Cave Story ~ Doukutsu Monogatari

[Starrodkirby86]

Somehow, Japan always brings some of the greatest gems ever into the world, like Super Mario Bros., Sonic, Final Fantasy, and other epics...And yet here we go, another epic pops up somewhere along 2004.

I might as well give you the exact description Pixel, the [sole] developer of Cave Story, gave for his game.

Cave Story is a jumping-and-shooting action game.
Explore the caves until you reach the ending.
You can also save your game and continue from where you left off.

Although it may seem simple, this game is far from it. The actual gameplay itself is very reminiscent of the Castlevania and Metroid series, as it has been compared to commonly, positively. Pixel worked on this masterpiece for a total of five years, and what came out of it was one of the most addicting and best Freeware games ever.

There is an actual storyline to this. You are stuck on a floating island. You're a robot who, to just simply put it, got struck with amnesia. But it is soon that you learn a new ruler has arrived on the island and is plotting to rule the world through an intricate plan requiring red flowers. The premise may seem stupid, but I'm removing some key points.

What makes the best part of the game is some of the difficulty. It's not totally frustrating, but you would need some deep platforming skills. The final secret level, the infamous Sacred Ground, is absolutely brutal and can basically rape your butt if you don't know how to consistently keep yourself unhurt the whole time. I prompted myself to post this thread after beating the stage...which took me...a week or so...to finally defeat.

Game Screenshots:

Spoiler: ShowHide

Spoiler: ShowHide

The game is also coming for the Wii on WiiWare. The game had a whole Vectored graphic change, and I must say, it looks dazzling. The music is also remixed, but fortunately it is a toggle feature (In Cave Story, the music is 8-bit).

WiiWare Screenshot:

Spoiler: ShowHide

Download:
Cave Story Deluxe Package (Contains automatic English patch)
Cave Story (Macintosh Version) (JP)
Cave Story (Macintosh Version) English Translation Patch
Cave Story (Linux Version)


If you already have Cave Story and have beaten the Sacred Ground with the Nikumaru Counter, please post your time here!

The time I just got is a slow 9'00"3. :/ But hey, it's my first time beating it...Playing it safe was always a good method.

[Diokatsu]

Looks stupid....
*downloads*

[Vell]

might have to play - when i get a new compy several years from now.

[KRoP]

I can't find any Gum Base for a bomb. ;_;
HEEELP MEEEE

[Starrodkirby86]

I can't find any Gum Base for a bomb. ;_;
HEEELP MEEEE

You already talked to Malco right? That dumb robot. XD

Go talk to Kazuma, the guy trapped in the shelter again. He'll give you the Gum Key. Then go all the way to the right and finish the fan puzzle. Enjoy the boss battle. :X

[KRoP]

Thanks!
*goes to boss to get pwned*

[winkio]

I got to the final cave, but then I read about the different guns that you can get (the nemesis and the spur) so I made a new game and saved, and then realized that it overwrote my old data...  I'm back at sand zone now.  This time, I'm not taking the machine gun (even though it lets you fly...).

[Starrodkirby86]

I got to the final cave, but then I read about the different guns that you can get (the nemesis and the spur) so I made a new game and saved, and then realized that it overwrote my old data...  I'm back at sand zone now.  This time, I'm not taking the machine gun (even though it lets you fly...).

I hope you weren't frustrated when that happened...When I was trying to get to the secret stage the first time I realized I messed up something indefinitely and couldn't get it. I was at the Plantation as well. So I had to restart the game all the way back.

Sand Zone in my opinion is one of the more..."frustrating" places in the game if you don't have the Machine Gun...since there's those Skeletons...+_+

[winkio]

Nah, it's not too bad: the game goes much quicker the second time.  And yep, those skeletons suck.  I have gotten in the habit of using missiles more though, which is actually helping a lot.

EDIT: MUCH quicker.  the hidden version of the final cave is  much easier, in my opinion.  But the final bossess suck!  I never have more than like 15 hp by the core.  It's not fair!

[KRoP]

  That dragon twins boss keeps annihalating me.  I can barely survive the first half, but once they start constantly spewing fireballs it's hopeless.  Maybe if I didn't have to restart the level every time I lost . . . -_-

[Starrodkirby86]

  That dragon twins boss keeps annihalating me.  I can barely survive the first half, but once they start constantly spewing fireballs it's hopeless.  Maybe if I didn't have to restart the level every time I lost . . . -_-

Make sure you're a nice amount of HP left. Having the Spur makes the battle extremely easy and laughable. If you don't have the Spur, spam the Machine Gun or missiles at the mouths of the Sisters. The Bubbler also makes a good weapon because of their wide range to kill a lot of Fireballs. The Blade can make a good weapon, only if you can maintain the level.

Don't hesitate to use that Life Pot. This will be the last boss you'll face before getting another Life Pot, unless you're playing the Hard Route.

[winkio]

The trick with that boss is to shoot each dragon as soon as it opens its mouth.  If you deal enough damage, it will close its mouth and not spew fire.

And i beat the core!  finally.  now to take on Sacred Ground.  I got pwned at the part after all the falling blocks.  And what weapon do you have?  The machine gun, the snake, or the spur?

[Starrodkirby86]

I got pwned at the part after all the falling blocks.  And what weapon do you have?  The machine gun, the snake, or the spur?

Yeah, the whole part with all those Butes raping you is definitely a pain in the arsefrookle. I finally developed a near-full-proof method of passing that, but I usually make small mistakes that frustrate me throughout the course. The boss after that is easy after you develop a good pattern, and good luck against the last last boss...

Asking Krop or asking me about that question? o_o For me, although the Snake makes perfect for a speed run, I used the Spur because of its strength. I'm not ready to do a reflex Nemesis switch yet.

[winkio]

I was asking you.  I like the spur for its damage as well, but I can't help but think that the snake could help a ton trigerring the explosive thingies and the machine gun could let me fly, providing I could level it up enough it the first part...

[Starrodkirby86]

I was asking you.  I like the spur for its damage as well, but I can't help but think that the snake could help a ton trigerring the explosive thingies and the machine gun could let me fly, providing I could level it up enough it the first part...

The Spur doesn't give any leveling which makes it the perfect use for the Sacred Grounds. The Snake can destroy those Deleets as long as you level it up to 2 or higher, which you can for the first part. The Machine Gun loses all of its value when it goes to Level 1, and the Booster 2.0 works well enough. Controlling the Booster 2.0 is key for the whole stage...

But the weapon that wins everything is the Nemesis as long as you don't make it to Level 3.

[winkio]

Hmm... that is interesting... I might actually try that.  Nemesis is pretty powerful, and has good fire rate.  Just gotta make sure to plan correctly so I don't get hit level 3 too often.

[KRoP]

The Bubbler also makes a good weapon because of their wide range to kill a lot of Fireballs.

I got the bubbler thinking it was the worst weapon in the game, but now it actually has . . . use. :p
Also, I don't have the spur, nor do I know how to get it.  I'll try the battle a few more times, this time usin' the lifepot, and see if that gets me anywhere.

[Starrodkirby86]

The Bubbler REALLY stinks on Level 1, but at Level 3 it really shines, especially at Grasstown. Mowing through enemies has never been easier.

You can obtain the Spur by hanging on to the Polar Star no matter what, which means you can't trade it for the Machine Gun from Curly or trade it with the Snake from Chaba. After you have the Polar Star and return to Mimiga Village, go back to the Hermit Gunsmith for some wise words...

[winkio]

oh lol I realized why it was so hard for me: i thought that those angel spawns were infinite, and that I had to fun thru.  So much easier to kill them.

[KRoP]

I think I must've done something really, really wrong.

  So I go through the cutscene at the egg hatchery.  I climb the wall and go through the level at the planation.  But instead of finding the core, I only find an alternate to the final cave of the game.  The entire rest of the game is void of people, save for the old lady at the Sand Zone.  Can I still go and find the core, because otherwise I'm probably going to end up starting over.

[tSwitch]

I must play this game.
I haven't yet because I didn't have a download, but now I do

[Diokatsu]

I must play this game.
I haven't yet because I didn't have a download, but now I do

I really hope you like it. It was definitely worth the time. Its gameplay is quirky and awesome,  its story is nice and well done, and the characters are wonderful. I'm actually sure you'll like this game, I guarantee it. :V [/Men's Warehouse]

[tSwitch]

I've gotten 4/5 dogs in the sand zone, and I can't find the last one D:

1) the one near the life canister
2) the one that runs around
3) the sleeping one
4) the one in the dark room

[winkio]

did you get the one in the chest, near Jenka's house?  (there is a paw block you can go through right near it)

[KRoP]

I think I must've done something really, really wrong.

  So I go through the cutscene at the egg hatchery.  I climb the wall and go through the level at the planation.  But instead of finding the core, I only find an alternate to the final cave of the game.  The entire rest of the game is void of people, save for the old lady at the Sand Zone.  Can I still go and find the core, because otherwise I'm probably going to end up starting over.

[winkio]

If you find the alternate final cave, that means that you did everything right.  After you go through it and beat the game (including the core at the end), you can now do the final level, sacred grounds.  The people all disappear after you build the rocket...

[Starrodkirby86]

The entire rest of the game is void of people, save for the old lady at the Sand Zone.  Can I still go and find the core, because otherwise I'm probably going to end up starting over.

What?

You can't exit the Plantation from the Final Cave door. o.o; How did you get past that...?

Are you talking about all the Mimigas and friends being gone...? With that ominous music? That's intentional...o_o;

The core is the 'final' boss, you'll fight it no matter what. Alternate level of the Final Cave will reduce all levels of your weapons to 1.

[KRoP]

  I knew the Mimigas were supposed to dissapear, but when I found the green haired dude with the dragon was gone I figured I must have gone through the wrong chain of events, heh.

  That "final cave" (if a game location is titled "final something" you know it's never the final level) is hard. :l The problem is that my level always ends up going to one for all my weapons.  You know what?  I'm shocked there isn't an "experience boost" item you can keep in yer inventory.  Would definately make things easier.

[Starrodkirby86]

You do know that you don't need to increase the level back to maximum for all of them anyway right? I mean, the only one I keep the level up is the Missile Launcher and the Bubbler in the Final Cave. Besides, they're all going back to one anyway.

Kazuma and the Sky Dragon being gone...that's OK I suppose.

Is this because some dark wind goes through you or is it because of you getting hurt so much? If it's the former, you're taking the right route.

[Pokol DaErran]

I don't have anything better to put on my computer, so I might as well play this.
And I think that Kazuma and the Sky Dragon are supposed to disappear at a certain point in the game.  You're going the right way, most likely

[tSwitch]

did you get the one in the chest, near Jenka's house?  (there is a paw block you can go through right near it)

I believe that's the one near the life canister, in which case, yes I did.

[Starrodkirby86]

There's a dog in the Sand Zone Residence that one of the Mimiga children tell you to get...Did you get that one?

The Sand Zone Residence is where you meet Curly. The dog's in the bedroom.

[Fantasist]

That "final cave" (if a game location is titled "final something" you know it's never the final level) is hard. :l The problem is that my level always ends up going to one for all my weapons.  You know what?  I'm shocked there isn't an "experience boost" item you can keep in yer inventory.  Would definately make things easier.

Try getting the "Nemesis" from the Little family. Of course, this is only available if you first find Mr.Little from the graveyard in the Mimiga village. Their house is below where Kazuma and his Sky Dragon were there. Jump down and use the Booster to go left.
Mr.Little (the small guy in green) will offer to exchange your Blade for the Nemesis. Remember that you can switch them back as long as you can still go to their house.

Here's the thing about Nemesis: It's strongest in Lv1 and ridiculously weak in Lv3. Perfect for the situation, right?

[tSwitch]

There's a dog in the Sand Zone Residence that one of the Mimiga children tell you to get...Did you get that one?

The Sand Zone Residence is where you meet Curly. The dog's in the bedroom.

yeah I remembered that one right after I posted.
I'm now on that tank boss in the labyrinth, and I'm taking a break after losing 5 times.

figured out how to damage it, got it to 50% twice, but lost, I'll try again later.

[KRoP]

@Starrod: It's the second. :x
@Fantasist: I'll check the graveyard to see if I can find him.

[Starrodkirby86]

@Starrod: It's the second. :x
@Fantasist: I'll check the graveyard to see if I can find him.

Hmm...if it's because you keep getting hurt, then that means you're on the wrong Final Cave. You'll be on the route to the Normal Ending.

You must have screwed up somewhere.

Criteria: ShowHide

• Curly is alive (Tow Rope)


• Booster is alive (Booster 2.0)


• Curly's memory is back (Iron Bond)


• You aren't in the Mimiga Mask

[Diokatsu]

There's a dog in the Sand Zone Residence that one of the Mimiga children tell you to get...Did you get that one?

The Sand Zone Residence is where you meet Curly. The dog's in the bedroom.

yeah I remembered that one right after I posted.
I'm now on that tank boss in the labyrinth, and I'm taking a break after losing 5 times.

figured out how to damage it, got it to 50% twice, but lost, I'll try again later.

The rockets are good for that boss, but lvl 3 if possible. Sword lvl 3 is the best though, so try and make sure it's as high as possible.

[KRoP]

Hmm...if it's because you keep getting hurt, then that means you're on the wrong Final Cave. You'll be on the route to the Normal Ending.

  Yep.  I went back and finished the game before I saw yer post.  It wouldn't have helped much, though, because Curly DID die in the flooded chamber. :l
  Just curious, how could I have made her survive?

[Starrodkirby86]

How to unlock the Hard Route: ShowHide

• First, do NOT talk to Booster in the Labyrinth. Skip him immediately.


• In the Core Room, go to the bottom right corner before fighting the Core. You'll obtain the Tow Rope.


• You can now carry Curly in the Waterway.


• Stop at the cabin and read the message on the computer, then do the methods to take out the water in her system.


• When she faints again, pick her up.


• She'll leave you after beating the fish. If you get the message, "Her life functions have ceased.", then you haven't taken the water out of her, therefore not doing the whole cabin thing right (or at all). o_o;
  
• Booster will give you the Booster 2.0.


• Say no to Kazuma.


• In the Plantation, go south and talk to Cthulhu. He'll say there's a mushroom that revives memories.


• Go to the Graveyard and through the door in there. Get the Mushroom Badge.


• Talk to Ma Pignon again and beat that thing in a battle.


• Get the Iron Bond.


• Do the rocket process, and give the Mimiga Mask to Momorin.


• If you did it right, a dark wind should cover you when entering through the door to the Final Cave. The name of the stage should be Final Cave (Hidden) or (Secret) or something...


• Play as regular and after you beat the Undead Core, run into the Prefab Chamber.

[KRoP]

Wow, that is complicated.  I'll give it a shot though.  I'm curious to see this "Sacred Ground".

[Starrodkirby86]

Nah, it's not hard at all, I just made it sound more complicated than usual. That's not even including the ways to get the best stuff...

In simple paraphrased dumbed-down words:

Hard Route: ShowHide

Skip Booster, get the Tow Rope, save Curly, get the Ma Pignon, done.

[winkio]

@NAMKCOR: i initially had trouble with it too, but lvl 2 blade is awesome for it.

[tSwitch]

yeah well, I'm not going to get the great ending since I destroyed the core and left behind Curly (seriously, they need to put little sparkles or something so you know where to find all this hidden crap)

so it's too late anyway.

debating whether to start over or not, we'll see.

[Starrodkirby86]

yeah well, I'm not going to get the great ending since I destroyed the core and left behind Curly (seriously, they need to put little sparkles or something so you know where to find all this hidden crap)

In the room where Booster falls there's a red dot. That dot is the jumping point where you can get to the Boulder Room without the Booster 0.8 .

If you did this right, over in the Core Room there should be a sparkle down at the right. It just only appears when Hard Route is activated.

[Valcos]

i didnt like it.

[Starrodkirby86]

i didnt like it.

So did Legacyblade, but you guys are in a minority group.

If you didn't like it, perhaps you can tell us why, so then we can go nitpick on that? I mean, if the only thing you did was check the First Cave and quit around the Graveyard searching for a freakin' key, then I can see why you didn't like it. By the end it gets really awesome, since it's some mighty good platforming and shooting.

[Fantasist]

If you didn't like it, perhaps you can tell us why, so then we can go nitpick on that? I mean, if the only thing you did was check the First Cave and quit around the Graveyard searching for a freakin' key, then I can see why you didn't like it. By the end it gets really awesome, since it's some mighty good platforming and shooting.

Seconded. It's one of the best games I've played.

[KRoP]

  Okay, I'm stuck.  Again. :x
  I get the mushroom badge from Ma Pignon the mushroom, but instead of getting into battle when I talk to her again, she just says "Bzzzzzt".  What do I do?

[Starrodkirby86]

  Okay, I'm stuck.  Again. :x
  I get the mushroom badge from Ma Pignon the mushroom, but instead of getting into battle when I talk to her again, she just says "Bzzzzzt".  What do I do?

I'm sure Ma Pignon is supposed to say something like, "What? You don't want the Mushroom Badge? You want me!? No!" or whatever.

Make sure you're doing this whole quest for Curly's sake. Also, make sure you haven't helped Momorin yet. Then it would be too late. -_-; At least, getting the Mimiga Mask on you, then it would be too late.

[KRoP]

  No, I haven't started helping Momorin.  I could try to talk to Curly and Cthulu again, but I've interacted with both of them already, and the mushroom wouldn't even give off the badge before I talked to Curly and Cthulu.  I'll try it anyway, though.
EDIT: I've figured it out.  I had to actually inspect the badge in the inventory before I could find him.  Thanks~

[Fantasist]

At least, getting the Mimiga Mask on you, then it would be too late.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think I've got the Ma Pignon with the Mimiga mask on (just for kicks of course, mimiga Quote looks cute).

[Starrodkirby86]

At least, getting the Mimiga Mask on you, then it would be too late.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think I've got the Ma Pignon with the Mimiga mask on (just for kicks of course, mimiga Quote looks cute).

Well, you probably might be able to do that. But triggering the whole quest should be done BEFORE you help Momorin, since you need to talk to Curly to find out she has amnesia (Talking to her with the Mask on would just make her say you look cute). I had to restart my game because I did this part wrong...

[Valcos]

i didnt like it.

Thats basically it. Just didnt, no real reason.

[KRoP]

  I managed to get to Sacred Ground and even to Ballos' second form, but the game stopped working on my laptop.  Whenever I open it it just shows a black screen and closes again.  I probably just Alt + Tabbed a bit too much.

:l

Also yes I have tried reinstalling the game multiple times.

[Starrodkirby86]

Ouch. Ouch.

Go to the Config and change it the screen resolution. Perhaps that may make a difference. If not, think of any changes you made to your computer, and try and revert back to that.

Replayed Cave Story, and I'm back on Sacred Grounds. Oh, everything's easy as usual, just that B2 and B3 turn out to be the real challenge now (Time-wise, going it slow is always simple).

[Landith]

I can't even get past the first level

Everytime I get to the door it always kills me 

[Starrodkirby86]

I can't even get past the first level

Everytime I get to the door it always kills me 

Do you have the Polar Star?

If you don't...exit, stage left. Steal the gun from the Hermit Gunsmith. Shoot that freakin' door.

Have fun. o_O;

[Landith]

Yeah I have the polar star, I didn't know I was suppose to shoot the door 
I always tried to get into the door when the eye wasn't showing lol

[KRoP]

  Figures.  Vista automatically set the comp back to 32 bit rate.  I turned it back to 16 and the game works again.

. . .

Ballos is hard.

[Starrodkirby86]

Ballos is hard.

You kidding?

Ballos is hard when you don't have a good strategy, got beaten up by the Heavy Press and before, or have insufficient weapons.

That's what I think at least. When I fought Ballos he was a walk in the park. The only hard part was trying to get a good time...

[KRoP]

  It's probably the first?  I dunno but since I usually suck at any game that takes skill (how many weeks did it take to even get through Sacred Ground? @_@) and since the nearest save point is back in the little house place, even with a walkthrough I've only ended up getting to his third form once.

[Starrodkirby86]

Yeah...but you'll get better. I mean, I bet you ace through the first floor by now, right? You thought of a way to navigate with the Booster. See? That's strategizing. All you need to do is go on with that and everything will be all dandy and fine.

[KRoP]

  On the hilarious contrary, I only get through the first floor half the time, but if I get through that I always make it to Ballos.  This may be because at the beginning of B3, there are two hearts that respawn when you leave and enter the room again, essentially restoring all your health.  This means all the other hearts at the beginning of the level are surplus and I can just go back and collect those when I get damaged enough.  That's about the limit to my strategy. :x

[KRoP]

  Sweet, I've finally beat the game.  Took me long enough. :l
The ending is kind of lame though.

[Starrodkirby86]

Well what do you want for an ending?

There are three endings you can follow...

Bad Ending: ShowHide

You escape with Kazuma with the doctor ready to unleash his Mimiga army against Earth. But you don't mind. You're safe in the mountains somewhere living with Kazuma.

Normal Ending: ShowHide

You get taken by Kazuma and Sue as the island beings to collapse because of the dead core. The Doctor is gone, but there may be a new ruler soon...

Super Sweet Awesome Ending: ShowHide

Ballos is gone and woohoo, the crown is destroyed. All the curse crap is lifted and you live peacefully with Curly and Balrog at who-knows-where.

The OTHER Ending: ShowHide

Personally I like the other ending. :3

[Diokatsu]

That 4th ending was so hard to get :/

I think I ended up with it out of sheer luck, but I did kinda make some leaps of faith and had some general idea of where they might lead to.

[KRoP]

That 4th ending was so hard to get :/

Wait that last part of Star's post was at least partially serious?

[Diokatsu]

That 4th ending was so hard to get :/

Wait that last part of Star's post was at least partially serious?

Sarcasm...