Ludography
38/100
Critics2 reviews

Where to get it

SunAge cover

2007 · vertex4 · Real-time strategy · Strategy

SunAge

A return to the roots of real-time strategy, providing beautiful 2D visuals combined with all the features that we came to expect from old school classics. This remastered version is a culmination of all the improvements and new features based upon suggestions from the community.

Released
30 November 2007
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Real-time strategyStrategy
Developers
vertex4
Publishers
Lighthouse Interactive
Modes
MultiplayerSingle-player
Perspective
Bird view / Isometric
Themes
Science fictionWarfare
Country
Austria
Age ratings
ESRB T

About

SunAge is real-time strategy video game developed by Austrian company Vertex4 and published by Lighthouse Interactive. It has received attention due to its use of 2D sprites and backgrounds.

Media

SunAge screenshot 1

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Story

SunAge is set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, in which relentless total war between Earth's nations (subtly hinting to a nuclear war) have turned the planet into an irradiated wasteland, forcing the surviving humans to shelter in habitational domes to survive. However, with the passing of years, contact with most domes was lost, leaving the Federal Dome as the last one standing. It is discovered this was due to the assaults of the self-titled Raak-Zun, humans supposedly mutated from prolonged exposure to the irradiated Earth. The Federacy was able to survive so far due to the skills of their hardened commanders, whom must pass the trials of the "Blooding", a live-fire graduation exercise that involves open conflict with the Raak-Zun, to earn their rank.

Six months following his successful graduation from the Blooding, Commander Ethan tardily returns to the Federal Dome to find it under siege from the Raak-Zun, whom breached through the tunnel system. Fighting off the invaders to the tunnel base, Ethan discovers the presence of both an unknown alien material as well as Raak-Zun mutants whom have overrun the tunnel base. Ethan learns that the science expedition responsible was mostly eliminated, but he discovers tracks leading to the surface within the wasteland, leading him to believe that the lead scientist, Lex, and her team have escaped the Raak-Zun onslaught. Despite orders from his commanding General to return to base and not intervene (as Federal High Command had decided to take the matter personally), Ethan goes rogue and conducts a rescue of Lex and her team, only for the General to arrive and arrest Ethan, being later revealed the arrest was to prevent his summary execution for disobeying orders.

Reception

The game's original European launch was met with significant criticism over a large number of bugs and the absence of multiplayer, amongst other things. After several patches a number of early bugs have been resolved, and a multiplayer mode introduced, however recent reviews continue to conclude that the game remains mediocre.

On the other hand, there are some more positive reviews mainly from smaller and independent reviewing sites.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Windows30 November 2007Europe · North America 31 January 2008

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Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.