Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore

About

"Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore" is an interactive action-adventure game where you play as Princess Arzette. Explore hand-painted backgrounds and diverse locations, uncover mysteries through conversations with locals, and acquire powerful items to defeat the evil Daimur. The game features fully voice-acted cartoon cinematics and a colorful cast of characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore screenshot

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,311 reviews

gameplay134 positive mentions

grinding27 negative mentions

Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a charming homage to the infamous Zelda CD-i games, successfully capturing their quirky essence while providing enjoyable gameplay.
The game features tight controls, a catchy soundtrack, and colorful character designs, making it a fun experience for both fans of the original games and newcomers.
With a mix of humor, engaging cutscenes, and a satisfying progression system, Arzette offers a delightful adventure that doesn't overstay its welcome.

The game can feel repetitive due to the backtracking required to complete quests and find collectibles, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
Boss fights are generally easy and lack challenge, which may disappoint players looking for a more difficult gameplay experience.
Some cutscenes and character interactions lack voice acting and animation, leading to a jarring shift in presentation that feels less polished than the rest of the game.

gameplay
362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The gameplay of "Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore" is a blend of 2D platforming and metroidvania elements, offering a mix of enjoyable mechanics and charming aesthetics inspired by the infamous CD-i Zelda games. While some players find the gameplay repetitive and basic, many appreciate its improvements over the original titles, highlighting its fun exploration, smooth controls, and engaging progression. Overall, it successfully captures the quirky charm of its inspirations while providing a more polished and enjoyable experience.
- “From the satisfying gameplay loop to the funny story and unique art style, an absolute masterpiece.”
- “The gameplay feels really good; I never found myself frustrated, but there's still enough of a challenge to not have it feel like a complete cakewalk.”
- “Arzette is a love letter to the old janky CD-i games but manages to combine that with solid gameplay, catchy music, and a great art style.”
- “But the gameplay is just.....boring. Now I know there isn't really much you can do if you're going for a 1 for 1 with a game that's historically known for being bad, but still, copying a bad game still means you're gonna make a bad game.”
- “The gameplay is disappointingly barebones, consisting of bland platforming, one-dimensional combat mechanics, and a series of unengaging minigames scattered throughout the experience.”
- “Despite gradually introducing new abilities, unfortunately, the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive, lacking the necessary variety to stand out.”
music
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in "Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, nostalgic quality reminiscent of late 90s platformers and CD-ROM games. The soundtrack, composed by Button Masher, is described as phenomenal and a standout feature of the game, effectively enhancing the overall experience and evoking fond memories of classic gaming. Overall, the music is considered a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The music is phenomenal and strikes at that same vein of late 90's platformer/JRPG OST.”
- “The soundtrack, spritework, and level graphics fit the look and feel of an older game so perfectly it feels like you're playing a piece of lost media, a feat larger games with more well-known inspirations struggle to pull off.”
- “The music is absolutely wonderful.”
- “Reused music for a couple of stages, which is disappointing.”
- “It looks at first like it has more effort put into it than a simple meme game retread, with all the artwork and music, but it's really a shallow experience that repeats itself after the first few levels.”
- “The music can get quite loud at times and I keep my PC volume low too.”
humor
215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore" is a standout feature, characterized by its colorful characters, hilarious cutscenes, and self-aware dialogue that pays homage to the infamous CD-i Zelda games. Players appreciate the blend of genuine charm and absurdity, with many finding the humor both nostalgic and engaging, while some critiques note that the intentionally cheesy style can occasionally veer into cringeworthy territory. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of "so bad it's good" humor, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- “The humor in the cutscenes is genuinely funny and doesn't take itself seriously.”
- “A really funny parody of the CD-i Zelda games, but on its own, it's a nice throwback to adventure platformer games!”
- “The cutscenes feel lifted right out of the CD-i games and are the right amount of hilarious, with fun designs and characters.”
story
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
73%
3%
The story of "Arzette" is a lighthearted and humorous take on a classic fantasy narrative, featuring a princess on a quest to defeat the dark lord Daimur. While the plot is often described as generic and cliché, it is elevated by colorful characters, clever dialogue, and engaging cutscenes that pay homage to the infamous Zelda CD-i games. Players appreciate the blend of silliness and sincerity, with side quests and character interactions adding depth to the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding backtracking and fetch quests.
- “Arzette actually has a nice story that takes itself seriously at times while reveling in being about a princess who just accepts she has to do random quests for everyone at others.”
- “But as well as being a great, reference-filled homage, this game does a great job at telling its own compelling story and creating its own interesting world, with its own humor and its own characters.”
- “Genuinely fun to play, reminiscent of Zelda CD-i, Monster World, and Popful Mail, along with great 90's-esque music, funny cutscenes with deranged characters, and a surprisingly sincere and touching story.”
- “The narrative is incredibly cliché, leading to a forgettable and underwhelming story.”
- “The story is cliché, forgettable, and ultimately uninteresting.”
- “As for the story, it's fairly generic, about what you'd expect, though it is better than what you'd think given the inspiration for the game and what it is a homage to.”
graphics
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic homage to the infamous CD-i titles, featuring a unique blend of pixel art and hand-drawn aesthetics that successfully captures the whimsical charm of that era. While the spritework and level designs are generally praised for their quality and cohesion, some reviewers noted inconsistencies in art styles and transitions, particularly in cutscenes, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are celebrated for their creativity and retro appeal, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- “The soundtrack, spritework, and level graphics fit the look and feel of an older game so perfectly that it feels like you're playing a piece of lost media, a feat larger games with more well-known inspirations struggle to pull off.”
- “The cutscenes and aesthetics, as well as the level design, are refined versions of things that aren't made anymore; all of which makes this a very unique experience.”
- “Graphics are beautiful, and I love the pixel art; the cutscenes are just *french kiss* perfect.”
- “If you know nothing about the Zelda CD-i games, then this game would come across as mediocre at best, a standard platformer with mismatched art styles, unusual cutscenes, and incredibly easy combat.”
- “There's an inconsistency with art style, framerate, and even the resolutions in the cutscenes that just don't mesh well in comparison to what it's trying to replicate, and come off as amateurish.”
- “The visuals suffer from conflicting styles, resulting in jarring transitions between the two aesthetics; the cutscenes and character sprites perfectly capture the essence of the CD-i-era whimsy and pixel aesthetics, paying a fitting tribute to its goofiness and retro charm, and is incredibly amusing seeing their quirky liveliness.”
grinding
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
6%
87%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While the short levels and frequent upgrades help mitigate the tedium of backtracking and repeated runs, some players still feel that the need to revisit levels for 100% completion can become monotonous. The game's charm and engaging mechanics can offset some of the grind, but it remains a point of contention for those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Of course, it has lamp oil, rope, and bombs, but you also have other items to unlock, and there's no farming here.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “In order to 100% the game, you need to tediously redo each level many times, and the 'blocks' that you need new items for are never interesting--like a cracked wall for using bombs is far more interesting than a bunch of white blocks you need to use your power fist move that is otherwise completely worthless to get through.”
- “The enemies that take more than one hit have really long invincibility frames, so they're very tedious to fight--by the end, I was mostly running through enemies and just taking the damage.”
- “A lot of people have complained about the game being repetitive and tedious in terms of its mechanics and flow.”
character development
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
46%
15%
Character development in the game is notably lacking, with no significant growth or depth for the characters. However, the character designs are praised for their uniqueness and charm, often evoking humor and nostalgia, particularly in their homage to the infamous CD-i games. While the writing struggles to balance humor and seriousness, the overall aesthetic and animation contribute to a vibrant and memorable experience.
- “The game has a lot of funny dialogue, while the character designs are all unique and memorable.”
- “Even if you aren't in on the joke, Seedy Eye has breathed so much life and personality into every character design, cutscene, song, etc. It's just pure charm throughout.”
- “The cutscenes are just the right amount of cheesy, the character designs are amazing, and the quests and item finds are rewarding to complete.”
- “There is also no character development at all, and the writing can't make up its mind if it wants to be funny or serious.”
- “>character designs range from bad knock off, bad tumblr self insert, and bad furry anthro character.”
- “The game nails the uncanny faces, butt-ugly character designs, cheap MS Paint animation with janky movement in those Zelda adventures Nintendo wishes we'd all forget.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it limited unless pursuing achievements, others appreciate the optional content, multiple harder modes, and speedrun-friendly elements that enhance replay value. The presence of intentional sequence breaks and the potential for a randomizer add to its appeal, making it a fun and engaging experience for those who enjoy exploring its metroidvania structure. Overall, it offers a short yet addictive gameplay loop that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “I enjoyed my time with Arzette, and if possible, a randomizer could add even further replayability given how open the game's structure really is.”
- “Base game is about 5 hours to 100%, so it doesn't overstay its welcome, but multiple harder modes can be unlocked, so the replayability is there for those who want it.”
- “The game has great replayability and is actually quite addictive.”
- “With basically no replayability unless you like getting a few achievements.”
- “There is an overwhelming amount of backtracking, but the game also has some neat intentional sequence breaks that can clear up the monotony and rewards replayability.”
- “I enjoyed my time with Arzette and if possible, a randomizer could add even further replayability given how open the game's structure really is.”
emotional
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a blend of humor and surprisingly heartfelt moments, with cutscenes that are both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Players find themselves invested in the quirky characters and their touching stories, evoking nostalgia and a genuine sense of joy. Overall, it offers a wholesome experience that balances comedic elements with sincere emotional depth.
- “Genuinely fun to play, reminiscent of Zelda CD-i, Monster World, and Popful Mail, along with great 90's-esque music, funny cutscenes with deranged characters, and a surprisingly sincere and touching story.”
- “Like they kept the comedic atmosphere for most of the game but then actually made the characters likeable and even a bit emotional at times; it's actually kind of wild how I felt invested in these characters that are supposed to be a parody.”
- “Its most singular advancements are not its polishing up of rough gameplay ideas, but are in its disarmingly heartfelt and kind story and general tone.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is praised for delivering excellent performance across various platforms, including PC and Steam Deck, significantly surpassing that of the Zelda CD-i games. Overall, users report a smooth and enjoyable experience.
- “All the performances were great!”
- “It also has much better performance than the Zelda CD-i games.”
- “[th] PC specs & Steam Deck performance [/th]”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its charming and nostalgic qualities, reminiscent of classic CD-i games, while successfully blending comedic elements with emotional depth. Players find themselves surprisingly invested in the characters, who, despite being parodies, evoke genuine feelings. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the gameplay experience, making it a standout in the meme game genre.
- “They kept the comedic atmosphere for most of the game but then actually made the characters likable and even a bit emotional at times. It's actually kind of wild how I felt invested in these characters that are supposed to be a parody.”
- “A meme game that is actually worth your time with solid gameplay and a charming atmosphere!”
- “+ nostalgic atmosphere of classic CD-i games.”
- “Like they kept the comedic atmosphere for most of the game but then actually made the characters likable and even a bit emotional at times; it's actually kind of wild how I felt invested in these characters that are supposed to be a parody.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, users report that the game experienced some initial hard freezes on the Steam Deck, but a subsequent update resolved these issues. Additionally, the game was released in a polished state with no significant glitches.
- “I did have some rare hard freezes initially on the Steam Deck, but an update that came out just after seems to have fixed the issue.”
- “Not to mention the game is actually completed near the release date, with no glitches!”