The Earnest Evans Collection: SEGA CD’s Most Stylish Action Trilogy Finally Escapes the Import Tax
The Bottom Line: SEGA, in partnership with Limited Run Games and Wolf Team veterans, has officially released the Earnest Evans Collection in the West. Available now on PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC, this bundle brings three cult-classic side-scrollers—Earnest Evans, El Viento, and Annet Returns—out of the "expensive import" bin and onto modern hardware with essential quality-of-life upgrades.
We’ve seen plenty of lazy "nostalgia bait" over the last few years—unoptimized ROM dumps that offer little more than a basic border. The Earnest Evans Collection feels different. This isn't just a cash grab; it’s a preservation effort for the Wolf Team legacy. For those of us who remember the 16-bit era, Wolf Team was the experimental precursor to the Tales of RPG series. Seeing these titles localized and accessible without needing a five-hundred-dollar SEGA CD setup is a win for the community.
What’s in the Box?
This collection bundles the "Annet & Earnest" trilogy, which follows a bizarre, pulp-adventure plot involving Al Capone, the Cthulhu-inspired Dark Lord Hastur, and some seriously slick 90s anime aesthetics. Here is the breakdown of what you’re getting:
| Game Title | Original Platform | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Earnest Evans | Genesis / SEGA CD | Features both the cartridge and CD versions (different storylines). |
| El Viento | Genesis | High-speed action and the debut of protagonist Annet Myer. |
| Annet Returns | SEGA CD | Side-scrolling beat 'em up style with Madhouse-produced cutscenes. |
Modern Tweaks: More Than Just a Port
We’ve lived through the era of "Nintendo Hard" games that were designed to be artificially difficult. The Earnest Evans titles, while charming, are notorious for clunky physics and unforgiving hitboxes—specifically the experimental multi-jointed character sprites in the first game.
The addition of a rewind functionality and save states isn't just a "casual" feature; it’s a necessity here. It transforms these games from frustrating museum pieces into playable experiences. Being able to roll back a missed jump or a cheap boss hit allows players to actually appreciate the frantic combat and Motoi Sakuraba’s iconic synth-heavy soundtrack without throwing a controller through the wall.
Why This Matters for Preservation
This release is a massive "Information Gain" for anyone interested in gaming history. Here’s why we think this collection belongs in your library:
- The Sakuraba Factor: Long before he was the king of Dark Souls and Star Ocean soundtracks, Motoi Sakuraba was cutting his teeth on these Genesis FM chips. The audio here is a masterclass in 16-bit composition.
- Anime Pedigree: The cutscenes in Earnest Evans and Annet Returns were produced by Studio Madhouse (Trigun, Ninja Scroll). In an era where "cinematics" meant flickering pixels, these were groundbreaking.
- Version Parity: Including both the CD and cartridge versions of Earnest Evans is a pro-consumer move. Most publishers would have picked one and called it a day; giving us both storylines shows a respect for the source material we rarely see.
Our Take: If you’re tired of the "live-service" grind and want to see where the Tales series' DNA started, this is an essential pickup. It’s a niche, weird, and wonderful slice of SEGA history that finally feels at home on modern displays. Just don't expect the physics to feel like Modern Warfare—this is pure, janky, 1990s gold.