E.V.O.: Search for Eden
E.V.O.: Search for Eden | |
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Single-player |
E.V.O.: Search for Eden
Spanning a period of over a billion years, the game's story involves
Gameplay
E.V.O.: Search for Eden is a side-scrolling platform game where players must navigate a creature of their own design across a number of environments resembling Earth's past.
As the player progresses through each level, other organisms are encountered who must be confronted by biting, ramming them with horns, jumping on them until they are defeated, or jumping over them to avoid them. Defeated enemies leave behind meat which the player can consume to grant them "evolution points" used towards upgrading specific body parts.[4] The body of the character controlled by the player is divided into eight sections which can be upgraded by spending evolution points, making them stronger as well as changing their appearance. New abilities such as tail swings, greater jumping ability and increased movement speed can also be obtained through evolution.[3]
During gameplay, the player will also encounter crystals that either display hints and tips, grant large amounts of Evolution Points or transform their character into a unique body for a limited time.
Plot
E.V.O.: Search for Eden tells a mythical saga of life's evolution on Earth, with a subtext of a creation myth and polytheistic evolution. The player takes the role of one of many billions of lifeforms created by Gaia (personification of the planet Earth), the nurturing and benevolent daughter of Sol, the Sun. Among the creatures known as life, there is a competition to evolve, and the best lifeform will eventually be granted the privilege of entering the Garden of Eden and becoming the husband and partner of Gaia. As the game progresses, it soon becomes apparent some mysterious external force is interfering with evolution on Earth in a destructive manner. Strange crystals not native to Gaia appear across the planet, and creatures that eat the crystals are transformed into monstrously powerful beings that dominate all other lifeforms, overconsume resources and disrupt the flow of evolution. In each Age, the player character is tasked with confronting the species transformed by the crystals and defeating them so that the evolution of life can continue as intended.[4]
In the final Age, the Age of Eden, the player learns a mysterious entity is controlling the world's other lifeforms and sending them against the player. This entity turns out to be Bolbox, a lifeform that has evolved into a freakish and evil advanced being by consuming the crystals, believing itself to be the first human, but in reality is a gigantic single-celled organism. In the game's final battle, the player and Bolbox fight to determine who will gain entry into Eden and become Gaia's partner. Bolbox is defeated, and the player joins Gaia in Eden and is granted the gift of intelligence. It is also revealed the crystals were introduced to Earth by an advanced civilization on Mars, who misguidedly wished to help Earth by speeding its evolution with the crystals. Upon realizing the dangers the crystals create, the Martians decide to leave Earth alone and observe until it becomes advanced enough for them to interact with.[4]
Development
E.V.O.: Search for Eden was developed by
The North American version was translated and marketed by Enix America Corporation. While originally planned for a March 1993 release, the game was beset by last-minute delays for several months until the following June.[9] The company would later hold a promotional contest where players could send in photographs of their favorite customized creatures for a chance to win a free Enix game.[10]
Music
The music for E.V.O.: Search for Eden was originally composed by
Reception
Publication | Score |
---|---|
AllGame | [15] |
GamePro | 3.5 / 5[16] |
Nintendo Power | 3.6 / 5[9] |
Super Play | 47 / 100[17] |
GamePro magazine praised the game's originality and overall design but found fault with the visual presentation of the title, stating "although this game has an interesting concept, the sluggish game play and average graphics may make you return to the caves."[16] The publication also found the background music lacking, stating the game's compositions ranged from "soothing" to "annoying".[16] Nintendo Power called attention to the game's ingenuity and theme, remarking that "[t]he idea of this game is great and the weird creatures you can evolve can be both bizarre and hilarious."[9] However, the magazine felt the game's representation of the concept of evolution was too fanciful, also stating the process of obtaining power-up items being "tedious".[9] Nintendo Power would later give the game an honorable mention during its "Top Titles of 1993" awards segment as one of the most innovative games of the year.[18]
More contemporary reviews of the game were largely positive. In February 2007, IGN ranked E.V.O.: Search for Eden second in its list of the greatest "Prehistoric Games" of all time, stating "[n]o other title before or since has so effectively captured the essence of evolutionary theory in videogame form."[19] The website additionally likened the title to the then-upcoming and highly anticipated Spore by Maxis, calling E.V.O.: Search for Eden the "original success story" in life-simulation gaming and the standard for which it would be judged.[19] the same website rated the game 42nd on its Top 100 SNES Games. They praised the game commenting: "One of the most brilliantly original game designs ever conceived."[20]
References
Notes
- ^ The game was titled 46 Okunen Monogatari ~Harukanaru Eden E~ (46億年物語 はるかなるエデンへ, "4.6 Billion Year Story: To Distant Eden") in Japan.
Footnotes
- ^ "Nintendo Power's E.V.O. Player's Guide". Nintendo Power. No. 50. Nintendo of America. July 1993. p. 22.
- ^ "Nintendo Power's E.V.O. Player's Guide". Nintendo Power. No. 50. Nintendo of America. July 1993. p. 24.
- ^ a b c "Nintendo Power's E.V.O. Player's Guide". Nintendo Power. No. 50. Nintendo of America. July 1993. p. 23.
- ^ a b c Enix America Corp. (1993). E.V.O.: Search for Eden Instruction Booklet. pp. 6–10. SNS-46.
- ^ Enix America Corp. (1993). E.V.O.: Search for Eden Instruction Booklet. p. 9. SNS-46.
- ^ a b Enix America Corp. (1993). E.V.O.: Search for Eden Instruction Booklet. p. 10. SNS-46.
- ^ "Retro Japanese Computers: Gaming's Final Frontier". Retro Gamer. No. 67. September 2009..
- ^ a b c Yoneda, Takashi (2003). "Hirano Bucho-Do: Cyber Games Profile" (in Japanese). Takashi Yoneda Official Website. Archived from the original on 2003-03-26. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
- ^ a b c d Rob Noel and George Sinfeld (June 1993). "E.V.O. Review". Nintendo Power. No. 49. Nintendo of America. pp. 104–105.
- ^ Enix America Corp. (May 1993). "E.V.O.: Search for Eden "The Power is Yours" Contest Promotion". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 46. Imagine Games Network. p. 17.
- ^ "E. V. O.: Search for Eden Credits". Mobygames. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
- ^ Rzeminski, Lucy (2001). "Chudah's Corner - Orchestral Game Concert 2". Chudah's Corner. Archived from the original on 2010-10-30. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
- ^ Gann, Patrick (2001-04-01). "RPGFan Soundtracks - Orchestral Game Concert 2". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
- ^ Rzeminski, Lucy (2005). "Chudah's Corner - Symphonic Synth Suite ~ 4.6 Billion Year Story". Chudah's Corner. Archived from the original on 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
- ^ Allgame. Archived from the originalon November 16, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ a b c Scary Larry (August 1993). "E.V.O.: Search for Eden SNES ProReview". GamePro. No. 49. IDG Entertainment. p. 90.
- ^ a b Pelley, Rich (November 1993). "EVO: Search for Eden Review". Super Play (13). Future Publishing: 53.
- ^ "Top Titles of 1993 - SNES Awards - Honorable Mention - Most Innovative". Nintendo Power Super Power Club Supplement (56). Nintendo of America: 4. January 1994.
- ^ a b "IGN: Top 10 Tuesday: Prehistoric Games". IGN. 2007-02-27. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
- ^ Top 100 SNES Games of All Time - IGN.com, retrieved 2022-08-26
External links
- Official Square Enix info page (in Japanese)
- E.V.O.: Search for Eden at MobyGames.