There’s a particular allure to retro collections: the chance to revisit arcade cabinets, dusty consoles, and the strange, idiosyncratic creations that defined early action games. The Earnest Evans Collection taps into precisely this nostalgia, curating two titles — Earnest Evans and El Viento — that share a whip-cracking adventurer, over-the-top set pieces, and a design philosophy that feels unabashedly rooted in the quirks of early 90s platformers.
For fans of retro gaming, puzzle platformers, and off-beat adventure action, Earnest Evans Collection offers a window into a time when developers were still inventing their own rules. But while the collection preserves the wild creativity and eccentric mechanics of its source material, it also carries forward many of the flaws that made the originals so divisive — particularly awkward controls, uneven level design, and pacing that alternates between exhilarating and exasperating.
The result is a package that’s at once charming and frustrating, nostalgic and janglingly imperfect — a reminder that not all retro classics age like fine wine.
What’s Included
The Earnest Evans Collection bundles the two classic action titles:
- Earnest Evans (1991) – A globetrotting action platformer featuring its whip-wielding protagonist in a strange, pulpy adventure.
- El Viento (1991) – A spiritual successor of sorts, following a new hero with similar mechanics and a more refined world.
Both games share core DNA: whip-based combat, platforming with slightly floaty physics, and a treasure hunt through exotic locales. They also share a cinematic sensibility that recalls pulp fiction and serial adventure stories, albeit filtered through the limited animation and audio capabilities of their era.
Core Gameplay and Mechanics
At first glance, the gameplay in Earnest Evans Collection seems straightforward: move, whip, jump, and survive. But beneath the surface lie several quirks that affect player experience.
Movement and Combat
Character movement is realistically paced for its time, but compared to modern platformers it can feel unwieldy. Jump arcs are floaty, hitboxes can be inconsistent, and precise navigation — especially on narrow platforms — requires patience and practice.
Combat centralises around a whip attack with a short reach. Enemies often require repeated hits and precise timing, yet the whip’s limited range and the character’s momentum make hitting foes feel more like luck than strategy at times. It’s a design that gestures toward cinematic action but often feels mechanically clumsy in execution.
Level Design and Progression
Both Earnest Evans and El Viento are structured around linear progression: move from area to area, defeat enemies, avoid traps, and tackle bosses to move forward. What sets these games apart from many contemporaries is their ambition — levels aren’t just corridors, but sprawling sequences filled with hidden paths, environmental hazards, and occasional puzzle elements.
This ambition, however, is a double-edged sword. Some stages feel richly designed, with clever sequences of platforming and exploration that reward curiosity. Others feel frustratingly punishing, with invisible collision boundaries, unpredictable enemy patterns, or leaps that demand pixel-perfect timing. For a modern audience — even one prepared for retro rough edges — this oscillation between inspired design and baffling hurdles can be jarring.
Visual and Audio Presentation
One of the most striking things about the Earnest Evans Collection is its unapologetically retro aesthetic.
Graphics
Graphics are rendered in pixel art that reflects the hardware limitations of the original releases. Backgrounds are detailed in a way that evokes dusty ruins, jungle expanses, and mysterious locales, even if sprites sometimes feel stiff or low-resolution by modern standards. Animations are expressive in their limited frames, giving characters distinct personalities despite technical constraints.
While the visuals won’t wow players accustomed to contemporary artistry, they do capture a distinct era of game design. There’s nostalgia here — a sense of revisiting an old comic book brought to pixelated life — that contributes meaningfully to the collection’s appeal.
Soundtrack and Effects
Audio direction is similarly rooted in its era. Chiptune melodies drive the pacing, with jaunty themes for exploration and tense motifs for boss encounters. Sound effects — whip cracks, enemy cries, environmental hazards — are serviceable, if basic. None of the audio is breathtaking, but it complements the visuals and gameplay effectively.
For players in tune with retro sound palettes, the audio fits the experience. For others, the chiptune aesthetic may feel sparse or repetitive.
Modern Features and Presentation Layer
The Earnest Evans Collection includes a few modern conveniences that help soften the rough edges of its vintage mechanics:
- Rewind or Save States: Players can rewind or save progress at points, which is essential given the unforgiving nature of some levels.
- Display Filters: Adjustable visual filters help tailor the retro pixel experience for modern screens.
- Controller Support: Works cleanly with both modern controllers and keyboard/mouse setups.
- Extras: Concept art and historical notes help contextualise the originals and sit well for retro enthusiasts.
However, these features only go so far. The underlying gameplay — a product of early 90s design sensibilities — sometimes resists modern assistive mechanics in ways that can feel more like emulation than enhancement. The result is a collection that honours the originals but does not substantially reimagine them for a current audience.
Accessibility and Learning Curve
Retro games carry an innate difficulty curve that modern audiences can find sharp. This collection’s inclusion of rewind and save features helps temper that, but basic movement challenges and mechanical quirks still require investment.
Newcomers to retro platformers may find:
- Controls feel dated and imprecise
- Enemies behave unpredictably
- Platforming can feel unforgiving
- Trial-and-error play is required often
For players prepared for this — especially those who grew up with such games — these traits are not drawbacks so much as part of the experience. But for others, they may wear thin over the course of extended play.
Narrative and Characterisation
Narrative in Earnest Evans and El Viento is structurally light. Both games prioritise action and exploration over story depth, using brief cutscenes and text to frame each stage. The tales — involving treasure hunts, mystic artefacts, and shadowy villains — feel straight out of pulp fiction serials. They’re not Shakespeare, but they don’t intend to be.
Characters are broad archetypes: the charismatic adventurer, the stoic ally, the nefarious villain. Dialogue is functional rather than memorable. Yet there’s an underlying charm in the sheer audacity of the scenarios and the earnestness with which they’re presented. For players who value mood over narrative complexity, this fits perfectly.
Replayability and Longevity
Replayability in the Earnest Evans Collection primarily stems from:
- Curiosity about hidden paths and secrets
- Desire to master tricky segments or speed-run stages
- Nostalgic appeal for fans of retro action titles
There is little in the way of modern progression systems, unlockables, or alternate modes. Once both games are beaten, there’s limited incentive to return unless for personal mastery or nostalgia.
In contrast to modern action games with branching storylines or deep meta progression, this collection’s longevity relies heavily on player affection for the originals or the joy of conquering old-school challenges.
Final Verdict
Pros:
- Authentic retro presentation with expressive pixel art
- Unique, quirky games that stand apart from typical platformers
- Modern quality-of-life features help temper difficulty
- Nostalgic appeal for fans of classic action titles
Cons:
- Anecdotal control imprecision and mechanical quirks
- Uneven level design can feel unfair or frustrating
- Limited modern enhancements beyond basic conveniences
- Replay value is niche without broader support modes
Summary:
The Earnest Evans Collection is a curious and heartfelt anthology that preserves two unusual gems from the early action-adventure era. It captures a distinct voice and playful spirit that many modern titles shy away from, but it also retains the rough edges and awkward mechanics that made the originals so polarising.
For retro enthusiasts and players who enjoy confronting old school design head-on, this collection offers plenty of charm and challenge. For everyone else, it’s a reminder that nostalgia — while powerful — is not a substitute for mechanical refinement and evolved design sensibilities.
