History YMMV / CaveStory

* BrokenBase: Does ''Cave Story'' count as a {{Metroidvania}}? Despite being one of the most iconic indie examples, for some fans the game is considered too linear and story-oriented to qualify as such.
* BetterThanCanon: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRBz1ihz6EU The fan-made fourth ending]], particularly because [[spoiler:you can actually save King and Toroko and the credits suggest Misery finally makes amends with her mother, Jenka]].

** Misery herself crossed it when she ''specifically'' summoned Toroko to be experimented on, knowing full well what would happen to the young Mimiga. Despite the fact that [[spoiler:she's [[ForcedIntoEvil cursed to serve whomever wears the Demon Crown]]]], she clearly enjoys spreading [[MeaningfulName misery]], making her thoroughly unsympathetic.

* DifficultySpike: Things up to Plantation are relatively easy with save and refill points scattered around. However, Last Cave, especially if you're going for the best ending, ramps up the difficulty a lot. You do get a little breather at the Balcony with its one save and healing point before having to fight three bosses in a row with essentially no refills in between. This is not counting the BrutalBonusLevel and four/five-stage TrueFinalBoss that await you if you want to actually ''see'' the best ending...

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: The game is known for its accessible and engaging gameplay and cutesy visuals. [[spoiler: It also features themes of slavery, [[GreatOffscreenWar war]], and biological experimentation on unwilling test subjects, four nightmarish final bosses (The Doctor, who loses control and mutates, then him possessing the Core, Sue, and Misery, then the Heavy Press which attacks out of nowhere and is a Kaizo Trap if you don't realize what it is quickly enough, then finally Ballos, who has a horrific backstory and red, dripping, tortured faces in his head), and [[AnyoneCanDie most of the cast]] [[KillEmAll dying before your eyes]] [[CharactersDroppingLikeFlies at regular intervals.]] '''''And still goes with a rating of E10+.''''']]

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** In the Switch version, the dog quest that takes up most of the Sand Zone is changed so that you can carry all five dogs at once, and the last dog, formerly at the end of the area, is now near the Omega boss room. This makes the quest go by much more quickly.
** After 13 years, an update to ''+'' finally lets you ''refuse the Booster v0.8'' (so that you can get v2.0 later) and adds an extra platform to let you get out of the pit it's in without getting it, in case you fail the [[ThatOneSidequest rather tricky jump over it]].

** [[JerkassWoobie Sue]] may be rude and stand-offish, but she also suffers a ''lot'' through the game. [[BalefulPolymorph Getting turned into a Mimiga]] doesn't even ''begin'' to cover it.

** The fact that [[spoiler:Quote and Curly are both robots was originally a [[TomatoInTheMirror huge reveal]], deeply buried under their [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots astonishingly human-like existence.]] Now, it's openly spoiled by the cover art of [[UpToEleven almost every commercially released version of the game]], because the artists just cannot resist adding [[http://archive.is/jaH2a obvious robot details to him]]. For contrast, [[http://archive.is/Y4PFS this is how his close-up actually looks in the game]].]]

* BrokenBase: Does Cave Story count as a {{Metroidvania}}? Despite being one of the most iconic indie examples, for some fans the game is considered too linear and story-oriented to qualify as such.

** The fact that [[spoiler:Quote and Curly are both robots was originally a [[TomatoInTheMirror huge reveal,]] deeply buried under their [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots astonishingly human-like existence.]] Now, it's openly spoiled by the cover art of [[UpToEleven almost every commercially released version of the game,]] because the artists just cannot resist adding [[http://archive.is/jaH2a obvious robot details to him.]] For contrast, [[http://archive.is/Y4PFS this is how his close-up actually looks in the game.]]]]

* ParanoiaFuel: One of earliest doors you'll have to enter is literally a monster. However, this monster never appears again after this initial trap.

* PolishedPort: The number of ports of the game is comparable to the number of ports of ''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar'', and each capitalizes on the last. The UsefulNotes/WiiWare port has redone sprites, the ability to play as Curly, and the European version gets an additional soundtrack.[[note]]Later the NA version would have its debatable soundtrack replaced with the European soundtrack.[[/note]] ''Cave Story +'' has all this and the Wind Fortress, somehow harder than the Sacred Grounds. ''3D'' has polygonal models, and ''Cave Story +'''s eShop release boasts everything ''+'' does but the graphics, and to compensate it's in stunning 3D. The Switch version then adds onto all of this with the Wii's remastered graphics, animated talking sprites, widescreen, some gorgeous subtle lighting effects, and co-op in a later update.

* OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight: Most die-hard ''Cave Story'' fans are adamant about the freeware version of ''Cave Story'', the only one made entirely by Daisuke Amaya, being the best one. Part of it is that the freeware version is easily available and still works well, while most of the ports come with odd issues (such as music not looping properly and broken achievements) despite their other touch-ups, and they rarely get updated with fixes. The other reason is that every port is handled by Creator/{{Nicalis}}, an indie publisher that is controversial for many reasons, but especially for treating ''Cave Story'' as their mascot franchise, including it in crossovers and sending [=DMCAs=] to fan projects despite not developing it themselves. The very muddy situation about whether or not Nicalis took the rights to ''Cave Story'' from Studio Pixel outright (which has yet to be fully confirmed or unconfirmed) is enough for many fans to swear off Nicalis' ports and encourage people to play the freeware version and its FanTranslation, or give their money to Amaya's follow-up game ''VideoGame/KeroBlaster'' (which was published by Playism) instead.

** In the Switch version, the dog quest that takes up most of Sand Zone is changed so that you can carry all five dogs at once, and the last dog, formerly at the end of the area, is now near the Omega boss room. This makes the quest go by much more quickly.

** If one endures the [[NintendoHard living hell]] that is Hard Mode and is on track to get the best ending, [[spoiler:the Hidden Last Cave]] becomes this. Compared to the hectic Labyrinth M and the Destroyed Egg Corridor, this level is one where you can calmly make your way through, and the boss is relatively easy compared to what came before. This is also the first level where you can enjoy the only Life Capsule in Hard Mode and have 8 HP, so not that many non-spike or Press attacks will kill you in one hit. This is especially true, even outside of Hard Mode, with one of the two ultimate weapons, as one is charged rather than leveled up while the other is meant to be kept at Level One.
** The Balcony, especially if the player [[spoiler:is on the path to the GoldenEnding, which rewards the player with the Hidden version of the Last Cave]]. There are only 4 enemies, lots of weapon energy capsules and missile refills higher up the boss area's face, and [[spoiler: is the last place the player goes through before entering the [[BrutalBonusLevel Sacred]] [[NintendoHard Grounds]]]] which only has the falling blocks to worry about as opposed to [[spoiler: the [[GoddamnedBats Goddamned Butes]] in the Sacred Grounds]].
* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Dr. Fuyuhiko Date]], [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep known almost exclusively]] as [[MadDoctor the Doctor]], is a sociopathic researcher who came onto the floating island to take control of the powers of the [[ArtifactOfDoom Demon Crown]]. The Doctor is responsible for kidnapping several of the harmless native Mimigas and force-feeding them the corrupting red flowers, mutating them into savage beasts. The Doctor has reduced the Mimiga's village to a select few survivors in doing this, and plots to use the rabid Mimiga to attack the surface world. [[spoiler:The Doctor has his servants force-feed the young Toroko these red flowers, ultimately leading to her death, and murders King when he tries to intervene, commenting on how "fragile" their bodies are. The Doctor is also responsible for mutating several of the island's infant dragons into undead zombies. At the end of the game, the Doctor mutates his own servant Misery to her dissent, intending to make her his puppet until the day she dies. The Doctor was an [[ItsAllAboutMe unfettered egomaniac]] who puts his pride above everything else, all the while behaving in a calm, perpetually condescending manner.]]

** The armored Gaudis in Labyrinth M. They throw knives at you which do loads of damage, and unlike the purple projectiles from the flying Gaudis, they can't be shot down.

** In the physical 3DS version, the Destroyed Egg Corridor is elevated to this. Shortly after the Sisters, much like Labyrinth M, the level gets expanded, effectively doubling its size. On Hard Mode, since the Sisters aren't able to be fought due to no Missiles being available, you have to do the entire level in one go since the Save Point can't spawn.

** The Doctor is a [[GenericDoomsdayVillain generally flat]], [[CompleteMonster purely evil]] antagonist. He wants to conquer the world using brainwashed Mimigas, with no further reason as to why he wants to do so.

* {{Woolseyism}}: Many consider the original fan translation far superior to the more Wonder Bread official localization that came years later. While the official translation clearly borrowed from the fan version used for years, it removed scores of little nuances and phrasings that were more dynamic and made each character seem more identifiable in how they came across. Of course, in many cases, the preference is as simple as changing Balrog's iconic "Huzzah!" to the "Oh yeeeaaah!" Kool-Aid Man reference.

* WhatAnIdiot: PlayedForLaughs when Kazuma Sakamoto decides it's a good idea to start the ignition for a motorcycle in Grasstown[[note]]Aeon Genesis translation[[/note]][=/=]Bushlands[[note]][[Creator/{{Nicalis}} NICALiS]] translation[[/note]] without looking at the controls first. It goes about as well as you'd think it would, with the exception of him and fellow passenger Professor Booster surviving. Not so much the poor motorcycle.

* WhatAnIdiot: PlayedForLaughs when Professor Booster—normally a responsible technician—decides it's a good idea to start the ignition for a motorcycle in Grasstown[[note]]Aeon Genesis translation[[/note]][=/=]Bushlands[[note]][[Creator/{{Nicalis}} NICALiS]] translation[[/note]] without looking at the controls first. It goes about as well as you'd think it would, with the exception of him and fellow passenger Kazuma surviving. Not so much the poor motorcycle.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: To some, Misery. Despite being [[ForcedIntoEvil forced to work]] for the Doctor due to being enslaved by the Demon Crown, and the fact that Balrog even says the Doctor has [[WouldHitAGirl smacked her at least once off-screen]], she clearly does enjoy the occasional act of being a {{Jerkass}}, including sending Balrog to the Labyrinth simply out of annoyed spite. [[spoiler: he fact that she personally created the Demon Crown in spite of her uncle's circumstances and drawing its power directly from his own only makes her LaserGuidedKarma of being controlled by the very crown she made a rather deserving fate, on top of being the catalyst for the entire plot to begin with.]]

* WhatAnIdiot: PlayedForLaughs when Professor Booster, normally a responsible technician, decides it's a good idea to start the ignition for a motorcycle in Grasstown[[note]]Aeon Genesis translation[[/note]][=/=]Bushlands[[note]][[Creator/{{Nicalis}} NICALiS]] translation[[/note]] without looking at the controls first. It goes about as well as you'd think it would, with the exception of him and fellow passenger Kazuma surviving. Not so much the poor motorcycle.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: To some, Misery. Despite being [[ForcedIntoEvil forced to work]] for the Doctor due to being enslaved by the Demon Crown, and the fact that Balrog even says the Doctor's [[WouldHitAGirl smacked her at least once off-screen]], she clearly does enjoy the occasional act of being a {{Jerkass}}, including sending Balrog to the Labyrinth simply out of annoyed spite. [[spoiler: The fact that she personally created the Demon Crown in spite of her uncle's circumstances and drawing its power directly from his own only makes her LaserGuidedKarma of being controlled by the very crown she made a rather deserving fate, on top of being the catalyst for the entire plot to begin with.]]

* MemeticMutation: "HUZZAH!", Balrog's CatchPhrase in the FanTranslation of the original game, became a sort of rallying cry for fans of the game.

** [[spoiler:The Double Sky Dragon boss in Revisited!Egg Corridor]] deserves a mention. The initial pattern isn't particularly complicated, but that barely matters when heavy-hitting and hard-to-dodge streams of flame are being fired directly at you from two different positions at once. In addition, the boss spends most of its time invincible, and the narrow window you have to hit it before it hits you makes it quite difficult to do damage without getting hit yourself, and it will hit much, much harder than you do.

* BizarroEpisode: The Outer Wall is by far the weirdest place in the game. The gravity is odd, treating the left side of the screen as 'down' for everything ''except'' you (though this could be {{justified|Trope}} if the wind is strong enough -- this is [[spoiler:the outside of a FloatingContinent]], after all). The enemies don't seem bizarre at first, but then you encounter the giant cat ghosts that shoot yarn balls ''with eyes'' at you. And living at the bottom is a group of people that are five inches high.

** "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNtnjrrXMDU Quiet]]" is reminiscient of "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtoejHM-H0E Itsuwari No Ending]]" from ''VideoGame/BubbleBobble''.