Evoland Legendary Edition

About

Evoland Legendary Edition is a tribute to the evolution of action/adventure games, containing both Evoland and Evoland 2. In Evoland, unlock new technologies and graphic upgrades as you progress, while Evoland 2 features dynamic graphics and gameplay evolution with a deep RPG scenario based on time travel. Filled with humor and references to classic games, this is a unique journey through the history of gaming.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,095 reviews

story140 positive mentions

grinding35 negative mentions

Evoland 1 offers a charming and nostalgic experience, showcasing the evolution of RPGs through various gameplay mechanics and graphics.
Evoland 2 expands on the first game with a more developed story, engaging characters, and a variety of gameplay styles, making it a standout title.
The games are filled with clever references and humor, appealing to fans of classic video games.

Evoland 1 is very short and lacks depth, feeling more like a tech demo than a fully realized game.
Evoland 2 suffers from pacing issues and can feel tedious at times, with some gameplay segments overstaying their welcome.
The Legendary Edition lacks an options menu, making it difficult to adjust settings like language and audio, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
481 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The "story" aspect of Evoland 1 and 2 has received mixed reviews, with the first game being criticized for its minimal and generic plot, primarily serving as a vehicle for showcasing the evolution of video game mechanics. In contrast, Evoland 2 is praised for its more developed and engaging narrative, incorporating time travel and a richer character experience, although some players noted it can become convoluted and drawn out. Overall, while the first game is seen as a light-hearted homage to gaming history, the sequel offers a more substantial and emotionally resonant story, making it a more fulfilling experience for players seeking narrative depth.
- “The story is very well written, the characters are all unique and likable.”
- “Evoland 2 is a much more developed creature, taking several of the bland excuses for story ideas from Evoland 1 and turning them into actual worldbuilding elements, telling a story across multiple time periods that contemplates fate, historical bias, and the ethics of time travel.”
- “The story is interesting and the game overall should be entertaining to anyone who can appreciate retro gaming.”
- “Unfortunately, Evoland 2 is dragged down by lengthy dialogues, a lot of meaningless NPCs, and a generic and boring story.”
- “The story was lame and felt really rushed.”
- “The plot is basically non-existent and the writing, both in humor and story, is built entirely on references to other games, memes, media, etc. that can be fun at times, but it gets boring after a while.”
gameplay
439 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The gameplay in the Evoland series is characterized by its unique concept of evolving mechanics and graphics, with the first game offering a nostalgic journey through various gaming eras and styles, while the second game expands on this with a more cohesive RPG experience. However, while Evoland 1 is praised for its charming and innovative gameplay shifts, some players find the mechanics in both games to be shallow and poorly executed, leading to a lack of depth and engagement. Overall, the series is a mixed bag, appealing to those who appreciate its homage to gaming history but criticized for its inconsistent quality and repetitive elements.
- “Evoland 1 has a selling point with its evolving gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is so addictive that I lost track of time faster than Mario collecting coins.”
- “The gameplay present here is based primarily on the Legend of Zelda, and it excels when it does this.”
- “Not only does it have the same issue above but the entire game feels like it's constantly wasting your time. It also has whiplash from the constant changing of gameplay styles, and all of them are so poorly implemented. The most fun I had was the tactical RPG bit, but that was spoiled by a softlock they should have accounted for but have never fixed, followed by an awful DDR minigame as a boss for progress. After 10 hours (four times longer than I put into the first game), I tapped out. There's a reason games don't have such dissonance in playstyles; you don't build your skills and aren't used to them as they are thrown at you so suddenly. Having so many mechanics almost guarantees you implement all of them poorly.”
- “The constant switching between different graphical styles and mechanics feels forced and disrupts any sense of immersion or flow. Its gimmicky gameplay mechanics, weak storyline, lackluster combat, and uninspired puzzles all contribute to a frustrating and unfulfilling gaming experience.”
- “The gameplay present here is based primarily on the Legend of Zelda, and it excels when it does this. However, the gameplay itself feels lacking in depth, and the novelty wears off quicker than expected, leaving the experience feeling somewhat hollow.”
graphics
236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
81%
2%
The graphics in both Evoland games are a central feature, showcasing a nostalgic evolution from 8-bit to 3D visuals as players progress through the game. Reviewers appreciate the homage to various gaming eras, with many expressing a preference for the retro 2D styles over the more modern 3D graphics. However, some critiques highlight issues such as a lack of graphical settings and inconsistencies in visual quality, particularly in the transition between different graphical styles.
- “From monochrome pixels to HD graphics, it feels like reliving your entire gaming childhood in one go.”
- “The graphics are fantastic in all modes, and Evoland 2 especially has a massive, fun world to explore!”
- “The evolution of the graphics is fun, but unfortunately the gameplay does not evolve at all.”
- “The constant switching between different graphical styles and mechanics feels forced and disrupts any sense of immersion or flow.”
- “The game starts out with horrible graphics until you unlock better graphics... and the entire world around you keeps changing... to the point to where you have no idea what the layout of the land is that brought you to your current destination.”
- “Even the evolution in the game as you acquire new graphics and sounds happens so fast that you have everything by a third of the way through or less.”
humor
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the Evoland series is characterized by a blend of nostalgia, clever references, and tongue-in-cheek writing that resonates particularly with older gamers familiar with classic titles. While Evoland 1 is noted for its short, gimmicky humor and lightheartedness, Evoland 2 offers a more developed narrative with moments of genuine comedy, though some players find its humor hit-or-miss. Overall, both games are praised for their entertaining and self-aware approach to gaming tropes, making them enjoyable experiences for those who appreciate retro gaming culture.
- “Evoland is the game you never knew you needed until you start playing and find yourself laughing, crying (from joy), and questioning whether your gaming console has a time-travel setting.”
- “The humor in Evoland is as sharp as a pixelated sword, and the game doesn't take itself too seriously.”
- “Most importantly for me, the humor was on point: you really feel the passion the developers have for old school games, and they do a great job honoring the old school games while also poking fun at them.”
- “Evoland 2 is the most boring, most unfunny, and, holy shit, one of the slowest-paced RPGs I have ever played.”
- “That's not funny.”
music
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
4%
The music in both Evoland games receives mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic charm and ability to evolve alongside the gameplay, reflecting different gaming eras. While some players find the soundtrack catchy and memorable, others criticize it for being repetitive or bland, particularly in the first game. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight for its creativity and homage to classic gaming, despite some technical issues and a lack of in-game volume options.
- “The music is a masterpiece.”
- “The visuals are stunning, and the music is catchy and quite solid as well.”
- “The soundtrack is just...ear candy.”
- “The soundtrack and story are nonexistent.”
- “On top of that it has a boring story and an annoyingly repetitive soundtrack.”
- “The music quality remains the same throughout the game (i.e., 2D sections aren't in retro chiptune, but in the same somewhat bland, relatively off-the-shelf orchestral/ensemble fluff you'd expect in every other indie game).”
grinding
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
8%
88%
The grinding aspect of Evoland 2 is widely criticized for being tedious and overly drawn out, with many players feeling that the game drags on unnecessarily, particularly in the second half. While some found the achievements balanced and not excessively grindy, the overall experience is marred by repetitive gameplay, uninspired puzzles, and frustrating mechanics, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment. Many reviewers noted that the game could benefit from a more polished approach to pacing and design to alleviate the grind.
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “However, there are definitely sections that are a bit overly tedious.”
- “The second half of the game, on the other hand, is a really tedious and boring slog.”
- “After a while, it felt long and tedious and should have probably ended around the 12-hour mark.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of game-breaking glitches, soft-locks, and crashes, particularly during boss fights and specific gameplay sections. While some players noted that minor glitches were infrequent, the overall experience is marred by a lack of proper save options and a poorly implemented launcher, leading to frustration and an inability to recommend the game. Despite its potential, the game's numerous bugs and lack of developer support significantly detract from the enjoyment.
- “Hardlocked in Evoland 2 due to buggy puzzles with no reset option or previous saves.”
- “While the idea behind the game is nice and has a lot of potential, I simply cannot recommend this buggy, soft-locking piece of tediousness.”
- “The final boss fight was not only garbage, it was hot buggy garbage that looks possible to complete but isn't due to a glitch caused by poor development of the game: the final boss fight is impossible on any monitor above 120Hz and the developer just never cared to fix this, and dares to call this a 'legendary edition.'”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The emotional aspect of Evoland 2 is mixed; while some players found the story to be heartfelt and capable of evoking genuine feelings, particularly during the final encounter, others criticized it for being slow and lacking depth. The game is praised for its nostalgic tribute to RPG evolution, with moments that resonate emotionally, though some felt the overall narrative was undermined by lengthy dialogues and a generic plot. Overall, it offers a blend of humor and emotional moments, making it a more engaging experience than its predecessor.
- “This game is the only thing in a long time that's made me feel the way I felt growing up, gradually seeing new consoles that were capable of drastic and noticeable tech advances from the previous generation, in a span of hours.”
- “Evoland 2 feels like its own game and there were a moment or two when I actually got a little emotional.”
- “Evoland II has a beautiful story which can be quite emotional at times.”
- “Unfortunately, Evoland 2 is dragged down by lengthy dialogues, a lot of meaningless NPCs, and a generic and boring story.”
- “The second game is focused on a slow and boring story rather than gameplay that wants you to keep playing.”
- “On top of that, it has a boring story and an annoyingly repetitive soundtrack.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; while some players find the game lacks replay value, others argue that it can be enjoyable again after a break. Certain titles, like Evoland 2, offer a wealth of content that enhances replayability, though some genres within the game may not be as replayable. Additionally, engaging gameplay and humor contribute to the replayability of other games in the genre.
- “🔲 infinitely replayable”
- “☐ infinitely replayable/multiplayer”
- “Evoland 2 in particular has a lot of content which helps make the game replayable.”
- “Sadly, there isn't a lot of replayability.”
- “Some genres aren't replayable in Evoland 2.”
- “However, because some of them are related to certain events, some genres aren't replayable in the second game.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism for the introduction of a forced launcher that displays advertisements for the developer's other games, despite players having already paid for the game. Users express frustration over the added complexity of launching the game through multiple layers, as well as the inclusion of in-game ads, which they find unacceptable. Overall, the monetization strategy is viewed negatively, detracting from the gaming experience.
- “But the developer retroactively added a forced launcher to be able to play the game with advertising for their new game and online tracking of your launches.”
- “Now I need to launch a launcher, to launch a launcher, to see some ads, to play a game I paid for.”
- “Yes, in-game ads, in a game you pay for.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Overall, both games perform well on the Steam Deck, with smooth animations and improved performance in Evoland 2's 3D mode on lower-end hardware. However, some users criticize the lack of proper optimization for PC, noting that the port feels lazy and includes intrusive advertising in the launcher.
- “Both games run smoothly on Steam Deck.”
- “Performance in Evoland 2's 3D mode has also been somewhat improved when trying it out on a mini-PC with an Intel Atom processor.”
- “Flawless performance and smooth animations, there's just so much that's done right.”
- “I'm a huge fan of both of the games, but the fact that this is just a lazy port of the console version with no keyboard or computer optimization, and that they just updated the game with a launcher that advertises their other games every time you go to launch, I'm afraid I just can't recommend it.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for its poor pacing and shallow mechanics, with some reviewers noting a lack of depth in writing and character arcs. However, others appreciate the unique designs of party members and key characters, highlighting that the overall campaign is enjoyable despite its shortcomings in character progression.
- “The character design is really nice; I really like the unique look of each of your party members and other key characters.”
- “Reasonably long campaign, lots of puzzles, throwbacks and references, different play styles, character development, story, and traveling back and forth with the graphics... immensely enjoyable!”
- “Progression is poorly paced and mechanics are shallow; however, the worst crime is that the true charm of many of the JRPGs spoofed by Evoland—the writing and character development—are nonexistent.”
- “Character development feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and engagement that would make the characters memorable.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and their arcs are predictable, making it hard to invest in their journeys.”