Black Jewel

About

"Black Jewel" is a PC game with a nostalgic c64 style, featuring a barbarian warrior named Ryan on a mission to retrieve the stolen Black Jewel from Darkor. With five distinct zones, over 50 screens, and 5 challenging bosses, players can choose to use a keyboard or joypad while enjoying a CRT effect, original OST, and best score tracking.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 45 reviews

music11 positive mentions

Black Jewel successfully captures the nostalgic feel of classic C64 games, with charming pixel art and a great soundtrack that resonates with retro gaming fans.
The gameplay offers a challenging experience reminiscent of old-school platformers, requiring players to memorize enemy patterns and master controls for progression.
At a low price point, the game provides a straightforward and engaging experience for those who appreciate retro aesthetics and gameplay.

The game suffers from significant technical issues, including unresponsive controls, lack of customization options, and frustrating RNG elements that detract from the overall experience.
Many players find the difficulty level excessively punishing, with limited health resources and no checkpoints, leading to a frustrating gameplay loop.
The game is criticized for being a blatant clone of Storm Warrior, raising concerns about originality and quality, which may deter potential players.

music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
13%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting the standout soundtrack as a nostalgic and enjoyable aspect that enhances the overall experience. The chiptune compositions evoke a retro feel, reminiscent of classic games, and are described as both catchy and memorable. While some players noted the music can be too loud at times, the general consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
- “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.”
- “Also, I want to mention that the music is very cool indeed (masterful chiptunes, really).”
- “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
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro pixel art style reminiscent of 8-bit and C64 aesthetics, which some players appreciate for its nostalgic charm and effective emulation of the period. However, the lack of resolution options and customization limits the experience for those seeking modern graphical fidelity. Overall, while the visuals capture the essence of classic games, they may not appeal to everyone due to their outdated quality.
- “A fun retro platformer with nice pixel graphics and music.”
- “The graphics and music are wonderful.”
- “Nice graphics, great music, gorgeous CRT effect.”
- “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
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by its brutal difficulty and simple mechanics, including basic movement and combat, which some players find frustrating and outdated. While it captures the aesthetic and charm of retro games with detailed pixel art and engaging music, opinions are mixed on its overall enjoyment, with some praising its challenge and fairness, while others criticize its reliance on RNG and lack of depth. Overall, it appeals to retro enthusiasts but may not satisfy those seeking modern gameplay experiences.
- “Unlike many retro games, this is not simply an homage to the 8-bit era with procedural levels and boring gameplay; it's rather like a lost good C64 game finally completed and ported to PC.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is decent, but it has one gaping wound of a problem -- RNG.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
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, making the storytelling both engaging and visually appealing.
- “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.”
- “The splash screens for the intro, story beats, and death are all very well done as well.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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 has a C64 style, it definitely caught my attention. I never grew up with it, but I always admired 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.”