MIXED BAG. PRESENTS
CAVE STORY REVIEW
Developer: Studio Pixel
System: PC, MAC, Linux, Nintendo DS, Wii, and 3DS
Genre: Side-Scrolling Platformer/Action/Adventure
Doukutsu Monogatari (
"洞窟物語") was a five year project by independent game developer
Pixel. He managed to create a 2-D Adventure that both emulates and improves upon the designs of classic titles from the NES/SNES years of platforming-- from Mario to Megaman to Metroid-- and goes even further.The level of detail that went into every pixel of this game makes it a indie game gem and the story has clearly (just look at the images I've littered through the article) inspired many fans to create lovely fanart.
I'd heard of Cave Story off-handedly mentioned by gamers and game commentators, but I had no clue what I was missing. I've heard it referred to as one of the big keystone moments in the independent game movement. And yet, I've played other indie games before, but Cave Story is different. Cave Story may truly have elevated itself to a special place... Before last week, I'd heard of Cave Story but new nothing about it.Now, I'm shouting from the rooftops. LET'S GO!
STORY
Our story begins in a familiar way to many video game stories, with our silent protagonist waking up with no memory of who he is and where he is, and we're thrown right from the frying pan into the fire-- in a cave! You play the game as the robot soldier Quote, acquiring weapons and upgrades through your travels to help you fight the monstrous denizens of the cave, and attempt to save, well, everyone. And, as for who everyone is, let's get right on that topic.
There are three groups of characters on the islands: the Mimigas, an adorable and innocent race that lives on the island where the game takes place, the Doctor and his evil forces who seek to use the Mimigas as weapons of war, and, finally, the Sakamotos & other good scientists who hope to stop the Doctor from reigniting a war that ravaged the island in the recent past. There seems to be a lot more history behind everything, but it is mostly hinted at because the current situation doesn't demand too much exposition about the war.
War is a theme through out Cave Story that, while only hinted at (after all you are a robot soldier that just woke up from that war), permeates the rather kawaii-desu game with a sense of foreboding doom and gloom. You are the brightest light in the darkness. The other themes of humanity vs. technology vs. nature are handled with kid gloves, but that's perfectly okay. The game never overstates its message. Cave Story is meant to be played by gamers of all ages and wants to leave some stuff to your imagination-- and that's awesome.
The music, presentation, and events in the game just make everything seem so desperate that you push harder to overcome the obstacles in your way. Much like Quote, you will feel like an outsider and really want to save the Mimigas. Interestingly, the game gives you a few choices that can change the outcome of the game to create three endings: the Bad Ending, which has you fleeing the island before defeating the Doctor, the Good Ending, which has you defeating the Doctor, and the Best Ending, which has you defeating the Doctor as well as saving lives of several characters who would otherwise die in your journey. These endings and other Easter Eggs create a reason to replay the game-- the world is dark and cute and you won't want to leave it.
PRESENTATION
The game's retro design really works to it's advantage because, at least in my experience, it felt genuinely aged (as opposed to many indie games that try to create the same sort of false nostalgia) and I could easily imagine myself playing this on the SNES for hours. Yet, that's the trick, isn't it? To make the gamer believe they're in a classic 2-D adventure when, in fact, there in a fairly more modern game that has, in my opinion, surpassed many of it's fore-bearers thanks to two decades of their achievements that this title builds on.
The freeware version I played has the rawest graphics of the various versions-- but its still a beautifully detailed game that manages to create a lot of character with a deceptively more than limited pallet and a lot of imagination. Nothing is overly complicated and, yet, nothing lacks the appropriate details to convey the emotional impact of a scene or the scope, small or big, of a friend or foe. The effects of the weapons, character/monster deaths, and animations are all impressive-- to think one guy did all this design work is so impressive.
The designs of the characters are
so cute, but not cute enough to rob them of the drama of the situation.
Almost every moment of the game has some funny quip or effect to keep
things fun, but when the game needs to be dark--it can be soul-crushing.
And that's great! The villains are even sympathetic, except for the Doctor perhaps, and you will truly want to help the characters who have a range of emotion that go above and beyond your Super Mario Bros. game-- with characters having conflicts of courage, confidence, and conscience, clear physical and emotional abuse happening on and off screen, and friendships built on trust out of distrust. And every moment is driven home thanks to the sound design!
Now, the sound is what really pulled me in! Last week, I wrote an article about
brentalfloss's Cave Story w/ Lyrics (
Check It Out Here) and I decided to finally seek out the game. Lo and behold! I found it for FREE (
DOWNLOAD IT). But I might not have sought it out without seeing
brentalfloss's fansong/remix of the game's soundtrack. And the game's soundtrack is perfect-- when you should feel light-hearted fancy, you'll feel it, when you should feel dread and sorrow, you'll feel it, and when you should feel like a badass robot hero-- you bet your shiny metal ass that you'll feel it as you blast away foes. The sound design is superb and, perhaps with the other amazing decisions on Pixel's part, make this one of the best looking and sounding games I've ever played.
GAMEPLAY
Right off the bat, the game gets things right. The game never has to use tutorials and, like a truly genius game, builds you up toward continually more complex gameplay. The way the levels are designed almost always force you to engage a threat or challenge. The only other ways to get past the challenges aren't really cheating-- they teach you important gameplay skills that will help you later on in the game.
Most of the time you'll be making your way through armies of cute enemies, blasting them apart with a variety of fun and interesting weapons, collecting their innards for health & experience (which can be lost but power up your guns by levels), and hopping from room to room to collect items to get to the next part of your adventure or to get to the next boss battle. It is a Metroid/Megaman successor, except I think this game's controls are finer tuned than those titles! In fact, while this game can be quite difficult and even frustrating at times, I never blamed the controls.
The hardest parts in the game are a couple of platform segments that are completely unforgiving (spikes and acid everywhere) and some boss battles that you'll have to play several times to learn the enemies pattern. If there is any tiny gripe to be had with the difficulty, it is that regaining and farming health takes far too long-- I got knocked down to half health after five minutes in one platforming section, knowing that there would be a boss in the next room, and would spend another five minutes grinding for health-- only to die right before or during the boss battle and have to repeat. There is only one save file and save points are spread far and wide in the game, but this unforgiving attitude of the game doesn't really take away from the overall experience-- if anything it enhances it.
PROS VS. CONS
+ The story is simple enough, but the way that the characters express their own conflicts and the subtle themes create a world that feels like it has a history-- without ever having to go into that history.
+ The characters and world designed by Pixel are beautiful and the way they're portrayed in the 2-D world stand as a testament to the format timeless attraction.
+ The sound design and music help to create an atmosphere that can go from light to dark in a way that never feels clumsy, but instead always feels like the events unfold as they should.
+ The level designs-- from platforming sections to boss battles-- are exquisitely designed to always be pushing you just a little bit more with each section.
+ The platforming and controls are incredibly tight so that, while there can be spike in difficult, you will not feel cheated. The game gives you the tools to win.
CONCLUSION?
5/5
If it wasn't clear that I was gonna give this a five out a five, then you weren't reading the article. Yes, the game can be difficult and, as a console gamer, I often found my fingers straining from the repetitive motions of hitting the keys (you only use 4 directions, a fire button, a jump button, and weapons elect in combat) and, at one point, I'll admit I pounded my fists on the keyboard. But the frustration didn't last long. I took a break and got back in the adventure. The frustration was worth it for the fantastic world I got to explore and the story I got to play out. Unlike many other games that I don't wanna play for a year or two after beating, I can't wait to play Cave Story again.
 |
| I need to play again to get the best ending... |
I'd heard of Cave Story off-handedly mentioned by gamers and game commentators, but I had no clue what I was missing. I've heard it referred to as one of the big keystone moments in the independent game movement. And yet, I've played other indie games before, but Cave Story is different. Cave Story may truly have elevated itself to a special place... Before last week, I'd heard of Cave Story but new nothing about it.Now, I'm shouting from the rooftops. LET'S GO!
There are three groups of characters on the islands: the Mimigas, an adorable and innocent race that lives on the island where the game takes place, the Doctor and his evil forces who seek to use the Mimigas as weapons of war, and, finally, the Sakamotos & other good scientists who hope to stop the Doctor from reigniting a war that ravaged the island in the recent past. There seems to be a lot more history behind everything, but it is mostly hinted at because the current situation doesn't demand too much exposition about the war.
