Evoland

 PC
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 210 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 210
  2. Mixed: 89 out of 210
  3. Negative: 33 out of 210

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  1. dunuch
    Aug 31, 2023
    8
    I thought evoland was really fun, and the different stages of evolution was really cool. Some parts really felt like Legend of Zelda, especially the puzzles.
  2. OpticalFred
    Aug 15, 2023
    7
    The principle is fun at the beginning but is not made for a long game. A good game for a Quick experience
  3. Triblue
    May 22, 2023
    7
    Le jeu est sympa il n'a rien d'exceptionnel mais rien de mauvais non plus mais son originalité est assez unique
  4. fijay43k
    May 20, 2023
    4
    Игра мне не понравилась.
    Причины: нет цели, нет почти никаких препятствий, игра зачем то, не начиная сюжет, добавляет его в конце и даже его не заканчивает.
    Итог: игра может вызывать ностальгические чувства, но она не совсем закончена, еще хотелось бы полноценого сюжета. Не стоит воспринимать игру всерьёз потомучто она просто расказывает нам о эволюции rpg, игровых клише разного времени    Игра мне не понравилась.
    Причины: нет цели, нет почти никаких препятствий, игра зачем то, не начиная сюжет, добавляет его в конце и даже его не заканчивает.
    Итог: игра может вызывать ностальгические чувства, но она не совсем закончена, еще хотелось бы полноценого сюжета. Не стоит воспринимать игру всерьёз потомучто она просто расказывает нам о эволюции rpg, игровых клише разного времени и развития графики и визуальных эфектов.
    Игра просто ничего не делает чтобы быть интересной, например можно было поэксперементировать с жанрами, сделать все динамичнее.    … Expand
  5. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    8
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»
  6. PanchaMiguela
    Mar 3, 2023
    7
    It is fun.......................................................that is it.
  7. QAOSbringer
    Feb 25, 2023
    6
    Just a Final Fantasy love letter from a NES fan.
    Yeah, you know, NES is being treated like "the only gaming platform ever" in USA for some years. And Evoland follows that trend by creating a game based on Final Fantasy series. There are a little bit Zelda, a little bit Mana, a little bit FF, just to combine a "history of gaming" for console gamers.
    We don't see anything related    Just a Final Fantasy love letter from a NES fan.
    Yeah, you know, NES is being treated like "the only gaming platform ever" in USA for some years. And Evoland follows that trend by creating a game based on Final Fantasy series. There are a little bit Zelda, a little bit Mana, a little bit FF, just to combine a "history of gaming" for console gamers.
    We don't see anything related C64/Amiga/DOS games, only the games American NES fans know and love. And as I mentioned above, many aspects of the game - like character names, graphic design, combat mechanics, story concept are all dumbed down version of Final Fantasy stories.
    If you believe you are in the target audience, go for it. You will like this love letter.
    As a PC Gamer, I find it very lackluster.

    6: Average - Some may love and talk about it, but nothing more.    … Expand
  8. JustinForgueims
    Dec 21, 2022
    7
    Fun and short RPG game. In fact it's a mix of RPG, JRPG, ARPG and a kind of tribute to well known games like Zelda, Final Fantasy, Diablo, ...
    The way you're unlocking gaming technologies, like sounds, graphics, features, while playing is funny.

    The story and game depth is not so good, it's more about enjoying the journey while the game evolved through decades of video games improvements.
  9. roninator2
    Apr 26, 2021
    10
    Loved every minute. Encapsulated all of the things I love about RPG's. Well done.
  10. Castimier
    Apr 5, 2021
    9
    A great game that you can finish in 2/3 hours. After that speedrunning can be quite fun, but even if you just want to play it once it will be a good experience
  11. PublicNuisance
    Feb 19, 2021
    7
    Some games struggle to balance a couple mechanics or more than one genre and then you have games like Evoland that combine various mechanics and genres from the history of RPGs and somehow do it with ease and it just works. You at times have a real time battle system more like a hack and slash RPG but other times you have a turn based battle system more like JRPGs. The amazing part is thatSome games struggle to balance a couple mechanics or more than one genre and then you have games like Evoland that combine various mechanics and genres from the history of RPGs and somehow do it with ease and it just works. You at times have a real time battle system more like a hack and slash RPG but other times you have a turn based battle system more like JRPGs. The amazing part is that both are fun in their own way in the same game. You go from 2D with little in the way of graphics all the way up to a 3D world that is more like a really polished Ocarina of Time type of quality. You advance all this by finding various chests while you are completing objectives. You get upgrades to weapons; characters introduced to your party; explore various locations. You have some parts with random enemy encounters like Pokemon while other times you don’t and it is more scripted. If I can name one major flaw in the game it is that it doesn’t have enough time and content to flesh all of this out. Characters are introduced almost as quickly as they leave and you don’t get enough time to enjoy them or to have a proper story. Don’t get me wrong what story there is is enjoyable but there is little time for back story; lore; or really caring about much as it is over pretty quickly. Even the evolution in the game as you acquire new graphics and sounds happens so fats that you have everything by a third of the way through or less. A few minor gripes I had was that there is no objective listed anywhere so you have to remember or write it down. It is a short game mind you but a screen for current objectives would have been appreciated. Another gripe is you lose some of the weapons and skills you have once your out of certain areas for no reason. One skill specifically which lets you use a giant dragon to roast enemies is used for literally one mission and then the next mission was the final one and I wasn’t allowed to use it as it was part of the turn based system and the final fight is real time. Later in the game you get a mini map but it lacks much on it other than some dots that it doesn’t tell you what they are. A legend would have been nice. Enemies lack a health bar in both battle systems. The final boss fight was made a bit tedious as you can’t even pause during it even though I could pause at will at any other time in the game.

    Now that the griping is done and my chest is cleared let me say that despite all that the game is heavily enjoyable. The turn based combat and real time are both fantastic. The story while shallow is fun as are the characters. The progression system, while short, is a unique experience. There is also some good comedic moments and references.

    I played Evoland on Linux. It never crashed on me and I didn’t notice any spelling errors. The game works just fine with both mouse/keyboard and a game pad. I used the Logitech F310 myself with no issues. Alt-Tab didn’t work. There are no graphics options but due to the ever changing graphics in game I can understand why. The game does auto save at certain points but doesn’t tell you when so it’s best to use the save points scattered around the map. I would have preferred manual saving even if it would be an insult to the genre.

    Disk Space Used: 881 MB
    Input Used: Logitech F310

    GPU Usage: 2-18 %
    VRAM Usage: 443-552 MB
    CPU Usage: 9-22 %
    RAM Usage: 2.1-2.7 GB

    If you love old school RPG then there will be a lot to love about Evoland. I beat the game, finishing 81.5% of the content in three hours and twenty one minutes. It feels rushed and lacks depth but the content you are given is a lot of fun. I paid $5.49 CAD for the Evoland Legendary Edition so you could say I paid $2.75 CAD for Evoland and that is great value for it as I would say it is worth about $10. Considering that is about half the value of the current price for the Legendary Edition then so long as the sequel is as good or better then it is a good price overall.

    My Score: 7/10

    My System:

    AMD FX-6100 | 16GB DDR3-1600 CL9 | MSI RX 580 8GB Gaming X | Mesa 20.3.4 | Samsung 870 QVO 1TB | Manjaro 20.2.1 | Mate 1.24.1 | Kernel 5.10.15-1-MANJARO    … Expand
  12. aditya1101
    Feb 28, 2020
    5
    Cute idea but the gimmick gets old really quickly. Once you get past the hour mark, the game just becomes a slog.
  13. PanMrkvicka
    Feb 11, 2020
    6
    Well its not bad but gets boring and repetitive but still a cool indie game with a lot of fan service.
  14. Tilt1k
    Aug 11, 2019
    4
    The concept and idea of this game is something fresh and briliant, but it kinda fails in delivery. There is no actual gameplay. Its just a 3 hours of jokes and poking at other things as LOTR, Zelda, League of legends, Diablo etc. I was smiling throughout the game at some of these things, but you dont even need to play it just look at some youtube letsplay and you will gain the sameThe concept and idea of this game is something fresh and briliant, but it kinda fails in delivery. There is no actual gameplay. Its just a 3 hours of jokes and poking at other things as LOTR, Zelda, League of legends, Diablo etc. I was smiling throughout the game at some of these things, but you dont even need to play it just look at some youtube letsplay and you will gain the same experince, This game is jsut a huge troll, i am giving extra points for the first part of game when you are actually upgrading and it keeps you kinda entertained after a while, huge downfall.… Expand
  15. sebastianali
    Aug 10, 2019
    5
    Es un pequeño juego que tenia muy buenas intenciones e ideas pero que la cagó con su jugabilidad repetitiva y aburrida, sistema de subir de nivel confuso, mala historia, poca evolución, gráficos horribles (al nivel de FF3 remake), mala optimización y corta duración.
  16. Dubeau
    Mar 4, 2019
    5
    The idea of showing how RPG has evolved was fun and a great way to display a game. But underlying this, the game itself is kind of average. The character is kind of slow when it's in 3D. Combat is somewhat uneven. Some puzzles were interesting especially between 2D to 3D. The story isn't really sure if it should be serious or not. The game is extremely short, maybe 2-3 hours or so. I giveThe idea of showing how RPG has evolved was fun and a great way to display a game. But underlying this, the game itself is kind of average. The character is kind of slow when it's in 3D. Combat is somewhat uneven. Some puzzles were interesting especially between 2D to 3D. The story isn't really sure if it should be serious or not. The game is extremely short, maybe 2-3 hours or so. I give it a 52%. I applause the effort of trying something different but the game lack focus in many areas.… Expand
  17. SrPepe
    Feb 23, 2019
    7
    Un gran juego con referencias muy agradables para los jugadores, aunque odie mucho el sistema de pelea y la exagerada aparición de enemigos.
  18. Mpbpl
    Mar 15, 2018
    7
    Great concept but the execution is not so good, Evoland is fun and creative but at the same time feels limited and uninspiring.
    I really wanted to like this game, playing with different genres, graphics and styles scores very high with a player like me that is all around player, but the lack of a true story and the evolution of gaming being constant makes this game a little predictable in    Great concept but the execution is not so good, Evoland is fun and creative but at the same time feels limited and uninspiring.
    I really wanted to like this game, playing with different genres, graphics and styles scores very high with a player like me that is all around player, but the lack of a true story and the evolution of gaming being constant makes this game a little predictable in what comes next.
    Although Evoland goes through decades of gaming history never really deviates of what it is, a kind of RPG-adventure game and that narrows the possibilities so much.
    Evoland feels creative enough to stand out but still not creative enough for what the cross-genre could accomplish, no real story and being a short game hold Evoland back.    … Expand
  19. gold
    Feb 25, 2018
    10
    задумка очень интересная. Побольше таких игр с изменением графики.
  20. BasilZero
    Mar 4, 2017
    7
    Game: Evoland
    Genre: RPG
    Publisher/Developer: Shiro Games System: Steam (PC) Total Score: 70/100 Value Score: 7.0/10 • Story: 6/10 • Characters: 7/10 • GamePlay: 7/10 • Graphics: 8/10 • Sound: 7/10 • Music: 7/10 • Length: 4/10 • Replay Value: 7/10 • Player Value: 7/10 Pros +Unique progression evolves the visuals and gameplay the more you play +References from different    Game: Evoland
    Genre: RPG
    Publisher/Developer: Shiro Games
    System: Steam (PC)
    Total Score: 70/100
    Value Score: 7.0/10

    • Story: 6/10
    • Characters: 7/10
    • GamePlay: 7/10
    • Graphics: 8/10
    • Sound: 7/10
    • Music: 7/10
    • Length: 4/10
    • Replay Value: 7/10
    • Player Value: 7/10

    Pros
    +Unique progression evolves the visuals and gameplay the more you play
    +References from different RPGs and anime series in both gameplay and during conversations with NPCs
    +Turn based like Final Fantasy, Action-Adventure like Zelda and Dungeon Crawler like Mechanics in certain parts of the game
    +Sidequests which are not important to the storyline are included which will help you make the game easier or get achievements

    Cons
    -Advertised as Full Controller Support however does not detect controllers automatically as it should, compatibility settings need to be changed on pad.exe and evoland.exe to windows 7. Also PS4 controller does not work at all, Xbox360 controller and Keyboard/Mouse works fine
    -Very short
    -Controls feel sluggish at times
    -Story not memorable at all    … Expand
  21. DrPersi
    Nov 1, 2016
    10
    The first time I saw this game,I loved the idea of Evoland and I think the game looks also nice. The story was not the best,but for this game it is good enough.
  22. TitaniumDragon
    Jun 1, 2016
    0
    Evoland is basically every bad old RPG rolled up into one. Boring enemies, boring combat, excuse plot, character who dies who you just don’t care about at all (or indeed, care about any of the characters at all), ect.

    The game is meant to poke fun at old RPGs, including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Zelda, Diablo, and others, but frankly, it falls flat. All of the “humor” in the game is    Evoland is basically every bad old RPG rolled up into one. Boring enemies, boring combat, excuse plot, character who dies who you just don’t care about at all (or indeed, care about any of the characters at all), ect.

    The game is meant to poke fun at old RPGs, including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Zelda, Diablo, and others, but frankly, it falls flat. All of the “humor” in the game is basically the game pointing and saying “isn’t this dumb?” It is basically explaining the joke, except there is no joke, just a reference to an older game which isn’t very funny.

    The game seems to suggest that you’re going to gradually move through various eras of games, but by about a third of the way into the game, you’re already up to 3D graphics, and it doesn’t really go beyond that. The game feels almost as if it has to rush through to unlock all the earlier stuff and then get to 3D for some reason, even though, quite frankly, the 3D gameplay isn’t very good (but then, neither is the 2D gameplay).

    Ultimately, the game is meant to be funny, but isn’t, and is meant to be fun, and also isn’t. The gameplay is as tedious as any old, poorly designed game with very little content; the JRPG overworld encounters happen every five steps or so and are pointless and tedious, while the dungeon Zelda-type movement is very basic, containing very little variety of monsters, none of which are particularly interesting to fight. The game contains three bosses, two of which are pretty boring; one of them is basically “stand there and hit it until it dies”, and another is a standard “dodge the charge and hit them” boss. Only the final boss shows any signs of real gameplay, and even there, it was kind of tepid.

    There’s just nothing here for anyone. If you’re looking for humor, the game isn’t funny; if you’re looking for a game which is fun to play, this isn’t. It doesn’t even feel original, as literally everything in it is referential, meaning any “originality” it might have from the whole idea of evolving into the modern day of gameplay is basically dead on arrival, buried under a pile of old video game references.    … Expand
  23. grrrr
    Feb 18, 2016
    6
    Very interesting game, formerly made for Ludum Dare. You start with simple 2D graphics and music which evolves while you progress through the game. Some parts are really repetitive.
  24. Datamari
    Nov 15, 2015
    4
    It's not as good as it presents itself.
    The main concept of Evoland is that every time you collect a chest, you upgrade the game itself, such as new graphics or different style gameplay. It's a really good concept, but the lack of challenges makes this game more of a reminiscent of games like Zelda or Final Fantasy. There is no story to this game, and it is super short, being only 3    It's not as good as it presents itself.
    The main concept of Evoland is that every time you collect a chest, you upgrade the game itself, such as new graphics or different style gameplay. It's a really good concept, but the lack of challenges makes this game more of a reminiscent of games like Zelda or Final Fantasy. There is no story to this game, and it is super short, being only 3 hours long. The evolution idea is great, but the execution is not as good as it wants to be.

    Evoland gets a 4/10.    … Expand
  25. EggManStudio
    Jun 28, 2015
    10
    It's important to realise when playing this game that it isn't meant to be a true RPG - it's meant to be a pisstake of the RPG genre, wherein you have to unlock everything, right down to moving, saving and battling, and it does that absolutely brilliantly. I would reccomend this game to anyone who liked the old RPGs like Final Fantasy and the like - I for one found myself chucklingIt's important to realise when playing this game that it isn't meant to be a true RPG - it's meant to be a pisstake of the RPG genre, wherein you have to unlock everything, right down to moving, saving and battling, and it does that absolutely brilliantly. I would reccomend this game to anyone who liked the old RPGs like Final Fantasy and the like - I for one found myself chuckling heartily at the little references here and there. A brilliant little stab at the RPG genre, Evoland is so deliberately generic that it's hilarious, and any retro game fan should pick it up for its nostalgic and its comedic value.… Expand
  26. BaganLeleo
    May 21, 2015
    8
    This game, while it has plenty of flaws is a great example of the evolution of video games, it has great humor, good presentation, and to be honest, I would rather play a game detailing the evolution of video games than watch a movie, or read a book tbh.
  27. araithiel
    Apr 3, 2015
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Evoland made me really excited (when I saw it on sale on Steam...$10 bucks? Ha!) because conceptually, it seems quite exciting. Being able to play through an action-RPG that changes and evolves to match the different mechanics we've seen over the years would be amazing, provided the game itself was also there to deliver.

    The problem with Evoland is that it doesn't stand up alone as a game. They intended to create a series of references and then put them in order. It doesn't play like a game at any point, it makes no sense, and it doesn't try to engage you at all. Because the concept is so strong and the idea of nostalgia pulls at us all, Evoland neglected to make a challenging, entertaining, or even remotely fun game. It's these kinds of indie games that will bury a really great trend over the past few years when it comes to experimentation. If they had actually created a story and game and then simultaneously had you building the world, you might have had something here.

    I've played a number of RPGs over the year where you actually had to build up the world around you. They're not much different than Evoland, except that they still brought a story and gameplay to stand alongside their gimmick. Evoland will make you smile once or twice, not because you're enjoying the game, but because you'll go "Oh yeah, monochrome games were pretty fun" or "Yeah, Diablo is a great game." You're just smiling because you were reminded there are great games out there you played before and many of them are still pretty easy to get your hands on.

    There is a brief moment in Evoland where you have switch between "time," and in doing so, you change between old 16-bit gameplay back to 3-D, and it changes how you can interact with the map. This is ingenious. This is the kind of thing that the game should be doing. Puzzles based on its gimmick. Early on, when you switch from monochrome to colour or from no health to hearts, there's no reason and no bonus to your progression. It just happens. So the gimmick isn't actually doing anything to boost the game, to pull you in, or to make it fun, it's just kind of happening in the background. You go through one forest, now it's a more detailed dungeon, now it's a 3D forest, now its an "HD" final boss fight. It doesn't change the gameplay much.

    As many have mentioned, the evolution pacing is terrible. For me, most of the greatest RPGs I Played are going to be from a 2D era. So when I started in monochrome, super excited to explore in this throwback world, and was almost instantly booted to colour, I was incredibly disappointed. The rush to 3D happens pretty much right away as well, meaning you play half the game as monochrome/16-bit/2D, and then you just flatline at 3D. The game also forgets there are modern RPGs that didn't have pre-rendered backgrounds, but apparently that's where evolution stops here.

    So, moving past the disappointing gimmicks is combat. It's awful. Any of the Zelda-esque levels have almost no puzzles, and if you were playing Zelda for the thrilling combat...look, nobody plays Zelda for thrilling combat. You play for puzzles and level-design and awesome bosses. When you play the FF-style stuff, you deal with incredibly frequent random encounters, and for a while, it's just your one character, and the only action you have is Attack. That's it. Pile on the excitement though, because the second character you get brings the first spell in the game (Heal) and does no damage when attacking, so you're just going to hit attack and heal between your two party members. That's all. Later in the game she learns a new damage spell, but it doesn't do much either. That's all there is to it. The Diablo sections also strip you of any skills, leaving you with only attack. That's all you'll do the entire level. Careful not to break your space bar.

    This game frustrates because it had so much potential, and they really only get one shot at this. Nobody had done this specific gimmick before, and now anyone trying it in the future will have Evoland's taint hanging around it. Plus it'll be a "Yeah, we saw it" feeling, so we'll never get a really interesting RPG that is both a throwback, and modern game at the same time, while still being original. Instead we got a demoreel for a game these guys could probably make if you gave them money. You're pretty much just watching the code be read and that's all.

    And don't collect things. Anything. Don't. Those chests don't contain optional evolutions. All the stars doesn't do anything. All the cards doesn't do anything. The card game is fun, and would be kind of nice if you had any additional say over your deck or anything, but its basically evolved tic-tac-toe, so I guess you can pay some money to get your hands on that?    … Expand
  28. runner
    Aug 29, 2014
    7
    Good idea, and a very nice execution.
    I think that whoever gives a negative review to the game tries to review it as a game of its own, and that's not entirely correct, in my opinion.
    Yes, as a game of it's own, this game is average at best and I'd give it maybe 4.510 or something like that. Its own graphics aren't spectacular, its own soundtrack is kinda dull, the story is a pretty    Good idea, and a very nice execution.
    I think that whoever gives a negative review to the game tries to review it as a game of its own, and that's not entirely correct, in my opinion.
    Yes, as a game of it's own, this game is average at best and I'd give it maybe 4.510 or something like that.
    Its own graphics aren't spectacular, its own soundtrack is kinda dull, the story is a pretty lame save-the-town-from-evil kind of thing.

    And maybe I've got it all wrong, but I don't think that in any way this game tries to be any good on its own.
    The idea here is to bring the evolution of video games in one product, with great emphasis on the RPG genre. And that it does well, in my opinion, and I don't remember any other game doing that as good as Evoland does, I don't remember any developer even trying out this idea, which is actually a pretty good and interesting one!

    I really enjoyed this game, and really enjoyed seeing the old good 2D 2-colors graphics turning gradually into a nicely done 3D HD manymany-colors graphics.

    It's a short experience, but that's the way it should be, and it costs accordingly (10 bucks is alright for this).

    Also, you'll probably enjoy the game more if you're familiar with the old-classic RPG's because this game has many specific references.

    One thing that annoyed me, to make the game more interesting the developers added achievements. They're pretty cool actually, and added a lot to the game, and I even wanted to complete them all. That's until I realized you don't really have any way to track your progress...UNLESS you own Evoland on Steam. Because Steam has an achievements system. The game itself, doesn't. So, if you're like me, and bought the game on GOG, and wish to track your achievements, you can only do so by manually check the list on Steam, or simply purchasing the game again on Steam.
    Does it worth it? naaah. It's a shame there's no achievements tracking in the game!

    All in all, the game is nice for a one-time playthrough. Give it a try if you're familiar with the old time of video gaming.    … Expand
  29. kingporkchops
    Jun 19, 2014
    9
    Just really enjoyed the game and found it very interesting. Would definitely recommend this game to anyone. some parts become frustrating and drag on a bit but very much enjoyed it overall
  30. tayfuntuna
    Jun 5, 2014
    7
    Definitely a joyful travel through time! Though it's not as long as usual RPG's are, and replayability is highly questionable; it's still a lovely adventure and presentation of the evolution of RPG genre. If you think it's overpriced, you can still get it on sale and think of it as an interactive RPG documentary to avoid disappointment. Though, I believe, it's more than that.
  31. jaggerjack9
    Apr 18, 2014
    9
    Great game. You will never appreciate this game if what you are looking for is action and rich content. This game is only designed for those older guys who have experienced the fun in 8 bit games, 16 bit games until now. Don't dump your **** like "this game sux, only talk and talk etc".
  32. SpongyTwinkies
    Apr 8, 2014
    4
    I have a problem with this game - it is constantly reminding me that it is a game. Throughout play, the game 'evolves' the technical and play mechanics. It is this persistent reminder, and the jokes the game makes at its own expense, that irk me, jar me out of the experience and sometimes confuse the issue of what the goals are during play. Am I seeking the next chest to unlock a newI have a problem with this game - it is constantly reminding me that it is a game. Throughout play, the game 'evolves' the technical and play mechanics. It is this persistent reminder, and the jokes the game makes at its own expense, that irk me, jar me out of the experience and sometimes confuse the issue of what the goals are during play. Am I seeking the next chest to unlock a new mechanic?

    Because it was reminding me it's a game, I continued noting the evolution of play and spoting inconsistencies as things updated. The game can't help but do this. And after awhile, I began to miss playing Zelda because Evoland might as well have said, "Hey, I'm not Zelda, but this is sort of how that game works and we are imitating something already created." In fact, I stopped playing and turned on that great NES classic.

    Buy this if you're curious but wait for it to go on sale. Evoland is not a game that seems to want to stand on its own merit except for novelty.    … Expand
  33. Jonhuggs
    Mar 30, 2014
    8
    If you go into this game expecting a nice tribute to past games like Final fantasy and The Legend of zelda and not as a really deep story then you will find it is very good and alot of fun can be had.
  34. birdman3
    Jan 19, 2014
    6
    There is no reason to call this anything other than a mediocre game. The first hour is fun as you go about collecting the powerups that create the 3D RPG world as we know it, but beyond that, the last two hours are all drudgery. Near the end, certain RPG tripes are introduced that are interesting (e.g. a quest based around talking to villagers, a Diablo-esque mission, and an interestingThere is no reason to call this anything other than a mediocre game. The first hour is fun as you go about collecting the powerups that create the 3D RPG world as we know it, but beyond that, the last two hours are all drudgery. Near the end, certain RPG tripes are introduced that are interesting (e.g. a quest based around talking to villagers, a Diablo-esque mission, and an interesting final boss battle), but everything leading up to that point is mostly worthless. I was mostly disappointed in the number of encounters that you face on the world map. I honestly couldn't walk on the world map for more than 4 seconds without an encounter. It was very annoying traveling between locations knowing that it would take 5-10 minutes longer than I want because of the random encounters. Your character can level up through these battles, but there's no reason to- all you gain is a bit more life. All the enemies are either killed in one hit, two hits, or more- leveling up doesn't change that.

    Luckily, I got this game for cheap so I got enough satisfaction from it from the actual evolution stages of the game, but I guarantee that I'll never play the game again or recommend it to friends.    … Expand
  35. LFOB
    Jan 12, 2014
    9
    While I agree with those saying it has no story depth, little mechanics, goals, etc., I can't say this is a bad game. When reviewing a game you have to go farther than just "does this game have a point?". Evoland is a throwback to old RPGs, and along with that it brings feelings from those RPGs. The music, the graphics, the sense of progression, the in-jokes and the overall style of theWhile I agree with those saying it has no story depth, little mechanics, goals, etc., I can't say this is a bad game. When reviewing a game you have to go farther than just "does this game have a point?". Evoland is a throwback to old RPGs, and along with that it brings feelings from those RPGs. The music, the graphics, the sense of progression, the in-jokes and the overall style of the game is unique and gives a good feeling, reminding me of good times spent playing RPGs for hours and hours on end. Not reccomended for players not experienced in RPGs, but for me, personally, this game is incredible.… Expand
  36. GoombaJMR
    Jan 12, 2014
    7
    This game is actually really good, even though it is a bit short, it starts combining simple things that make an rpg fun and makes it fun to unlock. The turn based battling like FF isn't that deep, but it's still something interesting and fun, and it would be great if the developer could further develop this game. The legend of zelda style puzzles and gameplay is also quite fun. Two wordsThis game is actually really good, even though it is a bit short, it starts combining simple things that make an rpg fun and makes it fun to unlock. The turn based battling like FF isn't that deep, but it's still something interesting and fun, and it would be great if the developer could further develop this game. The legend of zelda style puzzles and gameplay is also quite fun. Two words = TOO.SHORT.

    Gameplay: 8/10
    Story: 6/10
    Music: 8/10
    Presentation: 7.5/10
    Length: 5/10
    Overall: 7/10    … Expand
  37. Nevrose
    Jan 6, 2014
    7
    This is not a bad indie game if you buy it during the steam sale. An interesting mix between Zelda and Final Fantasy.

    Lots of fun during the first half of the game when you open chests that are evolving the world around you. The problem is the second half of the game when the game loses his main idea (evolution of the world) and tries to be just a classic RPG. The hitbox of the two    This is not a bad indie game if you buy it during the steam sale. An interesting mix between Zelda and Final Fantasy.

    Lots of fun during the first half of the game when you open chests that are evolving the world around you. The problem is the second half of the game when the game loses his main idea (evolution of the world) and tries to be just a classic RPG. The hitbox of the two hands of the final boss is bad.    … Expand
  38. eadorin
    Jan 3, 2014
    10
    This game is truly a delight to play. Even if you don't necessarily remember the classic games that this game pays homage to, the history lesson and the beautiful progression of graphics. No, the gameplay itself isn't the best, and sometimes the controls are kludgy, but I love the originality of the idea and think it's terrific.
  39. EL1TE
    Dec 23, 2013
    0
    There was I having fun with all the graphical upgrades when finally got into the story (can i even call it story?) when suddenly the game's finished in less than 3 hours where at least 2h is finding treasures that upgrade the graphics, sounds and gives access to basic things such as the menu, even tho i bought it at 75% off the base value is a ripoff for a game, (i mean demo) with thisThere was I having fun with all the graphical upgrades when finally got into the story (can i even call it story?) when suddenly the game's finished in less than 3 hours where at least 2h is finding treasures that upgrade the graphics, sounds and gives access to basic things such as the menu, even tho i bought it at 75% off the base value is a ripoff for a game, (i mean demo) with this duration.

    It's ridiculous how someone charges 10€ for such basic game (i mean demo) and where most of the names are pretty much taken from other games and even movies with just a letter change (such as Noria Mines, which is Moria from Lord of the Rings) and then worst, the duration of the game is pathetic at best and to think i was kinda hyped when i got the game (i mean demo).

    Basically i feel like this is a "tech" demo for a great potential game, turns out the author just threw the demo at us and that's it.

    If i want nostalgia there's plenty of games i can play (i can go play Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, Chrono Trigger/Cross, Pokemon and so many others) with at least 50+ hours of duration each, and that's just doing the main story and some exploration for better gear).

    Overall i do NOT recommend buying this game (i mean demo) unless you pay 2.5 for it instead of the base 10.    … Expand
  40. x2495iiii
    Dec 16, 2013
    1
    It really could have been great, but it isn't.

    First, it's very poorly coded. Want to see if you can beat the game without autoscrolling? Well, hope you like guessing where your character is, since he'll be spending much of his time off camera wandering around trying to trigger the invisible scroll points. Don't pick up mode-7 either, since without auto-scrolling, it make all graphics    It really could have been great, but it isn't.

    First, it's very poorly coded. Want to see if you can beat the game without autoscrolling? Well, hope you like guessing where your character is, since he'll be spending much of his time off camera wandering around trying to trigger the invisible scroll points. Don't pick up mode-7 either, since without auto-scrolling, it make all graphics in the overworld completely misaligned. On the plus side though, you can move while doing the "got item" animation after opening a treasure chest, which isn't possible with autoscrolling. A good coder assumes all possibilities and accounts for them when making a game. Obviously, they assumed every player would play the same way they did and didn't bother to test the alternatives. To put a little icing on the cake, there's plenty of typos too. It's almost like there wasn't any QA at all.

    Second, even if the game was great, it's like a demo version of the games it's trying to pay homage to. It reminds me of FF, A link to the Past, and Illusion of Gaia, but what made those games memorable wasn't their turn-based combat or use of mode-7, but their combination of engaging (well-coded) gameplay, deep storylines, and memorable characters. Lacking any real storyline or characters, and only offering a thin imitation of the gameplay, Evoland doesn't come close to having the same effect those games did.

    If it was a free flash game, the quality and shallowness would be a lot more fitting, almost endearing. But since it's the same price as considerably better made and more thought out games, it's practically a scam.    … Expand
  41. BlacksitePSU
    Nov 14, 2013
    5
    Evoland is simply too short and unfulfilling, even if it does have a unique mechanic in upgrading its own visuals. Simple allusions to previous high-selling RPGs don't help either. It makes it all the more obvious how shallow this game really is.
  42. MrSelatcia
    Nov 11, 2013
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The idea behind this game is solid and seems fun, but the execution was lacking. The game is short, I beat it in one sitting, but even at only 2-3 hours it dragged. The game continually upgrades into different types and styles of varying classic rpgs, but for some reason it can't decide on the overworld and in dungeon style to stay with. HP and XP Final Fantasy style in the overworld, diablo style fighting without leveling in dungeons. I wanted more story, more towns, more shops, more upgrades, more consistency. It's as if the devs grew tired of the concept and cut it short with their half assed ending.

    I bought this at full price because my interest was piqued when I heard about it. It wasn't worth half.

    Hopefully somebody else takes the idea and runs with it.    … Expand
  43. teragon
    Oct 18, 2013
    5
    Evoland is a game that achieves most of what it sets out to do, -just-. Slapstick comedy and reference to the past 30 years of RPG history squeezed into a very short space. good visuals and a strong sense of accomplishment early game sadly die out all too soon thanks to a poor meld of plot and challenge. The unfortunate reality here is with a little more thought to the storyline and a moreEvoland is a game that achieves most of what it sets out to do, -just-. Slapstick comedy and reference to the past 30 years of RPG history squeezed into a very short space. good visuals and a strong sense of accomplishment early game sadly die out all too soon thanks to a poor meld of plot and challenge. The unfortunate reality here is with a little more thought to the storyline and a more gradual and deliberate flow of challenges throughout, Evoland could have been a great little laugh while at the same time putting that nostalgic smile on your face.… Expand
  44. speedfrizzle
    Sep 2, 2013
    2
    I understand Evoland is supposed to just be a simple homage to older games such as zelda and final fantasy but Evoland itself is an unbearably frustrating and bland experience which barely re-sparked my love for the older titles. Evoland is not enjoyable. The few times you get a sense nostalgia for your childhood games it is often quickly squashed out by Evoland's over simplicity andI understand Evoland is supposed to just be a simple homage to older games such as zelda and final fantasy but Evoland itself is an unbearably frustrating and bland experience which barely re-sparked my love for the older titles. Evoland is not enjoyable. The few times you get a sense nostalgia for your childhood games it is often quickly squashed out by Evoland's over simplicity and frustrating mechanics.… Expand
  45. Pampl
    Sep 1, 2013
    5
    The game has a good sense of humor, but sometimes faithfulness to the old way of doing things stops being fun. Example: random battles every 5 seconds get tedious. You have unlimited healing, which in one way makes them less irritating, but in another way makes them even more pointless.
    I don't know if this was specific to my computer, but there was a point (the cave where you get the    The game has a good sense of humor, but sometimes faithfulness to the old way of doing things stops being fun. Example: random battles every 5 seconds get tedious. You have unlimited healing, which in one way makes them less irritating, but in another way makes them even more pointless.
    I don't know if this was specific to my computer, but there was a point (the cave where you get the second half of the amulet) when my frame rate fell through the floor and the game became unplayable. This game's nostalgic graphics really shouldn't be causing that to happen. What I could see of the gameplay at 1 FPS made it look like it would be frustrating anyway.    … Expand
  46. obake21
    Aug 18, 2013
    0
    Do not buy this game, its nothing more than a Frankenstein of references to older games. There is little to no strategy involved in playing the game, most of the time you're just walking around talking to a person who will ask you to talk to another person.

    The game is short, the challenges are so bland, a five year old can complete the game, and you couldn't even call the story-line a    Do not buy this game, its nothing more than a Frankenstein of references to older games. There is little to no strategy involved in playing the game, most of the time you're just walking around talking to a person who will ask you to talk to another person.

    The game is short, the challenges are so bland, a five year old can complete the game, and you couldn't even call the story-line a real story.

    save your money, buy something else.    … Expand
  47. MusicCream
    Jul 28, 2013
    7
    Great cheap game. Short, but bring lots of fun, showing us a mini-history of rpg games. This is a casual game, don't expect hours and hours of intense complicated gameplay. This game is good for its simplicity.
  48. TheOrangeBro
    Jul 22, 2013
    9
    Amazing game. Albeit short it provides flashbacks to the history of video games as well as fun game play and several humorous references. Another unexpected plus from this game was the music, which was far better than expected.
  49. CatHatMan
    Jul 20, 2013
    1
    This feels like it was more of an interactive report on the history of video game rpgs rather than an actual game. There is so much wasted potential in the concept, Too bad they had to turn it into a 2 hour long tutorial stage with no game.

    Also $10 is crazy high for this game.
  50. Gharren
    Jul 18, 2013
    9
    A classic RPG with a lot of allusions to well-known RPGs like The Legend of Zelda, Diablo, Final Fantasy, The Elder Scrolls and more. If you know and played these games, you will have a lot of fun with this one. And even if you're not so much into nostalgia, it still leaves you with a solid RPG that has everything it needs.
  51. Clintonio
    Jul 18, 2013
    5
    This game is short, at three hours. In the first hour or two of the game, it is fairly enjoyable. The difficulty is not unreasonable, although the gameplay isn't very varied either, so isn't deep. The final hour on the other hand is a perfect demonstration of why these types of games are no longer popular and are relegated to nostalgic memories. As the difficulty ramps up you have to hopeThis game is short, at three hours. In the first hour or two of the game, it is fairly enjoyable. The difficulty is not unreasonable, although the gameplay isn't very varied either, so isn't deep. The final hour on the other hand is a perfect demonstration of why these types of games are no longer popular and are relegated to nostalgic memories. As the difficulty ramps up you have to hope for the best that spamming the attack button will save you, and in the case of the final two bosses, of the first you must exploit the terrain if you want a real chance of winning, and for the final boss they have implemented a typical early-2000s timing attack boss with a doughnut shaped platform. This is an exercise in frustration and taints the rest of the relatively easy, nostalgia filled, game.

    I went into the game wondering why the reviews were generally negative, and while the game was still constantly rewarding me with upgrades to the engine, and being genuinely fun, I still considered it good, but by the end it was clear the designer does not know the difference between difficulty and frustrating situations.

    Before the frustrating parts of the game settled in, I had another major problem; the designer was trying too hard to be funny. It came off as trite and bland, and constant attempts to parody the genre (and Final Fantasy in particular) were forced, unfunny and broke the sense of nostalgic immersion I was experiencing. This game would have worked better as a simple, easy, nostalgia fueled game that had references, but not parodies, to other games in the genre.

    I would not recommend this to anyone who didn't experience the first generations of action/adventure/RPG games, pre-2005, because if you didn't, you probably won't find this game fun at all, and I instead recommend you play games that actually came out pre-2005 to experience them first hand. This game does not do them justice.    … Expand
  52. MajorMustachios
    Jul 4, 2013
    9
    The value of Evoland is not in a good story, or in its delivery of punchlines. It's meant to be a nostalgic experience, and if you don't feel the affect of it, or at least recognize it, then this game is not meant for you. If you are looking for an adventure game with an incredible plotline, twists and turns, and good characters, go play Zelda or Final Fantasy. Evoland is meant to beThe value of Evoland is not in a good story, or in its delivery of punchlines. It's meant to be a nostalgic experience, and if you don't feel the affect of it, or at least recognize it, then this game is not meant for you. If you are looking for an adventure game with an incredible plotline, twists and turns, and good characters, go play Zelda or Final Fantasy. Evoland is meant to be played by those who remember what those games used to be, and want nothing more than a chance for just one moment to feel that way again. This game isn't for everyone. But for those it is meant for see the beauty in it.… Expand
  53. miked007
    May 12, 2013
    2
    Horrible game really, if you are under 21 or so and do not remember all the flaws and how terrible and annoying the game play of early 90s- late 90s rpgs could be, then give it a shot just to see how good you have it, and be thankful you dont have to play garbage like this. If you do remember those games, well, thats what it is, that annoying as hell pop-up battle crap, can only move 4Horrible game really, if you are under 21 or so and do not remember all the flaws and how terrible and annoying the game play of early 90s- late 90s rpgs could be, then give it a shot just to see how good you have it, and be thankful you dont have to play garbage like this. If you do remember those games, well, thats what it is, that annoying as hell pop-up battle crap, can only move 4 directions etc etc, everything i hated about those games.… Expand
  54. brenavich
    May 7, 2013
    5
    This is clearly an unfinished game that got rushed to release. The developer had a good idea but really didn't execute well. The beginning was very novel and cool with the "evolution" of the game, but these neat mechanics are introduced so rapidly that the game very quickly runs out of tricks and what's left isn't good. Anyone who has given this a high score has overlooked or not evenThis is clearly an unfinished game that got rushed to release. The developer had a good idea but really didn't execute well. The beginning was very novel and cool with the "evolution" of the game, but these neat mechanics are introduced so rapidly that the game very quickly runs out of tricks and what's left isn't good. Anyone who has given this a high score has overlooked or not even played the second half.… Expand
  55. MacroPower
    Apr 30, 2013
    7
    This is a really interesting game that tells a story about the clichés of gaming. It's like an RPG, but instead of upgrading your character, you upgrade the game itself. For instance, you might unlock "256 bit color" as opposed to 16 bit, or "free roaming" as opposed to moving along a grid. Some areas even allow you to cycle from modern graphics/mechanics to older ones, allowing you toThis is a really interesting game that tells a story about the clichés of gaming. It's like an RPG, but instead of upgrading your character, you upgrade the game itself. For instance, you might unlock "256 bit color" as opposed to 16 bit, or "free roaming" as opposed to moving along a grid. Some areas even allow you to cycle from modern graphics/mechanics to older ones, allowing you to bypass some limitations introduced in more modern games. This makes for a very interesting and enjoyable way to solve puzzles.

    You progressively move from a sidescroller to a game like Torchlight or Diablo, without lingering on one particular thing; except for random-encounters. Random-encounters appear literally every few seconds in specific portions (mainly fast-travel) of the game-- and it's terribly boring. The whole point of the game is to continue moving from one thing to another, except for some odd reason they decided to keep those through the entire game. Now, sometimes they're fun, but the main character only has one attack for the better part of the game. This really discourages exploration-- and it takes a lot of time, mainly because you are granted a mini-map very late in the game. (It's sometimes hard to find where you need to go with random-encounters interrupting you every few seconds.)

    That aside, it's honestly a refreshing experience to see all the generations of gaming packed into one 3.5 hour game. The gameplay mimics the gameplay of the generation you are currently dwelling in, and it does it very well. It seems like a lot of time was put into Evoland, everything was polished well to fit with the various themes.

    I think this game is worth it at full price for some people, but also would not be enjoyed by others. I certainly enjoyed it, and if anything I've said sounds interesting, I recommend that you give it a try.    … Expand
  56. otter
    Apr 27, 2013
    7
    Maybe because I've been playing video games as long as they've been around, I loved the concept behind Evoland. All of the nods to important games of the past are what I enjoyed most, which with seeing the world evolve, makes the total of the games strength. It's not deep or exciting, just a romp through the past, which may have more appeal for older gamers like myself. I enjoyed it forMaybe because I've been playing video games as long as they've been around, I loved the concept behind Evoland. All of the nods to important games of the past are what I enjoyed most, which with seeing the world evolve, makes the total of the games strength. It's not deep or exciting, just a romp through the past, which may have more appeal for older gamers like myself. I enjoyed it for what it is, a scrapbook of RPG history.… Expand
  57. Locust2000
    Apr 20, 2013
    10
    This game is awesome. If you want an interesting progression of how action adventure RPG's progressed over the decades this is pretty good. It has a suitably generic storyline but that suits the rest of the game perfectly. It's also cool how you swap between new old style.
  58. Meanwhile
    Apr 19, 2013
    4
    Not so much a game as a series of jokes and observations about the genre. There are a few "gamey" elements, such as the occasional boss battle, and the card mini-game, but even those are quite shallow and require very little thought or skill. Even so, there are times when you have to grind pointless trash fights to get all of the achievements; this is made all the more tiresome becauseNot so much a game as a series of jokes and observations about the genre. There are a few "gamey" elements, such as the occasional boss battle, and the card mini-game, but even those are quite shallow and require very little thought or skill. Even so, there are times when you have to grind pointless trash fights to get all of the achievements; this is made all the more tiresome because for the most part there is absolutely no chance of failure unless you are just really, really incompetent. On top of all that, it's pretty darned short (which in retrospect may be a blessing). You can tell the creators put some thought and effort into it sadly, it turns out they are clearly game FANS, not game designers. I bought this while it was on sale for 10 percent off, and I still feel like I paid way too much for it.… Expand
  59. Mi7che1l
    Apr 18, 2013
    9
    This game is very interesting. Not only is it a trip down memory lane, but it also serves to remind many of us how all the elements of games came about through a step by step process. It does have a simple story that unfolds as you progress through the game which may or may not be what some gamers are looking for. If you are looking for a deep compelling story that makes you feel for theThis game is very interesting. Not only is it a trip down memory lane, but it also serves to remind many of us how all the elements of games came about through a step by step process. It does have a simple story that unfolds as you progress through the game which may or may not be what some gamers are looking for. If you are looking for a deep compelling story that makes you feel for the characters then I would not recommend this particular game, however, if you want to go on an adventure that makes you appreciate the aspects of gaming that make up what we take for granted today, this is for you.… Expand
  60. Silver_Spade
    Apr 18, 2013
    9
    A blast from the past. Evoland is a great way to spend a free weekend if you've got some free time. It says its a short story but I still got around 3 good days worth of gameplay from it. The references to other games are somewhat obvious as the further you get into it the funnier they get!

    Sure the story isn't too original but this game is all about the experience and for its price tag    A blast from the past. Evoland is a great way to spend a free weekend if you've got some free time. It says its a short story but I still got around 3 good days worth of gameplay from it. The references to other games are somewhat obvious as the further you get into it the funnier they get!

    Sure the story isn't too original but this game is all about the experience and for its price tag I would highly recommend it. To sum up, if you're a fan of games like Zelda and Final Fantasy then you will LOVE this game.     … Expand
  61. KST
    Apr 16, 2013
    6
    It's a short but wonderful game which offers a lot of nostalgia feeling for gamers who played during the 80 's and 90 's. You will find yourself smiling quite often if you know the rpg classics. But don't expect a story, complex game mechanics or any replay value.

    If you think that 3-4 hours of fun are worth 10 bucks, go ahead and buy it. If you don't want to spend that much money,    It's a short but wonderful game which offers a lot of nostalgia feeling for gamers who played during the 80 's and 90 's. You will find yourself smiling quite often if you know the rpg classics. But don't expect a story, complex game mechanics or any replay value.

    If you think that 3-4 hours of fun are worth 10 bucks, go ahead and buy it. If you don't want to spend that much money, pick it up on the next steam sales.    … Expand
  62. headsign
    Apr 15, 2013
    7
    Evoland is a great little game that takes us through the history of the most successful japanese style RPGs and platforms at the same time. I t starts with a gameboy-like image of a typical blocky character in well know 8 shades of greyish yellow and leads us further and further up the road to a N64-like 3D character in quest of chest that, instead of enhancing your firepower and armorEvoland is a great little game that takes us through the history of the most successful japanese style RPGs and platforms at the same time. I t starts with a gameboy-like image of a typical blocky character in well know 8 shades of greyish yellow and leads us further and further up the road to a N64-like 3D character in quest of chest that, instead of enhancing your firepower and armor classes, rather enhance the gameworld from 8-bit retro to 64 bit advanced, uncluding shaders, colors, music and general gameplay. It also includes a fun minigame where you have to achieve a pretty challenging cardgame.

    The game in itself is a real pleasure to play. The overall design is extremely well done, the music is enjoyable and there is, of course, a pretty big portion of humor around every corner. My only real gripe is that it didn't last very long. Actually, it was finished in about 3 hours and I felt that the pretty vast gameworld in which the game took place could easily have contained a couple of additional quests. In the end, despite all the fun and the enchantment over the beauty of the design, I felt a bit like I had been rushed through a world and a concept that could easily have offered a lot more. I sincerely do hope that the developers will come up with a significantly larger version of the game.
    I also feel that the game was a little bit overpriced for what it offered, although I understand that most work has probably gone into the different designs and time layers and that, thus, the developers probably feel that around 10$ is cheap enough, they should not forget that a player measures a game's worth in totally different units.

    Please give us Evoland 2, Evoland Forever, Evoland Infinite... Whatever! Just make it BIG!!!    … Expand
  63. MikethyKing
    Apr 12, 2013
    10
    K think about it, 10 bucks and its a pretty nostalgic filled game with some pretty fun moments. Buy it super cheap play for a couple hours and have a great time.
  64. therationalpi
    Apr 12, 2013
    6
    Evoland is the sort of game that's becoming increasingly common in the market today, a game that's adheres to strict genre conventions, but does so in a way that is so overtly self-aware that it attempts to transcend its seeming banality Conceptually, Evoland is interesting. A game which evolves technologically throughout the course of gameplay, advancing from a top-down monochromeEvoland is the sort of game that's becoming increasingly common in the market today, a game that's adheres to strict genre conventions, but does so in a way that is so overtly self-aware that it attempts to transcend its seeming banality Conceptually, Evoland is interesting. A game which evolves technologically throughout the course of gameplay, advancing from a top-down monochrome adventure to full-color 3D. The goal is to act as something of a gaming history lesson, while deriving enjoyment from the act of calling out conventions of gaming that have evolved over the years.

    While the concept is interesting, the execution is somewhat flawed. The pacing of "upgrades" feels stilted. In the first five minutes of play you progress from monochrome to 8-bit to 16-bit color, but the latter half of the game features almost no evolution at all. The transition to 3D is similarly flawed, moving from solid colored polygons to high-rez textures in the course of a single level. For a game built around evolution, these transitions should be metered more thoughtfully.

    Speaking of evolution, the treatment of upgrades is woefully inconsistent. One of the potential joys of this game would be exploring the changes to previously visited locations with new technology. But if you attempt to see the first village after earning 3D graphics, you will be kicked back to the 16-bit era with little fanfare. The only area that you really get to enjoy at multiple levels of technology is the starting one, and that's more than a little disappointing.

    As stated earlier, the rate of tech enhancements tails off about halfway through the game. At this point, the focus turns to completing the storyline, solving puzzles, and collecting all the little doodads hidden around the map. The storyline and gameplay are both purposefully generic, meant to highlight silly tropes in the medium and heavily reference memorable/frustrating events from Final Fantasy and Zelda. This is all well and good, since the game itself is merely a vehicle for the commentary provided by the evolution jumps. But since the evolution gives out at around the halfway point, the rest of the game is laid bare in a way it can't really handle. As a result, despite how short the game is, it really starts to drag by the end. A few more evolutionary advances (for example, "limit breaks" that lets you bypass combat encounters quickly), would have fixed both issues.

    The collectibles are similarly problematic. They are meant to reference the myriad of collectible items in adventure games, but don't seem to fit in well enough. There was a lot of promise for these little collectibles. They should have provided optional evolutions, becoming references worth hunting down. Instead, they just collect in your inventory and move you towards 100% and nag at your inner completionist. Do yourself a favor and ignore them. You aren't missing anything.

    Ultimately, Evoland is an acceptable game, but one that fails to deliver its initial promise because of minor missteps in execution. Purchase this game if you see it on sale for less than $5, and attempt to complete it without wasting too much time chasing unrewarding side objectives. This mode of play will give you the most enjoyable experience that Evoland has to offer.    … Expand
  65. WhiteTalpa
    Apr 9, 2013
    5
    Controls are awkward there are a few other thing which bug/annoy me as well. However, overall it is a great idea. You are not just developing your character and progressing through the story you are also progressing through the develop of the genre which i find really enjoyable.
  66. lightshadow3939
    Apr 8, 2013
    3
    Personally... I'd rather just play some older game for nostalgia. I won't go on about how the gameplay wasn't fun for me at all, because the actual games they wanted us to remember were better.
  67. Hakaze
    Apr 7, 2013
    1
    Can't recommend this game. It's crap. Don't buy it.

    It got no depth, few options, few enemies/attacks, the rules are inconsistent, the world is small (maybe a good thing) and the difficulty are random. Sometimes cakewalk, sometimes impossible deathtrap. I love Zelda, Final Fantasy, Mario and Diablo and this is pissing on them to earn a few dollars from sentimental players. Also: looks    Can't recommend this game. It's crap. Don't buy it.

    It got no depth, few options, few enemies/attacks, the rules are inconsistent, the world is small (maybe a good thing) and the difficulty are random. Sometimes cakewalk, sometimes impossible deathtrap. I love Zelda, Final Fantasy, Mario and Diablo and this is pissing on them to earn a few dollars from sentimental players. Also: looks bland, sounds bland, got no character. Makes me see some un-skippable cut-scene over and over again because badly designed boss fight. Lousy controls...

    Pros: You can get the Bustersword and the (one) summon you can get is fun (once)    … Expand
  68. michaelh225
    Apr 6, 2013
    8
    Ignore the people who would give a game a 0 because the story is poor and the developers didn't get controller support working in a Flash-based game. This is a game designed to appeal to a niche of gamers who grew up in the 80s and 90s; everyone else probably won't like it because they won't get it. I really enjoyed the game, especially the first 15 minutes going from black and white toIgnore the people who would give a game a 0 because the story is poor and the developers didn't get controller support working in a Flash-based game. This is a game designed to appeal to a niche of gamers who grew up in the 80s and 90s; everyone else probably won't like it because they won't get it. I really enjoyed the game, especially the first 15 minutes going from black and white to 16 bit, because it felt like I was going through my childhood.… Expand
  69. IronSavior
    Apr 5, 2013
    0
    Please understand me: There is no game here. There are no goals or adversity. There is absolutely no story and no message--that is unless the story is that the author has played a few RPGs over the years and he also remembers some of the mechanics from those games. The experience can be described as "walk a little and then we mention something RPGs used to have". Evoland fails toPlease understand me: There is no game here. There are no goals or adversity. There is absolutely no story and no message--that is unless the story is that the author has played a few RPGs over the years and he also remembers some of the mechanics from those games. The experience can be described as "walk a little and then we mention something RPGs used to have". Evoland fails to deliver, or even propose, as much as a single aesthetic other than this.

    What's more is that the creators of Evoland have managed to reference this list of RPG mechanics and then fully divorce them from the reason we played the games that originally used them. Sure, these mechanics were present In the original works that inspired Evoland. However, in those works, we had a reason to fight the random battles, we had a reason to pick up the first sword, we had a reason to visit a village. In Evoland, these mechanics serve no purpose other than for the sake of listing them.

    A lot of game makers have made the mistake of analyzing a successful game and concluding that the game's success is only due to the mechanics that make up the game. When a game maker tries to follow a "formula" in this manner but also fails to adequately serve any aesthetic, then you have a guaranteed bad game because the audience will not have a reason to engage in any of those mechanics. I thought since Evoland was supposed to be a nod to the history of RPG mechanics, that it would naturally avoid this pitfall by using those mechanics as a means to remind us why we played those old RPGs in the first place. Sadly, it's just a rote list of disembodied RPG mechanics.    … Expand
  70. gameplayhdpc
    Apr 5, 2013
    8
    Wow! I didn't expect this game could be so good. Great ideas, perfect solutions, very innovation gameplay.

    History of jRPG from NES/GBC to PS2 very ironic, but sentimental and charming.

    Only problem in this game is short lenght.

    First 8 min on YT:
    youtube.com/watch?v=lTQYXYX7_RM
  71. Key26
    Apr 4, 2013
    10
    My childhood is back, I can't remember the last time I felt so good playing a game. Every treasure I discover a nostalgic smile appears on my face. This is the dumbest review I could write, but I think that someone else can understand what I mean.
  72. fireskull98
    Apr 4, 2013
    8
    I thought evoland was really fun, and the different stages of evolution was really cool. Some parts really felt like Legend of Zelda, especially the puzzles.

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
61

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 27
  3. Negative: 4 out of 27
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Jun 13, 2013
    70
    Evoland is a frustrating affair. Its premise is great and it has potential to spare, but instead of an inspired retro journey all you get is a combination of lazy jokes, bland Zelda-esque gameplay and numbingly tedious JRPG battles. [June 2013]
  2. Riot Pixels
    Jun 10, 2013
    40
    As an introduction to old-school classics, Evoland is just too boring, and most veterans are not that nostalgic to blindly forgive its shoddy attempts at game design.
    Read full review
  3. PC Master (Greece)
    Jun 5, 2013
    74
    The old-school approach of the gameplay is not that fresh anymore and the steep price cannot justify the overpriced sentimentality. [May 2013]
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