Anyone who was been gaming for over the past decade or two has seen the role-playing games continue to evolve. Evoland's goal is to to mimic the evolution of different games from the Legend of Zelda, to Final Fantasy, and even Diablo. The real beauty of Evoland is how it humorously reflects back on the different features added as each of these games evolved. For as much as we all love these classic games there is a lot to make fun as we look back. There may even be just enough wit and clever level design to make Evoland a new staple in the genre.
The prime hook of Evoland is unlocking new features that fairly dramatically change the game. When you start out you can barely do anything; the game is silent and your movement is very restricted. Upgrades on everything from the graphics, sounds, and gameplay all to be obtained via various treasure chests. As your game evolves you'll go from 8-bit to high-definiton, from chip tunes to arranged songs, and from hack-and-slash to turn-based combat. By the time the novelty of one feature starts to wear off you're bound to run into another chest.
There a three gameplay styles featured in Evoland. You'll start by playing a top-down hack-and-slash much like Zelda. You'll have a sword, bow, and bombs to help you fight through each stage. Also there will be plenty of puzzles and secrets to solve along the way. You'll also get the chance to play turn-based combat much like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest. Although those two make up most of the game there is a dungeon crawler section straight from the likes of Diablo. Evoland tries to keep things simple as it jumps from one sub-genre to another. The goal appears more to bring back fond memories rather than challenge the player in new ways.
Hidden in treasure chests through-out the game are stars and cards. Often you'll need to solve puzzles or find secret paths to obtain these collectibles. Although the stars serve no purpose the cards are actually utilized for the mini-game called Double Twin. In double twin you and your opponent take turns placing cards on a three by three grid. Each card has numbers on all sides and if the numbers on the card you place down are higher than the adjacent cards you capture them and receive points. Just like everything else in this Evoland Double Twin is equally simple and amusing.
Evoland doesn't set out to innovate, instead it is a trip down memory lane. Its equally funny and rewarding earning every little upgrade to game. The best part is that you receive the upgrades so frequently that it sets a wonderful pace for the game. Should you want to take it slow however there are plenty of hidden stars and cards to collect. Although Evoland may appear deceptively bland at times the simplicity is actually key to its accessibility. After all, this is a fantastic throwback that any rpg fan should enjoy.