- Credits
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Cave Story started out as a freeware game in 2004 made by Daisuke Amaya (AKA Pixel) in his free time throughout the course of 5 years. He made every single aspect of the game. Programming, graphics, music,dialogue, you name it. His efforts proved successful, as Cave Story is arguably the best independent game of all time. Cave Story was given an enhanced port for the Wii via WiiWare in 2010, but it had many problems, such as buggy music, a typo'd script, and slightly glitched graphics. Despite all these problems, the game was successful as a WiiWare game as well, and made a spot for itself on lists such as "Best WiiWare game of the year". Fast forward to December, where the DSiWare version of Cave Story is released. Unlike its Wii counterpart, Cave Story DSi had nothing wrong with it, as this was more of a straight port of the original game. With Cave Story's retail success, and the launch of the new 3DS around the corner, the full on 3D remake of Cave Story was born into development, Cave Story 3D. It was originally meant to be a launch window title, but failed to do so when it got delayed a number of times. This remake boasts full 3D graphics, completely remixed music, new areas to explore, and new secrets to uncover, all in glorious 3D.
You wake up as a boy with amnesia. You have no idea who you are, where you are, or how you got there in the first place. You meet these small, rabbit-like creatures called the Mimiga, and find out that a rather evil fellow called The Doctor is kidnapping the Mimga, and using them for his unknown, yet nefarious deeds. You witness one of the Mimiga getting kidnapped, and in attempt to save her, you get caught up in the mission to save the planet and defeat The Doctor.
This game plays like the more recent handheld Castlevania games. A Metroidvania, if you will. In your quest to defeat the Doctor, you will travel to many different places. In the beginning of the game, you typically have a considerable amount of backtracking to do, as you will be running throughout the area looking for items. Quite often you'll have to play the fetch quest, and find items for people so that you can progress with the story. However, starting about mid-game, the game becomes more linear, as you will no longer have to do errands for others, but do what's necessary to keep yourself alive.
Your primary method of attack will be to shoot at your enemies. Your weapons can range from super powerful missiles to rubber ducks, depending on your actions throughout the story. Throughout the game you will be gradually gaining weapons. You can find weapons in secret areas, treasure chests, and through cutscenes. You're going to want to find all the weapons you can, as some of the bosses can be very challenging without the right ones.
The original game was entirely 2D, giving it a certain charm that reminded players of the games of old. However, this remake takes a whole new spin on things in making everything entirely 3D. Sometimes these graphics are good, whereas at other times it can look like DS game. With the change in graphics, a change in art style had to be made as well. The art style gives a feeling that you're in a land that had been unchanged for several decades, and it makes sense seeing how uneventful caves can be.
Along with the graphical overhaul, the music has been completely remixed as well. The old chiptunes have been replaces with these new songs that sound reminiscent of today's music, rather than yesterday's.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nygx57Ix1_U[/media]
In conclusion, I think it's worth buying, although hardcore Cave Story fans may be turned off by the lack of classicness. To me, the new graphics, new music, and new areas warrent it worth a buy.
8/10.