The world of video gaming is peppered with the legacies of numerous influential companies that, throughout the years, have made their indelible marks on the industry. Gremlin Graphics, a Sheffield-based company, is one such example that resonates with many British gamers who grew up playing video games in the '80s and '90s. Gremlin made an enduring impact with a plethora of games for various platforms before its acquisition by Infogrames in 1999, subsequent renaming, and eventual closure in 2003. Despite the end of its era, Gremlin has left a collection of classic games that continue to spark interest, which is evident in the release of a Gremlin collection for Evercade, a modern retro gaming console.
The collection's standout title is "Zool," a 2D platformer initially released for the Commodore Amiga in 1992. An obvious rival to "Sonic the Hedgehog," "Zool" dazzles with its rapid pace. However, the game's quality does not quite reach the heights of its iconic counterpart in Sega. Notably, due to the timing of the collection's release, Evercade players find themselves playing the Sega Mega Drive port instead of the original Amiga version, due to the latter's emulator not yet being finalized on the console.
Another iconic entry in the collection is "Actua Soccer," a PlayStation 1 game famous for its advanced 3D graphics and lifelike movements, a product of the era's evolving motion-capture technology. The game, released in 1995, featured commentary by Barry Davies MBE and captured the imagination of football fans with its innovative camera angles and presentation. Despite being aged in comparison to today's soccer games, "Actua Soccer" remains a treat, especially when played with friends who appreciate retro gaming.
The football theme persists in the collection with the Mega Drive's "Premier Manager 97," allowing players to manage a top football team. Although the game mechanics feel outdated when compared to the complex football management simulators currently available, the nostalgic charm is undeniable.
The collection also includes an off-road racing adventure on the PlayStation 1, titled "Hardcore 4x4." Its unique vehicle physics adds an element of challenge, but due to the absence of analogue control, the game can be quite frustrating. A more pleasant surprise is "Utopia: The Creation of a Nation" for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). This strategy game, likened to a cosmic version of "Sim City," is engaging as players navigate the intricacies of colonizing alien planets, handling logistics while fending off various challenges.
On a different note, the Game Boy puzzle game "Brain Bender" ended up being less captivating. The concept involves directing a beam to solve puzzles, but it fails to achieve the addictive quality of puzzle legends like "Tetris."
