Cave Story Reader Review

Yes, this was initially a free P.C game from as far back as 2004, and yes, many people (unfortunately for them) will give this game nothing more than a fleeting look in a generation dominated by HD or 3D...worst mistake ever. Gameplay is what drives this title forward into the stratosphere, what we are playing here is quite possibly the best game Nintendo never released for its NES. Cave Story does exactly what is says on the tin, first of all the setting being a cave, second is that the story is somewhat compelling and unlike many games actually a bonus instead a hindrance.

What our protagonist is after achieving (once waking from his slumber in said cave) is stopping the Doctor, a very powerful enemy who intends using the good people who dwell within to fight his global war, all against their will. You choose it as your job to hopefully help these good people, hunt down the Doctor and stop this once and for all, a kind of Link figure if you will. The crux of the game is platforming, jumping, shooting and puzzle solving, listening of course to the plight of some cave dwellers.

So what stands this game apart from so many in a crowded market? Well, the platforming is perfection, your character feels so agile and keen with every jump and bound landing exactly where you aimed with aplomb. The shooting/fighting mechanic allows that you start with a pea shoots but can quickly pick up more dangerous weapons, all capable of being leveled up. I briefly talked about the story but feels it needs a little more praise. Listening to what folk offer as advice or encouragement is never boring, overly long or trite...its in as a benefit and not simply a prerequisite.

Negatives about this game, only the music which when I played seemed to have a few bugs from the port over, but I now hear this may have been sorted. The graphics leave you with 2 options, a smoother more clean look over the alternative being looking exactly if you dug your NES out today and booted it up, each his own. Do yourself a favor and purchase (at a more than reasonable 1000 points) is a game which if had been released back in the day we would all have it out top 10 lists.