Retro gaming and portable gaming are two of my favourite things. The Evercade EXP is a great opportunity to combine them into one unit. Although there are two levels to this, it is still a good idea. Creator Blaze Entertainment received feedback from previous owners Evercade handheld These were applied to the Evercade EXP and I added some new features that I hadn’t realized I needed until I tried them. The hardware is solid, with some quirks, but it’s still a fun and interesting way of playing retro games on the move.
Portable Retro
You are likely familiar with Evercade games. They come on small carts. No microSD trickery: All the games are licensed and available in preloaded carts. These carts can hold 8 to 12 arcade classics, as well as two retro-styled modern games. The carts are between 10 and $20 and come in a variety of classics such as modern indies, arcade classics and even Atari Lynx titles. The carts are packaged in a clamshell box that is reminiscent of SEGA Genesis and Master System games. I like this touch. I love physical gaming and I enjoy displaying them. They feel very authentic and sturdy, just like old-school videogame packaging.
The carts are chunky and almost look like Game Boy Advance or original Game Boy carts in terms of size. Each cart comes with a decal on one end and a silkscreen of its title on the opposite. This silkscreen side is visible when it’s inserted in the EXP. They are contoured at their top to blend in with the Evercade’s EXP lines.
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The Evercade EXP is $149.99 and includes a copy the 6-game Irem Arcade Collection 1 which includes R-Type, among other games. Even though I am terrible at R-Type, I love it. It’s easy to play on the Evercade EXP screen. In addition to the pack-in cart, there are a full 18 Capcom games built right into the machine itself, with arcade classics like Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting and Ghouls & Ghosts. Mega Man games are also available for home consoles. It’s a wonderful selection. Blaze Entertainment and Capcom have a licensing agreement that ensures they won’t disappear with future firmware updates. Although the Capcom games are nearly worth the admission fee, I think the arcade version would be better than the home version.
The Evercade EXP has embedded WiFi specifically for future updates. There’s also a hint at an online storefront on your home screen with an “Evercade is Coming Soon” message. WiFi is currently only available for updates. Bluetooth is missing. I would love to see Bluetooth support for headphones, or third-party controllers. It’s an odd oversight, considering that the EXP has a mini HDMI port at the top that allows you to hook it up to a TV or monitor. It’s a great feature to be capable of using the Evercade EXP with a large screen, but I doubt that I will ever use it without a HDMI cable. A USB-C port on the bottom of the Evercade EXP can be used to charge, although it’s not possible to accept a dongle for a wireless controller. I find the lack of Bluetooth to be my least favorite feature about the Evercade EXP.
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The audio jack is 3.5mm, so wired headphones can be used. The speakers are terrible, so headphones will be necessary if you want these old games to sound as good as possible. It’s very hollow with very little volume. It was also very bad that the built-in speakers were located on the bottom edge. I would often cover them with my fingers during play. Although I would prefer not to have to use wired headphones, it is the only way to hear the Evercade EXP’s sound quality.
The Evercade EXP’s battery life is advertised as being over 4 hours. I have found that to be quite accurate. I can’t remember how long I played Breath of Fire before my battery indicator light turned red. This one I consider a “win”. Although it has a lower battery life than the latest Switch revision, it lasts longer than the Switch OLED. While I was pleased to lose track of the time for extended sessions, I honestly wished for more. This device would be great for short flights but will need to be charged or used with an external battery. The lack of an easy “quick restart” feature makes it difficult to judge its remaining battery life. The Switch and the older 3DS can be put into sleep mode by simply tapping a button, or closing the device. It’s not as easy or as intuitive with the Evercade EXP. To go back to the beginning, simply hit the menu button. Wait for the Evercade to go to sleep. It’s not ideal. A future firmware update will hopefully add a quick sleep function.
The Evercade EXP is fantastic, with the exception of a few missing features that I would expect from a modern handheld. Although the weight was slightly heavier than I expected, it does not feel heavy. This is a crucial distinction because it feels more like hardware than a handheld from a dime store. All buttons feel great, with the perfect amount of travel for the face buttons and a satisfying click for shoulder buttons. Also, the D-pad feels fantastic. It is a circular Dpad similar to one found on an Xbox controller and has the perfect amount of “give”.
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It feels great to hold, despite its thickness. The heft of the product makes it a joy to hold. It has a textured back panel that gives it extra grip. The width is just right for me. Speaker placement is the only issue, as I said earlier. But, I prefer to use my pinky finger to cradle handhelds.
Get Vertical
One of the most interesting features about the Evercade EXP’s “TATE” button is it. It’s pronounced “tahtay” and is the Japanese word meaning “vertical”. Pressing the TATE button on the Evercade EXP immediately switches the screen between landscape and portrait mode. This means that games such as 1941, 1942, or 1943 can be played in the correct orientation. They will take up the entire screen, rather than being reduced to a horizontal layout. It’s awesome. The D-pad even has two buttons, the A and B buttons. They only register when you’re playing in TATE mode. It makes this an awesome arcade shmup. You can experience it for yourself with at least three games already built in.
It is stunning. It is an IPS panel instead of the original Evercade handheld’s TN. And it’s amazing. Beautiful colors, no ghosting or smearing, and great viewing angles. Although it is a bit small at 4.3 inches, especially if you are used to a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite, it isn’t too much for my older eyes. Although it’s not touch-screen capable, it can pick up fingerprints. It’s not a touch-screen, but I swear I haven’t touched it once. Yet, there were at most a dozen fingerprints that marred its beauty. Evercade EXP Screen, I am sorry. I will be much more careful in the future.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72358472/ss_1591f088d015065131c685073afa569de9bf80af.0.jpg "Homebody is a classic survival game from the Game Grumps studio 29")
