Rare Collection 1 on Evercade: Retro Goldmine or Gimmick?

If heart-pounding chases through Turbo Tunnel or razor-sharp drifts in R.C. Pro-Am still make your palms sweat, then Evercade’s Rare Collection 1 might be your time-travel ticket. Celebrating Rare’s 40th anniversary, this cartridge packs 12 of the developer’s early classics onto a single Evercade cart. But does it deliver a retro rush worthy of the hype, or is it a nostalgic sideshow?

Key Takeaways

• 12 officially licensed classics marking Rare’s 40th anniversary
• Evercade’s first ZX Spectrum titles with authentic load screens
• Collector extras: full-color manual and reversible cover art
• Mix of fan favorites and obscure “museum” gems

Game Info at a Glance

• Release Date: November 2025 (Pre-orders open September 30, 2025)
• Platforms: Evercade VS, EXP, Alpha & HyperMegaTech Super Pocket
• Price: £19.99 / $29.99 / €24.99
• Content: 12 early Rare titles from ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, 8-bit consoles, and arcade
• Extras: Physical cartridge, reversible cover, full-color manual

Standout Games in the Collection

• Jetpac: Rare’s 1983 debut on the ZX Spectrum challenges you to pilot a lunar jetpack, dodge alien fire and assemble rocket parts. Its tight controls and minimalist design still feel fresh decades later.
• Knight Lore: This isometric marvel introduced the Filmation engine, delivering rotating, three-quarter-view rooms that inspired countless adventure games. Its spooky castle and shifting shadows remain awe-inspiring on Evercade.
• R.C. Pro-Am: A behind-the-car racer that pushed the NES hardware with smooth pseudo-3D tracks and weapon pickups. Lining up opponents with missiles and slipping through narrow corners still sparks pure adrenaline.
• Battletoads: Turbo Tunnel: Famously brutal, this high-speed motorcycle level demands pixel-perfect timing and nerves of steel. It stands as one of retro gaming’s greatest gauntlets—and a rite of passage for hardcore collectors.

Journey Through Rare’s Early Years

Rare began life as Ultimate Play the Game in 1983, founded by brothers Tim and Chris Stamper. With Jetpac’s minimalist action and Knight Lore’s pioneering isometric engine (Filmation), mundane platformers were transformed into technical marvels on Sinclair’s 8-bit machines. Over the next decade, Rare leaped from pixel-perfect mazes to high-octane racers and brutal beat-’em-ups, setting the stage for later hits like Donkey Kong Country.

Why ZX Spectrum Support Matters

Until now, Evercade handheld users could only dream of authentic Sinclair software. This collection finally brings real ZX Spectrum titles into the Evercade ecosystem, complete with original cassette-loader animations and signature tape-deck screeches. That scratchy loading sound isn’t an emulation artefact—it was part of the ritual for players waiting through multi-minute loads. Fans who grew up on rubber-keyed Timex-Sinclair clones will appreciate the faithful audio quirk, while newcomers get a crash course in how demanding—and magical—retro computing felt at the dawn of home gaming.

Collector Perks You Can Hold

The physical package is more than just a cart. Inside, a full-color manual delves into Rare’s early design philosophy, packed with developer anecdotes and pixel art galleries straight from the archives. Swap the reversible cover art to display either the original box design or a modern tribute illustration. These tactile extras remind us why physical media still matters—there’s nothing like flipping through a vibrant booklet between play sessions, tracing early concept sketches with your finger.

Price vs. Play Value

At £19.99 (or regional equivalent), Rare Collection 1 sits squarely in Evercade’s sweet spot: roughly £1.60 per game. You’re buying a curated piece of gaming history rather than slick remasters. Expect no rewind buttons, no modern hints, and no automatic saves—this is unfiltered retro. For die-hard fans and collectors, that raw authenticity is pure gold. Casual players might find the steep difficulty curve and minimalist instructions a bit punishing.

Who Should Pre-Order?

If your shelves sag under towers of retro cartridges, or if you’ve traced Rare’s evolution from pixel pioneers to console luminaries, this cart belongs in your library. Speedrunners seeking a fresh challenge will savor Turbo Tunnel’s brutal pace, and completionists will love ticking off each ZX Spectrum debut. If you’re hunting for glossy visuals, cinematic cut-scenes or built-in hints, though, you might prefer a modern anthology elsewhere.

Conclusion: More Than Just Nostalgia

Rare Collection 1 isn’t a quick cash grab—it’s a curated nostalgia trip with genuine collector’s heart. By finally embracing ZX Spectrum classics and packing the cartridge with manual, art, and faithful load-screen moments, Blaze Entertainment honors Rare’s early ambition. Whether you’re rediscovering Knight Lore’s shadowy halls or cursing Turbo Tunnel all over again, this release delivers a raw, unvarnished slice of gaming history. Just remember: retro gaming rewards patience as much as reflexes.