It’s always great to see retro gaming hardware manufacturers finding innovative ways to breathe new life into classic gaming experiences.
The Evercade Alpha appears to be a well-designed product that ticks a lot of boxes for retro gamers and collectors. The inclusion of iconic titles like Street Fighter 2, Street Fighter Alpha 3, and Mega Man 2 as built-in games is a smart move that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of those beloved franchises. And the fact that it’s fully compatible with Evercade’s existing cartridge lineup means users will have access to a vast library of hundreds of additional retro games spanning multiple decades and genres.
From a technical standpoint, the 8-inch IPS display, authentic arcade controls, light-up marquee, and multiplayer support via USB ports all seem to be well-executed features that should provide an authentic arcade experience in a convenient bar-top form factor. The included interchangeable marquee designs are also a nice touch that will allow users to customise the look to suit their personal preferences.
Blaze appears to be pricing the Evercade Alpha competitively at $229.99 for the pre-order and $249.99 at regular retail. While not an impulse purchase, that seems like a reasonable ask for a dedicated arcade machine pre-loaded with high-quality games and compatible with an ever-expanding games library.
Overall, this looks like a well-conceived product that could be a big hit with the retro gaming community when it launches in November. Blaze has set some high expectations by touting the performance and flexibility of the Evercade Alpha, so it will be interesting to see how it stacks up in real-world use and if it lives up to the company’s claims. I look forward to getting my hands on it for a full review and putting it through its paces against other retro gaming offerings on the market.
