Evercade VS
DeveloperBlaze Entertainment
Product familyEvercade Series
TypeVideo game console
GenerationEighth
Release dateDecember 2021 (2021-12)
AvailabilityCurrently active
Introductory price£89.99/$99 (basic)
£109/$129 (premium)
MediaROM cartridge
Operating systemLinux based
System on a chipRockchip RK3328
CPUARM Cortex-A53 quad-core processor @ 1.5Ghz
Memory512MB (DRAM DDR3)
Storage4GB
Display1.1kg
Controller inputEvercade VS Licensed Controllers (Supports Evercade as a controller and Wired USB controllers)
CameraNone
TouchpadNone
ConnectivityWi-Fi
PowerMicro USB
Current firmwarev3.0.4 (as of Jul 1, 2023)
Backward
compatibility		Most Evercade cartridges
PredecessorEvercade
SuccessorEvercade EXP
RelatedEvercade Handheld
Websitewww.evercade.co.uk

Evercade VS is a video game console developed by UK company Blaze Entertainment. It is an upgraded home console version of the original Evercade handheld that introduces multiplayer functionality. It was released in December 2021 in Europe, and on 25 February 2022 in the United States.

History

On 26 March 2021, Blaze Entertainment announced that a product known as the Evercade VS would be revealed on 23 April 2021. After much speculation about what the product may be,[1] the company revealed a backwards-compatible home console version of the Evercade handheld with the addition of multiplayer.[2] The Evercade VS was originally scheduled to release on 3 November 2021.[3] However, it was delayed due to the 2021–2022 global supply chain crisis. It received a European release in mid-December 2021,[4][5] while the U.S. release occurred on February 25, 2022.[6]

A Starter Pack retails for £89 or $99, and includes the console, a controller, and one cartridge. A Premium Pack adds an additional controller and cartridge for £109 or $129.[7][6]

Hardware

The Evercade VS features an ARM Cortex-A53[8] 1.5 GHz quad-core processor backed by 512MB of DRAM and 4GB of internal storage.[9] A version of Linux is used as the base for its operating system.[8] The console also features Wi-Fi connectivity exclusively for firmware updates and bug fixes.[7] It is capable of 1080p output via HDMI,[10] compared with the handheld's 720p output.[11] It is powered through a USB plug.[12][11]

The console introduces multiplayer functionality through four controller ports.[13] Evercade VS controllers use USB plug-ins,[11][5] and the console also supports third-party USB controllers, including wireless ones.[5][14][7] In addition, the Evercade handheld can be connected to the console and used as a controller, with the use of a special cable.[11][7] Unlike the handheld, the VS controller features two additional shoulder buttons and a menu button.[14]

The console contains two cartridge slots,[15] allowing for the game libraries of two cartridges to be shown onscreen simultaneously for faster selection.[6] The cartridge slot is covered by a small flap, resembling the design of the Nintendo Entertainment System.[16][11]

Games

The Evercade VS is backwards-compatible with all Evercade cartridges except Namco Collections 1 and 2 because those collections were only licensed for handheld use.[17][18] Blaze hopes to expand the license to achieve full compatibility soon.[15] All future games will be compatible between both Evercade consoles.[7] Games can be sorted by title, release date, or number of players on the main console menu.[7][19][14] Games offer save states, allowing players to resume where they left off.[16][11] The console has several aspect ratios, and screen options such as scanlines.[6][12][7]

Reception

The Evercade VS received generally positive reviews.[19][5][14][20] Steven Petite of GameSpot called it "a wonderful little retro console" with a "great" design and a large game library.[11] Andrew Webster of The Verge praised the addition of multiplayer, and wrote that like the original Evercade, the VS is "still niche and aimed at a very specific audience — and still does its job very well".[12]

However, Chris Scullion of Video Games Chronicle wrote that the console's main issue "is that it only really appeals to a very particular niche and is unlikely to ever see mass appeal as a result". He also found the console to be "exceptionally light, to the extent that it feels cheaply made".[6] Other reviewers were critical of the controllers.[16][7][19][20] Matthew Adler of IGN wrote that the plastic build quality of the controllers "is on par with a child’s toy," stating that they feel "completely hollow when held".[7] Mike Fahey of Kotaku also referred to the controllers as "lightweight plastic, like children’s toys", writing, "The buttons are crisp and responsive, but the overall hollow feel keeps putting me off".[20] James Trew of Engadget stated, "The general design is fine and comfortable, but it doesn’t feel quite as ergonomic as the handheld or other controllers".[19]

References

  1. ↑ McFerran, Damien. "There's Another Evercade Console In The Works". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Liszewski, Andrew. "The Evercade VS Console Puts Hundreds of Retro Games on the Big Screen Without the Hassle of Emulation". Gizmodo. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  3. ↑ Faulkner, Cameron. "Evercade is making a retro console for your TV called the VS". The Verge. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  4. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (12 October 2021). "Evercade VS delayed". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Russell, Graham (28 November 2021). "Review: Evercade VS Brings its Retro Cartridge Library to the Big Screen". Siliconera. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Scullion, Chris (28 February 2022). "Review: The Evercade Vs is a solid retro system but we're not sure who it's for". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Adler, Matthew (5 November 2021). "Evercade VS Review". IGN. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Evercade Review: Blaze Entertainment Hits the Nostalgia Sweet Spot – Review Geek". www.reviewgeek.com. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  9. ↑ "Can the Evercade VS Fulfill Your Retro Gaming Dreams?". MUO. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "Evercade VS Console: Everything You Need to Know". Heavy. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Petite, Steven (24 January 2022). "Evercade VS Review: Joyous Nostalgia". GameSpot. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 Webster, Andrew (25 November 2021). "Evercade VS is a retro console that turns your living room into an arcade". The Verge. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  13. ↑ Russell, Graham (5 December 2021). "Evercade and Evercade VS Games: What You Should Play". Siliconera. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 4 McFerran, Damien (22 October 2021). "Hardware: Evercade VS Review - A Low-Cost Gateway To Past Nintendo Classics And Much More Besides". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  15. 1 2 Buckley, Sean. "Evercade VS is a modern retro game console with two cartridge slots". CNET. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 Greenwald, Will (17 November 2021). "Evercade Vs. Premium Pack Review". PCMag. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Scullion, Chris. "Blaze announces the new Evercade VS home console". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  18. ↑ "The new Retro Gamer goes hands-on with the Evercade VS console". GamesRadar. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Trew, James (12 November 2021). "The Evercade VS captures the spirit of retro gaming". Engadget. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  20. 1 2 3 Fahey, Mike (22 November 2021). "The Evercade VS Recaptures That Cartridge Game Magic". Kotaku. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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