Evercade
mAh rechargeable battery | |
Successor | Evercade VS |
---|---|
Website | www |
The Evercade is a handheld game console developed and manufactured by UK company Blaze Entertainment. It focuses on retrogaming with ROM cartridges that each contain a number of emulated games. Development began in 2018, and the console was released in May 2020, after a few delays. Upon its launch, the console offered 10 game cartridges with a combined total of 122 games.
Arc System Works, Atari, G-Mode, Interplay Entertainment, Bandai Namco Entertainment and Piko Interactive have released emulated versions of their games for the Evercade. Pre-existing homebrew games have also been re-released for the console by Mega Cat Studios. The Evercade is capable of playing games originally released for the Atari 2600, the Atari 7800, the Atari Lynx, the Intellivision, the NES, the SNES, the Sega Genesis and the PlayStation as well as arcade games, and home computer games for the Commodore 64 and Amiga.
A
History
The Evercade was developed by the UK-based Blaze Entertainment,
The Evercade was initially scheduled to release in the fourth quarter of 2019,
On 31 May 2022, Blaze announced that it would discontinue the Evercade in favor of an upgraded version known as the Evercade EXP.[17][18]
Hardware
The Evercade has a 1.2 GHz
Like the
Blaze Entertainment developed 20 versions of the Evercade
Two-player games converted for the Evercade retain the multiplayer function, with the intention that future hardware will allow two players.[2] The addition of Bluetooth had been considered as a way to add multiplayer, but the development team scrapped this idea because of cost and complexity, which did not go well with the console's focus. At the end of 2019, before the Evercade's release, Blaze was already working on a second version with multiplayer capability and a possible, easier alternative for connecting the console to a television.[16]
Games
Games for the Evercade are distributed on multi-game
Cartridges contain recreations of existing games through emulation, and Evercade developers worked with the original software developers to ensure accurate game recreations.[4] Atari was announced in April 2019 as the first game publisher to work with the Evercade developers.[5] Subsequent partnerships were announced with Interplay Entertainment, Data East,[6] and Bandai Namco Entertainment.[32][33] Each Evercade cartridge contains games unique to their respective publishing company.[34]
Blaze Entertainment held discussions with game licensees and requested specific games for release on the Evercade. Such games were usually well known or rare. Games from Japanese studios were also sought for release on the Evercade.
The Evercade runs emulators that have been licensed by Blaze or custom-built in some cases. The console is capable of playing games originally released for the Atari 2600, the Atari 7800, the Atari Lynx, the NES, the SNES, the Mega Drive,[2][14][25] and the Intellivision.[38][39] The Evercade is also capable of running Neo Geo games, although such games have not been emulated for the console, and developers would need to reach a compromise between accuracy and performance.[16]
The Evercade had 10 game cartridges available at launch,[40] providing a total of 122 games.[20] Blaze intended to build up an Evercade game collection of more than 50 cartridges over the next few years.[35] Cartridges by Piko Interactive and Mega Cat were among those available at launch.[1][11] Evercade games typically sell for $20.[36] Arc System Works published a cartridge full of beat 'em up games originally developed by Technōs.[41] The Namco Museum Collection cartridge includes the first official English translation of the game Mappy Kids.[2] Iron Commando, which had previously received only a limited release by Piko, also saw a release on the Evercade.[8] Other cartridges include games such as Tanglewood,[28] and a collection of Atari Lynx games.[42][43]
In addition to those available on cartridges, hidden games can be unlocked from menu codes, button combo codes, and certain combinations of cartridges inserted into the Evercade VS together.[52]
Reception
Reviewers praised the console's emulation of classic games.
Andrew Webster of
Reviewers praised the controls, but criticized the layout of the action buttons.[3][14][19][25][26][30] Linneman wrote, "With NES games, for instance, A and B are mapped to the corresponding buttons where I would typically prefer X and A. Mega Drive/Genesis games also make use of A, B and Y which, again, doesn't feel entirely natural to me."[19] Ismail praised the company for its quick response to the layout issue: "The fact Blaze moved swiftly to push this update out in such close proximity to the handheld's release is a very encouraging sign that the company is listening".[14] Murray was critical of the shoulder buttons for being too sensitive and the action buttons for being placed too close to each other.[54]
Reviewers complained that the games fit too tightly in the cartridge slot, making extraction difficult. This was worsened by the fact that the cartridges have a smooth design which makes gripping them difficult. Blaze stated that these reviewers had received an early model and that the issue was remedied ahead of the console's launch.[13][14][23][54][56] Kyle Orland of Ars Technica criticized the use of cartridges at a time when downloadable games had become commonplace: "Going back to the bad old days of switching between cartridges just isn't that appealing anymore."[34]
The console's price was praised and considered affordable.[14][19][30] The cartridge packaging received praise as well.[3][13][14][19][25][30] Some critics were disappointed that the console uses a MicroUSB port rather than USB-C,[13][20] and others were disappointed by the lack of multiplayer functionality.[20][25][55] Estrada wrote that a small number of games, such as Splatterhouse 3, suffer from audio glitches.[20] Other critics also complained of audio problems, but Blaze worked to correct them.[14][25]
Reviewers stated that viewing the screen from an angle reduces the quality and visibility.[3][19][30] Liszewski wrote that the screen is one of the largest ever seen on a handheld console, but "not one of the best," stating "you don’t have to tilt the console too far to find the screen starting to lose color." He added that the resolution is fine for gameplay, but "it leaves menus looking over pixelated, unless you’re willing to just pass that off as retro charm."[13] Other reviewers criticized the minimal menu designs as well.[3][14] Some reviewers complained of a visual problem in which shimmering was present during scrolling.[19][25] Linneman was critical of the limited aspect selections.[19]
Subsequent consoles
Evercade VS
In April 2021, Blaze announced a
Evercade EXP
In May 2022, Blaze announced the Evercade EXP, an improved version of the original Evercade.[18][61][62] It was released on 15 December 2022.[63] The console is held horizontally, but can also be positioned vertically for arcade games.[62] It is compatible with all previously released Evercade games,[62] and includes 18 built-in games by Capcom.[64][65] The console is white, although an all-black limited edition would also be available, with 5,000 units produced. The standard console retails for £130/$150, while the limited edition is priced at £180/$227.[61][62][66]
Compared to the original console, the EXP includes additional buttons and a slightly altered button layout. Although the screen is the same size as the original handheld, the EXP plays in higher resolution at 800x480.[67][68] It has a mini-HDMI port for connection to a television, with output at 720p. The EXP uses a 1.5 GHz processor and has 4GB of RAM.[67] It offers Wi-Fi for software and firmware updates.[67] The console has a larger 3,000 mAh battery for up to five hours of usage, and it uses USB-C for recharging.[61][62]
The console's improved screen and its addition of vertical orientation were both praised,[64][65][69][70][71] although some critics were disappointed by the lack of Bluetooth.[72][73][74]
A redesigned version, the Evercade EXP-R, will release in July 2024 at a lower retail price, while the original EXP will be discontinued. The redesign excludes the mini-HDMI port and the 18 built-in games.[60][75]
Super Pocket
In July 2023, Blaze Entertainment unveiled its new line of Super Pocket handhelds to be produced under the company's new HyperMegaTech brand. The console featured a smaller design at a lower price along with built in games by Capcom and Taito, depending on edition. Despite not being officially branded as an Evercade console the Super Pocket does feature a cartridge slot and is compatible with all Evercade games. Preorders for the console began in July 2023 with units expected to ship in October of that year.[76][77]
References
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