The history of Cave Story is just as interesting as the game itself. It started off as a one-man indie project you could download on the PC a few years back. It looked like something you could have played on the NES. 8-bit graphics and sound, and simple yet compelling and challenging gameplay reminiscent of titles like Metroid and Mega Man. And the game was pretty darn fun, too. Later, the game was so well recognized and received that you could download it on some consoles like the Wii and DS. And now you can enjoy Cave Story in a new way on the 3DS.

In the game you play as a unique boy who has lost his memory. You initially find yourself in a vast maze of caves. Soon after you start exploring, you bump into the Miminga Village. The Minimgas are a race of talking rabbit-like creatures, and it’s your job to protect and rescue them from an evil doctor. But what does the mad scientist want with the Mimingas, and what is your character’s role in all this? As you play, more of the story will be revealed.

As said earlier, gameplay is similar to classic run-and-gun titles like Mega Man, with exploratory elements from games like Metroid. Your character can run, jump, and shoot various types of weapons that can be leveled up by collecting crystals. Explore every nook and cranny of the cave mazes to find secret items to help you overcome the many obstacles in your way. The 3DS version offers a few new extras and content, but nothing very noticeable outside the 3D graphics.

Speaking of which, the graphics are really the only problem I had with this game. Part of the charm of the original Cave Story was the 8-bit visuals. While they kept the level design intact in the transition to 3-D, I had a hard time seeing what platforms I could stand on sometimes. Luckily, soon after starting you get a map that is displayed on the bottom screen, which makes it easier to see. It would’ve been nice if they included the ‘8-bit’ version of the game on here as well, but I guess that’s what the downloadable DSiWare version is for.

If you don’t like challenging games, you may want to sit this one out, too. Just like an 8-bit game, Cave Story doesn’t hold your hand. You can even die in the first three seconds of the game if you accidentally bump into the red spikes scattered about. There are save points in various locations, so you’ll want to save often! But if you’re a big Cave Story fan or just enjoy challenging classic styled games, you’ll definitely want to check out Cave Story 3D. If anything, it’s nice to finally have a physical copy of the game, since all versions before were download only.

Kid Factor:

Cave Story 3D is rated E-10 with an ESRB descriptor of Fantasy Violence. You do shoot creatures and robots that explode when defeated, and your character explodes, too. Reading skill is a must as well. But the best reason why this game is better for older gamers is the high difficulty.

Tags: Game Reviews