Cave Story + review

Cave Story is one of these games: loved by some, hated by others. At the end of the day, though, everyone agrees on its importance as a landmark of gaming.

Cave Story proved that one man can start making a videogame all by himself, and end up with a game that doesn't look different from those being  made by a development team of hundreds.

Released by Daisuke Amaya (Pixel) back in 2004 as a freeware platform the original Cave Story became a huge success story, especially after the English translation from Aeon Genesis followed just two months later. An action-adventure platformer in the vein of Metroid and Castlvania, the game emphasizes exploration and rewards lightning fast reflexes and solid gaming dexterity. All these features paired by amazing music, a well-written story, power-ups, upgrades, were the ingredients that made Cave Story a global phenomenon.

With the game’s success as a free-to-play title on Windows (and Linux and Mac and Amiga OS and TI Graphing Calculator), a retail conversion in various platforms including, WiiWare, Nintendo 3DS, Mac Pcs, was the obvious next step, but not without a few changes. Most notably, Cave Story isn't free anymore. Cave Story arrived to the Wii and the Nintendo DS, followed by a full 3D overhaul as a retail 3DS title.

The latest incarnation of Cave Story launched almost a month ago on Steam, named Cave Story + where the + means the game features upgraded “HD” graphics and remastered music along with Six new play modes. Here is out take on this legendary title.