Neon Corner Review: Cave Story

REVIEW

Ahhhh Cave Story. What a fantastically prepared and made game. It was so fun once I got into it. It's what got me into the whole indie game craze. Never will I ever regret it. This game was made the company NICALIS and it was written by Daisuke Amaya, Composed by Daisuke Amaya and Danny Baranowsky. It was put on mobile devices to download like iOS, 3ds, Microsoft Windows, Dsi, Wii, OS, and X Linux. This game was made all the way back in December 20, 2004! Christ that's long ago! It still does nicely. This game was made to be like the 8bit gaming that the creator had gone through during his youth because he missed the golden days per say, such as Metroid and Super Mario Bros. To get into the game itself, the game follows the events that happen with an amnesiac protagonist as he goes along this island in the sky after awakening in a cave. The story starts by us entering Mimiga Village after taking our weapon, the Polar Star, from a sleeping hermit. In the village, it's apparently in a danger state as a Mimiga called King is arguing with his younger sibling Tomoko. After we crash into the village, Tomoko runs off and we have a small talk with King. He explains how a mad doctor has been terrorizing their village and killing off or taking Mimiga for his strange plans. After going around town we find a locket dropped by Tomoko and take it back to her when she hides out in a shack. However, after forming a bond with Tomoko, the doctors minions, Balrog, a walking talking lunchbox, and Misery, a witch, intrude and capture Tomoko, confusing her for the Mimiga, Sue, who is hiding out from them currently. After the next events, we must leave and go after a key hidden in the graveyard on the tombstone of the Mimiga hero Arthur, Tomoko's older brother and King's inspiration for being strong. We gain access to his house and are then transported to the Egg Corridor, a place full of giant eggs, dragonflies, elephants and other things. Once getting far enough, we'll meet Sue who is then captured by what looks like a monster Mimiga. Upon going further in and defeating said monster and befriending Aue, we shall return home and meet another character, Professor Booster. For now, all you do is go through areas and encounter new characters such as second protagonist Curly Brace, and saving Sue's brother, Kazuma. After everyone is together, it is revealed that the doctor plans to find these special red flowers that upon being eaten by Mimiga, turn them into monsters like the one from earlier. It is then left up to the main character to go to the Sand Zone and find Jinga, a helpful old magic lady, and the flowers to destroy. After clearing the area, things go horribly bad and upon arriving where the red flowers are, Tomoko is forced to eat a red flower as well as King being killed by an attacked from the doctor. Defeating Tomoko grants a depressing vanish of her corpse and King hands off his sword to you. Upon leaving you are sent to the Labyrinth after a sneak attack from Balrog and Misery, who then sends Balrog to the labyrinth with you and later Curly. In the Labyrinth, multiple events happen. You shall find a damaged Curly and help her recover with medicine. You later must see Booster fall into a pit but must ignore him for an important reason. After this, go through the labyrinth defeating enemies and bosses alike. However, once you reach a boss named, The Core, you must go to the bottom right area and grab the Tow Rope, you'll need it. After beating it, use the rope to bring curly with you then escape into the Waterway where you will then need to make an important jump and reach a shack so that you may drain. Curly of water and save her from disabling in the water. After this, clear the rest if the waterway and defeat the boss. Upon later arrival to Mimiga village, everyone has been captured and you must now go to Arthur's house and receive the Booster 2.0 which can only be gotten if you ignore Professor Booster in the Labyrinth. Upon getting this flying device, go ahead and visit that area you were in the beginning of the game and go visit that Hermit again. He'll scold ya like a cranky old dick but he'll also upgrade your Polar Star if you kept it all the way up to this point! Giving you the best weapon in the game, the Spur as it charges instead of needing level ups like all other weapons. At this point, you may go and trade the Sword for the Nemesis by bringing Mr.Little back home after he winds up far from home in the graveyard from OUTSIDE THE ISLAND WALL!!! Boring him back home and he'll ask to trade. Don't worry, you don't have to. Even if you do, he believes in take-backsies. After this explore and head to the Plantation where all mimigas as well as Sue and Kazuma's mom is hiding out! Help her create a rocket and she'll in turn help you reach the doctor's lair to fight him off once and for all. After a treacherous way, you'll reach the Balcony where battles against Misery, The Doctor and Undead Core break out. After clearing the boss fights in a row, you'll have two choices IF you've followed the good route. By getting the Booster 2.0, saving Curly after finding her in the Plantation, if you saved her in the Waterway that is, and getting the Spur, you can go to the shack and head into the true final level, the Sanctuary. Or if you want to see the normal ending where the island crashes with you all escaping, just follow Sue and jump off the Balcony to the island. By going through the Sanctuary, you'll go through hell and back in order to keep your health up and make it to the final bosses. You will find Ballos, an ancient man who created the Demon. Crown, the item the doctor has used to torment everyone. Throughout the game, multiple points of info are given on Ballos but he gives the best description once talking to him. After the 4 phase boss fight, Ballos is defeated and Balrog comes in saving you from the oncoming wall to kill you. With that, you, curly and our hero, Quote, fly off to do whatever they want now that the evil has been defeated. The game has a story that really has to be experienced better than to be told so I recommend you give it a try for yourself, it's free on computer devices. The game offers a lot to do for a indie game and the action and adventure to be had always has a nice reward. Oh yeah, there are lots of weapons to get in the game but most involve trading the Polar Star and if that's done, no Spur. You can trade it to Curly and get her Machine Gun. You can trade it to a Labyrinth clerk with the Fireball and get the Snake. You can trade the Sword for the Nemesis. You can get the Bubbler by extinguishing a fireplace in Mimiga Village. You can get the Fireball by helping Santa in the Bushlands. You get the Missiles from the Egg Corridor. And Super Missiles are obtained at the Labyrinth after Balrog. The game has very nice controls when it comes to shooting your weapons. You can fire up down left and right. Easy to do. Jumping is very nice and earning experience by defeating enemies gets you these points that level up your weapons. Cave Story includes all the traits a indie game tries to go for. It may not be 100% perfect but it accomplishes a lot and does just fine. It even got two remakes for Windows and 3ds. I highly recommend you give this game a try whenever you get the chance. You can clear it in a weekend if you have literally nothing else to do. It won't be a cakewalk, but in Cave Story, you fight to save the island in the skies and the surface world below. Give it your all and kiss some total ass. This was Neon Corner reviews and I hope you all take care.

~Neon Corner