And Curly Story replaces the main character with the fan-favorite character Curly. Boss Attack lets you take on every boss from the game. Sanctuary Time Attack challenges you to complete an extremely difficult maze in the shortest time possible. A few new modes have been added for this premium release. But, whether it's being given away or monetized, there is no getting around the fact that Cave Story is a terrific game and developers Studio Pixel and Nicalis certainly deserve to be rewarded for their talents. Hardcore gamers (the audience for this title) tend to be careful with how they spend their money and I totally understand if they are suspicious about paying for something they can legitimately play for free.
The only real problem with Cave Story is that you've been able to play it for free for six years.
That's not a complaint I'm just pointing it out for the retro gamers. Most of the tunes have that very recognizable 8-bit sound, but at times they drift into more elaborate electronica that wouldn't be possible with the NES' modest sound chip. Cave Story's old school soundtrack is wonderful, although chiptune purists may notice that it's not all authentic NES music. There are numerous moments in Cave Story that will delight you, actually, from returning lost puppies to their owner to a recurring boss named Balrog that likes to make Kool-Aid Man-style entrances.Ĭurly+Story+mode+lets+you+play+through+the+game+as+fan-favorite+character+Curly+Brace. Around halfway through the game you get a jetpack, which is one of the most fun items you'll ever play with.
Cave Story uses an upgrade system much like Blaster Master, meaning enemies drop experience points that will increase the level of your equipped weapon - but that level will also go down as you take damage. Some are given to you as part of the story, but you'll have to search for the more powerful weapons. You'll find some very cool weapons and gadgets in the caves. There are three endings to see (bad, normal, and good) and the game is cleverly designed to allow you to view them all. It's pretty obnoxious when you make it to the fourth boss, die, and have to go back and do it all over again. Most of the time you're able to save and heal with regular frequency, but the climax sends four boss fights in a row at you with no chance to rest - and that's not even quite the end of the game.
You'll experience a few cheap deaths, but the game avoids being frustrating until the very end. You explore underground caves, do a lot of tricky platforming, upgrade your weapons, and search for secrets. Cave Story plays like a hybrid of Metroid and Blaster Master. You aren't given any explanation at the beginning instead, you'll discover what's going on and who you are as you go.Ĭave+Story+has+great+boss+fights. The storytelling here is way ahead of anything on the NES. While I realize that description doesn't sound very sophisticated, it's the way the plot unravels that makes it feel like a grown-up, twisted fairy tale. The boy must defeat the doctor and his underlings to rescue a captured Mimiga named Sue. He encounters a village of creatures that resemble rabbits called Mimigas and learns they have been nearly wiped out by an evil doctor. You control a young boy who awakens in a dangerous cave and sets out on a quest to determine his purpose. Cave Story just feels right on a Nintendo system.Īlthough Cave Story plays and is presented like an NES game, the tale is more mature than what we were playing in 1987.
It's a cult hit on PC and hopefully a new audience will enjoy it now that it's available on WiiWare. New retro games are all the rage recently with efforts like Mega Man 10 and Dark Void Zero, but Cave Story did the old school thing back in 2004. Playing Cave Story is like discovering a fantastic NES game you somehow missed back in the day.