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Cave Story
Few Homebrew projects generate a fan following so strong that a publisher will take notice. Then again, few Homebrew projects turn out as well as Cave Story. The game began while creator Daisuke Amaya was in college and took the better part of 5 years to be fully developed. Amaya began his journey with no game developing experience and worked inside the constraints of his limited free time to create the games graphics, sounds, music, story, and smooth platform-adventure experiences. This commendable solo effort resulted in an exceptional 2D game that acted as homage for the classic games of his youth.
Cave Story stars a young amnesiac protagonist who suddenly awakens to find himself in an underworld cave system populated by a race of rabbit-like humanoids called Mimigas. During an expedition to harness an artifact of war known as the Demon Crown, the Mimigas were hunted and slaughtered by an army of killer robots. Those remaining hide in fear of the Doctor, a megalomaniac who seeks to use a rage inducing red flower to force the peaceful Mimigas into becoming his evil army. It is from these dark beginnings that a quest quickly evolves to defeat the Doctor, save the Mimigas, and unravel the mysteries of the main protagonist’s past.
The game plays like many classic “metroidvania” style platform-adventure games. The main character can run, jump, and shoot while gaming levels are explored in an attempt to advance the plot. Many weapons are available to the player, which utilize a unique RPG-like element, where attack power is increased after collecting experience points shaped like glowing yellow triangles. Each of the gaming levels were designed around a single theme such as “warmth” or “oppression”, and originally these levels were not well plotted, but after 5 years of careful development the final results are that of creative level designs, many of which are completed by challenging and well programmed boss battles.
Cave Story is inundated with secrets from hidden messages and secret passageways to weapons and special items. There are so many secrets and fun quirks to discover that entire sites dedicated to them have been created. While the game is already sufficiently lengthy, the amount of secrets adds a tremendous amount of replay value. As players attempt to discover how to get the Spur weapon or where the teleport to the throne room resides, they can also unlock one of 3 endings, each of which requires specific items to have been obtained and plot choices to have been made.
Cave Story is a true success story that proves extremely engaging well polished games can be created by a single developer. It has been ported to so many systems that you probably already own something that supports either a port of the game or an official release or enhanced remake of it. If you have never experienced the wonders of Cave Story, now is the perfect time. After all, we recommend it!
Genre: Platform-adventure
Initial Release Type: Homebrew
Release Year: 2004
Developed and Published by: Studio Pixel (Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya)
Ported/Released for: Windows, Mac, Linux, Wii-Ware, DSi-Ware, 3DS, PSP, Xbox, GP2X, GP2X Wiz, and TI graphing calculator
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