Feria d'Arles
- April 6, 2018
- Tom Simpson
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Feria d'Arles" is a point-and-click adventure game set in the picturesque French city of Arles. Help Molly, an ambitious young woman, realize her dream of participating in the famous bullfighting competition while navigating quirky puzzles and interacting with a host of colorful characters. With its charming pixel-art animation and original music, the game offers a unique and entertaining experience for players. Disclaimer: No bulls were harmed in the making of this game.
Mac OS
Windows
Reviews
- Charming and humorous writing with witty dialogue that keeps players engaged.
- Beautiful pixel art and animations that evoke nostalgia for classic adventure games.
- Well-designed puzzles that are logical and satisfying, providing a good balance of challenge.
- The game is very short, typically taking around 1-2 hours to complete, leaving players wanting more.
- User interface can be confusing, with menu access not clearly explained, leading to frustration.
- Some players experienced minor bugs and issues, such as difficulty in scaling graphics and accessing certain game features.
- humor17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and charming dialogue, reminiscent of classic titles like Monkey Island and mid-90s LucasArts adventures. Players highlight the game's ability to deliver genuine laugh-out-loud moments and witty references, making it a delightful experience despite its short length. Overall, the combination of funny cutscenes, engaging characters, and a lighthearted tone contributes to its appeal.
“The writing was clever and funny, reminding me of Monkey Island but without 'aping' it.”
“A very short, but sweet and funny point-and-click adventure game in the cartoony, comical vein of mid-90's LucasArts.”
“Delightful art and animation with hilarious writing.”
- story15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story centers around Molly, a naive girl aspiring to be a matador, and is described as entertaining and well-written, with charming characters and vibrant graphics. However, many reviewers note that the narrative feels incomplete, ending on a cliffhanger and suggesting it serves as an introduction to a larger tale. The juxtaposition of the joyous presentation with the serious theme of bullfighting has also raised some concerns among players.
“The story tells the tale of a naive girl, Molly, whose dream is to become the bravest matador, but without really knowing what being a matador truly means.”
“Lovely bright colorful graphics, and a well-presented and well-thought-out storyline.”
“Has a cute storyline jam-packed with witty characters and great-looking pixel art and animations!”
“It also struck me as somewhat odd that the story would hinge around bullfighting, which is such a cruel and distressing activity for me to even think about, when the game is so joyous.”
“As you can see, the complaint was that this is not a complete game but rather a short episode which doesn't resolve any of the plot lines and ends on a cliffhanger.”
“But I think this is a lose-lose situation for him, because if what he says is true, that most likely means we'll never get to see how the story gets resolved.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, vibrant colors, and excellent animations, reminiscent of classic titles like "Day of the Tentacle." Players appreciate the charming and polished visuals, which enhance the overall retro adventure experience, although some users noted initial issues with running the game in full screen. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's nostalgic appeal and engaging atmosphere.
“Fantastic old school pixel graphics, great animations and nice soundtrack combined with some entertaining writing makes this a perfect little game for anyone who wants their adventure games firmly in the retro category.”
“Everything is presented in a gorgeous pixel art style, that makes me think I'm 10 once again, and playing a cool point 'n click on my trusty DOS machine.”
“The locations and characters are very well-drawn and nicely animated - anybody who liked Day of the Tentacle will feel very much at home with the art style of Feria d'Arles.”
“The graphics were pixelated and colorful, although you might initially have trouble getting this to run at full screen.”
“- rotten in-game graphics.”
“A charming little game, very polished graphics and animation.”
- music13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its fittingness and ability to complement the story and visuals. It features a variety of themes that adapt to different locations, creating a transportive atmosphere, while maintaining a quality that resonates with retro adventure game fans. Overall, the soundtrack is described as enjoyable, well-integrated, and not overly repetitive, contributing positively to the game's charm.
“And the music was good, adding to the story, making the experience more transportative.”
“The music has a similarly nice quality to it, helping everything bounce and pop.”
“The music is fitting as well - I really dig that some locations have a variation of the same theme, and it subtly fades to the appropriate one as you travel.”
“Visuals are excellent (both backgrounds and animations) and the music is all right.”
“The music perfectly fits the scene and the 'bad guy' mayor.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics and great presentation, but it is criticized for being very short, with completion times around 90 minutes to 2 hours. Some players feel it borrows elements from classic adventure games without effectively adapting those mechanics, leading to a less engaging experience.
“Excellent game, great mechanics.”
“It's on the short side (only 90 minutes to complete, although I had to peek at the walkthrough twice), but the presentation is great and the gameplay is solid.”
“It is very short (I completed it in under 2 hours) and borrows some elements of the old adventure games without understanding that the requirements back then were very different. Those old gameplay mechanics were specifically geared towards artificially extending the playtime by sending the player on lengthy trips between locations in search of the last currently available action that will trigger something else elsewhere.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is described as solid and well-crafted, with a suitable variety that enhances the different locations within the game.
“The atmosphere is solid and appropriately varied for the number of locations, perfectly fitting the game's overall vibe.”
“The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making every location feel unique and alive.”
“The game's atmosphere is captivating, with each environment contributing to a rich and engaging experience.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The environments are lifeless, making it hard to feel connected to the game world.”
