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content/articles/evercade.md
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@ -18,15 +18,15 @@ Anbernic devices are very popular [at ResetERA](https://www.resetera.com/threads
## Pros and Contras of Cartridges
Sometimes, less _is_ more. Blaze went with another approach: collectable cartridges, which are neatly kept in a mini-DVD style plastic case, accompanied with a nice (albeit very tiny) color-printed manual. They hope you start "collecting them all", as the back of the box states. I'd rather buy the ones I'm actually interested in, but I digress. The appeal of the cartridges, for me, are the following:
Sometimes, less _is_ more. Blaze went with another approach: collectable cartridges, which are neatly kept in a mini-DVD style plastic case, accompanied with a nice (albeit very tiny) color-printed manual. They hope you start "collecting them all", as the back of the box states. I'd rather buy the ones I'm actually interested in, but I digress. The appeal of the cartridges, for me, is the following:
- They're officially licensed. It is not said how much money goes to the original developers of the games, but I hope more than nothing. Remember this, ROM downloaders.
- They're released in a steady stream of a few each year, meaning _not too much_. Instead of slamming hundreds of ROMs onto your emulator device, you're limited to the ones that are there, pushing you to explore not so well-known games you might otherwise ignore.
- They're cartridges! It comes with the free physical action of inserting and removing. Amazing.
- They're cartridges! It comes with the free physical action of inserting and removing. Amazing. Both game and emulator are apparently contained with in the PCB.
![](/img/articles/evercade1.jpg "The Evercade, among friends?")
Many popular game review sites such as [Kotaku](https://kotaku.com/evercade-s-retro-handheld-has-me-falling-in-love-with-c-1844828469) laud the Evercade for it's cartridge nostalgia, and I'm also one of them. However, most of these reviews forget to mention that restriction is one thing, but a mediocre to plainly put bad offer of games does hurt the device quite a bit. Take a look at [all the game collections](https://evercade.info/evercade-carts-manuals/) and tell me I'm wrong. My Evercade packet, the "premium" edition, came with three carts:
Many popular game review sites such as [Kotaku](https://kotaku.com/evercade-s-retro-handheld-has-me-falling-in-love-with-c-1844828469) laud the Evercade for it's cartridge nostalgia, and I'm also one of them. However, most of these reviews forget to mention that restriction is one thing, but a mediocre to plainly put bad offer of games does hurt the appeal of the device quite a bit. Take a look at [all the game collections](https://evercade.info/evercade-carts-manuals/) and tell me I'm wrong. My Evercade packet, the "premium" edition, came with three carts:
**Atari Collection 1**---16 Atari 2600 games and 4 Atari 7800 games released from 1979 to the end of the eighties that have not aged well. I never owned an Atari machine so I'm not emotionally attached to any of these games, but except for a few interesting curiosities (Ninja Golf, Adventure, Food Fight), I can hardly see myself playing this cart.
@ -48,15 +48,15 @@ Oh, and [according to John Linneman](https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalf
## The hardware itself
As for the handheld device itself, it feels comfortable enough to hold and play, and the D-pad is good. What a relief. Except that it's a bit weird to leave gaps in-between the pad and the console itself: an open invitation for lost crumbs and in my case, cat and dog hair. The design is reminiscent of Atari consoles of yore. It's not the best, but okay. Battery life is four hours, again not the best. It's disappointing to see manufacturers move from tiny screws towards glue: there's no way to replace any part, except with a heat gun.
As for the handheld device itself, it feels comfortable enough to hold and play, and the D-pad is good. What a relief. Except that it's a bit weird to leave gaps in-between the pad and the console plastic itself: an open invitation for lost crumbs and in my case, cat and dog hair. The design is reminiscent of Atari consoles of yore. It's not the best, but okay. Battery life is four hours, again not the best. It's disappointing to see manufacturers move from tiny screws towards glue: there's no way to replace any part, except with a heat gun.
And then we arrive at the screen, the biggest letdown of the system. It is crap. Plain and simple. What a wasted opportunity. For `€60`, I wasn't exactly expecting a Switch-like OLED screen, but even my cheap backlit GBA nameless screen replacements are better. Not in terms of resolution, but in terms of comfort: as soon as you hold the handheld in a slight angle, colors seem to disappear and contrast is all over the place. I never now how I'm supposed to hold it to get it right. Here's a video showcasing the issue:
And then we arrive at the screen, the biggest letdown of the system. It is crap. Plain and simple. What a wasted opportunity. For `€60`, I wasn't exactly expecting a Switch-like OLED screen, but even my cheap backlit GBA nameless screen replacements are better. Not in terms of resolution, but in terms of comfort: as soon as you hold the handheld in a slight angle, colors seem to disappear and contrast is all over the place. I never know how I'm supposed to hold it to get it right. Here's a video showcasing the issue (it looks worse off-camera):
{{< video "/vid/evercade-screen.mp4" >}}
Luckily, during those frantic gaming moments, you do not notice it that much. It's usually when I boot it up and choose a game from the menu that it irritates me. Speaking of irritation: the bloops and beeps of the game menu are horrible, but can be turned off. What cannot be adjusted, however, is the volume of the bloop when accessing a save state. The volume is much louder than the volume of the game, and the latest 1.3.1 patch (which cannot be run on a recent Mac nor Linux machine---thanks Blaze) did not solve this.
The overall quality of the Evercade handheld is a bit questionable. The bad screen, the carelessly implemented OS that does not allow button remapping, and even the cartridges themselves (the sticker wasn't placed in the middle, the plastic that holds the PCB seems loose): it's all a bit telling.
The overall quality of the Evercade handheld is a bit questionable. The bad screen, the carelessly implemented OS that does not even allow button remapping, and even the cartridges themselves (the sticker wasn't placed in the middle, the plastic that holds the PCB seems loose): it's all a bit telling.
And yet, I somehow like it. There is no other "new old" handheld out there with a cartridge system. I got to explore the Atari 2600's classic _Adventure_ game, the Easter Egg and action/adventure patriarch from 1979. I'm looking forward to my first meeting with strange eggs from the Oliver Twins. There's even an [Indie Heroes Collection](https://evercade.co.uk/cartridges/indie-heroes-collection-1-cartridge/) containing "new old" games such as Deadeus, Flea and Foxy Land.