Evoland 9+

I picked this game up because it was on sale and I had always wanted to give it a try. The concept of the game is very well thought out and executed, sending you through the world picking up chests that alter every aspect of the game from the visuals to the core gameplay mechanics, guiding you on a journey through RPG history. It was very enjoyable seeing all the little nods and also immediately picking up on the inspirations when the gameplay would change, giving me an idea of what might come next.

However, the game is extremely short and could have brought a much broader and lengthier experience to bear. Just as I began to really enjoy the experience, the curtain closed and the credits rolled, leaving me wanting more.

My rating of Evoland is a solid 4/5. While the game is fun and enjoyable, it is too short to really be able to enjoy the concept to its fullest. With Evoland 2 out now on IOS, I recommend foregoing this entry and jumping straight into it’s sequel, which appears to be a lengthier experience.

Evoland II is a much fuller game. Evoland was more of a short technical experiment, which proved to generate a lot of interest. One of the most profound parts of both games is they help me see how a game's look and genre defines the experience. Evoland single handedly helped me realize I don't like the JRPG genre, although I appreciate qualities of some of the games that display it. It also helped me see I do appreciate modern graphics, although I am hooked on some charming classic games. Evoland is designed as a walk through the evolution of games, but it just might evolve how you look at them.

I have played games like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy 7, Chrono Trigger and many other RPGs and this game is giving me some major nostalgia vibes. Even though it mirrors many games it stays fresh with this concept of finding better graphics on chest as loot to improve your game. The weird part about it is that even if it didn’t have that I could have easily played this game as a over the top 2D Zelda clone. Very well put put together. Money well spent and it just keeps getting better and better after every chest you find. It really shows you the power that we hold on our hands with these devices.