We've covered the Evercade console a few times on this site, mainly because we love the idea of a brand-new handheld system which uses old-school cartridges. This pocket-friendly device doesn't have the backing of a Nintendo or Sony-sized company behind it, yet the team involved have managed to not only produce a likeable piece of kit, but also populate its library with some unexpected retro gems – as well as modern classics, such as Xeno Crisis and Tanglewood.
The Evercade is also getting a collection which highlights the work of the Oliver Twins, the British coding siblings who made a massive impact on the world of gaming via their best-selling Dizzy series during the '80s and early '90s.
The Oliver Twins Collection – which is Evercade release "12" in case you were wondering – features The Fantastic Adventures of Dizzy, Wonderland Dizzy, Panic Dizzy, Go! Dizzy Go!, Dizzy the Adventurer, Mystery World Dizzy and Treasure Island Dizzy, as well as Super Robin Hood, Firehawk, Professional BMX Simulator and Dreamworld Pogie. The game is a "lost classic" which was only released in 2017, as are Wonderland Dizzy, Panic Dizzy, Go! Dizzy Go! and Mystery World Dizzy, so this package is doing so much more than just connecting you with old games – it's preserving them, too.
What's notable about these titles? They're all NES games. While The Oliver Twins arguably found the most fame on home computers like the ZX Spectrum and C64, they – via publisher Codemasters – supported Nintendo's 8-bit console with gusto, as this collection attests. Emulation is excellent throughout, while the Evercade's precise D-Pad and big, friendly buttons mean each game included here is a joy to control. The fact that you can hook up the console to your TV via HDMI for a more authentic home console experience is a nice bonus for long-standing NES fans.
What makes packages like this so special is that they're a legitimate way for Nintendo fans to reconnect with a part of Nintendo history. It might be somewhat disingenuous to state that the 11 games featured in this collection are some of the best on the NES – the Dizzy series has always been something of an acquired taste, after all – but the fact that they're being offered for sale after all these years is cause for celebration; what makes the collection even more appealing is that all profits will be going to the National Video Game Museum charity.
Evercade also has Jaleco and Data East cartridges lined up for release – both of which will also contain Nintendo titles – and has also produced two carts which cover the library of the Atari Lynx, a console that, for modern players, is likely to be a complete mystery. Like Nintendo's defunct Virtual Console service, the Evercade is shaping up to become a vital conduit between the past and present, and we could potentially see many more forgotten NES and SNES classics getting a new lease of life via this likeable little console.
Just imagine a Sega collection or a cart which comes packed with obscure Game Boy releases...
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Comments 42
This looks so cool, no I mean so strange.
There's lot of fixes in the firmware 1.3 released yesterday that increase brightness and fix other bugs. If you're 'cade curious then hop onto the discord, it's not hard to find.
You and I have a different definition of vital, Nintendolife.
@noobish_hat Have you used one? It's fantastic; very much like the Saturn rolling pad.
I wish they would bring the Dizzy games to switch this way. Loved them so much on my C64
That's good news
The evercade is one of the most interesting handheld out there right now more games the better
Just need to bye one now
the angry video game nerd screams in the background
@noobish_hat The D-pad is superb, mate. Brilliant feel and insanely responsive.
Unless I'm mistaken, Wonderland Dizzy, Panic Dizzy, Go! Dizzy Go! and Mystery World Dizzy are technically "lost" games too, all from cancelled projects that got resurrected by Kickstarter, etc.
Viva Evercade. Long may it live.
Still waiting for some RPG's.
@StuartGipp That's a good point, I've updated the text
@Crono1973 Piko collection has a couple iirc. Yet to find out if they're good though.
Did the new earthworm jim come out yet?
I want to like it but I just don't know.
@Bunkerneath Me too!! Which ones were your favourites? Mine were Crystal Kingdom Dizzy and Magicland Dizzy. The C64 music for all the games was sublime. I also used to like the Seymour games.
The Best Game Ever according to Yathzee Croshaw
I can vouch for the dpad as well. I had my worries before I received mine, but now I wish my pro controller had a dpad like the Evercade.
Chiming in on the d-pad thing - it's excellent. Comfortable and responsive. The deep press of the action buttons is pretty satisfying too. To be honest, we can debate the build quality, and yes the build is not up to the standard of the switch overall, but this is a console that retails with a cartridge of games included for £59.99. It's cheaper than a pair of joy cons. Yes, there are slight niggles but it's still one of the best value gaming devices I've ever bought.
@ReikoMortis I have one and I love it
The thing that appeals to me is the small (getting bigger) collection of games there's not enough to the point where I'm overwhelmed and end up scrolling menus rather than playing
It's a great way to reconnect with some classic games on the go and newer entries like Xenocrisis
Had a Codemasters quad cartridge on NES. It had Linus Spacehead, Super Robin Hood, Boomerang Kid, and Treasure Island Dizzy.
My favorites were probably Robin Hood and Boomerang kid. One of them is on this.
@StuartGipp I'm pretty sure it's Go Dizzy Go for nes on the Quattro arcade cartridge from camerica/codemasters
@HIGHscores85 Yep, I always forget that one. I know Treasure Island Dizzy is from Quattro Adventure.
Thats coo- wait a second is that a egg?
I love my Evercade. It's a great system. Although, by no means perfect, I heartily recommend one to anyone who is even remotely tempted by it. I have had no issues with the screen at all and the D-pad is excellent. It's getting a steady stream of releases too. The Codemasters Collection was a real surprise - I love the Dizzy games.
@Clyde_Radcliffe @Bunkerneath mine would have to be Fantasy World Dizzy. Treasure Island was a close second though. This may actually cause me to finally buy the Evercade...
I was exited to hear about this compilation but like most other Evercade compilation disappointed that its not the better versions on there, I'm sure its easier to do NES ROMS than Amiga, C64, ZX81, Amstrad etc but those were the better versions! The "unreleased" ones were mostly versions of others but still nice to have i guess and the price of these carts are still very reasonable and have good manuals.
I am drawn to this system and would like to get one. Seems like a nice retro-portable-companion system to have. The skies the limit on what is being released on it, and I'm steadily intrigued. Now if there was a Broderbund Collection with Guardian Legend and Battle of Olympus on it...
Seems like the few comments here writing negative things about this system don't even own one. Trolls gonna troll
@ZelthkingYoutube You have to select state slot first than confirm than choose save game, that works for me anyway. I think evercade is neat and this collection is well worth picking up.
Don't know much about Evercade, but as a gamer around the age of the guy in the video, I appreciate the song reference in the article subtitle.
The bad is there is no way for two player games. That's the biggest downside. That's why I will spend my money on Switch version games at least I can have multi-player to have more fun. Not to mention the cost of the console is so close to what a Switch would cost if it was closer to the Lite or somewhere 150$$ that would be more appealing but getting close to the Switch price and not able to have two player kinda crashes the party.
Honestly this console has never appealed to me and I am usually really big on collecting handhelds and classic gaming stuff. Something about the design just doesn't do it for me, and I have no shortage of classics on my Switch. It's like why bother with this when I have a Switch Lite.
I love my Evercade and have been really enjoying this collection. Have played a lot of Super Robin Hood and Dizzy the Adventurer so far. Man, the music in Dizzy the Adventurer is seriously painful though!
Some people moan about build quality of the Evercade (I saw an online reviewer unfavourably comparing it to his £800 iPhone), but you can get it for £55 with an 11 game cartridge. It's not likely to feel like a premium device for that price! It's cheap and cheerful and is about one thing only: good old fashioned games.
What by offering up some dreadful games.
@BionicDodo I'd happily of paid double for something that actually looks less like a fisher price happy meal toy.
@ZelthkingYoutube There's been an update released in the last week that sorts things like the brightness amongst other complaints. Really is a cracking system now and I wouldn't be put off by things like this.
@SwitchForce The console is around £55?
@hadrian They are releasing cartridges all the time. There's an Atari Lynx set out very soon with over 30 games on and there's plans for more indie/arcade games in the very near future.
@JayJ Because you can't 99% of its games on a Switch Lite?
@Lorfarius Talking about the overall value the cost to ownership of the system compared to value of Switch for it's price model. Being less and in terms of lack of two player option for games that was 2 player lowers its' value.
@Lorfarius Yeah that's not really a problem for me. I already got tons of ACA games, the Atari Collection, and lots of other classics. Can't say I feel like I am missing out on anything.
@ReikoMortis Yes, I got one last month with all ten carts, all in.
They have fixed a lot of problems, carts are easy to put in and take out. Firmware update so you can change button inputs. Didnt have a problem with save states so I dont know what people are talking about with that at all.
Screen is fine, I dont see any problems at all with it at all.
Buttons are very responsive too
I use mine in handheld, but I also use it on my little CRT TV with an HDMI to AV connection, looks great!
I highly recommend this system, and all the carts.
I love that every few months we get at least 2 new carts with loads of games on them and they only cost €20, which is nothing really. And its all official, which is nice.
It was such a pity when the original systems went out for review to reviewers, because people just focused on the bad, and those reviews are what pops up now when people look it up aka, 'MetalJesus Rocks' and 'Game Sack' etc.
Its all been updated now and working very well. Its a very niche product, they know its a small audience but I love mine and I highly recommend it to anyone thinking of getting one.
I'm hoping they are going to release a proper home console version for these games in the next year or two with a proper controller or allow use to use our 8bitdo controllers with inbuilt bluetooth.
EDIT: On Multiplayer.
The Devs did say ( a while back) that they will be leaving in all the multiplayer settings and games in all the releases with a hope that they can release a home system in the future. So thats, promising
@Roam85 I think the New Earthworm Jim 3 is being released on the 'Amiico', to die sadly.
It'll probably get a wider release a few months later on other systems, maybe even on the Evercade.
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