Limited Run Games has been on a tear as of late with retro collections. We’ve seen the likes of Gex Trilogy and Fighting Force Collection recently. And soon we’ll be getting more, like a neat little revival of Little Samson that we didn’t even ask for. In-between, however, we have a reminder of the days of old from the developers at Wolf Team. And that’s Earnest Evans Collection.
Anyone who grew up with a Sega Genesis or Sega CD will immediately recognize the first two games in the series. Earnest Evans originally released for Sega Genesis and Sega CD, with its weird whipping gameplay intact. Then there’s El Viento, a great side-scrolling action game with a powerful heroine. Wrapping up the trilogy is the rarely seen Annet Returns, a beat-em-up akin to Final Fight.
All three games are nicely remastered by Mighty Rabbit Studios, right down to the last pixel. That said, they aren’t exactly perfect with their nostalgia. Evans is a frustrating affair at times with its janky gameplay and challenging level design. Likewise, El Viento can be too hard for its own good. And the stages in Annet Returns are far too short to get mileage.
Flaws aside, however, there’s nostalgia aplenty here. And the games really do recreate an era long lost in time, right down to the dedicated voice acting. Plus, with the help of rewind, the three games are far more tolerable than you might think. Earnest Evans Collection wears its flaws on its sleeve. But purists and retro enthusiasts should get a good deal of mileage from it.
Earnest Evans Collection is an Interesting Trilogy
So here’s each of the games included in the compilation.
Earnest Evans – you follow a brave adventure through unpredictable caverns while seeking out The Necronomicon before – now get this – Al Capone gets it. I’m not kidding. Anyway, interesting story aside, this one is all about side-scrolling stage exploration and interesting whipping. It also has weird gameplay, particularly with movement. Once you get used to it, it’s okay, but the level design is all over the place. One stage is a breeze, and the next can be a nightmare. It’s definitely its own beast, but that just might suit some of you to a T. And you can indulge in either the cartridge or Sega CD versions, both included!
El Viento – probably the best game in the package. It’s a side scrolling affair where you portray the heroine against – yet again – Capone. It’s weird, but delightful, as you mow down mobsters and other enemies with projectiles. It can be a bit difficult at times, but El Viento is good fun once you get into its rhythm. Plus it has a great soundtrack, making me wish there was a Sega CD version.
Annet Returns – finally, this rare brawler is part of the package. It’s actually pretty good, provided you can get used to a few cheap hits here and there. The production value is actually pretty good, and the gameplay holds up well. That said, the difficulty is a bit much. At least the story keeps moving, with a great deal of treachery about. Thank goodness Annet knows her way around a fisticuff, yeah?
Overall, it’s a decently balanced package with platforming and fighting. But I just wish there were options to improve the gameplay in certain areas. But then again, it wouldn’t be Earnest Evans if it wasn’t weird, yeah?
How About the Presentation?
As I mentioned, Mighty Rabbit Studios did superb work with the emulation here. That’s not to say the package is seamless, but it’ll definitely deliver on the retro front.
The visuals are striking, as each game looks like its classic counterpart. We’re talking pixelated goofiness here and there, along with neat little cutscenes. There were some noticeable glitches, including one in the Sega CD version of Earnest Evans that stopped the game completely. Fortunately, we didn’t experience it again, maybe it was just a hiccup.
There are modern features as well, including rewinding (you’ll thank me later) and different display filters. Nothing beats the traditional CRT set-up, though you can go modern if you wish. The game also features solid voice acting in the cut scenes (Earnest Evans particularly), and you can go through play around with concept art, music bites and notes for each game.
I would’ve liked some video interviews to accompany the games, if only to dig into their historic significance. But there’s still plenty here for fans that may have missed out on the journey the first time around – or just want to re-experience it.
The Importance of Being Earnest (Evans)
Like Fighting Force Collection before it, your taste may vary with Earnest Evans Collection. Its three offerings aren’t for everyone, and may even drive a few of you batty. But the emulation is very well done (mostly), and the three games do offer something from a forgotten 16-bit era of gaming. Plus the extra options and goodies will certainly keep you occupied.
There are more packed compilations out there. But for something that reflects on a time when Sega was king of the gaming world, Earnest Evans Collection is a suitable homecoming. Just mind the speed bumps.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to Overload PR for providing a review code! Earnest Evans Collection is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and PC/Steam!
