What resulted from this is a game that baffled people initially when it was revealed, but has proven the saying that you should never judge a book by its cover does apply to video games as well. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a game that comes with all the spirit of the CD-i games, but removes everything horrible about them and actually gives an experience that is quite fun. What we get is a Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse style Metroidvania game that is a worthy contender for indie game of the year already.
As expected, the cheesy animation is back and with voice acting from some of the cast of the original CD-i games, but the stylistic suck works well here and manages to successfully give off a B-Movie flare, similar to tribute movies like Frankenstein vs. The Creature from Blood Cove. It just fits well and does not outstay its welcome, and that is good because fans are already using clips of the animation to make videos similar to the ones made with the Zelda CD-I animation. But what makes Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore stand out further is that it goes a step beyond to make the game a tribute to all things CD-i.
What I mean by that is that there are references to other CD-i titles such as Hotel Mario, and references to the CD-i system itself. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore wants to prove that these games had potential and manages to do so admirably. The music manages to reference the music in the original games but also has some tunes that would not be out of place in a mainline Zelda game either, showing that Dopply and Seedy Eye Games really put care into this product. The art outside of the animated sequences looks great and reminds me a lot of the aforementioned Shantae series but with its own identity as well.
But how is the gameplay? Well Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is a standout there as well. There are two modes to choose from, a standard mode and an easier mode, the latter of which will give you health refills from killing enemies. This can actually make the game a bit harder though, since it means you will not have as many currency drops as you would in normal mode, which can make getting items from shops harder.
As you go about the game, there will be many quests you can do in the various areas, and going back and forth is a must. While the game does have a certain path of progression in mind for you to follow, you are able to do sequence breaking and go about things differently, and the game will even reward you for doing so, giving exploration and player innovation some encouragement. Combat is challenging but fair, and does take a bit of time to get used to, but the game’s tutorial does ease you into things and even gives a shoutout to the CD-i games while doing so.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore shows that by following the spirit of a game, rather than slavishly imitating it, you can truly elevate the source material as it is a genuinely fun game that lacks the issues present in the CD-i games and even Dopply’s fan remasters. Even the many shoutouts and references to the CD-i games are not an issue, because while they are amazing for fans who are familiar with the source material, those who are not will still be able to enjoy the experience on its own. You may not get the full effect of it, but what you will get is Metroidvania with fun combat that can get surprisingly dark at times.
The one issue is that some may simply not like the animated sequences, and I will admit some can be a bit much. Still, they are overall well done and I enjoyed most of them. It helps that the characters all seem fully realized and people you want to see more of in the game.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore may have a specific fanbase in mind, but it is a game anyone can enjoy. Seedy Eye Games knocked it out of the park here, and have set a high bar to pass for other indie titles releasing this year. This is how you make a tribute game, that is also able to stand on its own and prove it has value. I cannot wait to see what the developers do next.
