SunAge

by Lighthouse Interactive

Product Features

• 3 distinct races - Human, Raak-zun and Sentinel each with their own units, buildings, technology advantages and disadvantages
• Alternate modes for all units, dual functionality for greater tactical depth
• Exploit weaknesses in the enemies network while strengthening your own connection lines
• Formations - Intuitive formation handling and superior overview in battles
• Campaign - 24 map single player campaign with strong storyline

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000SKUHL4
• Item Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: February 1, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,067 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Amazon.com

Earth is a desolate wasteland destroyed by the radiation and heat of the sun. Humankind, known as the Dome Confederacy, has been forced to retreat into shielded cities enduring constant attacks by the Raak-zun cult; a sect of religious outcasts who live outside the dome. An age long war has ensued as both races battle for the limited resources of the dying planet and search for a new world to inhabit.

Amidst the havoc, the gateway to a bold new planet is unlocked. Hope is on the horizon, but a new war has dawned as this Mecca is teeming with lethal Sentinel drones who will not hesitate to annihilate any life form that gets in their way. Leading the Dome Confederacy, you must destroy your enemies in a race to secure a new home and future for all humankind.

FEATURES:

• 3 Distinct Races: Human, Raak-zun, and Sentinel robots - each with their own units, buildings and technological advantages and disadvantages.
• Single Player: 24 different missions and a compelling plot for each race create a distinct single player experience.
• Multiplayer LAN and Online: Maps created uniquely for multiplayer mode with co-op gameplay support.
• Alternate Combat Modes: Upgrades unlock new functionality for all units allowing greater tactical depth (basic troopers can become snipers).
• Graphics: Rich sci-fi environments from vast industrial cities and devastated wastelands to a lush alien planet.
• Tactical Landscape: All units and their alternative modes are crucial to the overall strategy. Exploit weaknesses in the enemy's network while strengthening your own connection lines.
• Viewing Perspective: Squad concept combined with long camera distance views allows a large number of units to be fighting on-screen with a clear overview of the battleground.

Product Description

2D sci-fi RTS game with both single and multiplayer modes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A BUDGET RTS GAME WITH A RETRO FEELING, February 1, 2008

By 

NeuroSplicer (Freeside, in geosynchronous orbit) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: SunAge (CD-ROM)

The Sun Age is upon us: our solar system is dying and humanity faces extinction. Humans and mutants (Raak-Zun) battle over Earth's remaining resources when an alien race (the Sentinels) appear and open a portal to another pristine planet - and now another three-way race is on. As an extra twist, who is the mysterious entity puppet-mastering everyone behind the scenes? As RTS storylines go, no originality awards here but not too shabby either...
SUN AGE is an RTS featuring the above three factions, each with its own buildings, units and weaponry, engaged across two different planets in a variety of environments, from dilapidated cities to jungles.

The game's strong point is its interesting balancing: there are four types of armor (Structural, Synthetic, Plated and Flak) and four types of damages (Laser, Flame, Explosive and Projectile) and each faction develops its distinct technologies at different rates. So, it is common to have to face an enemy better equipped than you - making things interesting as the game will REALLY test your strategy skills! Ok, maybe your patience too...

Another good feature are the power-grids: for a building to function it has to be located within the boundaries of your faction's power-grid, each with its own beautiful effect. As a result, bases can be established fast - but now have a soft underbelly to exploit: this makes for additional strategy planning, both offensive and defensive!

Graphically, the game has an unshakable retro feeling. Both the unit design and their movement repertoire - as well as the gameplay - are all done in...2D! Sure, there are 3 layers of apparent action (foot-soldiers, elevated ground vehicles and aircrafts) and the tracers and the rockets will try to create the illusion of 3D, but the overall visual effect is just a notch better than the original STARCRAFT - a 10 year old game, mind you. If you have experienced C&C3-TIBERIAN WARS or SUPREME COMMANDER (or even EMPEROR BATTLE FOR DUNE) visually you will be greatly disappointed by this game. On the other hand, older gamers will probably appreciate the fresh look on a familiar interface. It will be like replaying a revamped STARCRAFT all over again.

The sounds (explosions, movement and environmentals) also have a retro character but are not bad. What is truly bad is the voice acting. And if you think all those cardboard voices will get on your nerves, try ...saving the game. Apparently, this is a Corrupt Save-Files Age, and more often than not, you will have to start over. A patch is desperately needed (1.05 has been released but to only limited effect), but keep in mind that older saved games hardly ever are compatible with newer patches.

Finally, a lot of the hotkeys do not work: mouse-selecting a group of units will only select units of the same type (not a bad idea altogether, unless one is under pressure to fend off a sudden attack); however, when ordering grouped units, their response is...fickle at best. And at the heat of the battle that can be really frustrating.

This is an RTS game that had been in development for about a decade and, being the labor of love of its developing team (VERTEX4), was supposed to reinvigorate the genre - hence my generous rating. Unfortunately, the road to mediocrity is paved by good intentions.

If looking for a budget RTS game and have played all the older ones, well, go for it. Otherwise, wait for STARCRAFT II.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty decent., February 18, 2008

By 

Yamin Edwards - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: SunAge (CD-ROM)

Not that I waited for a game like this... but the screenshots and the unusual concept sparked my interest and I decided to give it a shot.
After the first few battles I understood why they went with the retro style. You get this phenomenal overview (and yes, I tend to get lost in 3D worlds and I am not shy to admit it). Fine, that's an design choice, that I happen to like.

But what I found really impressive about it's look was the fact that they must have put tremendous effort into modeling these units. And it really shows. It will be hard to find another game in that genre delivering maps like this.

Playing Sunage is like watching this exquisite french indie movie instead of your usual brainless popcorn blockbuster. It's a trip back to the days where games still had something called "gameplay". As for the technical side, make sure to download the patch and voila, the glitches are history.

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars crap, September 18, 2008

By 

Michael C. Echeverria - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:2.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: SunAge (CD-ROM)

I have been a gamer for a while now and im sorry wow this game was a let down why in the world would you only allow to select twenty six units of only the same type per mouse drag wow im impressed that this type of crappy game can be sold for thirty bucks im so glad i borrowed it end of shoty