Good writing is also the reason why the main character’s amnesia really works, rather than just coming off as a storytelling device. When you find yourself wanting to help these non-sentient lines of code, that’s when you know that your heart is in it. However - for me - the mark of a great game is when it takes me beyond just wanting to win, and instead makes me want to help. All of that can be boiled down to just good writing. The Doctor and his minions were kidnapping them one by one, and I found that I really wanted to help the few who remained. In talking to the Mimigas, I got a sense of real fear and desperation. It’s fast, sometimes frantic, more than a little challenging, and man is it fun.Ĭombat and exploration are all well and good, and Cave Story does a good job with them, but I think the best thing I can say about this game is that it made me care about what was happening. Picking the right weapon can make all the difference as you try to plow through swarms of enemies, run and jump away from their attacks, and not fall into the death traps that are sprinkled around just for good measure. There’s a fair variety of weapons to find throughout the game, from the basic Polar Star pistol, to the powerful rocket launcher, to the… hard-to-explain Bubbline. The fact that you start as a blank slate means that you, both as the character and as the player, are curious and receptive to these new things.Ĭave Story plays a bit like a Mega Man X game, with gameplay centered around platforming and intense jump-and-shoot action, but it has a style all its own. Each area you explore and each character you talk to adds a bit more to the story. The story is fed to you a piece at a time as you see more of the world and talk to the people in it, and it keeps you wanting to learn more. The protagonist isn’t defined by his amnesia, it’s just motivation to get out there and see the world. While Cave Story does use the overdone “main character has amnesia” trope, the game doesn’t obsess over it. This is my hope.” That moment really set the tone for the rest of the game. That much became clear just from the starting village, where after a little poking around I found a map inscribed with the words, “So long as you always maintain a sense of exploration, you will someday find the way out. Progressing the story is all about finding the right people, places, and items, and along the way you learn how your character fits into all of it. This isn't the case, as Cave Story+ is still available for digital purchasing when visiting the eShop on Switch.The Good: Action, Exploration, Heart, and a Really Catchy Theme SongĬave Story is a Metroidvania platformer, and exploration is the core of the game. Some are probably thinking this means Nintendo has removed the game from the digital storefront. The only Cave Stories listed are the 3DS port of the original, and Cave Story 3D. Upon visiting the website, one can't find a listing for it. The game was remastered for PC as Cave Story+, and later ported to Nintendo Switch.Ĭave Story+ has disappeared from Nintendo's official website (via NintendoSoup). It is one of the most iconic indie games ever made, predating Undertale and Shovel Knight. Cave Story was developed by just one individual, and contained a high level of polish. Along the way, the main character meets quirky friends and foes. Originally released back in 2004, Cave Story follows a robot attempting to free creatures called Mimiga from the villainy of the Doctor. UPDATE : It's back! But there's no explanation of what happened.Ĭave Story+ has unexpectedly disappeared from Nintendo's website.
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