TSS @ SAGE 7: Day 5 - Sonic Overdrive, Chaos Stone Wars, Tails and More

Yes, after a hiatus from reporting on the event, TSS is back bringing you the best of the Sonic Amateur Games Expo! Only The Sonic Stadium can get you impartial comments and reports right from the booths themselves, and every day this week we'll be giving you reports on many games at once! We've also got a bunch of interviews lined up too, so make sure you tune in every day for the latest! Are you ready for this?

SAGE 7 Day 5 Coverage

Games Covered Today:

• One Girl Amy/Chaos Stone Wars - ESS Software;
• Nik Jam the SAGE [Multiple Games] - Nik Jam;
• Sonic Overdrive - Chronic Team;
• Tails' High Flying Adventure - Sonic Project

Game of the Day:

Sonic Overdrive

Games Coverage

SAGE Coverage provided by Dreadknux
Click on the images to enlarge them...

Chaos Stone Wars - ESS Software

Dread: Chaos Stone Wars features great graphics, of which ESS say were made in Flash. Very impressive - the animation of Sonic is nothing short of amazing. The demo that we played however seemed a little tiring to play: there were no enemies to really speak of, and no rings - just a big zone to run around in.

As a demo this feels unaccomplished but hopefully this is nothing more than an engine test to show to the world, in which case the game is coming along nicely. The screen size could do with not being fullscreen however - the graphics seem 'bitty' and not too nice when zoomed in like that. Keep an eye on this, but don't expect anything too breathtaking at the moment.

• Visit ESS Software's SAGE Booth

Nik Jam the SAGE (Multiple Games) - Nik Jam

Dread: Nik Jam has certainly been busy for SAGE 7. Showcasing the premier title, 'Nik Jam the SAGE', there is no demo of, but it certainly looks impressive, as does another unplayable game shown, 'Sonic Mode: Exciter'. 'Exciter' is a Sonic game like any other, albeit the focus is heavily placed on scoring points.

The other games are 'Sonic Mode: Recoil' (which is a puzzle style game where you rack up points) which is quite fun once you get through the menus - although using the arrow keys can be annoying to try and keep Sonic from hitting those GOAL markers. 'Nik Jam Violator' is a game that has been in the works for some time, and plays quite well. Just remember, the blue gems give you a time limit to breathe underwater, just so you don't wonder why you die for no apparent reason ;P

All in all, a good impression was left when visiting Nik Jam's Booth. Well done ^^

• Visit Nik Jam the SAGE Booth

Sonic Overdrive - Chronic Team

Dread: When playing Sonic Overdrive, think along the lines of Sonic Adventure's Adventure Fields more than any real action-packed speed stages. The demo zone, SAGE City, is laid out very much in an Adventure style, and your aim is to collect 5 emblems (which come from collecting hidden items for characters around the level) to complete the stage. Because the game is not hell-bent on super-fast action (although you can zoom about the level at a fair pace), the engine is very well fit for it.

There was only one glitch when playing - after playing the 'Virtua Pop' game, you're sent back to the beginning, with no control of Sonic, and even no Sonic to control :P But an adventure game of this quality is good. It took me a fair while to get all the items, so let's hope the stages don't get too much more complex for our little brains ;P

• Visit Sonic Overdrive's SAGE Booth

Tails' High Flying Adventure - Sonic Project

Dread: This takes some getting used to, but it's good to see an original style Sonic game at SAGE this year. Tails' High Flying Adventure doesn't seem to be going much further in development though, with mumblings that it may be getting canned soon. From the demo I played that was available, it was like a slow style 2D shoot-em-up, and it was well done indeed.

It'd be a shame if this wasn't going anywhere, with some inventive objectives, the ability to move back and forth, bosses and the action speeded up, this could turn out to be something cool.

• Visit Tails' High Flying Adventure SAGE Booth