Review: Evoland

Posted by: 4/11/2013

Adventure games have come a long way over the years. With each new console generation, we’ve seen the genre go from a top down viewpoint with 8-bit graphics, to 3D characters with high definition textures. While there are many games of the past are still enjoyed by gamers, it is hard to deny that the evolution of adventure games is anything less than positive. Instead of having to play through hundreds of these classic games to witness how the genre has changed over the years, Evoland is a game where you play through the evolution of adventure games in just a few hours. It is enjoyable, and has a very tongue-in-cheek type humor to it, but it is too short.

While Evoland is a look at the history of adventure games, there is a story to it. You play as one of the few remaining members of the Order of the Dragon Knights. The purpose of this order is to travel the world to help fight evil. A new villain is threatening peace in the world of Evolandia, and must be stopped. It is as basic as they come with an adventure game story, which is the feel that Evoland has. It takes the basic features of a bunch of adventure games and throws them together in a game. But how you come across these features is the best part of the game.

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When you begin Evoland, the game starts with black and white graphics and a low pixel count. It is reminiscent of Game Boy games. Your character only has the ability to move right. As you move right, you unlock a chest. This chest grants you the ability to walk left. You walk left, hit another chest, and then this chest gives you the ability to move in any direction. Another chest gives you the ability to see where you are walking with screen scrolling.

This is how progress is made in Evoland. Instead of the normal defeat a boss to end a level, you progress by unlocking features that adventure games went through over the years. One chest will give you a sword, another will unlock a turn-based battle system, and one may grant you a health system.

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As you go through the game and become dependent on these different systems, you think back to earlier in the game and realize how important these mechanics are to improving the quality of the game. Then you realize that it does not just apply to Evoland, but it is about the entire genre. It is about how adventure games have evolved over the past 20 years or so, and how that evolution has benefited the entire genre. It is an excellent commentary on the adventure games.

Unfortunately the game is short. You can play through the entire game in about three to four hours. After you beat the game, there is little incentive to go back and play through the game a second time, except to see the evolution again. While the game is short, it is very enjoyable, with many laugh out loud moments as the game borrows heavily from adventure games of the past, like The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy. There is even a Diablo-esque dungeon that allows your character to gather an insane amount of unnecessary loot.  The game is filled of satire, which makes the short journey through the game more enjoyable.

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The game has a great look to it, regardless of what era of adventure games you are going through at the current time. There is even one part of the game where you have to switch between 16-bit and 3D graphics on the fly to solve a puzzle. It is well done, and the effect of switching between the two eras is fantastic. In addition to the graphics, the music and sound effects in Evoland are very nostalgic, with one music track looping in the background. Just as with graphics, you unlock updated sound effects and music as you make your way through the game.

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For the low price tag, Evoland is a game that should be played by anyone who is an adventure game fan. While it is short, and some of the features seem very basic, it is also a nice nostalgic trip through the history of adventure games, which is worth the price of admission.

Score: 7.5/10

Evoland was developed and published by Shiro Games for the PC and Mac. A retail copy of the PC version was provided to us for reviewing purposes.

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