To be skeptical of a like-minded spin-off with the Sacred series, a series known to be more in line with hack-and-slash action RPGs such as Diablo, wouldn’t exactly set off my alarms. On the contrary, I’m all open arms! As history as shown, games like Golden Axe and Guardian Heroes prove that fantasy-themes and beat ’em ups can make a lovely combo (no pun intended).

Sacred Citadel on the surface seems tantalizing enough. It’s mixing of role-playing elements and character classes, along with a colorful presentation go a long way to stir past memories. Although you will be able to choose from four classes (Warrior, Mage, Shaman and Ranger), the game limits you to three player local and online co-op. Not a huge letdown going in, but the obvious question to this being: Why not four players at a time if you already have four classes to choose from? I can’t say for certain.

On further inspection, you’ll notice some differences between each character. Some of them are naturally stronger than others (Warrior), others can be more speedy (Shaman) or have projectile attacks over the other (Ranger). Each character is able to dual-wield weapons or equip stat-boosting items that you can pick up from battles or while visiting shops, with everyone sharing a fairly similar move set. In fact, maybe too similar.

Despite having to level up characters for more combos and fighting options, classes don’t feel different enough. You’ll be able to pull off class-specific special moves which can be further upgraded, but character play boils down to simple preference and doesn’t encourage all that much experimentation. It can be argued that not a lot 2D beat ’em ups really do this anyhow. But given the source material Citadel is based from, along with the idea of getting loot from fallen foes, I would’ve really liked seeing more done with this. Imagine a more fleshed skill-tree, for example.

That’s not to say combat itself can’t be engaging, although it definitely takes too much time to warm up to you. Once you get passed Act 1 (four in total to complete, along with an additional Act via the Jungle Hunt DLC) and level up your character, does Sacred Citadel start to open up. It’s all animated very pleasantly with some subtle details when moving from area to area. Some environmental hazards, like the swinging logs in Act 1, do nice to break up the monotony. Even riding on beasts is a nice nod to the aforementioned Golden Axe.

But encounters overall feel tiresome. There’s only so much variety Citadel has on offer, but rarely do bouts truly stand apart from the initial stages of grinding. No amount of cool air juggling can hide the fact that normal baddies can take quite a bit of damage while standing cluelessly, with only their sheer numbers giving any sense of challenge, save for the occasional mid-boss participating or an end boss.

The kind of crowd control you do in this begs to have another player to involved. I say this, because it doesn’t seem like the difficulty scales according to how many players are participating. And even, it doesn’t seem like drop-in/drop-out co-op is fully supported, which is pretty unfortunate.

This game was reviewed on the PC.

Deep Silver has just revealed what it has in store for us at PAX East. Saints Row IV, Dead Island: Riptide, Metro: Last Light, and Sacred Citadel are the titles which will highlight the publisher’s lineup.

Saints Row 4 which just received its first teaser yesterday will make its debut at the show floor. The game will receive a presentation behind the show floor, and any attendees that cosplay as a Saints Row character will receive the luxury of not waiting in line.

The zombie massacre resumes with Dead Island: Riptide, which will also be making an appearance at the booth. Dead Silver is providing attendees the opportunity to team up with some of the game’s producers to mow down hordes after hordes of zombies.

Up to three players can join forces in the side scrolling 2D brawler spin off Sacred Citadel.

And finally, Metro: Last Light will be playable by the public for the first time on the show floor at PAX. The game’s fate was up in the air after the dissolution of THQ, but we can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the game is very much alive and on track to meet its May release date, and a playable demo would just cement it even further.

PAX East will be held from March 22nd, through 24th at Boston. Be sure to tune in for all the latest happenings on the show floor.

The Ranger specializes in ranged attacks, obviously, utilizing a bow and arrow to take down adversaries that other classes can’t, like winged beasts. The Ranger can also be outfitted with different skills to allow a single arrow to damage the enemies around by raining down fire, he can also create various traps and gadgets to harass forces.

Deep Silver has released a few screenshots for the same. Check them out below.

Also, check out the trailer for the Ancarian Ranger below to see just how devastating his attacks can be.

Sacred Citadel is expected to see release in the first half of 2013 for Playstation Network, Xbox Live and Steam on their respective platforms.

Deepsilver has released a new trailer for Sacred Citadel which shows a second character called Khukuri Shaman. Sacred Citadel is a side scroller and features four characters, out of which, Khukri Shaman is the second.

The powers are basically what Shamans do, like “cause buff effects on herself, the whole group, and even the enemy! She can heal her companions, strengthen the group’s attack skills, or even curse their enemies in order to blow them up.”

It is supposed to be a healer class in the game and can be used in a very tactical way in co-op.

Fierce Grimmoc warriors have almost brought the companions to their knees. The Safiri Warrior is overwhelmed by the sheer number of onrushing fighters, and his health is rapidly decreasing. In comes the Khukuri Shaman – quickly, she casts a spell to heal her party members. To counter the overpowering Grimmoc horde, she then rushes into battle to deal out crackling energy bolts with her magic wand.

We also have some screenshots for you which you can check out below.

Hailing from, surprise, the Safiri islands, the warrior joins the Ancarians in the fight to free their land from the Ashen Empire’s reign. That means crushing dudes. Lots and lots of dudes.

Sacred Citadel is currently slated for a 2013 release for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Check out the character featurette above to see the Safiri Warrior’s violent poetry in motion.

Deepsilver have announced a new side-scrolling action brawler called Sacred Citadel, which is being developed by Southend Interactive. The game will also be part of Deepsilver’s GamesCom line-up.

The game features several playable character classes like, afiri Warrior, the Ancarian Ranger and the Khukuri Shaman. They have their own skill set which can be individualized through RPG features and collectible items.

There are dual wielding, combo attacks and also the ability to ride mounds, use war machines. There is also a currency system which you can spend in the towns of Sacred Citadel.

Three warriors unite against an evil that threatens to enslave the once peaceful world of Ancaria. Lord Zane’s Ashen Empire has created an army of Grimmocs, modified Orc henchmen at war with the Seraphim. Only when these heroes unite and use their skills to support each other they will stand a chance!

The game will be released on 2013 on PSN, Xbox Live and PC and also features multiplayer mode with three player drop-in/drop-our co-op mode.