SAGE 2022 - Demo AdvPack Season 2: Arcadia Coast Demo

This level is not that bad but is nothing special either. I get the appeal of trying to feel like Sonic GL, but I don't think Infinity Engine does this idea justice. It just feels.. kinda empty. I guess when the full game comes out (if it actually will, unlike many fan games) this stage will have its footing for example at the start of the game, to teach players the basics, but for a demo, it's not that good.

First things first- this game NEEDS to be optimized. I'm on a mid range gaming PC, able to run Omens at medium settings with very few frame drops, but at minimum settings 720p here, I could only get around 25-27 fps

As with every other 3D Sonic fan game ever, you need more automated cameras, especially in stages this wide and open. Leaving camera control entirely up to the player in a fast 3D platformer is frustrating and makes the game harder than it needs to be when using a controller. Plus, with the way the framework is set up, the camera turns with Sonic way too tightly- with open areas in SA1 and 06, you could run in a tight circle and the camera would just sway back and forth, here though, it would jerk side to side at a seizurific speed. Alternatively, you could only use a few automated cameras for sections that really need them, and then just box in the environments a bit. There's a good reason official 3D Sonic stage design is much more linear and narrow than other 3D platformers. The preview video at the end is exactly what I'm looking for, that's a stage design with form AND function, while this is... BlitzSonic esque. nintendo hire this man lookin. Just random hills and copy pasted rock formations. It's fun to play but that's mostly down to how badass and tight the Infinity Engine framework is.

VERY nice presentation, I love the style and mood, probably the best thing about this demo. I also loved how you have two different soundtracks so people won't have to deal with copyright bullshit if they make a video or stream this

Left stick has no deadzone, so if you're using an older controller with a loose left stick, menus are going to be a NIGHTMARE... which, they already are. Sometimes up and down go up and down, but sometimes, they're left and right, same with left and right sometimes being up and down depending on the selection you have highlighted. The right face button on the controller does nothing, so you just have to scroll to the bottom of the list to go back a menu, Balan Wonderworld style.

MAD potential, but I think you should be focusing on quality over quantity, I remember the first Adventure Pack had all these same problems except for the frame rate.

SAGE 22 - Sonic Fan Game 1 out of 69 - AdvPack Season 2: Arcadia Coast Demo
Very promising for what is to come.

Before I review, I would like to report that there are some bugs when it comes to navigating the menus. Sometimes, it would invert my UI controls, or even the Apply and Back buttons would swap but function the same.

Anyways, with that being said, the presentation got a good impression on me before I even started the game.
When I actually got into the game, I had to figure out which buttons do what since the controls menu wasn't available; but once I figured it out, the controls were really smooth to play around with.

The boost feels nice to control with its tight turning, though there were parts where I didn't bother boosting cause it would cause more trouble than good due to its speed. However, with sections where it tells you to boost or where there are no obstacles, I feel like that's where it felt the most satisfying to boost.

The level itself is really fun to blast through, whether boosting or not. I really appreciate the floating arrow signs pointing you in the right way. Most fan games I tried playing tend to not give you a sense of direction, so you tend to get lost. Again, nice of the arrow signs being here.

One gripe I have with the game is with the performance, I have a great PC though I do realize there are parts during the level where the FPS would tank harshly. Specifically when it comes to a part where there is nothing but water and land.

Otherwise, looking forward to the full release of the game, had a blast with this demo.