| Cave Story | |
|---|---|
European cover art for the Nintendo 3DS version |
|
| Developer(s) | Studio Pixel (PC) Nicalis (WiiWare/DSiWare/3DS) |
| Publisher(s) | Studio Pixel (PC) Nicalis (WiiWare/DSiWare) NIS America (3DS) |
| Designer(s) | Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya |
| Writer(s) | Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya |
| Composer(s) | Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya |
| Version | 1.0.0.6 |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, WiiWare, DSiWare, Mac OS X, Nintendo 3DS, Linux |
| Release date(s) | PC
November 22, 2011 (Steam) WiiWare DSiWare NA November 29, 2010 JP November 22, 2011 Mac OS X (Cave Story Plus)
Nintendo 3DS (Cave Story 3D) |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | |
| System requirements | |
Cave Story (洞窟物語 Dōkutsu Monogatari) is a freeware platform-adventure video game released in 2004 for the PC. It was developed, designed, and programmed over five years entirely by Daisuke Amaya, art-name Pixel, in his free time. The game features classic 2D platform mechanics and is intended as an homage to the classic games that Pixel played in his youth, such as Metroid and Castlevania.
The game focuses on an amnesiac silent protagonist who awakens in a cave. Through his explorations, he discovers a plot by the Doctor, a megalomaniac who intends to force the inhabitants of the cave to fight for him in his bid to conquer the world. The protagonist is thrust into the position of savior as he endeavours to defeat the Doctor.
After its initial release on the Internet, Cave Story slowly gained popularity as an indie game. It received near universal acclaim for its compelling story and gameplay. As a result, Nicalis, an independent video game company, worked with Pixel to bring the game to Nintendo's WiiWare service in 2010. The WiiWare version features more detailed artwork and additional gameplay modes, and was nominated for 2010 Nintendo Power Awards WiiWare Game of the Year.
Game publisher Nippon Ichi Software released a picture of a Prinny wearing the same signature hat, scarf, and polar star of Cave Story's protagonist to promote their Nintendo 3DS remake of the game.[1]
Contents |
Cave Story is a side-scrolling platform RPG which sees players controlling a young robot named Quote, who must stop the evil 'Doctor' from using a village of Mimigas to fulfil his evil experiments. The player progresses through the game by exploring areas, fighting enemies, conversing with characters and finding items. Quote begins the game weak and defenseless, but as he progresses he gains new weapons to defend himself against various monsters. By collecting Life Capsules scattered throughout the game, Quote gains more hit points and can sustain more damage. Quote can use various weapons in the game which can be switched on the fly; starting with a pistol and soon gaining more powerful weaponry such as missile launchers and machine guns. Aside from the missile launcher, which has limited ammunition, other weapons have infinite ammo, though some weapons such as the machine gun have a reload period. Collecting yellow triangles from defeated enemies gives the currently equipped weapon experience, allowing it to level up to more powerful forms. However, if the player takes damage, the currently equipped weapon loses experience and may become weaker. Later on in the game, Quote can be equipped with a rocket pack that allows him to reach higher areas.[2][3] The game has multiple endings depending on what actions the player takes at certain points.
Cave Story takes place within the cavernous interior of a floating island. The island is populated by Mimigas, a race of sentient, rabbit-like humanoids. A particular species of red flower that grows in the island causes the normally peaceful Mimigas to go into a vicious frenzy.[4] The island also conceals an artifact called the Demon Crown, which has vast magical powers. A previous expedition to the floating island sought to harness the power of the red flowers and Demon Crown to use as a weapon for wars on the surface world.[5]
The player character, (Quote), a robot, awakens in a cave with no memory of how he came to be there. He finds a village of Mimigas, who are being persecuted by the "Doctor", or Fuyuhiko Date. Two of the Doctor's servants, Misery and Balrog, are looking for Sue Sakamoto, a girl who had been transformed into a Mimiga, but mistakenly abduct Toroko, another Mimiga, instead. The player finds Sue in the Egg Corridor, where she discovers the eggs of a Sky Dragon, which could allow her to escape the floating island if hatched.[6] Sue attempts to rescue her brother Kazuma, but King, the leader of Mimiga Village, captures her and holds her responsible for Toroko's kidnapping. Sue tasks the player with retrieving Kazuma from Grasstown. After freeing him, they meet Professor Booster, who reveals that the Doctor plans to use the red flowers on Mimigas to create an army to take over the surface world. Booster sends the player to the Sand Zone to destroy the red flowers before the Doctor can find them. While there, the player meets Curly Brace, a female-like robot who also has no memories of her past, and Jenka, an old witch who is Misery's mother. Jenka calls the player character a "soldier from the surface", one of many robots who were sent to the island to slaughter the Mimigas.[7] Balrog steals the key to the storehouse where the red flowers are kept from Jenka. The Doctor forces Toroko to eat a red flower as a test, but King arrives to try to stop him and is killed in the process. The player is forced to kill Toroko, who has gone into a murderous rage as a result of the flowers.
Misery transports the player to the Labyrinth deep inside the island as punishment for interfering with the Doctor's plans. Curly Brace has also been thrown into the Labyrinth and they cooperate to escape. Balrog helps them to move the boulder blocking the exit, revealing his kind nature.[8] The pair find and defeat the Core, a magical creature whose power keeps the island afloat. However, the Doctor steps in to save it before the island collapses.[9] Depending on certain conditions, the player may rescue Curly Brace, who had sacrificed her air tank to save the player character. When he returns to Mimiga Village, he finds that the Doctor has captured the Mimigas. In the Egg Corridor, Kazuma offers the player a choice to escape the island with him using a Sky Dragon, leading to an alternate ending in which the Doctor conquers the surface world while Kazuma and the player quietly live out the rest of their days alone in the mountains.[10] The player may instead choose to confront the Doctor and destroy the island's Core, which would return the Mimigas to normal. The player scales the outer wall of the island to reach the Plantation where the Doctor is using the Mimigas as slave laborers to grow red flowers. The Doctor's servants capture him and place him in a jail cell with Sue. She is taken away before the player wakes up, but her letter reveals that the Doctor was a member of the research expedition that included Sue's family and Professor Booster, but he betrayed them once he found the Demon Crown. Sue directs the player to find her mother who may have a plan to stop the Doctor.[11]
If the player saved Curly Brace earlier, the player may find an item to restore her memories. She remembers that the player character's name is Quote, and that they were not killer robots who slaughtered Mimigas in the past. They were different than the other robots sent to retrieve the crown, slaughtering mimigas who got in the way. They were instead sent to destroy the Demon Crown to prevent its power from falling into the wrong hands. [12] Quote finds Sue's mother, Momorin, who is building a rocket which will allow access to the top of the island where the Doctor resides. After helping her complete the rocket, Quote confronts Misery and the Doctor. The Doctor has purified the essence of the red flowers into a crystal, which allows him to survive even after Quote destroys his body.[13] The Doctor's spirit possesses the Core of the island, but Quote succeeds in destroying that as well, causing the island to begin falling to Earth. Under certain conditions, the player may proceed into a bonus stage called the Sanctuary where the creator of the Demon Crown, Ballos, is imprisoned. Ballos, Jenka's brother, was a powerful wizard who went insane after being tortured. Misery forced Ballos to create the Demon Crown, but she and Balrog became cursed to serve whoever possessed it.[14] With the help of Curly Brace, Quote defeats Ballos and stops the source of the negative energy that was causing the island to fall, saving its inhabitants. Balrog saves the two before they are crushed by Ballos' collapsing prison—he had been sent by Misery as thanks for breaking her curse. Quote, Curly Brace, and Balrog leave the island to live out their days in peace.[15]
Quote (クォート Kwōto) is the player character of the game and a largely silent protagonist. He is a robot. Quote's name is only revealed through special actions of the player. In early versions of the game, he was named Curly Brace.[16]
Curly Brace (カーリーブレイス Kārī Burēsu) is a "female" robot who protects a family of Mimigas, met in the Sand Zone. She ends up becoming Quote's friend and partner.
Sue Sakamoto (坂本 数 Sakamoto Sū), the daughter of Momorin Sakamoto, never wanted to come to the island. She was turned into a Mimiga by Misery.
Fuyuhiko Date ("The Doctor") (伊達 冬彦（ドクター） Date Fuyuhiko (Dokutā)) is the current master of the Demon Crown. He takes Mimigas from various places to feed them red flowers, which turn them into killer monsters, and unleashes them on the Surface.
Balrog (バルログ Barurogu) is Misery's "punching bag" and a minion of The Doctor. Because of the Demon Crown's curse, he is forced to fight for the Doctor, but helps the player on an occasion, after asking Quote and Curly "not to tell a soul" about it. He uses the interjection Huzzah at each appearance. In early versions of the game, he was a basic common enemy.[16]
Misery (ミザリー Mizarī) is a witch, minion of the Doctor and the daughter of Jenka. Because of her role in creating the Demon Crown, she has been forever cursed to follow the orders of whomever bears it.
Jenka (ジェンカ) is an old witch who has lived on the island for a long time. She resides in the Sand Zone and raises puppies. She is Ballos's sister and Misery's mother.
Ballos (ボロス Borosu) is Jenka's brother, Misery's uncle, an extremely powerful sorcerer, and serves as the final boss of the game. He was tortured into insanity and corruption and abused his magical powers, and thus was sealed inside the island by Jenka. In the Wii version, it was also revealed that he also abused his powers earlier out of selfishness.[17]
The Core is a living entity who holds the island aloft. If the core is destroyed, it is said that the floating island will fall to the ground.
Kazuma Sakamoto (坂本 数馬 Sakamoto Kazuma) is Sue's brother and a specialist in Sky Dragons.
King (キング Kingu) is the leader of the Mimiga Village since the death of Arthur. He feels he is responsible for anything that happens to Toroko. King dislikes Sue because she is an outsider and her appearance coincides with the Doctor's attacks on the village. He dies trying to save Toroko, but gives his sword to Quote, requesting that the robot avenge him.
Jack (ジャック Jakku) is the village's second-in-command. He wears goggles and an ushanka hat with a wing emblem on it.
Toroko (トロ子) is a Mimiga who accepted Sue and made friends with her. She is mistaken by Misery and Balrog for Sue and abducted. Balrog forces her to eat red flowers, transforming her into a frenzied version to fight Quote, but she loses and dies. She was the sister of Arthur.
Momorin Sakamoto (坂本 百鈴 Sakamoto Momorin) is a rocket scientist and the mother of Kazuma and Sue. She did not want to bring them to the island, but could not leave them on their own.
Professor Booster (ブースター博士 Būsutā-hakase) is the head of the research team and a specialist in jetpacks.
Itoh (伊藤) is an engineer who specializes in control systems. He was turned into a Mimiga by Misery. He eventually helps Momorin Sakamoto to finish a rocket for Quote to fly up to face the final enemies.
Arthur (アーサー Āsā), the legendary hero of the Mimigas, fought against the evils of the island, driving them back, but was eventually killed by the Doctor and his servants prior to the beginning of the game. He was Toroko's brother.
Pixel developed Cave Story in his free time over the course of five years. He began the project when he was in college and continued working on it after getting a job as a software developer.[18] He started by writing the title screen music and programming rudimentary character movements.[19] In an interview, Pixel admitted his lack of planning caused "problems down the line" because he lacked dedicated map editing and data management tools.[18] Pixel describes the game as having an "old-fashioned feel", reminiscent of the games he played as a child.[19] In early versions of the game, the main character, Quote, was named Curly Brace and Balrog was a common enemy.[16] Pixel also admitted that he based Balrog on a bar of soap.[19]
Cave Story has been ported to the AmigaOS 4,[20] Linux,[21] and Mac OS X[22] operating systems, PlayStation Portable,[23] Xbox, GP2X, GP2X Wiz and TI graphing calculator.[21]
A Nintendo DS homebrew version was in development, however, it was canceled at the request of Pixel himself, fearing that it would go against his recent contract with Nintendo and Nicalis for porting Cave Story to the Wii.[24] Nicalis, an independent video game company, ported Cave Story to WiiWare in 2010. In addition to the original version, Nicalis worked with Pixel to create updated character designs,[25] a new English localization,[26] and enhanced graphics and music (arranged by Yann van der Cruyssen and others).[27] This version also contains several exclusive gameplay modes, including Boss Rush, a Sanctuary time attack mode, and the ability to play through the game as Curly Brace.[28] Due to a bug in the code, the arranged music suffered from occasional playback issues.[29] An update for this version was later released in October 2010 which fixes many of the glitches of the original release.[30] As a result of the popularity of the WiiWare version, Nicalis is considering DSiWare ports of Ikachan and Guxt, two other freeware games created by Pixel.[31]
Nicalis also worked on the Nintendo DS version of Cave Story that was released via DSiWare.[32] [33] It includes a jukebox mode where the players can listen to music from the game as they "hear" it throughout the game. If the player plays either the WiiWare or DSiWare versions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Halloween, the player character will be changed to a dark-skinned Quote wearing a Santa Hat, or light skinned with black clothes, regardless of whether the player plays in normal or Curly Mode.
A Nintendo 3DS remake was released by NIS America. This version features new content and new character designs, and takes advantage of the 3DS's 3D capabilities.[34]
On November 29, 2010, a free demo of the WiiWare port was released on the Wii Shop Channel. It features the beginning of the game and ends after the defeat of Igor.
Although this version does not contain some of the content from the WiiWare version, like Boss Rush and Curly Story, it is much more mobile and easier to control, and includes a Time Attack for the Sacred Grounds, although it is played in Normal mode. It has all three modes, Easy, Normal and Hard, with the latter already unlocked.
Cave Story+ was released on the Mac App Store on September 7, 2011. Although the version features updated graphics and music from the original game, there is an option to set them back to the older style. A PC port was released on November 22, 2011 for Steam. Cave Story+ was also sold as part of Humble indie bundle 4 from December 13, 2011 to December 27, 2011, but only as an addition for people that paid more than the average price for the bundle.
For this version, a new level designed by Pixel, "Wind Fortress", unlocks after the player completes the main story. This level uses a scrapped beta song for a level Pixel planned to make for the original game. Wind Fortress has a difficulty level similar to Sacred Grounds.
Cave Story 3D is a remake of the original game with 3D graphics. The game was released as a full retail game on November 8, 2011 in North America and November 11, 2011 in Europe. Initial promotional screenshots showed Quote and Balrog as clay-like models floating around in a 3D environment. The game design has been completely overhauled to match the 3D capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS, though gameplay remains the same. The game also has a 'Classic Mode', which lets the player play the game using the original Cave Story's character sprites in the new 3D environments. Addtionally, a part of the added content, this remake also lets the player unlock and play as NIS' mascot, a Prinny, upon beating the game once.
| Wii reception | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Aggregator | Score |
| GameRankings | 90.30%[35] |
| Metacritic | 90 of 100[36] |
| Review scores | |
| Publication | Score |
| 1UP.com | A[28] |
| Edge | 8 of 10[37] |
| Eurogamer | 9 of 10[38] |
| Game Informer | 8.75 of 10[3] |
| IGN | 8.5 of 10[39] |
| Destructoid | 9.5 of 10[2] |
Cave Story has been very well-received by critics. 1UP.com described it as "so massive that it rivals modern GBA Castlevania and Metroid games in terms of scope and play time".[40] Inside Mac Games ascribed the game's popularity to its "polished feel, engaging storyline, and compelling artwork".[41] In July 2006, Cave Story earned 1st place in Super PLAY's list of the 50 best freeware games of all time.[42] EGM stated that "the burgeoning Western indie game scene owes a tremendous debt to Japanese pioneers like Studio Pixel, whose freeware hit Cave Story proved that with sufficient vision, skill, and passion, a single developer can still craft a deep, compelling action game".[43]
The WiiWare version has received mostly positive reviews, with the central criticism being the 1200 Wii Point price tag (US$12, £10), after years of free play. Jeremy Parish of 1UP.com commended the graphical update which "sacrifices none of [the game's] classic-influenced charm". He also remarked that the Classic Controller and Wii Remote are superior to the keyboard input of the PC original. On the issue of price, he explained that "the prospect of Amaya finally earning a little something for the hard work he invested in this masterpiece strikes me as satisfyingly poetic" and "absolutely worth your money".[28] John Teti of Eurogamer had similar sentiments, but also noted the technical issues with the remixed music, recommending the original soundtrack.[38] Matt Miller of Game Informer observed that Cave Story combines elements of Metroid, Ninja Gaiden, Mega Man, The Legend of Zelda, and Castlevania into an "engrossing, challenging, and quite lengthy" whole.[3] Daemon Hatfield of IGN felt that Cave Story "belongs on a Nintendo system" and noted gameplay similarities to Blaster Master, in which damage reduces the power of weapons as well.[39] Jonathan Holmes of Destructoid called Cave Story an "important game", citing its influence on artistic indie games like Braid, as well as the continued relevance of 2D game design (cf. Capcom's Mega Man 9). He also compares the game design to that of Shigeru Miyamoto in its ability to teach without tutorials, like at the beginning of Super Mario Bros.[2] Cave Story was nominated for Game of the Year at the 2010 Nintendo Power Awards, as well as WiiWare Game of the Year.[44]
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||