Evoland

Evoland
Studio	Shiro Games
Publisher	Shiro Games
Senior Developer	Nicolas Cannasse
Erstveröffent- lichung	April 4, 2013
platform	macOS , Windows
genre	Action adventure , computer role-playing game
Game mode	Single player
control	Keyboard & mouse , game controller
system advantages preconditions	Windows: OS : Windows XP SP2 with DirectX 9.0c CPU : 1.7 GHz single core RAM : 1 GB Graphics card : DirectX 9.0c compatible 100 MB free hard disk space OS X: OS: 10.5 Leopard CPU: 1 GHz CPU RAM: 1 GB RAM Graphics: screen resolution of 1024 × 768 pixels 100 MB free hard disk space
medium	Download
language	German English French
Current version	1.1.2349

Evoland - A Short Story of Adventure Video Games Evolution is a computer game from the French development studio Shiro Games . It is a genre mix of action adventure and computer role-playing games , which begins with a rudimentary game principle and a simple technical presentation and expands it gradually. In this way, the game provides a rough outline of the development of the action adventure and the Japanese role-playing game genre, especially the corresponding console variants. The game was released on April 4, 2013 for Windows and macOS .

action

The plot of the game takes place on two levels, an inner plot and a superordinate narrative level, the latter having greater weight. The game begins suddenly, the player guides the initially nameless male protagonist through the game world and gradually expands his options for action. After opening a certain chest, the game character is informed by an on-screen text that “an ancient evil power” has returned and is now threatening the world of Evolandia ( sic! ). The player character is "one of the few remaining members of the Order of the Dragon Knights" who are responsible for protecting the world. As the game progresses, the player is finally allowed to freely name his character (default name: Clink). Starting from the village of Papunika, Clink follows clues to the monster-haunted crystal caves. On the way there he meets a sorceress threatened by creatures. The player character rushes to her aid and both travel together from now on, whereby the player can freely name the magician (default name: Kaeris) asks the player character for help for her threatened home village Aogai City. In search of the threat, the two come across the villain Zephyros, who kills Kaeris during this confrontation. With the help of Kaeris 'uncle Sid and his flight ship, he finds Zephyros' refuge at the so-called mana tree and puts him there for the final battle.

In addition to the very superficial plot, there is a narrative aimed at the player. This is related to the subtitle of the game, A Short Story of Adventure Video Games Evolution (German: A short treatise on the evolution of adventure computer games ), and demonstrates the technical and playful evolution of computer role-playing games and action adventures in the style of The Legend of Zelda , Final Fantasy , Dragon Quest . The player can use the game world to find and open chests that expand his options for action and often change the look of the game world significantly. These changes are mostly ironically commented on by accompanying screen texts and, in conjunction with the visual reproduction of the game world, convey a rough historical outline of the development of the genre.

Gameplay

Change of the game world

Characteristic of the game is the multiple changes in the presentation of the game and the change between different ways of playing. The game is controlled exclusively via the keyboard and starts very rudimentary. On a two-dimensional, black-framed, monochrome level, the player can initially only move his roughly pixelated figure to the right onto a chest. By opening the chest, he is given the opportunity to move the figure to the left towards another chest. When this second chest was opened, the playing field expanded upwards and downwards, and the player can begin to explore the game world.

By opening further chests distributed in the game world, the action options for the player also change as a result. For example, the world is populated by hostile creatures, the player receives a sword for self-defense, save points to save the game become available, or the game character receives a life energy indicator, which from this point on is protected from initial instant death when touched by hostile creatures. On the other hand, chests change the graphic design and game mechanics. The pixel representations, which are monochrome at the beginning, are colored and increasingly gain in details, at some point simulate three-dimensionality until they are finally replaced by a 3D graphics engine. The camera perspectives are also adapted accordingly. The bird's eye view is increasingly giving way to an elevated oblique perspective, instead of a series of rigid screens, the camera begins to follow the character, first gradually, then seamlessly. The initially chess-like, block-by-block movement (right, left, up, down) is replaced by free movement in all directions. The further gameplay is essentially based on skill, battles and smaller puzzles.

Combat system, character development and equipment

The combat system varies between a real-time combat system as in Zelda and the turn-based system of Active Time Battle as in the early Final Fantasy games. The combat system corresponds to the representation of the game world. The game begins with the gameplay of an action adventure and a real-time combat system. The player moves his character on a detailed local or dungeon map, which enemy creatures wander through in real time. The player can avoid them or attack them.

The Active Time Battle is used on overland trips between two locations where Clink is moved as an avatar on an overland map and the game is more similar to Japanese console role-playing games. While Clink is moving around the map, random combat encounters with enemy creatures can be triggered at any time. Since these are not shown on the map, they cannot be avoided. In contrast to the real-time system, the player can also control Kaeris in this combat mode. Each character has an activity bar that charges automatically. Once this is charged, the figure can perform an action, such as attacking, using an object such as a healing potion or casting a spell. The activity bar then reloads until one side is defeated. The bars are calculated individually for each figure, so they charge at different speeds. If all opponents are defeated, the group receives experience points and money, as is customary in role-playing games, whereby the character traits are automatically improved by exceeding certain experience point levels (increased life energy, improved attack and defense values). The money can be invested in new equipment at dealerships, but the scope of purchase opportunities is significantly less than with the thematic models and similar representatives of the genre.

In the course of the game, the character receives a total of three types of weapons, sword, bow and bombs. In addition, the player wears armor. Improved versions of armor and sword can be purchased from dealers or found in chests, such as “Claud's sword” as a replacement for the long sword. One passage of the game is based heavily on the action role-playing game Diablo . In real-time mode, Clink fights through large hordes of enemies, who drop gold and loot after killing them. In an inventory limited to this dungeon, the player collects the various items of equipment that improve his skills, but satirize this game principle through their descriptive texts.

Skill inserts, puzzles and collecting aspects

In the various dungeons, in addition to fighting against hostile creatures, the player also has to avoid various traps or solve simple switch puzzles and find key objects for opening certain passages. Cracks in structures, such as stone walls, indicate secret passages that can be opened with the help of bombs. A section of the game also makes use of the switch between 2D retro design and 3D representation. Depending on the design, other areas of the game are accessible, so that the player has to reach and activate the corresponding switches with the skillful change between 2D / 3D.

A secondary aspect of the game is the collection of various stars and playing cards spread across the game world. These can also be found in chests, which are sometimes hidden and difficult to access. The trading cards can be used in an integrated mini-game called Double Twin , which is based on the Triple Triad mini-game from Final Fantasy VIII .

development

One of the numerous computer game models: Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII , with a characteristic sword (represented by a cosplayer ).

The game is a further development of Nicolas Cannasse's contribution to the Ludum Dare developer competition , in which participants have a maximum of 48 hours to develop a game on a specific topic. With the contribution, also called Evoland , which already anticipated the principle of the retail version, Canasse achieved overall victory in the 24th Ludum Dare competition from August 24 to 27, 2012, which had the theme of evolution. The final version, which can be played as a Flash version in the browser, has been played 300,000 times in just a few months. With Shiro Games, a company he co-founded and actually focused on online multiplayer games, Canasse developed this prototype into a fully-fledged product. In January 2013 the game was approved for the community vote Greenlight of the online distribution platform Steam , at the end of February enough votes had been gathered and the title was approved for distribution via the distribution platform from operator Valve . The game was finally released on April 4, 2013. A first update was released on April 8, 2013, adding support for game controllers to the game.

Recognizable role models for Evoland were the titles The Legend of Zelda , Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest mentioned in the credits, in addition the game takes over elements of the also mentioned action role-playing game Diablo . In the game there are numerous references to these titles, both visually, in the presentation, certain peculiarities of the way of playing as well as the names and character names:

Clink → Link, main character in The Legend of Zelda , but also Cloud, main character in Final Fantasy VII
Kaeris → Aeris, companion character in Final Fantasy VII
Zephyros → Sephiroth, main opponent in Final Fantasy VII
Sid → Cid, a recurring character name in the Final Fantasy series, as well as his flying ship
Clouds sword → Cloud Strife, main character in Final Fantasy VII , sword also in design based on the original (see photo)
Double Twin → Triple Triad, mini game in Final Fantasy VIII
Babamut → Bahamut, a recurring powerful super-being from the Final Fantasy series
Choboko → Chocobo, a recurring creature from the Final Fantasy series
A'Tuin → Great A'Tuin, the turtle that carries Terry Pratchett's Discworld through the universe
Noria Mines → The Mines of Moria in The Lord of the Rings

The team originally intended to expand the game to other genres such as turn-based role-playing games and platformer , but the development effort proved to be high.

“With Evoland, we had to start over every time we worked on a new genre. It was like developing several small games with just a bit of content in each, which is very time consuming. "

“At Evoland, every time we worked on a new genre, we had to start over. It was like developing several small games with very little content in them, which is very time consuming. "

- Sebastien Vidal (CEO, Shiro Games)

reception

**Rating mirror**
publication	Rating
4players	74%
Eurogamer.de	4 of 10
IGN DE	8.0 of 10
Destructoid	7.5 out of 10
GameSpot	5 out of 10
Meta-ratings
Metacritic	64%

“Evoland is a playable genre retrospective and, despite its brevity, is worth a look for all fans of action role-playing games. If you're fond of reminiscing about times gone by, do yourself a favor and give Evoland a try. Even if it's not as revolutionary as the revolutions it portrays, it's a lot of fun as an interactive tour through the museum and, above all, as a digital declaration of love. "

- Robert Hähnel : IGN DE

"A historically interesting, but sometimes monotonous short trip, which is sure to have educational value for casual gamers and younger gamers."

- Jörg Luibl : 4Players

"The game never matches its inspirations in terms of design - don't expect Zelda quality puzzles, for example - but it captures their feel surprisingly well."

"In terms of design, the game never reaches its sources of inspiration - don't expect the puzzle quality of a Zelda, for example - but it captures the feel of the game surprisingly well."

- Andrew Webster : The Verge

“Evoland makes for a thoroughly enjoyable few hours, and I'd recommend it to any Zelda or Final Fantasy fan in a heartbeat. While a few of the referential jokes cross over into cringe territory, most of them hit the mark, and there are a few little gags that really encourage a smirk, if not a real-life, out-loud chuckle. It's incredibly difficult to fault what's on offer, but it's quite easy to lament what isn't there - chiefly a lot more of what's on offer. "

“Evoland provides decent entertainment for a few hours and I would recommend it to any fan of Zelda or Final Fantasy without batting an eyelid. Although some of the humorous innuendos drift into the embarrassing area, most of them hit the bull's eye and some of those little gags really make you smile, if not giggle out loud. It's incredibly difficult to find fault with what's on offer, but it's all the more easy to complain about what's missing: in short, a lot more of what's on offer. "

- Jim Sterling : Destructoid

“Evoland is truly a unique experience. It functions as a solid and well-made action-adventure / RPG. More than that though, it serves as a history lesson and a beautifully written love letter to the genres it emulates. For fans of RPGs and action-adventure games, there is little to no reason not to give Evoland a play through. The only issue with the game is that is lives up to its short-story namesake and is over too soon, but it is satisfying up until its last moment. "

“Evoland is a truly unique experience. It comes along as a solid and well-made action adventure / role-playing game. But more than that, it serves as a history lesson and as a beautifully written love letter to the genres it emulates. For fans of role-playing games and action-adventure games, there is little to no reason not to give Evoland a chance. The only problem with the game is that it takes its "short story" subtitle too literally and is over far too early, but it's satisfying until the last moment. "

- Kalvin Martinez : Gaming Illustrated

Awards:

Ludum Dare # 24: 1st place

continuation

On September 2, 2014, a sequel entitled Evoland II - A slight case of spacetime continuum disorder was announced. Like the first part, the game should demonstrate the different epochs of game history and be supplemented with other genres, such as a turn-based strategy game, jump 'n' run and shoot 'em up .