GBAtemp Recommends Revival # 053

[Another World]

Welcome to the 53rd issue of the GBAtemp Recommends Revival Project! This project is a weekly feature where we share our favorite games and applications with you. The things we recommend may be "old school" titles, a Homebrew, a ROM hack, sleeper hits, an application, etc, but one thing's for certain, we think they are fantastic and deserve your attention!

GBAtemp Recommends!

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

If you enjoyed this weeks edition of GBAtemp Recommends! please leave a comment in the thread. This helps us monitor feedback and ensures we keep posting these articles in the future.

We are always looking for community members who wish to get more involved. If you would like to write a GBAtemp Recommends! article, let us know.

Cave Story Fan Site (w/Downloads)

The Cave Story Secrets FAQ

The Three Possible Endings Guide (Contains Spoilers)

Official GBAtemp Recommends! Mini-Page & History

 

[Rydian]

Mnh, I'd say a little too heavy on the spoilers, but alright.

 

[DaggerV]

Great game. Think I was supposed to submit something this week, but Artix Entertainment is doing a huge event, so I've been caught up in that @.@

 

[Cyan]

The game is great but maybe a little difficult, especially when you can't heal/save between multiple boss battles
(I'm stuck in the throne room, I'm not good enough)

A good replay value if you don't follow a guide, as you need specific items/weapon to unlock the endings.
The game is not too long, which is a good thing too if you have to play it a few times
(if you can complete it at least once )

 

[Qtis]

A great game and if someone hasn't played it, I also highly recommend it!

 

[Icealote]

This game was okay for me on the 3DS. The last part of the game made me very frustrated so I settled with a bad ending lol

 

[BORTZ]

Ive played this before, just the PC version. I want to pick up the eshop version when i get some monies.

 

[ShadowPirater]

Played this on the PC and it was great. I have long come to terms with my lack of skill in such games, so I resorted to using the tools out there to see the other endings. Still lots of fun though, definitely worth a playthrough.

 

[BORTZ]

I had some trouble on my laptop with the controls so I actually never finished it. I love how the DS version has like slightly altered 3d

 

[Clydefrosch]

how many times does this game need to be revived for crying out loud? its been ported like 50 million times now, unless they release it on pocket watches, i dont know if theres even any place left this game didnt already go

 

[Hadrian]

how many times does this game need to be revived for crying out loud? its been ported like 50 million times now, unless they release it on pocket watches, i dont know if theres even any place left this game didnt already go

XBLA & PSN are yet to have had official versions.

You could moan some more but at least this is a quality game that gets reissued unlike many others that get ported under many platforms.

 

[BORTZ]

how many times does this game need to be revived for crying out loud? its been ported like 50 million times now, unless they release it on pocket watches, i dont know if theres even any place left this game didnt already go

Im playing it on my toaster right now.

 

[JulietStMoon]

Just got the 3DS eShop version of this game five days ago (my first experience with the game, ever), and I've already logged 11 hours into it (at the beginning of the "Good Ending" finale). It's definitely worth picking up. I'm going to grab Cave Story 3D once I'm done with this one.

 

[Another World]

I just beat it on my PSP. I should probably continue my old save on my DSi. I would grab the 3DS e-shop version if I had a 3DS XL.

I think I am going to replay it and try to find some more of the hidden things. I've been trying to do that without using guides, you know, the way we had to play games before. =)

-Another World

 

[Cyan]

I'm jealous of your gaming skill, you can kill bosses but I can't
I'm bad at dodging attacks and I'm moving too much randomly.
I saw a video on youtube, they almost never get hit.

 

[caribou007]

Will there ever be a version I can play on my DS Lite? I have an Acekard 2i, and ezFlash 3 in 1.

 

[The Catboy]

Will there ever be a version I can play on my DS Lite? I have an Acekard 2i, and ezFlash 3 in 1.

There was DS version that was being made and demo released. From what I understand though, they later ported that over the DSi and now it's DSi-ware game.

So in short, there is no DS lite/phat version and at this point most likely never will be this late in the system's life.

 

[Eerpow]

Will seriously try out the TI-84 version of the game.

 

[JulietStMoon]

Will there ever be a version I can play on my DS Lite? I have an Acekard 2i, and ezFlash 3 in 1.

You can find links to downloads for the DS demos along with most other legal official/unofficial ports of the game HERE.

http://cavestory.org/downloads_game.php

Will seriously try out the TI-84 version of the game.

Same here! That'll be next on my list after I beat the eShop version and Cave Story 3D. XD

 

[Another World]

Will there ever be a version I can play on my DS Lite? I have an Acekard 2i, and ezFlash 3 in 1.

relminator released a "3D" platforming engine for the ds. we talked about making cave story but then the focus shifted into something original that quickly died out. as of now, no community project has come from the engine. if enough people got involved i think we could make cave story for the ds.

http://gbatemp.net/topic/332740-the-start-of-a-3d-platformer/

I'm jealous of your gaming skill, you can kill bosses but I can't
I'm bad at dodging attacks and I'm moving too much randomly.
I saw a video on youtube, they almost never get hit.

its all about learning their pattern. in the case of the later bosses that toss a bunch of junk at you, its about patience. a "retro" boss fight can last 20 minutes but in your head you want to spam them with attacks and kill them off as quickly as possible. this type of approach is a sure way to get your character killed. you need to accept that fact that you may only get in 1-2 shots before its time to dodge for 2 minutes. approach the last "good" ending boss battle with this in mind and i am sure you can get through it. also, shoot all the things they shoot at you, most will drop hearts and experience refills.

-another world