Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a bit lost. Its attempt to channel the energy of a certain duology of titles is too self-aware to resonate with its target audience. Meanwhile, those looking for a grand adventure won’t appreciate its gaudy design and plodding gameplay. As a result, this Philips CD-i tribute is only suited for a very specific few.
A tribute to titles with an…interesting past, Seedy Eye Software and Limited Run Games take the interactive animated adventure formula to 2024 with the release of Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore. Does it prove to be worthy of legends like King Harkinian, or should the past stick to YouTube?
Proving that no good things last forever, things kick off with Lord Daimor being released from his book of imprisonment. Not one to take this threat lying down, the titular Princess Arzette is on the case. Her objective? Collect the pieces of the titular jewel of Faramore, vanquish this evil, and save the day.
Sounds a bit cliché, right? Based on this brief description, you’d be absolutely on the money.
However, Arzette is tongue-in-cheek and self-aware every step of the way. This title spreads the cheese on thick, channeling its over-the-top goofy energy into its exaggerated voice overs and plentiful puns. That’s not even mentioning the random, poorly drawn horse warriors, skeleton Elvis impersonators, and scarecrow bosses.
This is all intentional, designed to replicate Philips CD-i titles like Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (which is heavily hinted at as “a spiritual successor to a pair of infamous adventure titles” by the team themselves).
As a replication, Arzette gets the job done – this title would be right at home on that long-forgotten system. However, these titles are obscure for a reason: They’re just not good. While the basic colors and janky animation channel the energy of these obscure releases, there’s not denying that they are positively garish. For those not in on the joke – which would be the mainstream audience – the irony on display will be less than amusing.
That begs the question: Does Arzette manage to stand on its own merits? It depends.
Gameplay follows a MetroidVania (or more appropriately, Wonder Boy) setup, with players using items like bombs, keys, and colored magic to break down barriers and access new areas. Most of its worlds can be accessed via an overworld map, and players will return to each area multiple times as they collect new goodies and abilities.
While the hunt for keys and Rupies requires some discovery, don’t expect too much depth; the game can be completed in a few hours. Even the combat is a bit on the simple side; while one’s slash can be upgraded and players can get a sidestep and a gun, there’s no high level play here. If anything, it’s far too easy to cheese one’s way through most of its boss battles.
Paying tribute to another Philips CD-i title, players will also experience elements from Hotel Mario as they close doors, navigate mazes, and break targets. These areas all net players additional Rupies, and while they’re not too taxing, these bonus stages still break things up and are welcome additions.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a bit lost. Its attempt to channel the energy of a certain duology of titles is too self-aware to resonate with its target audience. Meanwhile, those looking for a grand adventure won’t appreciate its gaudy design and plodding gameplay. As a result, this Philips CD-i tribute is only suited for a very specific few.
This review of Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore was done on the PC. The game was purchased digitally.
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