In this game you'll see the evolution of the adventure/RPG series unfold before your eyes, all within the span of a few short hours. Unfortunately, "short" is an apt description of Evoland as a whole. The entire game can be beaten in under five hours from a blind start, and that's if you dawdle. There are some secrets and optional areas to explore and unlock as the game progresses, but those only add another hour or two at most. Don't get me wrong, the game is certainly fun and enjoyable for those few hours, but when all is said and done I was left with the sensation of "That's IT?" I also feel that they could have done more with the premise. As it is it wavers between paying homage to the past and making fun of it, especially in the beginning. There are points where the "evolving" gimmick does become a bona fide game mechanic, such as when you have to navigate mazes with obstacles that can only be conquered in 2D or 3D mode, and it's a nice touch. I just wish there were more situations like that. As it is, the game is too short and perhaps a tad too easy for most dedicated gamers. Overall, Evoland is a fun little game that deserves a four-star rating just as it is. It's well-implemented and engaging for the short time it lasts. But I'm left with the feeling that it could and should have been so much more than it is.
While the first trilogy, also available here, has not aged particularly well on balance, the middle third of the Ultima saga is something else again... Ultima IV is already on GOG as a freebie, so you're really only paying for V and VI with this package. Some may consider that a drawback, but IMO it's still a great deal even so; these games, especially VI, are often considered among the best PC RPGs of all time. More than mere hack-and-slash gameplay (though make no mistake, you'll get plenty of that too!), this trilogy makes you take a look at yourself as a person, and how your actions have real consequences. Also, you really can see the gradual evolution of the medium in these three games; from the relatively simplistic Ultima IV that betrays its Apple II roots to the fully fleshed-out Ultima VI where better processors and more available memory combine to create a game world where almost any action you can think of is possible. When old timers like myself wax nostalgic about the Ultima series, these are the three games we're usually talking about. Put another way: The first two games were the rough drafts of the screenplay, and III was the dress rehearsal. Ultimas IV-VI are the main event. Get it. Now. More than historical curiosities, these are outstanding RPGs even today.
