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Games of the Past REVIEW: The Many Versions of Cave Story

– September 29, 2012

I cannot speak highly enough about the experience Cave Story offers. I’m very glad that’s it’s gone from little exposure to almost too much exposure in such a short time. I’m a sucker for the games and developers I love—the fact that I’ve poured so much of my hard-earned money into a single game across multiple platforms must indeed prove that.

I’m a bit hesitant to offer my final verdict on Cave Story as a whole, but here it comes: the world of Daisuke Amaya has evolved and endured for so long across enough platforms to take more than one hand to count because it’s as perfect as gaming of this sort can get.

Multiple teams, developers, and publishers are all in the shadow of a single man.

Review Score
Overall

Oprainfall’s Review System:

5= A Nearly Perfect Game. A must buy game. This game is as close to perfect as can possibly be.
4= A Great Game. You should seriously consider buying this game if you own the console.
3= A Good Game. The game will likely appeal to the fans of the genre or series.
2= A Poor Game. The game has some issues. Only the most devoted fans of the genre or series should buy this game.
1= A Dreadful Game. We cannot in good conscience recommend this game to anyone, it is that bad.

BONUS CONTENT:
Here’s a 30 minute Cave Story documentary.
(http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=A4JKg85SSik)Here’s the game’s soundtrack. (http://www NULL.cavestory NULL.org/downloads_music NULL.php)

Pages: 1 2 3

About Jonathan Higgins

Jonathan joined the Oprainfall Staff a few months before the US release of Xenoblade Chronicles. He began as a dedicated editorial writer for the site, but over time was recognized for so much more than just that. He is now a co-owner of the Oprainfall website, helping to maintain the site itself, as well as ensure its content is given proper quality control. Motivated primarily by philosophy and “knowing his roots” as a gamer, Jonathan spends his time playing games for their stories or creating his own.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Pedro-Rosas/100000627241193 Pedro Rosas

you forgot the 3DS version which is probably the best one
- http://www.facebook.com/radicaldefect Jonathan Higgins
  
  Continue reading; this review has multiple pages. I covered every single version including Cave Story 3D.
http://twitter.com/Hailinel Justin Graham

I have the WiiWare version of the game, but I never did spend much time with it. I should rectify that.
opThunderstorm

The Cave Story 3D soundtrack is available on the Steam version? I beg to differ. Cave Story+ has a remastered soundtrack, to be sure, but Cave Story 3D has the soundtrack as arranged by DannyB, and it’s thoroughly different. If DannyB’s version of the soundtrack is available on Steam, I’d love to know why my copy of Cave Story+ hasn’t updated and how I can fix that; if not, the review needs to be corrected.
- http://www.facebook.com/radicaldefect Jonathan Higgins
  
  Cave Story+ features three soundtracks. Original (the one from the 2004 PC version of the game), New (the one you’re probably thinking of), and Remastered (the one identical to the Cave Story 3D soundtrack).
  
  I wish I could offer more tangible proof, but… here’s a Youtube link, at least?
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK6anKb0e0A (http://www NULL.youtube NULL.com/watch?v=jK6anKb0e0A)
- opThunderstorm
  
  I already knew that, actually. The soundtrack is very, very clearly different. Yes, all three of them. Even from the sample on the Cave Story 3D website, the difference is incredibly obvious.
- http://www.facebook.com/radicaldefect Jonathan Higgins
  
  I’ve posted the “Moonsong” from Cave Story+ in my reply to you, and the “Moonsong” from Cave Story 3D is, as you know, in my review.
  
  Besides the wave sounds present in the CS3D version… is there really an “incredibly obvious difference”?
- http://www.facebook.com/radicaldefect Jonathan Higgins
  
  Here, this can help you, and proves my point beyond all doubt: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2292664
- opThunderstorm
  
  Did a direct comparison last night; turns out the samples I was listening to prior were only promotional. You were right.
http://www.facebook.com/jonny.westerback Jonny Westerback

You missed that the original soundtrack is available from the start in the wiiware version! you just need to change in options, this was a cruicial play or no play for me and i´m glad it was there!

-Xenoblade Chronicles, best game since “castlevania sotn”… just when you lose hope it happens!!
Ninty

I’m confused as to why you had an issue with the WiiWare version’s remixed music. Wasn’t there an option to have the music be either the original or the remixed stuff, just like with the graphics? I remember seeing those options in the demo.
- http://www.facebook.com/radicaldefect Jonathan Higgins
  
  I suppose my words were a little ambiguous. You CAN pick between original and new, as these fine folks have suggested, but that still doesn’t change the fact that everything “new” about that music was…completely unnecessary.
  
  I suppose I should change things to make it a little clearer. Thank you!
http://www.facebook.com/people/James-Best/100003863840372 James Best

So many versions of Cave Story and I haven’t gotten around to playing a single one of them.
http://www.facebook.com/james.m.mueller James Martin Mueller

Played the original when the first patch was made for it to convert it to English. Loved it then. Got Cave Story+ as part of a Humble Bundle, and played quite a bit again. Keep eyeing NISA’s version, but just can’t justify the cost, which stinks. I’d pay $20 maybe, but hard when I already own a really good version, and not gaining much. Price per value, Cave Story+ is the way to go.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003758236672 Thomas Johnson

I bought a PS2 style USB controller to plug into my MacBook just to play this game (and Super Meat Boy), because I couldn’t handle keyboard controls on a game like this. The game is one of my absolute favorites. In my opinion, there is only one thing wrong with freeware version, and that is the lack of a full screen option. Maybe there is a way to do it, but it’s not a built-in option, and I don’t know enough to figure out a workaround. The lack of full screen is the only reason I plan to purchase the WiiWare version.
- http://www.facebook.com/radicaldefect Jonathan Higgins
  
  I truly enjoyed playing this game on a giant screen with controller in-hand. As James Mueller has mentioned in this thread, Cave Story+ is really the ideal way to go in terms of cost-for-content, but… there’s just nothing like playing Cave Story on the big screen. @_@
- http://www.facebook.com/james.m.mueller James Martin Mueller
  
  I can hookup my computer through my Mini-Display Port to on of the HDMI ins on my receiver. With the MS 360 wireless adapter you can use the 360 controllers (which I hate by the way) to play. So for me the benefit of the Wii version is moot.
SecretX

so which version is better?
- http://www.facebook.com/radicaldefect Jonathan Higgins
  
  What version of Cave Story is best for you largely depends upon the way you game. I did my best to point out the strengths and weaknesses of each version so that you may draw your own conclusion(s).
Tyler Wise

Good, giving Cave Story anything other than a perfect score is an unforgivable sin.

I quite liked the 3DS version, the 3D and the backgrounds were fantastic.

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