Black Jewel

About

Black Jewel is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Oscar Celestini SHOP and was released on October 28, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Black Jewel is a PC game created in c64 style. Pure pixel art and simple concept (but hard to complete).You are Ryan, a barbarian warrior and you've got to keep back to the realm the Black Jewel, stealed by Darkor.Features:-Play using keyboard or joypad;- CRT effect perfect for a retrogame feeling available;- Five different zones (forest, ruins, castle...) More than 50 screens to complete in old s…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

music13 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game visually captures the authentic C64 aesthetic with impressive graphics, sound, and music that evoke nostalgia.
It offers a challenging gameplay experience that requires memorization and skill, appealing to fans of retro platformers.
The game is inexpensive and provides a straightforward, no-frills approach that some players find refreshing.

The controls are clunky and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating, especially with limited movement options and no ability to duck or block.
The game features excessive difficulty with RNG elements that can lead to unfair encounters, detracting from the overall experience.
There are no modern quality-of-life features like checkpoints or save options, which can make progress feel tedious and punishing.

music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
16%
16%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its authenticity and nostalgic appeal, with many reviewers highlighting the standout soundtrack as a major highlight. The chiptune compositions evoke a strong retro feel reminiscent of classic C64 games, enhancing the overall experience despite some criticisms of gameplay and controls. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable and a key element that contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “This looks extremely authentic to a C64 action platformer from back in the day; the graphics, sound, and music are spot on.”
- “The real stand-out, I must say, is the soundtrack, with the main theme being an absolute banger, and something I could easily see myself listening to in my spare time.”
- “The game is great, with great visuals and excellent music.”
- “Music is too loud.”
- “The soundtrack and CRT graphics will make you forget that 2020 exists.”
- “The only cons I have with it is when I'm in the middle of the game and if I feel like I want to quit and play something different, the ESC key doesn't quit like it does when you boot up the game.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their authentic retro pixel art style, effectively capturing the essence of C64-era aesthetics. While many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic visuals and accompanying soundtrack, some criticize the lack of modern graphical options and the overall gameplay experience, suggesting that the graphics alone do not compensate for other shortcomings. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of nostalgia with its charming visuals, though opinions vary on its overall execution and enjoyment.
- “This looks extremely authentic to a C64 action platformer from back in the day; the graphics, sound, and music are spot on.”
- “The graphics and music are wonderful.”
- “It nails the period aesthetics and it's actually rather fun.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
- “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it frustrating due to awkward controls and a lack of rewarding mechanics, while others appreciate its challenging yet fair design reminiscent of classic C64 titles. The aesthetic elements, such as pixel art and music, are praised, but many feel that the gameplay does not live up to the nostalgic expectations. Overall, it seems to appeal primarily to retro enthusiasts, though opinions vary widely on its enjoyment factor.
- “It manages to be challenging but fair, and very fun: it stays true to the mechanics of hack and slash platformers on the C64 without being too frustrating.”
- “Good music, enjoyable & challenging gameplay.”
- “But I just won't bother with it; the gameplay is too bad - I guess intentionally?”
- “The gameplay is brutally difficult, with left and right movement, a jump, and a 2-combo sword attack.”
- “I will be the first to say that this gameplay style has not aged well.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The story is effectively conveyed through well-crafted splash screens and minimalistic backgrounds that enhance the nostalgic feel of a classic C64 game. Programmer Oscar Celestini successfully captures the essence of the era, immersing players in the narrative experience.
- “The splash screens for the intro, story beats, and death are all very well done.”
- “Programmer Oscar Celestini's sole mission has been to recreate the look and feel of an actual C64 game, and good golly, he has succeeded.”
- “The background is minimal, but it's telling us the story.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game offers a nostalgic retro experience reminiscent of C64 titles, with a relatively short completion time of 20 to 30 minutes. Players appreciate its engaging gameplay, which contributes to its solid replay value, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- “I really love retro gaming, and when I saw this game had a C64 style, it definitely caught my attention. I never grew up with it, but I always admired the C64 for its interesting game library. This game does a great job giving that vibe. It's pretty short; you can beat it in 20 or 30 minutes if you have the skill, but it's really good and has some great replay value.”
- “The game lacks significant replay value, as once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to return.”
- “After finishing the game, I found that the choices I made had minimal impact on the overall experience, making it feel repetitive on subsequent playthroughs.”
- “While the graphics and gameplay are enjoyable, the lack of diverse endings or side quests really diminishes the replayability factor.”