From playable keychains to Bartop arcade machines, handhelds to traditional consoles, retro gaming fans have plenty of choice when it comes to Evercade devices.
Evercade owner Blaze has now released two new devices that aim to bring the costs down, including the VS-R home console and the EXP-R handheld console.
If you’re interested in joining the Evercade ecosystem and want the lowdown on the new consoles and which one you should buy, then check out the review below.
Replacing the original EXP device, the Evercade EXP-R handheld is described as “the best way to play Evercade cartridges on the go”.
There are two different designs, including a charcoal grey and turquoise unit with a textured grip on the rear of the console that retails for £99.99. This comes with a copy of the Tomb Raider Collection.
There’s also a more stylish EXP-R Solo version, which has a grey and red colour scheme that’s clearly inspired by the original Game Boy. The Solo part means it doesn’t come with any games, which is handy if you’ve already built up a sizeable Evercade collection, or simply don’t want to replay the old Tomb Raider games. It costs just £89.99.
The cheaper price tag means it does lack some of the functionality of the original EXP.
Unlike the older model, the EXP-R doesn’t feature TV or HDMI output, and doesn’t come with any built-in Capcom games.
It does, however, come with a dozen or so secret games, which can be unlocked by inputting various codes and button combinations.
The 4.3-inch IPS screen has a 800×480 resolution, which certainly won’t win any awards, but is bright and sharp enough for the supported retro games.
You can also play vertical shooters in TATE mode, although I would recommend purchasing the separare TATE grip for a more comfortable experience.
The Evercade VS-R, meanwhile, is designed to be played on your television set or monitor, featuring a HDMI port for 1080p gaming.
It boasts a similar colour scheme to its handheld counterparts and costs just £89.99.
Aside from TV output, the best thing about the VS-R is that it comes with a dual cartridge slot, giving users the ability to choose from more games at once.
It also comes with one controller, although you can plug four into the console for local multiplayer. While the bundled controller is wired, the cable is much longer than similar retro gaming pads, which means you should able to comfortably play on the sofa.
One of the more exciting firmware upgrades is the ability to select TATE mode for vertical screen rotation. Ideal for vertical shoot-em-ups, users will be able to rotate their monitor in order to experience certain arcade classics the way they were meant to be played. There’s even mouse support for point and click games like Broken Sword.
If I had to choose one of the new Evercade devices I would grab the VS-R, largely due to the dual cartridge slot more convenience and the TV output/controller slots for local multiplayer.
I do love a gaming handheld, but would probably choose something like the Capcom or NEO GEO Super Pocket instead.
You can pick up the latest Evercade hardware from the Funstock website. You can also grab new Evercade cartridges like Taito Arcade 1 and 2, Roguecraft DX, Windjammers and more.
