My favourite 20 Evercade games so far
Having completed my collection with all 10 launch Evercade carts, I thought maybe an in-depth review of each cart and game. But that seems like overkill, especially with such a personal take on some games and a knowledge vacuum on others.
Then, I considered an Excel spreadsheet of every game with points across a silly number of categories and metrics, but life is short and this is supposed to be fun for me, not like work. Maybe another day, when I want to mathematically prove which cartridge is best, and the roster grows with future and rumoured carts.
As a compromise, here are my top 20 Evercade games so far. Not necessarily the best, but those that have grabbed my attention when switching from game-to-game, cart-to-cart in a delightful world of retro chic. They are listed in collection number order:
Missile Command (Atari Collection 1)
Back in the zone without a second's hesitation, I've played endless versions and variants of this, but never the original and it is great to find it stacks up to the others. Compulsive play and the actual feeling of protecting the cities from streams of incoming missiles give this an edge (amazing it took so long for all the tower defence games to turn up and steal its thunder).
Steeplechase (Atari Collection 1)
Didn't expect to give this more than a few seconds play, but the strange rhythm of a prototype-Hyper Sports level give it a curious replay-ability. Leaping over the different sized hurdles with the speed picking up every few strides, as I try to lower to my time is decidedly addictive.
Dig Dug (Namco Museum Collection 1)
Always loved this because the idea of over-inflating a dragon was one of the best game mechanics in a world full of zapping, bashing and stabbing those on-screen enemies. Dig Dug remains endlessly playable and timelessly cute without flogging the characterization to death, something so many cutesy games ruin their aura with.
Xevious (Namco Museum Collection 1)
There are many more better shooters from back in the day, but Xevious always had the best name, a title of mystery, And this is one of the few classic shooters Evercade has landed so far! The ability to bomb ground targets always gave it an edge, and the chrome tinge to the enemies adds a touch of metallic class.
Burnin Rubber (Data East Collection 1)
Without Spy Hunter to play, this'll do. Never heard of it before, but there's scenery to dodge, jumps to land and a road full of enemy vehicles to nudge into oblivion. The speedy-slick gameplay is such a change of pace to most other titles around the time, it really leaps out (up and over)!
Midnight Resistance (Data East Collection 1)
While we wait for Evercade to sign those arcade deals and get the originals in our hands, there are a few titles that are close to replicating that grimy arcade Saturday escapism feel. Midnight Resistance comes close to hitting the spot, with its key collecting, shooty-up -down and all-around, mechanic, with fast paced action and an impressive variety of enemies to take on.
Incantation (Interplay Museum Collection 1)
Another one that totally passed me by in the early console days (apparently it was aimed at the kids), but it looks beautiful with a cheery wizard leaping about the scenery, collecting coins and taking on big baddies with a range of spells. No specific reason to like it other than the bright colours and cheery tunes bring a smile to my face.
Yars Revenge (Atari Collection 2)
I know Yars was madly popular, but had no idea why. I also had no idea how to play it, but once "in the zone" of shoot-and-eat-the-shields, it is easy to see the attraction, and the relative level of complexity and challenge for the 2600 and 7800 versions.
Solaris (Atari Collection 2)
There's a couple of games like this, but Solaris seems to be the one stretching the Atari 2600 to its limits, and is a sequel to the legendary Star Raiders (I did not know that!) With multiple levels and mission types, a star map to pick them from and rather refined shooting once the ship gets to each system, there's plenty to see and do in what feels like a huge galaxy for such a tiny platform.
Centipede (Atari Collection 2)
The 7800 version is naturally rather better looking than the original in Atari Collection 1, so it gets the nod. Also, the spiders are a little less ear-piercingly shouty and the centipede noise is better, making concentrating on wiping out the encroaching roaches easier and more fun. There might be more differences, but who cares when things get hectic at the bottom of the screen.
Asteroids (Atari Collection 2)
Again, the 7800 edition is a bit crisper and smoother then the original, but it really doesn't matter when there's large chunks of space rock to shoot up and the odd alien invader to dodge. Pretty much the definition of quick-burst gaming, I love being on the edge of control of the craft in the busier levels and trying to nail those last crumbs of asteroid while coolly cruising past.
Galaga (Namco Museum Collection 2)
Or Galaxians, take your pick! But as Galaga is slightly more pacey, has faster fire rate and sounds better, I'll go with it. Especially as the ship can get captured and then freed to create an almighty warbird (at the risk of losing more lives), play both to see the fast pace of innovation in gaming - really hope the crazed Gaplus game gets an airing.
Pac Panic (Namco Museum Collection 2)
Another new one to me. And I love the strategic approach required to line up the blocks and the ghosts for Pac Man to eat to maximise the score and get the game's fairy to pop up and lend a hand. A charming little title that makes practical use of its hero, what's not to like - until I get it wrong and screw up some mega-score opportunity.
Splatter House 3 (Namco Museum Collection 2)
Ah, the mock-horror games trying to grab tabloid headlines and political outrage. one of the Splatter Houses I picked up for the Mega Drive, and at least it remembers to bring a good game. Beyond the scary Terror Mask intro, it is pretty much a standard beat 'em up with few reasons for the teen-rating. However, as a game, it is tight, fast, packed with visual detail and the soundtrack alone is enough to give anyone the creeps.
Burning Force (Namco Museum Collection 2)
The Mega Drive did a good job of capturing the arcade experience of this Space Harrier-alike. It feels very crisp on a handheld with the wave-landscape effects and the over-size baddies dominating as the big bubbly fire effects ping up and down the screen. Marking another step forward in video gaming and on the road to proper 3D, the pace and missions still feel like a big leap.
Claymates (Interplay Collection 2)
Another new game to me from the Interplay collections, and one flinging so many tricks and innovations into the platform game genre that it is hard to remember them all moments after playing them. Primarily, the gimmick is the character changing thanks to the claymation feature that Interplay was so enamoured with, I'm not really far into this yet, but its a game that I really want to explore more.
Old Towers (Mega Cat)
Jeez this is fast, my first thought on coming across this puzzler. Having played plenty of them on the Vita recently, this is a gorgeous blur of activity as the lightbeam-bug thingy races around the screen to capture coins and avoid the many traps in each tower. What a blinder and a game I'd happily pay for individually.
Tanzer (Mega Cat)
What was this developer on? Someone, somewhere mixed rave anthems, a history book, Psygnosis' art style and aliens to deliver a crazed shooter that is slick and bouncy, yet weird as hell. Another retro/modern release, it crams an awful lot into the action and is a wild ride to enjoy as well as being a solid shooter.
SwitchBlade (Piko)
A version of SwitchBlade was Kickstarted for the Atari Jaguar a while back, these are the strange times we live in. Original developer Core Design was local to me way back when, so in a support-your-team style I loved the Atari ST version, which is still fun with its chrome-tinged ladder-heavy world, weapon shopping sprees and up-close, if rather odd, combat action.
River City Ransom (Technos)
On a cart with several Double Dragons and Renegade, I'm surprised to find I rate this better, as its faster, less glitchy and more fun to play than the more storied games. With a cartoony look, it might be a knock-off of those big-names, but has more panache and fits its console limitations to deliver a sneaky knock-out punch.
Pretty sure that some of these titles could easily fall out of favour, but among the many delights across the 10 Evercade carts, they stand out for now!
Bubbling under, if you're looking for a few more ideas:
Alien Brigade
Desert Falcon (7800)
Tinhead
Phelios
Iron Commander
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| Sorry for the lack of imagery, need to set up a little cubbyhole studio for decent Evercade pics! |
As a compromise, here are my top 20 Evercade games so far. Not necessarily the best, but those that have grabbed my attention when switching from game-to-game, cart-to-cart in a delightful world of retro chic. They are listed in collection number order:
Missile Command (Atari Collection 1)
Back in the zone without a second's hesitation, I've played endless versions and variants of this, but never the original and it is great to find it stacks up to the others. Compulsive play and the actual feeling of protecting the cities from streams of incoming missiles give this an edge (amazing it took so long for all the tower defence games to turn up and steal its thunder).
Steeplechase (Atari Collection 1)
Didn't expect to give this more than a few seconds play, but the strange rhythm of a prototype-Hyper Sports level give it a curious replay-ability. Leaping over the different sized hurdles with the speed picking up every few strides, as I try to lower to my time is decidedly addictive.
Dig Dug (Namco Museum Collection 1)
Always loved this because the idea of over-inflating a dragon was one of the best game mechanics in a world full of zapping, bashing and stabbing those on-screen enemies. Dig Dug remains endlessly playable and timelessly cute without flogging the characterization to death, something so many cutesy games ruin their aura with.
Xevious (Namco Museum Collection 1)
There are many more better shooters from back in the day, but Xevious always had the best name, a title of mystery, And this is one of the few classic shooters Evercade has landed so far! The ability to bomb ground targets always gave it an edge, and the chrome tinge to the enemies adds a touch of metallic class.
Burnin Rubber (Data East Collection 1)
Without Spy Hunter to play, this'll do. Never heard of it before, but there's scenery to dodge, jumps to land and a road full of enemy vehicles to nudge into oblivion. The speedy-slick gameplay is such a change of pace to most other titles around the time, it really leaps out (up and over)!
Midnight Resistance (Data East Collection 1)
While we wait for Evercade to sign those arcade deals and get the originals in our hands, there are a few titles that are close to replicating that grimy arcade Saturday escapism feel. Midnight Resistance comes close to hitting the spot, with its key collecting, shooty-up -down and all-around, mechanic, with fast paced action and an impressive variety of enemies to take on.
Incantation (Interplay Museum Collection 1)
Another one that totally passed me by in the early console days (apparently it was aimed at the kids), but it looks beautiful with a cheery wizard leaping about the scenery, collecting coins and taking on big baddies with a range of spells. No specific reason to like it other than the bright colours and cheery tunes bring a smile to my face.
Yars Revenge (Atari Collection 2)
I know Yars was madly popular, but had no idea why. I also had no idea how to play it, but once "in the zone" of shoot-and-eat-the-shields, it is easy to see the attraction, and the relative level of complexity and challenge for the 2600 and 7800 versions.
Solaris (Atari Collection 2)
There's a couple of games like this, but Solaris seems to be the one stretching the Atari 2600 to its limits, and is a sequel to the legendary Star Raiders (I did not know that!) With multiple levels and mission types, a star map to pick them from and rather refined shooting once the ship gets to each system, there's plenty to see and do in what feels like a huge galaxy for such a tiny platform.
Centipede (Atari Collection 2)
The 7800 version is naturally rather better looking than the original in Atari Collection 1, so it gets the nod. Also, the spiders are a little less ear-piercingly shouty and the centipede noise is better, making concentrating on wiping out the encroaching roaches easier and more fun. There might be more differences, but who cares when things get hectic at the bottom of the screen.
Asteroids (Atari Collection 2)
Again, the 7800 edition is a bit crisper and smoother then the original, but it really doesn't matter when there's large chunks of space rock to shoot up and the odd alien invader to dodge. Pretty much the definition of quick-burst gaming, I love being on the edge of control of the craft in the busier levels and trying to nail those last crumbs of asteroid while coolly cruising past.
Galaga (Namco Museum Collection 2)
Or Galaxians, take your pick! But as Galaga is slightly more pacey, has faster fire rate and sounds better, I'll go with it. Especially as the ship can get captured and then freed to create an almighty warbird (at the risk of losing more lives), play both to see the fast pace of innovation in gaming - really hope the crazed Gaplus game gets an airing.
Pac Panic (Namco Museum Collection 2)
Another new one to me. And I love the strategic approach required to line up the blocks and the ghosts for Pac Man to eat to maximise the score and get the game's fairy to pop up and lend a hand. A charming little title that makes practical use of its hero, what's not to like - until I get it wrong and screw up some mega-score opportunity.
Splatter House 3 (Namco Museum Collection 2)
Ah, the mock-horror games trying to grab tabloid headlines and political outrage. one of the Splatter Houses I picked up for the Mega Drive, and at least it remembers to bring a good game. Beyond the scary Terror Mask intro, it is pretty much a standard beat 'em up with few reasons for the teen-rating. However, as a game, it is tight, fast, packed with visual detail and the soundtrack alone is enough to give anyone the creeps.
Burning Force (Namco Museum Collection 2)
The Mega Drive did a good job of capturing the arcade experience of this Space Harrier-alike. It feels very crisp on a handheld with the wave-landscape effects and the over-size baddies dominating as the big bubbly fire effects ping up and down the screen. Marking another step forward in video gaming and on the road to proper 3D, the pace and missions still feel like a big leap.
Claymates (Interplay Collection 2)
Another new game to me from the Interplay collections, and one flinging so many tricks and innovations into the platform game genre that it is hard to remember them all moments after playing them. Primarily, the gimmick is the character changing thanks to the claymation feature that Interplay was so enamoured with, I'm not really far into this yet, but its a game that I really want to explore more.
Old Towers (Mega Cat)
Jeez this is fast, my first thought on coming across this puzzler. Having played plenty of them on the Vita recently, this is a gorgeous blur of activity as the lightbeam-bug thingy races around the screen to capture coins and avoid the many traps in each tower. What a blinder and a game I'd happily pay for individually.
Tanzer (Mega Cat)
What was this developer on? Someone, somewhere mixed rave anthems, a history book, Psygnosis' art style and aliens to deliver a crazed shooter that is slick and bouncy, yet weird as hell. Another retro/modern release, it crams an awful lot into the action and is a wild ride to enjoy as well as being a solid shooter.
SwitchBlade (Piko)
A version of SwitchBlade was Kickstarted for the Atari Jaguar a while back, these are the strange times we live in. Original developer Core Design was local to me way back when, so in a support-your-team style I loved the Atari ST version, which is still fun with its chrome-tinged ladder-heavy world, weapon shopping sprees and up-close, if rather odd, combat action.
River City Ransom (Technos)
On a cart with several Double Dragons and Renegade, I'm surprised to find I rate this better, as its faster, less glitchy and more fun to play than the more storied games. With a cartoony look, it might be a knock-off of those big-names, but has more panache and fits its console limitations to deliver a sneaky knock-out punch.
Pretty sure that some of these titles could easily fall out of favour, but among the many delights across the 10 Evercade carts, they stand out for now!
Bubbling under, if you're looking for a few more ideas:
Alien Brigade
Desert Falcon (7800)
Tinhead
Phelios
Iron Commander