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Remember those wacky Zelda games on the Phillips CD-i system back in the ’90s? The ones with the choppy cutscenes and awkward voice acting that somehow wormed their way into meme culture? Well let me introduce you to Arzette and the Jewel of Faramore, a new action-platformer that takes inspiration from those infamous CD-i titles and crafts something that’s way more fun to actually play.
See, the devs at Seedy Eye Software took a look at those old Zelda games that most folks see as total disasters, and thought hey – maybe there’s something here we can build on! So they’ve created the kingdom of Faramore and princess Arzette as a spiritual successor with similar old school visuals and story beats. But instead of subjecting you to bad controls and irritating gameplay like the CD-i titles, they focused on smoothing out issues and making Arzette legitimately enjoyable minute-to-minute.
You’ve still got charmingly awkward cutscenes, wacky character banter, and quintessential early ’90s style. But now it comes packaged with good platforming mechanics, engaging progression systems with upgrades, and aPlot that moves along at a nice clip in 4-5 hours. So if you dig retro homages or have a soft spot for those memeable CD-i Zelda titles, Arzette seems well worth taking for a spin!
Get Your Platforming Fix With Slick Controls
When it comes to gameplay, Arzette keeps things old school but smooth. We’re talking classic side scrolling action-platforming, where you guide Arzette through levels taking out baddies, avoiding hazards, and tracking down essential items and upgrades. Definitely takes me back to many an afternoon glued to the family SNES!
Unlike those notoriously clunky CD-i Zelda games though, the controls here feel responsive and intuitive. Running, jumping, attacking – it’s all a breeze. The hit detection seems fair, and Arzette controls more nimbly than Link ever did on the CD-i, that’s for sure! So mechanics-wise, it’s solid retro platforming fare.
There’s a nice sense of progression too as you gain new movement abilities that let you access previously blocked off areas. Finding the right tools to open up new parts of levels and pathways taps into that addictive Metroidvania loop we know and love.
And an added dimension comes from lighting beacons to dispel darkness, plus tracking down the shards of the Jewel of Faramore itself. So expect plenty of backtracking and revisiting areas as you work to 100% stages.
Now, I’ll admit that constantly retreading old ground can start to drag after awhile. Since the levels are pretty expansive, crossing familiar territory again and again slows down the pace. The layouts can also be confusing to navigate at times.
But unlimited lives and generous checkpoints keep frustration at bay when you do run into pitfalls or tough enemies. And that snappy, responsive platforming makes up for the occasional repetition. After 4-5 hours rolling credits, I was ready to put down the controller, with no tedium or boredom setting in.
So all in all, Arzette delivers entertainment and challenge enough for a light weekend diversion. The platforming fundamentals beat out the backtracking nitpicks, keeping you engaged to jewel recovery end!
Step Into a 1990s Time Warp
Get ready to take a trip back to the early ’90s the second Arzette boots up! We’re talking nostalgic pixel art visuals and a soundtrack overflowing with electronic samples and synth beats. It’s like digging up a long lost Sega Genesis or TurboGrafx-16 relic!
The devs clearly took inspiration directly from those infamous Phillips CD-i Zelda games in bringing Arzette’s world to life. You’ve got the same hand painted looking backdrops defining levels, chock full of odd angles and visual quirks. Sprite work sticks to a similarly simplistic style as well. Don’t expect lush HD graphics here – but the retro lovingly recreated vibe oozes charm.
And those wacky animated cutscenes are a real trip! The stilted animation and overenthusiastic voice acting mirror the YouTube meme fodder perfectly. You can tell the devs had a blast poking fun at and paying tribute to those awkward Zelda FMVs. Now, the frequent interludes can run long and may grate after one too many. But appreciate them for what they are, and the humor and nostalgia mostly land.
Of course, your mileage may vary on some references and in-jokes depending on your history with games and hardware of the time. The soundtrack in particular stands out – late 20th century electronic music was an acquired taste! But tune your ears to the dev’s passions here rather than your own preferences.
Minor quibbles aside, Arzette’s sights and sounds shine as a portal back to gaming’s awkward yet experimental adolescence. It sticks the landing in recapturing the era’s esoteric technical charms. So sit back and soak up that early CD-ROM vibe in all its low res, sample heavy glory!
Get To Know Princess Arzette and the Quirky Citizens of Faramore
Alright, let’s talk story and characters! Our lead is Arzette, crown princess of the fantasy kingdom Faramore. When the demon lord Daimur shows up looking to plunge the land into darkness, Arzette takes up sword and shield (well, bombs too) to assemble the magical Jewel of Faramore and take him down. Pretty textbook videogame fantasy setup.
But the citizens Arzette meets offer much more color. These folks bounce between nodding references to the CD-i era Zelda games and striking out with their own distinct vibes. Like the affable King Amadeus with his…unique laugh. Or the elder Treewalker, guardian of the Misty Thicket. The tone stays earnest yet lighthearted throughout.
And that bouncing between homage and originality extends to the writing too. Sure, a few too many corny jokes might land with a thud. But it swings for a balance between quirky character moments and legit laugh out loud gags. Plenty of subtle dry wit mixed in as well, catching you off guard.
Really, the referential stuff ends up feeling like a bonus rather than the main appeal. The team at Seedy Eye fill Faramore with enough charm that Arzette’s journey succeeds on its own creative merits, not just connections to ancient YouTube memes. These characters and their stories are plenty engaging, with welcome doses of humor carrying the spirit of those CD-i titles forward rather than just recreating them outright.
So expect to find friends in strange places across this bright, humor filled realm – enjoying their company as much for who they are as what they represent. Arzette and company offer heart and laughs enough to power through multiple playthroughs!
An Homage Done Right – Arzette Deserves Your Attention
So after joining Arzette to take down Daimur and light up Faramore, what’s the final verdict here? Well, if you have any fondness for those wacky Phillips CD-i Legend of Zelda games, then Arzette will undoubtedly delight. The team at Seedy Eye clearly crafted this adventure out of sheer affection for Link’s infamously shoddy CD-i outings. And their passion pays off with an experience that both respects the past and also builds something new.
Of course, your mileage may vary if you lack context on all the era specific references. But let me tell you – even if the nostalgic elements fly over your head, Arzette still succeeds as an enjoyable game in its own right. The accessible action platforming, colorful cast, and breezy 4-5 hour runtime make for a pleasant way to spend an afternoon.
Do similarities to 30 year old YouTube meme fodder enhance the experience? For sure. But the heart, craft, and care on display shine regardless if you catch every nod and retro in-joke or not. Arzette’s world brims with humor and spirit enough to capture your attention even if the CD-i connections fade.
Arzette represents a rare beast – an homage that respects its maligned inspiration without losing its own identity. It reminds us that there’s magic to uncover in gaming’s most notorious failures, if you approach them with an open and playful perspective. Give this quirky, passionate jewel quest a shot and see where its earnest retro charm takes you!
The Review
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore
At around 4 hours long, Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore succeeds as an amusing retro-inspired homage to the infamously bad Legend of Zelda CD-i games. While some references may confuse players unfamiliar with that era, enjoyable action-platforming, vibrant visuals and music, and affable characters still make Arzette an appealing small-scale quest. Approach with an open mind towards its silly tribute inspirations, and you're bound to have a good time.
PROS
- Smooth, responsive controls
- Faithful recreation of early '90s graphical style
- Humorous writing and entertaining characters
- Perfectly captures spirit of CD-i Zelda games
- Great animations and voice acting for cutscenes
- Level design encourages exploration
CONS
- Can be repetitive backtracking through levels
- Soundtrack may grate for some players
- Some jokes and references are overly niche
- Core gameplay is fairly simple
- Map system is lackluster
- Technical issues like frame rate dips
