“Earnest Evans COLLECTION” is not just a revival of retro games. It's no exaggeration to say that the world of myth and adventure that unfolded beyond the screen in that era has been resurrected with modern technology. This collection, which brings together the action game trilogy created by Wolf Team—“El Viento,” “Earnest Evans,” and “Annet Futatabi”—feels somehow nostalgic yet even fresh. In particular, the drama woven by the two contrasting characters, Annet the Wind Shrine Maiden and Earnest the Adventurer, through their respective stories, is not confined to the simple plots often found in retro games but conveys a deeply layered world view.

Another major appeal of this trilogy is the “serious difficulty” that is rarely encountered today. For example, in “El Viento,” the pleasure of overwhelming enemies with wind magic and graceful movements awaits, while in “Earnest Evans,” you can experience the thrill of dynamically dashing through the battlefield with whip-based multi-directional attacks and a unique spinning action. And in “Annet Futatabi,” the belt-scroll format stages create new strategic depth and enrich the action. All three offer a challenge that is anything but straightforward, relentlessly testing first-time players, and are truly constructed as a mass of satisfying gameplay.

However, there is no need to be intimidated by the “unreasonableness” often found in games of that era. “Earnest Evans COLLECTION” is equipped with features like “Save Anywhere” and “Rewind” to suit modern gaming environments. This greatly reduces player stress while maintaining the high difficulty. It's designed so that even those who are not fond of “die-and-learn” style action games can take their time to challenge it, and the ability to experience the full charm of these masterpieces is a significant draw. It's also a welcome point that these three titles, in particular, each have different controls and systems, offering a breadth of experience that cannot be tasted from just one game.

What must not be forgotten is the richness of the world view that this series is fundamentally built upon. The setting, which uses the Cthulhu Mythos as its motif, and the unique historical backdrop of early 20th-century America, draw players into a narrative experience that goes beyond mere action. The story woven with the turmoil of the Prohibition era, the mysterious existence of ancient magic, and the mystical characters like the Wind Shrine Maiden, offers plenty of immersion even today, and can even feel akin to modern RPGs and ADV games. Even with minimal text, the excellent pacing of the direction and plot progression stimulates the player's imagination—that is the true essence of this series.