sessions.

Tincat, the flexible multiplayer engine from Arvato Systems, makes it possible to export all information belonging to a game character to the SACRED 2 network, and view it there. This allows players to compare character and guild information, and to view multiple highscore lists, making for additional long-term motivation.

Thanks to the SACRED 2 auto-update feature, the holiday update will be automatically installed when the game is launched. You can also download the patch via a specially created landing page.

The ASCARON team is looking forward to feedback from the community and wishes everyone happy holidays and a wonderful year 2009.

To download the software, please visit: http://update.sacred2.com.

A prequel to the original title, Sacred 2 takes us 2,000 year backwards to a world in the middle of a struggle over control of T-energy, the source of all life and magic on the planet. As the struggle escalates the energy begins to go out of control, mutating creatures, destroying cities, and generally being a major pain in the arse. Sacred 2 allows players the chance to champion the powers of good, saving the planet, or evil, plunging it into further chaos.

With new character classes, new powers, and a brand-spanking new 3D engine, can Sacred 2 possibly live up to the success of the original?

Loved
Move, Click, Kill: Sacred 2 is an isometric 3D RPG, and it doesn’t try to be anything different. It’s your standard click to kill affair, which can be quite addictive if you’re of the right mindset. I oftentimes found myself planning on stopping for the evening only to be strung along by more enemies off to the side of my mini-map. It’s no Diablo III, but until that comes along this will do quite nicely.

Making The Character Your Own: The wide variety of character customisation as you level means that any three Seraphim characters at level 30 are bound to be three completely different builds. Choosing your skills and upgrading them, allocating attribute points, the equipment you choose, your choice of deity to worship, and the combat combinations you create together create an experience that can be different between play throughs and players.

Stuff To Do: Sacred 2 will keep you busy for quite a long time. Between the six different characters, differing story lines for good and evil characters, and tons of optional quests, those stepping into the world of Ancaria best plan on an extended stay. The fact that enemies level with you means that nothing is off-limits, so you won’t run into griding problems or level obstacles – you’re free to do what you want, any old time.

A Fully Realised World: While Ancaria echoes with themes familiar in usual ROG fare, as a whole it’s an interesting blend of science fiction and fantasy, a world all it’s own. This is evident in monster design, player character choices (go, go Robot Anubis!), and some of the locations you’ll visit throughout your travels. The beautiful graphics only highlight the unique artistic design of the game.

With Tongue Firmly Planted: The humor that pervaded the original Sacred is back in full force, with sight gags, text gags, and character expression gags attempting to make the player smile, with varying effect. Both your character and the enemies you fight often display the knowledge that they are merely actors in a game. Quite often a dying bandit will exclaim, “I knew I was only an extra!”, while upon leveling up you might hear your character mentioning their stats improving. Your mileage may vary, but I found it a pleasant change from more serious RPG outings.

Lutes, Harps, And Electric Guitars: The uninitiated might be a bit put off by the opening cinematic, which features a theme song created by German heavy metal group Blind Guardian, who also appear throughout the game as NPCs, but in this age of sweeping orchestral RPG themes I couldn’t help but smile at the cheesiness of it all. The remainder of the game’s music is rather pleasing fantasy music, but it certainly starts off with a bang.

Drop In Anytime: Co-op multiplayer means you never have to go it completely alone. Playing the game in co-op mode is just like continuing your single-player campaign, only with more people running about. Loot is time-locked to your specific player, so you never need worry about ninja-looters. It’s a pleasant way for the more MMORPG-oriented among us to not feel quite as completely isolated as we do when playing the game offline.

Hated
We Got Lost: With 22 square miles of real estate to explore, it isn’t always easy to get from point A to point B in the world of Sacred 2. The sometimes buggy map is your on again, off again friend, especially when you discover the fifth route you are trying to use to get to a quest objective is just as blocked as the first four. Mounts and teleports help ease the problem, but the pain lingers.

Artificially Stupid: Stupid AI isn’t limited to the enemies in Sacred 2, who seem to possess only the most limited fight or flight responses. You’ll often find yourself travelling with NPCs meant to fight by your side, but instead insist on fighting anything the get their eyes on, which makes you question the whole nature of your follower and leader relationship. NPCs you protect during escort quests are either mentally deficient or supremely confident of your ability to save them from the hordes of enemies they generally wind up running away towards.

Voices Of The Damned: Ladies and gentlemen, the Peachtree High School Drama Team presents Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, a dramatic reading. Seriously, the voice acting in Sacred 2 is horrendous. I’m not sure if this was done on purpose, or whether it was just something lost in translation. The original German voice track might be spectacular for all I know. The English track most certainly is not.

Sacred 2 is exactly the type of PC game I like to play. A lovely mixture of mindless hack and slash with the odd bit of leveling strategy thrown in to keep your mind from melting into a puddle of bandit-killing goo. The combat is repetitive, yet entertaining enough that you don’t really mind. Some of the quest challenge the worst fantasy MMO titles in terms of banality, but the chance at progressing your character and the promise of more battles eggs you on. The main story itself isn’t the most compelling I’ve come across, but it certainly gives you something to do between bouts of senseless carnage. It’s the type of game that doesn’t try to break the mold, resulting in a familiar yet solidly entertaining title.

Mainly Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is just a good time to be had that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s the perfect diversion for the PC action RPG fan looking for something to do between now and Diablo III.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel was developed by Ascaron Entertainment published by Deep Silver, released in Australia on Oct. 15th for the PC. Feb. 2009 for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Retails for $89.95 (PC). Played through Good campaign in its entirety, some of the evil campaign, tried each character class and did some online co-op.

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“We feel that consumers should have a right to choose, and this innovative system offers the perfect purchasing option for gamers,” said Heiko tom Felde, Managing Director of ASCARON. “It’s a great system for family and friends, allowing everyone the opportunity to try out the game and play together, then making a purchase decision.”

Nifty, isn’t it? Even if you’re short on cash, you can always just stay up playing it for the full 24 hours. Sharing is caring, ladies and gentlemen. Makes me wanna hug somebody.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel Introduces a Unique New “Try Before You Buy” Option

Innovative option allows consumers to share copies of the game with friends and family

November 7, 2008, Cary, NC – Looking to give consumers the most flexibility with their purchases of the Windows PC version of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, cdv Software Entertainment USA and Ascaron Entertainment are pleased to announce the inclusion of an innovative “Try Before You Buy” system for their upcoming RPG game.

Using this innovative new feature, downloaded or purchased copies of the full game can be shared with friends and family, with these shared copies acting as full-featured demos for the duration of one calendar day. During the demo period the game is completely unlocked for single-player and LAN multiplayer modes. After the demo install expires the consumer has the option of purchasing the full game online, or simply uninstalling it. This, for example, allows consumers who purchased the full game in stores or via digital distribution channels, to share their game with friends, with those subsequent installs acting as time-limited “try before you buy” versions that allow gamers to enjoy almost all features found in the full game.

“We feel that consumers should have a right to choose, and this innovative system offers the perfect purchasing option for gamers,” said Heiko tom Felde, Managing Director of ASCARON. “It’s a great system for family and friends, allowing everyone the opportunity to try out the game and play together, then making a purchase decision.”

“This innovative digital rights management solution raises the bar on how consumers can sample games before they buy them,” added Mario Kroll, Director of Marketing and PR for cdv Software Entertainment USA. “Rather than showcasing only a limited character or content selection, as most traditional demos do, gamers can share and enjoy the full game experience, trying out the features that most appeal to them, and getting a true sense of the full game.”

For more information about Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, please visit http://www.cdvus.com

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an Action-RPG with a rich story that takes place in a giant, open-ended and seamless world. This world contains hundreds of dungeons, treacherous opponents and a variety of challenging quests. Intelligent enemies, steadily adapting in number and difficulty based on player progress, challenge players in heroic single- and multiplayer battles.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel provides numerous unique items that can be gathered in this mystical world. A deep reward system further enables advancements in character, individual attributes and character-specific fighting styles, each designed to keep players returning to the world of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel to discover what is around the next bend. Drop-in styled cooperative multiplayer gameplay ensures players will enjoy the game alone or seamlessly with friends at any time. Five unique multiplayer modes round out the experience and offer a refreshing, first-class gaming experience in Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.