Retro gaming has exploded over the past few years.
One of the biggest names in retro gaming hardware is Evercade, produced by Blaze Entertainment.
Its third console, the Evercade EXP, was released in December 2022.
A Handheld Games Console Playing Old Games in 2023?!
If that introduction seems surprising, it really shouldnt.
The Evercade EXP is just one of many handheld consoles for retro games currently on the market.
Consider theAnbernic RG503, for example, or the Analogue Pocket.
On Evercade, titles are curated by Blaze Entertainment, and released on themed cartridges.
Every title released on the Evercade to date is compatible with the new console.
The Evercade EXP is the third console in the series, and the second handheld.
2020s Evercade handheld was followed by theEvercade VSin 2021, a home console with multiplayer support.
But will this $165 console deliver on my expectations?
To entice you further, five more games can be unlocked with secret codes.
Whats in the Evercade EXP Box?
Inside is a 1.5GHz CPU and 4GB of RAM, and the EXP also has built-in Wi-Fi.
The Evercade EXP also features Menu, Start, and Select buttons.
This is enough to try out a few of the built-on Capcom Collection titles.
However, the EXP should be updated.
This is a key advantage over the original Evercade, which cannot be updated over the air.
(You had to use a USB connection to your system and updater software instead.)
This instantly flips the display around 90 degrees.
Several of the included games can use TATE mode (or be played in landscape mode).
These include 1941, 1942, Legendary Wings, and several others.
For this review, I have taken the time to play all 24 accessible titles.
First things first: the Capcom titles are superb.
Unlike earlier releases, these arent SEGA Genesis or NES conversions of arcade titles.
These are the real deal, and they look and sound superb.
The Mini-HDMI port lets you play Evercade games on a suitable display.
Youre limited by the length of the HDMI cable.
Overall that’s disappointing.
Using TATE in handheld mode is strange.
I have quite large hands, and the Evercade EXP is relatively narrow.
The finish, smoother than the original Evercade, doesnt lend itself to easy gripping.
Holding the original Evercade console to mimic TATE mode is easier than holding the EXP in that orientation.
One other thing to note: youll find the stereo speakers are pretty tinny.
Game audio is best enjoyed via wired headphones on the Evercade EXP.
If you do, it charges fast enoughone to two hours in testing.
Evercade cartridges are essentially SD cards in cartridge form.
As with the Evercade VS, there have been claims that some carts dont fit the EXP.
To check this, I used my earliest collections, Interplay Collection 1 and Namco Museum Collection 1.
Both fit snugly without unnecessary force being applied for insertion or removal.
This code isC0220.)
All you better do is plug and play.
One key difference, however, is the controller.
While it is disappointing that there is (currently?)
That alone is worth checking out the Evercade EXP.
As much as I have enjoyed the console, it has some shortcomings.
Given it can be connected to a TV over HDMI, omitting third-party controller support seems short-sighted.
The display is crisp, although physical brightness buttons would help.
TATE mode is a success, but my hands are too large to play comfortably.
