

Going back to the game’s weapons, I’d like to mention what a joy they are to use. It’s not a one-off situation either, all throughout the game you’re given chances to practice new skills before putting them to the test. That innocuous initial hole is thus intentional training-in-disguise, a technique often used in Nintendo’s Super Mario series. The next few contain instant-kill spikes, and the gap gets bigger between each one. In one area that comes to mind, the first pit you encounter contains no hazards it’s simply a hole. The levels themselves are also built with a smooth learning curve in mind. The delicate balance in which Cave Story+ doles out improved weapons to combat harder enemies is, in a word, extraordinary. To counter this, your arsenal of weapons expands at a similar pace, letting you contend with far more dangerous threats. As you progress, enemies get larger, more aggressive, and are better aware of your presence. Enemies early-on-like bats and bouncing critters-have simple movement patterns and mostly keep to themselves. In true Metroidvania style, weapons are used not only to defeat enemies but also to open all-new paths.Ĭave Story+ does a phenomenal job introducing you to new gameplay elements and gradually increasing the challenge over time. Through exploration you’ll soon uncover your first gun and from there the game expands rapidly.

You begin the game in (naturally) a cave with no weapon, and no idea why you’re there. In terms of gameplay and level design, Cave Story+ is at the top of its genre. Thanks to this version’s enhanced visuals and all-new character portraits, the conversations have even greater emotional impact and gravitas, too.

It’s not long before you’ll genuinely care what happens to the island’s inhabitants, a testament to the game’s outstanding writing. Our robot hero, along with the sentient rabbit-like Mimiga creatures native to the island, conspire to stop the Doctor.Īll this story is told through rather heart-warming (and sometimes, heart-wrenching) dialogue between the various characters. A corrupted Doctor, who plans to use the island’s evil power source to conquer all of humanity, is to blame. At a high level, it revolves around an amnesic robot who wakes up on a floating island in grave danger. Story is something Cave Story+ excels at and worth experiencing on your own, so I’ll try to avoid major spoilers. This is the perfect game to take on long car trips or flights, and with frequent save points it’s also well-suited for morning commutes.
#BEST CAVE STORY SOUNDTRACK SWITCH PORTABLE#
Having a fully portable version of Cave Story+ you can play in Tablet or Handheld mode is quite appealing. It’s also worth considering the Switch factor. And with the game’s multiple endings, you’ll almost certainly want to play through it several times.

Curly Brace controls similarly to the game’s main hero, which is somewhat disappointing, but she gives you reason to replay. The latter lets you play through a slightly modified version of the campaign using the titular female robot heroine. New modes have been added in Cave Story+, too, including Challenge mode (time trials, essentially) and Curly Brace mode. The game’s script has also been improved, and there’s a brand new (and very challenging) Wind Fortress level to complete. As well, along with the original soundtrack there’s all-new remixed music that modernizes the sound while retaining its 8-bit charm. So what does Cave Story+ add to justify its “+” designation? Well, for starters, it brings over the enhanced graphics from the highly praised Wiiware version. The fact that it was entirely created by one guy (Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya) in his spare time is just astonishing. So much has been said before about the merits of this game, and it’s all true. They’re back with another indie darling on Switch- Cave Story+-perhaps the most renowned one of all time.Ĭave Story is, without exaggeration, in a league of its own when it comes to game design and storytelling. Leading the way is Nicalis, which gave us the definitive version of The Binding of Isaac not too long ago. Just a few months after launch, Nintendo Switch is already proving itself to be an excellent destination for indie titles. Legendary indie game comes to Nintendo Switch
