Evercade releases are like buses; you wait a while, and two come along at once.
We've only just gotten over the announcement of a second Sunsoft Collection, and now Blaze has hit us with another release: Piko Interactive Collection 4.
The headline story here is that this particular cartridge marks the first release of an N64 game on the Evercade family of systems: Glover. Developed by Interactive Studios (founded by the Oliver Twins in 1990) and published by Hasbro Interactive, this cult classic 3D puzzle-platformer was released on Nintendo's 64-bit console (alongside a Windows version) in 1998 before joining the PS1 library a year later.
"The cult classic title Glover will be released in its 64-bit version on the upcoming Piko Interactive Collection 4 physical cartridge," says Blaze Entertainment. "Having been rebuilt from scratch by studio Byteswap Labs and Maximilian Wendell, Blaze Entertainment has been able to add some modern optimisations along with refinements for Evercade including control optimisation for Evercade and Super Pocket consoles, and the addition of a cameo from Evercade mascot - Cadey!"
Also of note is the GBA title Star X, a 3D action title which looks and plays an awful lot like Star Fox.
The pack includes the following games:
- Glover (64-bit)
- Risky Woods
- Street Racer
- Zero Tolerance Underground
- Sküljagger: Revolt of the Westicans
- Bad Street Brawler
- The Fidgetts
- Mermaids of Atlantis
- Star X
- Target: Renegade
Piko Interactive Collection 4 launches on April 30th, 2024. Pre-orders open on February 29th, 2024.
Comments 22
This Evercade release likely does not make use of N64 emulation, but is more likely to be built using source code based on the N64 version like the Steam release in 2022.
https://twitter.com/Pikointeractive/status/1500858813632720904
Glover was announced to be coming to current gen consoles (Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X) back in October 2022, but that doesn't seem to have materialised yet.
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2022/10/the-nintendo-64-platformer-glover-is-coming-soon-to-switch
This announcement of its inclusion in Piko Collection 4 suggests that might be materialising soon this year.
Edit: I had my doubts, and it is apparently in fact a newly built N64 ROM, and does actually use emulation.
A company called ByteSwap was involved with rebuilding the ROM.
https://www.gamespress.com/en-US/64-bit-emulation-comes-to-Evercade-devices-with-cult-classic-Glover-an
Street Racer sequel when?
The 4 player split screen was pants but my oh my was it a fun game!!
If Glover is the N64 version then I can't see it running well.
I'd like more transparency as for what versions are the other games. Street Racer was on several platforms including 16 and 32 bit systems. Target Renegade was on Spectrum, C64 and Amstrad CPC. The footage doesn't seem to belong to any of those versions. Maybe it's the release of a cancelled version, that wouldn't be the first case in Piko's library.
I love obscure games, I like this cart, but I don't like the fact that this is a 4th volume while bigger companies have had only 1, such as Data East, Jaleco or Irem. It's about time.
That makes 84 confirmed IP sitting with Piko. Still I don't even know anymore hangning up in the air between them, Ziggurat, Atari, and Warner Bros https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uHp_wqa1tNWa8DpeRRH-KGp3rSU4fmYLtIr86Z7f7og/edit?pli=1#gid=639918701
@Daniel36 Piko never makes sequels or follow ups to the abandonware they get. They just license them to stuff like this. They're the sadder, but admittiadly much more stable version of what Embracer was originally founded to do. Before they over extended on Lord of the Rings and Eidos, and now everyone wants to kill them.
Pretty good selection. I'm in for this one.
@Moroboshi876 The evercade website confirms a 16bit version of street racer, which version I'm not sure.
@Westlondonmist Must be the SNES one. The Mega Drive version was the worst one graphically speaking.
@Moroboshi876 @Westlondonmist from the screenshot it looks like Mode 7 on SNES. You wouldn't be able to see an upcoming turn that far ahead of time while still on a straightaway with the Genesis version using line-scrolling effects.
What is the name of the game on the bottom left in the article?
@Pink_Floyd bottom left is Risky Woods.
Most of this collection is kusoge.
Bad Street Brawler I assume is the NES version, not whatever computer platform it was originally on which was much more unhinged.
Also, Skuljagger originally came with an 80 page instruction manual, for which 76 pages were a comic you were apparently supposed to read to learn some of the in-game secrets.
@Daniel36 There are so many games like street racer.
Isn't that the NES Target Renegade (the not good one). Release the home computer versions!
@Poodlestargenerica Sure, but they're not Street Racer, are they?
@RupeeClock
Yep, after seint the Title i was thinking the same, without having certain clues, good from you bringing them up.
Would have been reallly impressive, if they were able to do some black Magic and emulate the N64 on that Machine.
So it is much more logical to spare CPU Power to have more native Code running.
Netherless, impressive to see that it can bring up 3D Games and that Fans possibly can expect more 90s to early 2000 3D Games.
@Azuris
Personally, what I'm expecting is that the Evercade release of Glover might be a custom emulation job that is half-way like Super Mario Galaxy on the Switch (as part of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars release).
Which could mean, theoretically, if the data for that N64 ROM were extracted from the Evercade release, it might not function on conventional N64 emulators or on real hardware via a flashcart.
No way to know for certain until the product is out in the wild and tinkerers get their hands on it!
@Daniel36 Wellll, if you've only played snes or Genesis, the ps1 and Saturn games actually do feel basically like sequels. Cel damage is pretty close too.
Glover may had just been the PS1 version. As far as I know Evercade doesn't had analog stick so it couldn't be the n64 version otherwise it would sucks. Only the PS1 version support digital movements similar to Crash Bandicoot.
@Westlondonmist definitely Mega Drive.
@Serpenterror They have said they have worked from the source code. So I think it's a port based off the N64 source code rather than emulation. Part of this is making it playable with no analogue stick.
Makes an average PC port, then Evercade, why is there no modern console version? Sigh. Gex will take it time from the other studio doing that or I just buy them on Vita store instead.
N64 version runs better. They can rework the controls but for performance, the level design/physics I think N64 probably is more suitable, the PS1 version has it's place but isn't a great port even if no analogue support or maybe it did even if intended for d-pads as most had d-pad controllers then Dual Analogue/Dualshocks.
Whatever possible of 8 way movement on a d-pad maybe? Or whatever the case. Or mimic a stick on a d-pad. I doubt it has any pressure determining of speed to walk/run or anything but still. I haven't played Glover but always have my eye on it as interested.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...