evercade review

content/articles/ds-xtreme-cartridge.md

@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ title: "The DS X-Treme Cartridge: A First Look"
 date: 2006-11-22
 image: /img/games/DS-Xtreme/dsx_box.jpg
 game_platform: ds
+tags:
+    - hardware
 ---
 
 Nearly a month ago, the first batch of completely new SLOT-1 based [Nintendo DS](/platforms/ds) flash cartridges shipped. Yes, it is finally here! Stop fiddling with PassMe and FlashMe, stop messing around with rom patching, and stop using special software to simply upload some software. The DS X-Treme (or DS Xtreme or rather DSX) offers a unified solution to all known SLOT-2 based problems. I already talked a bit about it but right now it's time for a complete review.
@@ -25,9 +27,7 @@ Clearly the XML file is used to modify various DS Xtreme settings, like the LED
 
 Next, the music directory. Dump a bunch of MP3 files in it and you can play them with your DS! Features ID3 tags and easy separating by artist/whatever. OK this feature is very nice but I did not buy this card for music, and Moonshell can do exact the same (but maybe a little less quality) - marked gimmickly too. 
 
-![](/img/games/DS-Xtreme/monkey1_tavern.jpg "ScummVM DS running Monkey Island 1! ")
-
-![](/img/games/DS-Xtreme/monkey2_blurrytext.jpg "The text is quite blurry. ")
+{{% dualscreens "/img/games/DS-Xtreme/" "monkey1_tavern.jpg" "ScummVM DS running Monkey Island 1!" "monkey2_blurrytext.jpg" "The text is quite small and blurry." %}}
 
 Aha, we're progressing towards thé essence of this very review. The apps directory comes next. Wondering what it's used for? Very simple! Drag all your .nds files into this dir and *pop*, they appear in the DS X-Treme menu. Neat! All files should work without any patching or trimming or something else, just copy them to your apps dir and run the desired application. Especially with firmware 1.0.2, most things "should" work. 
 

content/articles/evercade.md

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+---
+title: "The Evercade: A Cartridge-based Modern Retro Handheld"
+date: 2021-07-11T11:46:00+02:00
+image: /img/articles/evercade-cover.jpg
+tags:
+    - hardware
+---
+
+In 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, Brittany-based company Blaze came with the solution: it is not vaccine jabs, but cartridge jabs we require! Salvation at last! The [Evercade](https://evercade.co.uk/) handheld console site simply states:
+
+> Play Retro on the go
+
+Now what sets this device apart from the Chinese arguably high-quality [Anbernic](https://www.anbernic.com/) RG351P and consorts? The Evercade is _cartridge-based_. Cartridges! You know, the nineties, shoving in a bug hunk of plastic into the back of your Game Boy? Taking it out again, giving it a good blow, and putting it back? Taking it out again, rubbing the batteries, and putting it back? Taking it out again, running up to your dad for contact spray, and trying it one more time? 
+
+Right!
+
+Anbernic devices are very popular [at ResetERA](https://www.resetera.com/threads/retro-portables-are-neat.299129/), as the high quality screen and aluminum finish attract materialists, and the ability to throw any ROM at it from the 8-bit era to even some 64-bit games attract quite a few (perhaps shady) retro enthusiasts. The problem with this, besides the questionable piracy issues---those like me who rip their own ROM with a GBxCart are excused, but you're in the minority, you know that, right?---is the overabundance of available games. 
+
+## 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: 
+
+- 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. 
+
+![](/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:
+
+**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.
+
+**Namco Museum Collection 1**---As the name states, _museum_, the cart is loaded with NES and SNES variants of Pac Man, Galaxian, Dig Dug, Mappy, and the like. First, why not the Arcade originals? Second, this is another cartridge that is nice for explorers of gaming history, but not for actually playing.
+
+**Interplay Collection 1**---Finally, we get to the meat of the games. Well, almost. It contains six games: BattleChess and Titan (NES), Clayfighter, Incantation and Boogerman (SNES), and Earthworm Jim (MegaDrive). Obviously, the latter is the most important one, although I had also fun breezing through Boogerman in 2.5 hours. Incantation is the last platformer of the SNES, originally released in 1996, and it is one of the worst I've ever played. [Classic Gamer concludes](https://www.classic-games.net/incantation/):
+
+> There are far too many better platformers out there to deal with something so lackluster.
+
+The problem is that on the Evercade, there aren't that many great platformers out there---yet.
+
+I guess Incantation is another curiosity-include, as the physical cartridge costs `€100` now and is hard to find. Still, it's a big disgrace for the SNES and utterly unplayable, as is BattleChess, with the horrifyingly slow piece movements. 
+
+As you can see, the first few cartridges aren't worth much. Considering they sell for `€19` a piece, that's quite steep. Luckily, the later and to-be-released collections sound much more exciting (Codemasters contains Sensible Soccer and Cannon Fodder, there's a Dizzy collection, ...). I hope Blaze eventually manages to license some AAA games from the nineties, but considering Nintendo's own Virtual Console and SEGA's Sonic Generations re-releases on modern systems, I don't see this happening any time soon. In sum: the Evercade is a retro handheld for more obscure titles, which can be good, but also bad. 
+
+![](/img/articles/evercade2.jpg "An Evercade cart, instruction booklet and case. Note the alignment of the cart sticker.")
+
+Oh, and [according to John Linneman](https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2020-blaze-evercade-df-retro-hardware-review) of Digital Foundry, the emulation is top-notch. Glad we've got that sorted out. 
+
+## 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.  
+
+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:
+
+{{< 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. 
+
+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.
+
+In the end, the Evercade is riddled with questionable decisions: a stupidly bad screen, odd game and port selections, lower production qualities here and there. But there's nothing better than popping in a cart on the go, is there? The only thing I wonder is, if I can ever get my hands on an [Analogue Pocket](https://www.analogue.co/pocket), will I take the Evercade out for another spin? 
+

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