Evercade has become a solid platform for people who love reconnecting with the video games of their childhood, but it has also opened the door to small-scale indie developers, allowing them to get their efforts in front of an audience which might not otherwise know they exist.
Blaze has already released an 'Indie Heroes' cartridge for the Evercade range, and has now followed up with a second helping of titles – most of which were offered as part of the company's 'Game of the Month' initiative.
12 games are included here, each one originally coded for a vintage system, such as the NES, Mega Drive and Game Boy. These include the Zelda-style action adventure Anguna: Scourge of the Goblin King (by solo developer Nathan Tolbert), action platformer Eyra the Crow Maiden and Yeah Yeah Beebiss II from Rigg'd Games, a studio established by retro gaming YouTuber John Riggs (if you're wondering what the original Yeah Yeah Beebiss is like, then don't bother – it's a 'lost' NES game that was mysteriously teased in several magazines in the '80s, but never released).
The included instruction manual details all 12 titles and gives write-ups on the developers, explaining their backgrounds and previous games; it might seem like a small thing, but it creates a welcome sense of connection between the developer and the player – something that is all too often missing from video games.
Given that these are indie titles and not AAA releases from the likes of Toaplan, Namco or Irem, it's perhaps unfair to judge Indie Heroes 2 alongside some of the more notable carts in the Evercade collection. However, despite the lack of recognisable brands and franchises, these are still titles that hark back to a bygone era – both in terms of gameplay and the fact that they have been developed on classic platforms. We've been having a lot of fun with them, and it's fair to say you will, too.
Sure, you might be more tempted to grab a different Evercade cart next time you're about to make a purchase, but we'd recommend Indie Heroes 2 if you fancy getting out of your comfort zone and sampling something a little different.
Indie Heroes 2 launches on January 31st, 2023.