‘Climb To The Top of the Castle!’ Adopts Pay-What-You-Like Model

Everybody’s favorite indie platforming adventure romp, Cave Story, is heading to Nintendo’s own portable DSiWare digital download service. GoNintendo actually broke the story yesterday after they found an odd listing in the most recent issue of Nintendo Power concerning the game.Today, Nicalis has responded with the following information regarding the title, including it’s confirmation:

- Yes, there is a forthcoming Cave Story for DSiWare
- Yes, it’s really awesome and has Pixel’s blessing; he recently played it a few weeks back and loved it
- Yes, the EU version for WiiWare is still scheduled to be released; we commissioned Orioto to create this AWESOME Cave Story painting (above) in celebration of both: Bang Bang
- And the game is actually DONE, we’re currently in final testing internally

So, yeah, this kind of came out of nowhere, but is incredibly exciting nonetheless.

I tend to think of the DSiWare as kind of the step child of the mobile digital distribution channels so it’s actually really exciting for me that a game of this caliber is getting a mobile release. Now let’s just hope that Nicalis isn’t planning on stopping there. I’d love to see Cave Story on the PSP, iOS, Android, and whatever other digital download location so long as Pixel, the original developer, allows it.

[GoNintendo, Nicalis]

But we’ll tackle some of that stuff later in the actual review. Right now, I want to revisit the game itself, and what it’s about. As I’m sure there are many of you who will read this who’ve played Cave Story before, there will also be those of you who have never heard of Cave Story before, perhaps average gamers who just haven’t been involved in the indie world enough to really know what Cave Story is.

Cave Story is a unique game. I’d liken it to many Metroidvania’s out there (yes, I understand there are those that disagree with that statement) in that the game is not entirely linear and you’re relatively left to your own devices to figure out where to go next.

Anyway, the game starts out with you, an amnesiac boy, waking up in a cave. From there you get entangled in the lives of the strife-ridden Mimigas who find themselves at the cruel hands of an, almost, omnipotent “Doctor” who threatens their very lives. In attempting to find away to get back home — or even discover who you are — you begin helping the Mimigas in a struggle against the Doctor and his minions.

Finally, I’d be remised if I didn’t say this before hand, Cave Story is really fun. It’s a damn good game that everybody should play. The only question with regards to the review is: is it worth $15 on the WiiWare or are you better off served playing the free PC version? Let’s find out.

Gameplay

As stated above Cave Story is a very exploration-based game. Maybe not as much as, say, Metroid, but it’s not linear in the least bit. You’re basically thrown into a game with a loose set of goals based on who you talk to. As the game goes on this focuses a bit here and there, but, overwhelmingly, you’ll be left to your own devices to find your way. This, in my opinion, is a brilliant device for a game simply titled Cave Story.

Additionally, the game relies on a weapon/level combination system for determining how strong your character is. The game has approx. 6 different weapons (can’t remember the exact number off the top of my head, but it makes no difference either way) and each weapon has a total of three levels. You gain a weapons level by collecting little triangle chips — I call em mini-triforces — that fall out of enemies when you kill them. Depending on which weapon you have equipped will determine what weapon receives a level up. For each level weapon will grow bigger, stronger, and more advanced (for example the fireball weapon will grow from a small fireball that can be shot twice to an advanced blue fireball that can be shot four times in a row with a longer range that does more damage). It’s a really good system of leveling and character progression.

Of course, the bad side of this is that if you get hurt, depending on what weapon your carrying, you’ll lose levels on that weapon. It can make things especially challenging if you are fighting a boss and all of your weapons get neutered down to level 1 where you’ll be at a serious disadvantage. Still though, it provides an interesting perspective and requires the player to more carefully think about his actions and what weapon he is going to use before heading off into a fight.

Beyond weapon leveling your character can also find and pick up various health canisters which will, permanently, increase the player’s health. It’s sort of a similar system to that of Metroid’s health packs or Zelda’s hearts. You find em and your health increases. As such you can sustain more damage. Really, it’s just more character progression, but it works well enough for the game.

Now I know what you’re thinking, so all this stuff  is great, but what about the monsters/bosses/challenges? Well, for those who haven’t played Cave Story I’d say you’re in for a relative treat. While the game’s baddies are relatively average, generally just changing colors or small variations to make a new one (i.e. blue slime, green slime, dark grey slime) they’re still fairly challenging and the game makes no qualms about throwing a bunch at you at the same time.

Likewise, the game’s bosses are varied enough to always make the game feel fresh. Although, that said, to kill each boss is only a matter of learning a fairly simple pattern. If you understand what the boss is gonna do and when he is gonna do it you’ll have no problem with almost any boss in the game. From my experience with both the PC and WiiWare versions there is almost no deviating from the pattern.

Aside from the primary story, the WiiWare graces gamer’s with a few extras not found in the PC version. First, you have the Sanctuary time trial. This is basically a level where you get a few weapons and health and must procede to complete a very hard level in you’re fastest time. It’s fairly straight forward and to the point. The next mode is a similar time trial, only this time it’s to beat all of the game’s bosses. If you die even once you’ll have to start over from the beginning. The last WiiWare exclusive is to play the game entirely as Curly, a character that you’ll meet in the main game. Nothing changes, from what I played, aside from the fact that you are Curly. All are nice extras but…

The one problem I had with the Sanctuary time trial was that each and  every time you restarted the game you had to “gear” up. While this may sound like a lame complaint, I assure you that after the fourth or fifth time attempting this you’ll be considerably bored of the first part of the level where you just need to collect your weapons and health. I honestly don’t know why the game didn’t just automatically include them all, or at least allow you to streamline the process a bit more.

Finally, and this is only a small point, but it needs to be said regardless, playing on your couch with a Wii Classic Controller, on the big screen is a nice improvement over the PC controls. For those of us without HTPCs or PC game controllers, the WiiWare version is absolutely the most comfortable way to experience Cave Story, even if you’re a die hard PC fan.

Style

Now this is a big point of contention for the WiiWare version of Cave Story of the freebie PC version. This is, arguably, the primary selling point for this version. I am, of course, talking about the game’s updated graphics. Unfortunately, for those who are dying to know if they are spectacular or not, I’m gonna have to say the latter. All in all, the game’s updated graphics are little improvement over the original and, ultimately, fell short of my own expectations. The WiiWare version really just smooths out the pixelation of the PC version, nothing more.

The music, on the other hand, is more indicative what I was expecting. It sounds far better than the original PC version. On top of that even, the music is just damn catchy. It’s immediate from the the first song in the game’s menu system. Cave Story’s music is truly a great set piece for the game and one that only enhances the game’s appeal.

Story

Needless to say, Cave Story has a unique storyline attached to it. It’s starts off generic enough — another amnesiac story? Really? — but it quickly gets off to a faster pace as you’re thrust into a world with unique creatures and a unique cast of enemies. While the story may not be the most unique, it certainly doesn’t feel bland or stale in the slightest. Newcomers to the game should be pleasantly surprised.

Everything Else

There’s really not much else to Cave Story. There’s no multiplayer component (local or online) and there’s nothing that really expands the game beyond the original in terms of main story gameplay.

So this leads me back to my original question. Is Cave Story worth the$15 price or are you better off served getting the free PC version? Well, in all honesty, I think that really depends on you. If you’re somebody who absolutely loved the original version and only want to expand on what you’ve already experienced then, yeah, you’ll probably enjoy the new version. If you’re a newcomer to the series who may just want to experience the game, or “try” before you buy, I’d suggest checking out the PC version first. In my personal opinion, I’d say that a game such as Cave Story is more than worth the $15. If there wasn’t already a free PC version then there’d be no question as to whether you should buy it or not.