In recent years, the return of the retro-gaming flame has found concreteness in the proliferation of a series of consoles, more or less portable, dedicated to classic titles or in any case with a retro flavor. From Analog Pocket to Playdate via Nintendo’s Game & Watch, players have thus been able to rediscover (or, depending on age, approach for the first time) the videogame legends on which the industry has built its fortunes.
Among the absolute protagonists of this “archaeological” mission there is certainly Blaze Entertainment, a company that after proposing Evercade in 2020 (here is our review of Evercade Vs) is preparing to launch a new version of the console which aims to bringing together several generations of games in a single portable device: Evercade EXP comes with a redefined design, small size, an IPS display with improved resolution, longer battery life, 18 built-in Capcom licensed games and above all with support for over 380 titles from from the most disparate 8, 16 and 32-bit systems, spanning four decades of gaming history. After putting it to the test for several days, dusting off memories buried for years, we are ready to tell you about Evercade EXP.
Minimal, compact and with an ace up its sleeve
As mentioned at the beginning, Evercade EXP features a revised and more ergonomic design compared to the previous version: the red finishes disappear in favor of an all-white color that accompanies more compact lines, for a rectangular shape that is softened by rounded corners and a general scaling with measurements of 192.7 x 78.5 x 20.7 mm.
The front shows off the 4.3-inch IPS display on which sides the controls are arranged: the right side houses the classic XYAB keyboard and a key to access the operating system, under which the Start and Select buttons are located; on the left instead the D-Pad – which takes inspiration from the historic SEGA Mega Drive – and two further AB control keys are positioned.
So let’s move on to one of the most significant design innovations of the console, namely the TATE mode: by pressing a button located in the lower part it is in fact possible to use it vertically, like a real Game Boy, thus taking advantage of the greater extension screen, a factor that is very useful especially with the most famous Shoot’Em Up.
Also at the bottom are the two speakers on the sides, the 3.5 mm jack, the USB-C charging socket, the volume keys and a signal LED that indicates the console’s charge status. The upper part is occupied by a double pair of backbones, the Mini HDMI port for connection to the TV and the power button. The rear face is instead entirely dedicated to the air vents and the port for the cartridges which, once inserted, give the console a uniform appearance. In general, the construction of Evercade EXP is good, the materials chosen seem resistant and once taken in the hands it gives an immediate sensation of solidity. Something more could have been done for the front keys, in particular for the D-Pad – rather unstable – which could generate some small uncertainty on the input front.
Small note also on the TATE mode and on the balance: although the weight of the console is rather contained and the vertical use of the machine is very useful with certain games, the consequent shift of the center of gravity downwards, caused by the positioning of the dedicated keys, can lead to progressive hand fatigue, especially after long gaming sessions.
New specifications and many features
Evercade EXP has certainly benefited from the experience gained by Blaze Entertainment and is on the market with improved technical characteristics and a series of new features. The first and most important concerns the aforementioned display: the new 4.3-inch IPS panel sports a resolution of 800×480 pixels, bright colors, a good level of brightness, a very wide viewing angle and a solid tempered glass to protect everything.
The 1.5 GHz processor ensures overall smoothness and shows no hesitation even with the latest 32-bit games. Finally, the 4GB internal memory and Wi-Fi 2.4 chipset offer everything you need for future software updates.
On the “utility” front, we point out the 3.5 mm headphone input and the Mini HDMI output for connection to the TV, with a supported resolution up to 720p. The 3000mA battery then supplies power to the console: with a 100% charge we were able to play intensely for more than three hours and by alternating the session with short stand-by phases we exceeded four hours.
For a complete recharge via the USB-C port, the console takes just over three hours: in any case, a convenient signal LED indicates the battery status by lighting up in green, purple and red based on the state of charge. Small (big) malus: the power supply is not included in the package and must therefore be purchased separately.
The update of the technical specifications makes Evercade EXP a rather complete console, which does not show uncertainties from the hardware point of view and brings with it significant additions especially in terms of vision quality and connectivity. We can also tell you that even after several hours of use, the new arrival in the Blaze house does not show any type of overheating, keeping the temperatures contained and constant even once connected to the TV.
Software and games
Among the most important news of Evercade EXP there is certainly the presence of 18 pre-installed games officially licensed by Capcom, some of which have literally marked the history of the entire gaming industry. 1942, 1943 and 1944 take full advantage of the TATE mode and accompany legends such as Bionic Commando, Captain Commando, Commando, the famous Final Fight, Forgotten Worlds, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, Legendary Wings, MERCS, Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting, Strider, Vulgus and Breath of Fire, ending with the historic Mega Man, Mega Man 2 and Mega Man X.
With the purchase of the console, a cartridge is also included that collects some of the Irem-branded productions for a total of six other titles: inside each cartridge there is the paper manual and some additional contents that bring back to mind the beloved boxes of the old school. In short, from the very first bars Evercade EXP offers hours and hours of guaranteed fun, thanks to real masterpieces of the past ready to be rediscovered or played for the first time.
If all this were not enough, Blaze Entertainment offers another 38 collections that contain over 380 games spanning forty years of history and which have accompanied generations of enthusiasts between arcades, consoles and the PC. Finally, Evercade EXP guarantees full support for the cartridges of the previous version, further expanding the catalog of available titles.
Once the console is turned on, the simple and effective operating system places the players in front of a home page that allows access to the collection of CAPCOM titles: each of them is complete with a brief description that shows the year of publication and source system. Then there are two other sections that refer to the “Secret Titles”, which can be unlocked by entering some codes, and a “News” area which at the time of writing is not yet active.
To the left of the screen there are then a series of panels that refer to the contents of any cartridge inserted and to the options menu: the latter is connected to another screen that provides access to all the available settings.
In fact, the console offers the possibility to customize the aspect ratio of the display, setting the original specifications of the various products or, alternatively, taking advantage of all its breadth. In this second case, however, the use of the TATE mode involves a rather pronounced distortion of the image, so we are talking about a feature to be used with full knowledge of the facts. From the same menu it is possible to select many other parameters, from shadows to overscan, passing through the different side backgrounds, up to the complete themes for the interface. All settings and customizations are then accessible in-game by pressing the button reserved for the menus. The console also allows you to save the game at any time, and then resume from that exact point in the event of a game over or in the next session. In general, the user experience is pleasant, the software is responsive and the interface is simple and intuitive. The settings and in-game save features are then very comfortable, especially if you often switch to titles that give their best in vertical mode.
