Despite being made by one guy, this game feels very complete and fulfilling. Cave Story is a platformer-shooter-adventure type of game that was released as freeware. That's right: it's completely free. However, some remakes with updated graphics and added content, most notably Cave Story+, have been released for sale on the PC and other consoles.
Although Cave Story plays out akin to a Metroidvania game, there's less open-ended exploration; the gameplay and the story are mostly a linear experience. You start out controlling a silent, nameless boy who awakens within... a cave. Early on, you pick up your first weapon, with which you can shoot in four directions, but not diagonally. Triangular golden crystals can be accumulated to power up your weapons, but taking damage will make them power down. More weapons and tools show up as you proceed, giving more options and freedom for absolutely fun gameplay. Learning how and when to use your weapons, however, is a challenge in itself.
The narrative gradually unravels as you venture forward and interact with the many characters, revealing a cute race of rabbit creatures, a mad scientist, and strangely enough, a combination of magical and science fantasy elements. Despite the 8-bit appearance and said cute rabbits, Cave Story takes some surprisingly dark turns of events. There's hope, but it has to be earned. Overall, the story and characters are pretty good; nothing phenomenal, but suitable enough for this game.
The game has an old-fashioned style in some respects. Your reaction to this may depend on your tastes. The graphics and visuals have an NES-era aesthetic, as does the soundtrack. There is a large and diverse collection of music, and each song is very evocative of the present situation. And many of them are quite catchy.
If you're new to platform shooters or 2D Metroidvania, Cave Story can be a challenge, and you're going to die several times. Fortunately, the game provides several save points and rests; just be sure to use these. Where the game gets really challenging, however, is in achieving the best ending. Cave Story technically has three different endings, and the one you reach is determined by certain actions you take. Figuring out the proper conditions to fulfill for the best ending is an exercise in counterintuitiveness. Without a guide, you will not figure out how to get it on your first try (if at all). Just play the game and enjoy yourself on your first playthrough. When you do fulfill the ridiculously esoteric conditions, however, the game's difficulty ramps up severely at certain points, most notably at the end. Be warned: it is no walk in the park.
Altogether, Cave Story is an admirable example for indie games. There's little excuse to not at least try it out; it's available for free download online. This game's the complete package.
The Complete Package
Despite being made by one guy, this game feels very complete and fulfilling. Cave Story is a platformer-shooter-adventure type of game that was released as freeware. That's right: it's completely free. However, some remakes with updated graphics and added content, most notably Cave Story+, have been released for sale on the PC and other consoles.
Although Cave Story plays out akin to a Metroidvania game, there's less open-ended exploration; the gameplay and the story are mostly a linear experience. You start out controlling a silent, nameless boy who awakens within... a cave. Early on, you pick up your first weapon, with which you can shoot in four directions, but not diagonally. Triangular golden crystals can be accumulated to power up your weapons, but taking damage will make them power down. More weapons and tools show up as you proceed, giving more options and freedom for absolutely fun gameplay. Learning how and when to use your weapons, however, is a challenge in itself.
The narrative gradually unravels as you venture forward and interact with the many characters, revealing a cute race of rabbit creatures, a mad scientist, and strangely enough, a combination of magical and science fantasy elements. Despite the 8-bit appearance and said cute rabbits, Cave Story takes some surprisingly dark turns of events. There's hope, but it has to be earned. Overall, the story and characters are pretty good; nothing phenomenal, but suitable enough for this game.
The game has an old-fashioned style in some respects. Your reaction to this may depend on your tastes. The graphics and visuals have an NES-era aesthetic, as does the soundtrack. There is a large and diverse collection of music, and each song is very evocative of the present situation. And many of them are quite catchy.
If you're new to platform shooters or 2D Metroidvania, Cave Story can be a challenge, and you're going to die several times. Fortunately, the game provides several save points and rests; just be sure to use these. Where the game gets really challenging, however, is in achieving the best ending. Cave Story technically has three different endings, and the one you reach is determined by certain actions you take. Figuring out the proper conditions to fulfill for the best ending is an exercise in counterintuitiveness. Without a guide, you will not figure out how to get it on your first try (if at all). Just play the game and enjoy yourself on your first playthrough. When you do fulfill the ridiculously esoteric conditions, however, the game's difficulty ramps up severely at certain points, most notably at the end. Be warned: it is no walk in the park.
Altogether, Cave Story is an admirable example for indie games. There's little excuse to not at least try it out; it's available for free download online. This game's the complete package.