Azazel's Christmas Fable
- November 29, 2022
- Greg Muhlbock
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Azazel's Christmas Fable" , players assume the role of Azazel, a devilish imp on a quest from his overlord to destroy the source of joy at the North Pole. This 8-bit retro-style point-and-click adventure features nostalgic gameplay, quirky characters, and a variety of puzzles to solve. Explore Santa's village and the underworld as you attempt to sabotage Christmas and earn respect among your demonic peers. Suitable for ages 7 to 77.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and humorous point-and-click adventure with a delightful Christmas theme.
- Engaging puzzles that are logical and fun, appealing to both casual and seasoned players.
- Fully voiced characters and vibrant pixel art create an immersive and nostalgic experience.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 3-5 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
- Some players experienced difficulty with navigation due to resolution issues and lack of hotspot highlighting.
- A few puzzles can feel overly simplistic or linear, potentially reducing the challenge for experienced players.
- humor26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its delightful and quirky humor, featuring clever dialogue and a mix of light and dark comedic elements that appeal to both adults and younger players. With fully voiced characters and engaging puzzles, it offers a fun and charming experience, particularly suited for the holiday season but enjoyable year-round. Players appreciate the game's ability to blend humor with meaningful interactions and clever meta-commentary, making it a standout in the point-and-click adventure genre.
“This game is truly a gem, filled with delightful, quirky, layered humor and charm. It was special enough that it even made my evening on Christmas Eve this year extra enjoyable.”
“The story about a creature from hell infiltrating the North Pole to ruin/save Christmas was funny and cute, but not overly sugary sweet like some holiday games can be.”
“The game has that specific kind of charm where it can appeal to adults with some of its humor, as younger players won’t understand some of the jokes, but it remains clean and engaging enough for younger audiences.”
- story24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story of "Azazel's Christmas Fable" is a charming and humorous holiday tale featuring a clumsy demon on a quest to either ruin or save Christmas, filled with quirky characters and clever writing. Players appreciate the engaging narrative, vibrant visuals, and well-executed voice acting, which together create a lighthearted atmosphere with both festive and dark humor. The game combines its delightful story with enjoyable puzzles, making it a memorable point-and-click adventure.
“The story about a creature from hell infiltrating the North Pole to ruin/save Christmas was funny and cute but not super sugary sweet like some holiday games can be.”
“The story is fantastic; it is lighthearted and fun, filled with both Christmas and dark references alike.”
“It's a really cute Christmas-themed, retro point-and-click style game with quite a few quirky characters, a fun and expansive storyline, beautiful visuals, and lots of fantastic as well as some surprisingly complex puzzles!”
“The story and its cast compose a charming little Christmas fable.”
“Without giving too much away, you play as a little clumsy demon sent by the dark lord himself on a mission to destroy Christmas.”
“I find puzzle games frustrating, so I didn't make it through this entirely, but I have to say I stuck with it for 3 hours because it really does have a lot of life and charm in the story, setting, and characters!”
- music12 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its seamless integration with the story and characters, featuring a charming and thematic soundtrack that enhances the festive atmosphere. Players appreciate the well-crafted original score, catchy tunes, and effective voice acting, which collectively contribute to an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a delightful complement to the gameplay, avoiding monotony while maintaining a joyful holiday spirit.
“The SFX and background music blended perfectly with the story, and the voice acting is just perfect... absolutely spot on for each and every one of the various endearing characters.”
“Lovely OST and fully voiced, this game is clearly a labor of love.”
“Another thing that I really enjoyed was the music in the game - it remained thematic and pleasant to listen to during my playthrough.”
“There is a hint of holiday music playing in the background as you run around trying to find cinnamon for a gingerbread man or accidentally letting all the reindeer escape the barn while hunting for items.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a classic point-and-click experience that combines simple mechanics with engaging puzzles, drawing inspiration from beloved titles like Sam & Max and Myst. While it may seem basic, this simplicity enhances its charm, offering a variety of challenges that keep players engaged. The streamlined navigation and straightforward interactions contribute to a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience, making it accessible yet satisfying for fans of the genre.
“Many fun, subtle nods to the classics that point-and-click aficionados will appreciate (moon logic, anyone?). The writing echoes comedy staples like Sam & Max and Space Quest, puzzle mechanics touch upon everything from mixed-up Mother Goose to Myst, and the atmosphere shimmers with the place-out-of-time vibe of Loom.”
“This is a simple point-and-click game that contains the usual suspects: collect items, interact with characters and the environment at large (sometimes with items), solve puzzles, and finally combine those gameplay elements to unravel the ugly Christmas sweater that is your overarching story objective.”
“The gameplay is simple, while having enough variety and difficulty to keep your brain engaged.”
“Describing the gameplay gives off the impression that the game is very basic, and whilst it is, mechanically speaking, it is this simplicity that adds to its charm.”
“The gameplay is straightforward; each hotspot has only one interaction.”
“I don't think that having a hotspot system is an objective improvement because the 'hidden-object' gameplay is part of the genre, but it does remove a lot of the frustration.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by vibrant, colorful, and beautifully illustrated cartoon-style visuals that evoke a festive holiday theme, reminiscent of 90s cartoons and classic adventure games. The hand-drawn backgrounds and retro pixel art create a charming atmosphere, making it easy for players to navigate and enjoy the quirky characters and expansive storyline. Overall, the art style is praised for its nostalgic appeal while still being engaging and fun to explore.
“In a nutshell, overall, the graphics are colorful and vibrant, enchantingly beautifully illustrated in a cartoony sort of way and appropriately festive for the holiday story theme.”
“It’s a really cute Christmas-themed, retro point-and-click style game with quite a few quirky characters, a fun and expansive storyline, beautiful visuals, and lots of fantastic as well as some surprisingly complex puzzles!”
“The backgrounds are hand-drawn and bright, and despite the pixelated visuals, I found it quite simple to find the items I needed.”
“Now there are a lot of games that go for that retro aesthetic and old adventure vibes; however, I think you did it in a way where it was still fun to explore the game despite the highly pixelated environment.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its unexpectedly wholesome vibe, even in the context of an "evil" character, making it enjoyable for players of all ages. The emotional depth is enhanced by the satisfying closure provided for the characters, contributing to a heartwarming and humorous overall experience.
“How is his whole vibe wholesome even though he's meant to be 'evil'?”
“Also having that extra closure with all of the characters was a very nice touch; it just felt so wholesome when I finished the story (hilarious credits too).”
“Super cute and wholesome game.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enriched by clever nods to classic point-and-click titles, with writing reminiscent of comedy favorites like Sam & Max and Space Quest. Unique characters, such as Azazel with his humorous Christmas commentary, contribute to a whimsical, timeless vibe, complemented by an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
“Many fun, subtle nods to the classics that point-and-click aficionados will appreciate (moon logic, anyone?). The writing echoes comedy staples like Sam & Max and Space Quest, puzzle mechanics touch upon everything from mixed-up Mother Goose to Myst, and the atmosphere shimmers with the place-out-of-time vibe of Loom.”
“The characters are unique and well-defined; Azazel’s grouchy comments on Christmas and his devilish rendition of classic Christmas tunes all add to the wonderful atmosphere the game oozes right from the very beginning.”
“- Atmospheric soundtrack”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the interesting premise, the overall atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real sense of adventure or excitement.”
“The game tries to create a unique atmosphere, but it ends up feeling generic and forgettable, missing the mark on what makes a world engaging.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, providing a fun seasonal experience with appropriately challenging puzzles and excellent voice performances.
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in this 2D game is enhanced by its 3D character design, providing a visually appealing and dynamic representation of the characters.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game feels reminiscent of older titles, it is praised for its smooth performance, lacking significant bumps or glitches, which contributes to a stable gaming experience.
“I definitely felt like I was playing a much older game than from 2022, just without all of the bumps and glitches.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is considered somewhat limited, suggesting that while there may be some incentive to play again, it may not offer enough variety or new experiences to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“The replayability value is somewhat lacking, as the game doesn't offer enough variety in its missions.”
“After completing the game once, I found little incentive to play through it again due to repetitive gameplay.”
“While the story is engaging, the lack of different endings or choices makes replaying feel unnecessary.”
