Bit By Bit: Evoland Lets You Play Through Gaming History
Ah, how far we've come. Why, I remember when games were still controlled by way of fire, amber-crystallized mosquitoes, and - yeesh - wired peripherals during brief respites from servitude under our mighty, all-devouring Tyrannolords. Those were such simpler times. Now, though, we have all these crazy graphics and buttons. But how did we reach this point? That's what Evoland hopes to explore, generation-by-generation, in a single adventure. So it might begin looking and playing like a colorless brick of Game Boy code, but later areas will morph into 16-bit, 32-bit, and full-blown 3D. Nifty, huh? Watch the gaming industry level up in trailer form after the break.
Evoland was originally conceived as a short, Zelda-esque jaunt for Ludum Dare 24 (the theme was evolution, naturally), and you can give that version a go right now. It's understandably simplistic, but quite a charmer nonetheless. My favorite part was unlocking the ability to go left.
The new Evoland, however, promises to be far more elaborate - though still rooted largely in the Japanese canon of gaming's history books.
"Evoland is a game and a story. The story of action adventure gaming as seen in the Zelda or Final Fantasy series, starting with the early age of action RPGs, when a few pixels were enough to make us dream for hours. The game will enhance and continue the story started in Evoland Classic, taking you further along the history of action adventure gaming, adding collectible items, new monsters and bosses, and more importantly new play styles and full 3D environments."
So then, same song, new verses. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It's quite a clever concept, and my nostalgia glands do enjoy a good glee juice secretion every once in a while. The new, improved Evoland will be out next month, but it's carved out its own chunky, pixelated corner of Steam Greenlight for now. You can give it a helpful up-shove if you're feeling so inclined. It's what our irrationally violent, entirely heartless Tyrannolords would've wanted, I think. May they forever rest in peace.