SAGE 2017 is Open

The long community tradition is back. Early this morning, the virtual doors to the 2017 Sonic Amateur Games Expo opened.

Going on now until October 7th, the event features more than 40 titles. As has been the case before, a large majority of them are Sonic fan games, including the heavily promoted return of Sonic 2 HD, the latest release of 3D-based Sonic World, and the version 1.1 release of Chao Resort Island.

But this year there has also been an influx of fan games and original indie titles from other realms as well.  Super Mario Flashback is on site this year with a new engine test.  The Crash Bandicoot themed fan game N.Tense Adventure has three stages to enjoy. Then there are other, more original titles. Astral World has been compared to Freedom Planet. Allegro the Melodic Warrior has been praised for its retro originality. Clash Force 2 brings the 2D side-scrolling shooter to the forefront again. And that’s just a small sampling.

It is the first SAGE since the release of Sonic Mania, largely the product of two community legends who cut their teeth on Sonic fan games: Taxman and Stealth.

With all that in mind, TSSZ invited Neo Hazard, one of this year’s SAGE organizers, for an extended discussion on how Mania has molded the variety of entries this year, how 3D factors into the variety, and the other SAGE-themed events going on. He joined us for the debut edition of TSSZ News Final on our Twitch stream.