The story is where this game really shines. You portray an alien wizard who escapes his ruined dimension to a new, even weirder one. Five gods rule this new world. Noble Persephone is the goddess of life, simple James controls the Earth, bombastic Pyro controls fire, wicked Charnel rules destruction and death, and the haughty Stratos (voiced by Tim Curry) is master of air. They bicker and fight throughout. It's your choice whom to serve before each mission. In addition, each mission you complete bestows upon you some of their unique powers and monsters. Because the campaign is dependent upon which god you serve and when, you'll end up with vastly different power combinations each time you play.

The game plays like Activision's Battlezone remake from a while back. It's played like an action game--you can see from behind the shoulder of your wizard character--yet it has Command & Conquer-style real-time strategy components. You have to harvest souls from fallen enemies and troops, summon and control your own army of fascinating monsters, and control the magical resources known as Mana Fountains. The game is daunting and the action may be too frantic for some, but all its components are detailed in an impressive tutorial and tips are scattered throughout the game.

Add instant action play, a host of maps, a complete game editor (ensuring fan- created levels will flood the Internet soon), and a stable multiplayer component, and you'll find unlimited value in the game. Sacrifice is more than just a quirky new PC game, it's a bona fide classic. --Bob Andrews

Pros:

• Deep story and gameplay
• Excellent voice acting and audio
• Full multiplayer support and addictive action

• May be too complicated for some gamers
• High system requirements