Arzette The Jewel of Faramore PS5 is a love letter to two of the worst-reviewed games ever made. In 1993 Philips released a pair of Zelda titles for the CD-i console that became legendary for their stiff cartoon cutscenes and strange voice work. Three decades later, developer Seth Fulkerson rebuilt that entire aesthetic on purpose — but with the tight controls and real level design the originals never had.
Table of Contents
- The Joke Hidden in the Studio Name
- What You Actually Play
- Faramore, Daimur and the Shattered Jewel
- Hand-Drawn Cutscenes and Familiar Voices
- Why Limited Run Games Published It
- Technical Specifications
- FAQ
The Joke Hidden in the Studio Name
The developer is credited as Seedy Eye Software. Say it aloud — C, D, i. That single pun tells you everything about the project’s attitude: affectionate, self-aware, and completely uninterested in pretending its inspiration was ever good.
Seth Fulkerson had already built unofficial remakes of the two CD-i Zelda games back in 2020, then pulled them offline within two days to avoid legal trouble from Nintendo. Rather than abandon the idea, he founded Seedy Eye Software in 2021 and built an original kingdom, an original heroine and an original story in the same style — something nobody could send a cease-and-desist over.
Arzette The Jewel of Faramore PS5: What You Actually Play
Underneath the retro presentation is a genuinely well-made 2D action platformer. You explore branching stages, fight with a sword, buy items from shopkeepers, and gradually unlock magic and traversal abilities that open earlier areas you could not reach. Level designer John Linneman has compared its structure to the Monster World games, and that comparison holds: this is exploration-driven side-scrolling, not a linear obstacle course.
Crucially, it plays properly. The CD-i games were sluggish and unfair. This runs cleanly on PlayStation 5, controls responsively, and includes difficulty options plus a filter that mimics old composite video output for anyone who wants the full 1993 experience on a modern television.
Faramore, Daimur and the Shattered Jewel
The Kingdom of Faramore was once attacked by the demon lord Daimur, helped from the inside by the traitor Duke Nodelki of Amelog. Daimur was sealed away and the Jewel of Faramore shattered. Ten years on, Nodelki recovers the shards, frees his master, and receives dark powers in exchange for guarding what remains.
Princess Arzette is the only person who kept training through the peace, which makes her the kingdom’s only real defence. Her quest is to relight the Sacred Beacons, recover the Sacred Candles that can break Daimur’s magic, and take back the shards one minion at a time — while solving the fairly ridiculous problems of everyone she meets along the way.
Hand-Drawn Cutscenes and Familiar Voices
The animated cutscenes are the centrepiece. They are deliberately built in the flat, limited-motion cartoon style of the era, fully voiced and completely straight-faced, which is exactly why they land. Jeffrey Rath and Bonnie Jean Wilbur, names any CD-i veteran will recognise instantly, are part of the cast.
Jake Silverman handled the soundtrack, and the game was built in GameMaker rather than a modern 3D engine, which suits the flat 2D presentation perfectly. More on the studio is available at the official Seedy Eye Software site.
Why Limited Run Games Published It
Limited Run Games built its reputation producing short-print physical editions of digital-only titles, and this was the first game the company published digitally itself. The physical PlayStation 5 pressing was produced in a limited window rather than kept in continuous production, which is worth knowing if you collect boxed releases — copies do not get reprinted on demand.
Browse more titles in our PlayStation games collection, or see the full range from Sony and PlayStation.
Technical Specifications
- Title: Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore
- Platform: PlayStation 5 (physical disc)
- Genre: 2D action-adventure platformer
- Mode: Single-player
- Developer: Seedy Eye Software
- Publisher: Limited Run Games
- Director and Designer: Seth Fulkerson
- Composer: Jake Silverman
- Engine: GameMaker
- Original Release: 14 February 2024
- Inspiration: Spiritual successor to the Philips CD-i titles Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon
- Presentation: Hand-drawn animated cutscenes, full voice acting, optional retro video filter
- Controller: DualSense wireless controller
- Case Dimensions: Approximately 13.5 x 17 x 1.5 cm
- Warranty: 1-year warranty from Totot
FAQ – Arzette The Jewel of Faramore PS5
Is this an official Zelda game?
No, and it legally cannot be. It is an original game with its own kingdom, heroine and villain, made in the visual style of the CD-i Zelda titles. Nintendo has no involvement.
Do I need to know the CD-i games to enjoy it?
No. Plenty of players come to it purely as a well-built retro platformer. Knowing the history adds a layer of comedy, but the game stands on its own design.
Is it actually good, or is it a joke product?
It is a real game and a competent one. The presentation is the joke; the platforming, exploration and item progression are made seriously and were well received by critics.
How long does it take to finish?
Roughly six to eight hours for a straight run, longer if you hunt down every secret and optional upgrade across Faramore.
Is it suitable for younger players?
Yes. The tone is cartoonish and comedic with no graphic content, and the adjustable difficulty makes it approachable for children who are new to action platformers.
Does the game support Arabic or other languages?
The voice acting and text are in English. Given how much of the humour lives in the delivery of the cutscenes, English is the intended way to experience it, and the platforming itself needs no reading at all.
Does Totot deliver across the UAE?
Yes. We ship nationwide via Aramex for a fixed AED 10, with cash on delivery, Tabby and Tamara available at checkout.
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