Game

Review Evercade EXP – Retro Bliss Reborn


For fans of classic games who love physical vehicles but are fascinated by the price of old carts, the Evercade brand has fulfilled a dream of nostalgia over the past two years. With a pick-and-play mentality, a growing trolley library filled with officially licensed classic console and arcade games, as well as numerous hardware iterations, Evercade has found its place in the industry. an increasingly popular market. Evercade EXP, an updated version of the original handheld, is the best Evercade ever. If you’re interested in 8 and 16 bit consoles and video games, the Evercade EXP offers a great way to play physical cartridge collections in portable form.

For those unfamiliar with Evercade, it made its debut in 2020 as a budget-friendly handheld with tape play. Each cartridge, priced at $20 a box, features a collection of authentic classic games. There are collections based on old platforms like the Atari Lynx and Commodore 64 as well as publisher-themed carts from studios like Data East, Interplay, Codemasters, etc. Just like the old days, the trolleys Packed in thick plastic boxes filled with cool pads. You insert the cartridge, pick a game, and join in almost instantly. Quality of life improvements such as save states and various display settings make these classic games easier to digest, providing quick playability.

The original handset to be followed in 2021 by Evercade VS, a home console capable of 1080p and multiplayer for two players. With EXP, maker Blaze Entertainment has gone back to its handheld roots, improving on the original design in practically every way.

Evercade EXP comes in an all-white design or an all-black limited edition. The original has a toy-like appearance, with a slightly cheap plastic feel and light weight. The EXP, on the other hand, has a more modern vibe. Heavier feel, premium textured back and more elegant form factor combine to create a perfect device. It’s really day and night as you switch back and forth between the two handsets. The slightly wider cover makes for a more comfortable gaming experience while remaining compact enough to fit in your pocket.

Evercade EXP Hộp Box and Handset
Evercade EXP Hộp Box and Handset

Exhibition room

More than just an improvement in overall aesthetics and feel, the EXP also features notable upgrades to the D-pad and trigger. The eight-way D-pad has smoother range of motion. It’s easily one of the best D-pads I’ve used on a handheld. The original handheld only had a pair of shoulder buttons, while the EXP added matching trigger buttons and improved shoulder buttons.

You will notice bonus buttons A and B on the left side of the handset. These buttons are for TATE mode, which allows you to play select Evercade games with the screen oriented vertically. You simply press the dedicated TATE button at the bottom of the EXP and rotate the handset to the side. Only 21 games across the entire Evercade library support TATE mode at launch, but it’s great to play classics like Burger Time, Super Breakout, and Centipede using the full screen. Sure, Flip Grip exists for the Nintendo Switch, but it’s nice to use a handheld with this feature, especially since supported games actually work best with portrait orientation.

The Evercade experience is enhanced by the improved display on the EXP. The increased brightness is immediately noticeable. Still the same 4.3-inch size, but the resolution is significantly improved. It has an 800 x 480 IPS display compared to the 480 x 272 resolution screen of the original. Overall, it has a much sharper picture quality that makes 8 and 16 bit games from years past really stand out. The EXP still plays all of the same games as the original, so you can aptly compare it to the Switch to Switch OLED jump in terms of viewing experience. Speaking of viewing experience, the EXP’s display has far superior viewing angles. You can tilt it without blurring the image.

Evercade EXP Capcom Collection
Evercade EXP Capcom Collection

Exhibition room

And just like the OLED Switch, you can only see these improvements in handheld mode. You can connect the EXP to an external monitor using the Mini-HDMI port to run the game at 720p. This is the same “mounted” resolution as the original. For those who prefer to play on a larger screen, you’ll still want to go for Evercade VS, as it offers 1080p as well as multiplayer for two. EXP is still a device for playing the classics alone.

I also appreciate the changes to some of the basic features, such as the transition from the power switch to the power button and the more compact, discreet Start/Select/Menu buttons. The biggest general usage change is the switch from microUSB charging to USB-C charging. The Evercade is the only device I regularly use that charges via microUSB. When fully charged, EXP will run for four to five hours, just like the original. My only complaint with the build is that you still need to use the 3.5mm headphone jack for private listening. EXP does not support Bluetooth, which is certainly a pity.

The custom Linux OS that EXP runs borrows from the VS home console. If you’ve tried any of the Nintendo or Sega mini consoles, it’s pretty much the same as those, with game box tiles to scroll through. When you click on a game, you get the top level description as well as the controls. You can load your game from your last save to quickly pick up where you left off. Multiple display themes, audio mixer sliders, and display settings are available in the menu settings. Display settings allow you to switch aspect ratios, add sweep lines, and select borders. Original Evercade owners can also update their handset’s firmware to the new OS layout. That said, the EXP actually delivers a slightly smoother and faster overall experience, presumably due to the jump from 1.2GHz to 1.5GHz processors.

Evercade EXP next to the original Evercade
Evercade EXP next to the original Evercade

Exhibition room

So the handheld itself is great, but what about the games? One of EXP’s main selling points is its built-in library of 18 Capcom games. They are EXP-only, so you won’t be able to play them on the original handheld or VS. While it’s a bit odd for a manufacturer so focused on physical media and eye-catching packaging to go the digital route, there’s no denying the appeal of this classic collection. Here’s what you get, no download needed:

  • Superman (8-bit)
  • Mega Man 2 (8-bit)
  • Mega Man X (16-bit)
  • Breath of Fire (16-bit)
  • 1942
  • 1943
  • 1944: The Loop Master
  • Biological Special Forces
  • commando captain
  • special agent
  • The last battle
  • Forgotten world
  • Ghoul ‘n Ghosts
  • legendary wings
  • MERCS
  • Street Fighter II: Super Fighting
  • strider
  • Vulgus

The Mega Man and Breath of Fire trilogy are console games, while the remaining 14 games are based on the arcade version. Classics like 1942 and 1943 take advantage of TATE mode, and playing great hits like Street Fighter II and Strider on this tiny handheld is a real experience. All run and look great. In addition, new Evercade owners will have a ton of remarkable games to play right away, which is a big bonus.

Evercade's TATE EXP mode
Evercade’s TATE EXP mode

Exhibition room

EXP also comes with a new collection of cartridges focused on IREM games. There are six games including: R-Type, Moon Patrol, In the Hunt, Battle Chopper, Lightning Swords and 10-Yard Fight. The R-Type is the big highlight here. The classic shooting game still plays well all these years later.

The IREM Cart is just one of dozens of Evercade collections currently available. For a complete list, see Evercade’s website. The amount of value you get from Evercade depends heavily on how interested you are in the growing library of games. You’ll find nearly every genre imaginable on Evercade, so it’s really the case that there’s something for everyone. It’s only a problem if any full game you want to play.

While I won’t spoil it, Blaze brought back the “hidden” games. There are five games to unlock via secret passwords and button combinations.

All told, you’ll get the Evercade EXP handheld and over two dozen games for $150. For those who already have the original Evercade, deciding whether or not to upgrade probably depends on how well you’ve played the Evercade games. People who are considering picking Evercade for the first time should absolutely use EXP. While it’s $50 more expensive than the original Evercade Premium Bundle (which comes with three strollers), the improvements to the build alone justify the leap. Take in 18 Capcom games and even better value.

Where to buy EXP Evercade

specifications Evercade Experience
Display IPS 4.3 inch
Resolution 800 x 480
microprocessor 1.5 GHz
smack 4GB
Size 7.56 x 3.07 x .78 inches
Weight 270g
gate USB-C, Mini-HDMI, 3.5mm audio

Games included

18 Capcom (preloaded), IREM Collection (based on 6 cartridges), 5 secret games

The products discussed here are independently selected by our editors. GameSpot may receive a share of the revenue if you purchase anything featured on our site.

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button