Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore Reviews
Arzette does a great job of aping the look and feel of the CD-i Zelda games, but it relies on the player being familiar with them. Without that knowledge, what remains is a perfectly serviceable platformer but one that isn't revolutionary in any way. If you're in on the joke, though, it's just about worth sticking around.
Seedy Eye Software might’ve taken over 30 years to right past wrongs and nearly perfect the imperfectable, but Arzette is a triumph: a best-in-class game for a worst-in-class genre, and hopefully the start of a series that will continue to take things to new heights–even if it needs to be shackled to stupidity to achieve it.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is such an unjudgmental love letter to Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon. It’s a reminder that whether or not a game is good or bad isn’t the whole store. It’s more complex than that. The internet found legitimate entertainment in the CD-i Zelda games, and rather than write them off as ridiculous, Seedy Eye dug in and asked why. It found what was so compelling about those astounding failures and applied those lessons in a thoughtful and deliberate way. The result transcends its influences and takes on a life of its own.
Arzette is a love-letter to those old CD-i games and I am all here for it. I adored revisiting this style of game and it is clear that the developers have a genuine love for those older titles, and not just a need to tick some boxes. For people that have memories of the Zelda CD-i games, this is a must. Heck, even if you have only seen them in YouTube videos from retro personalities, I still recommend this game. It is a charming platformer that wears its inspirations on its sleeve while also carving out its own path.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a wonderful homage to an awful console. It faithfully captures the iconic aesthetic but also manages to deliver a solid platform adventure. Although it’s short and sticks a little too close to its inspirations, connoisseurs of the industry will lap up the humor and enjoy this trip down memory lane.
Arzette is a tough game to criticise, because in many respects it has accomplished its mission. The commitment to the bit is admirable, and anyone who gets a kick out of those old CD-i titles will have a good time with this. However, if you're not in on the joke, this is harder to recommend; old fashioned design and uninteresting combat might be part of the brief, but they don't make for an exciting time in 2024. If you're willing to accept this game's warts-and-all approach, though, there's lots to like.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore parodies a pair of uncanonical Zelda games while ensuring its experience is more than a one-note joke. The realization of these efforts makes for a good game, but one whose appeal may be limited. Still, the attention to detail here demands respect. How about following up on this release by mocking CD-i's top-down take, Zelda's Adventure, next?
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore revels in the absurd animation of the Zelda CDI games while avoiding most of their pitfalls. The princess' romp through Faramore is wacky and fun, with secrets to find around every corner and a new NPC with a hilarious cutscene just over the horizon.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a bit lost. Its attempt to channel the energy of a certain duology of titles is too self-aware to resonate with its target audience. Meanwhile, those looking for a grand adventure won’t appreciate its gaudy design and plodding gameplay. As a result, this Philips CD-i tribute is only suited for a very specific few.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore doesn’t quite reach the goofy highs of The Wand of Gamelon and The Faces of Evil, and its gameplay is still going to pale in comparison to modern platformers. But as a homage to the CD-i, it’s still full of charm (and actually decent to play, unlike the aforementioned games). If you go in knowing what to expect, then you’ll have a decent time
With its cheeky cutscenes, action-platforming gameplay and side-quests that see you exploring all nooks and crannies of the world, the culmination makes for a fun game to play over a weekend. While I don't expect it to have the lasting impact that its inspiration has had, I am optimistic that Dopply continues to be inspired by games that others have rejected. So, let's hope that Arzette 2 might take after Zelda's Adventure. I'm definitely excited to see where this series can go.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a jewel indeed and a game that shouldn't be as fun as it is so I recommend it to any retro gamer.
Arzette is proof that anything can serve as inspiration, even if that inspiration comes from one of the worst games in the history of one of the most respected video game franchises. A meme that turned into a fun and charming game. It left me wanting more, and I eagerly await a sequel in the future.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
"Good tribute for a bad game."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is the total opposite of the games that inspire it. It's fun, it contains effort and, even with the homages, it manages to be its own product. Such a creative, imaginative and insane idea that it worked, with promise for more content in the future.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite uneven gameplay, Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore still offers some unique features. Overall, the presentation is as retro as it gets, backed up by wacky characters and hilariously fun voice acting.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore fully grasps the style of the CD-i games with its art, music, and gameplay. There are minor flaws like becoming overpowered against enemies, but it’s worth adventuring for kicks. You can do it, princess!
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore offers a unique experience that mixes nostalgia, humor and a creative approach in this homage to CD-i's controversial Zelda games. With its art direction faithful to the titles that inspired it, immersive soundtrack and more responsive controls, it is a welcome addition to the indie gaming universe, offering a fun and nostalgic experience for gamers who appreciate a creative and humorous approach of products based on the past.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
This eccentric reexamination of games many consider to be the worst of all time is a resounding success. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore proves that you can find inspiration in all that brings you joy.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore could have just been a solid joke title with everyone in on the punchline and then the developers would have laughed all the way to the bank. Instead, we have a banger of a title that is both artistically wonderful and plays like Shantae meets Rygar. It’s not just buffaloing ahead to watch the cutscenes: it’s getting better and finding satisfaction in exploration, response and style.