I've been stuck trying to get through hell for 10 years. This sounds like some melodramatic comment about my life, but those who know what I'm talking about, know what I'm talking about.
I remember beating hell once like 7+ years ago, and now i've replayed the whole game and still can't beat hell or win the doctor+core without booster after like a month playing
i have never beaten hell (blood stained sanctuary) with all of my years with the game which is no surprise since i still struggle with last cave/ hidden last cave
I beat it with a sub 8 time around 9 years ago myself. Just started playing it again recently and can’t for the life of me get past the third phase of the last boss. Idk what it is but age took away my skill xD.
I lived through this shit. I graduated high school in 2001, was on game forums like insert credit during college, and watched the indie scene develop. I beat Hell and got the secret ending of Cave Story on a fucking keyboard 16 years ago. I made a mix CD of the game's music. You did such a good job of explaining what makes this game so special even completely outside the context of its place in history, and listening to you sing the praises of our lord and savior Pixel Amaya made me laugh with tears of gratitude in my eyes.
Me: "Yeah that's pretty impressive ngl, one man made this, that's pretty cool" Jacob: "THE SPEEDRUNNING COMMUNITY NEVER MANAGED TO BREAK THIS GAME" Me: "PIXEL IS A GOD"
I play a game cause I like it. A game is a game. I dont care if 1 or 10000 made it. I will give no slack when comparing a game to other games cause of that. It better be good all the same. I'm playing a game for me not to feed some devs ego. Could care less how many people worked on a game.
My reaction to the thumbnail: "30 mins of a 20 year old classic covered to death already? Something seems off. " After his explanation: "I knew it. But I didn't need a reason to unpack cave story again it's like the most important thing to happen to the industry." Great video
It's crazy how the indie devs of this time period were able to create such powerful little brainworm games. I have my iconic SNES and Genesis games that take me back to being a kid on the living room floor whenever I hear the music or see the first level, but games like Cave Story, Shovel Knight, and Undertale have such a grip on my subconscious that it can literally stop me in my tracks at any point. It's like the nostalgia was built in, and I was already in my 20s when I played any of those games. Oddly enough the most recent game to make me feel that way was Disco Elysium, and that's got none of the early childhood nostalgia triggers for me. I think it's just got something to do with all these games punching you in the gut with simple, pure emotional moments while looping the same catchy music track that makes them feel like they've always been a part of your life. Anyway, love your videos, thanks for making me think!
looool i literally just started recording my playthrough of Cave Story like 4 days ago, why does it feel like this game is re-entering everyone's conscience at the same time
Cave Story is already a 'forgotten' game? God dang it I'm getting old.... Real talk, though, CS is what got me into online gaming, as it was a quality and completely free game (at least the original version) that I could just play over and over and enjoy it anew each time. Heck, it introduced freeware games and game modding in general to me, which was an invaluable form of entertainment when my family couldn't afford to buy me new games. If nothing else, this gem of a game should be appreciate for the sheer accessibility it offered to all, as so long as you had an internet connection and your computer was not a potato you could get and run it perfectly. Outstanding, really, outstanding.
Cave story holds a very special place in my heart. I first found cave story on the dsi ware, and to say i played it was an understatement. i dumped well over 300 hours on the game this was one of the few games i 100% completed without any guides. At the time, i didn't have any concept of online chatrooms/forums that discussed how to beat/play games. The journey of discovery i went though was absolutely memorable. i remember spending hours trying to get to the house where you drain curly, and being confused at to what it was for. When i first discovered that you could pick up curly after the 1st core fight with a towrope, i happened to enter that house just for fun, and was absolutely floored when i realized i could revive curly, and was able to meet her again later in the game... i personally cant describe that feeling in words. it opened up a whole new world for me in terms of gameplay. before this, the only games i ever played was pokemon, mario, and mario kart. People take small details like that for granted, but stuff like that for me, a naive child was mindblowing. it set off a trigger to note down EVERYTHING, cause even small things mattered. that is probably one of my most cherished childhood memories with videogames, and single handedly changed my views of video games even to this day.
I should have played Cavestory in the 2000s but I never did. I'll have to check it out now. Hell, sounds like Quote (is that his name?) deserves to be the first playable indie character in Smash, given this game's impact on the industry. I'm still pulling for Shantae, but this is one game that sounds like it deserves that recognition even more.
I never knew that this game was a indie developed game released on the internet. I actually thought it was a Nintendo game because I remember seeing the DS version and borrowing a copy from a friend. being confuse when people would talked about it saying its a awesome game, thinking they where talking about the DS version not knowing that they meant the original version.
I feel like i’m the only one in my friendgroup that knows about Cave Story at all. That’s bc I bought Cave Story back on DSiware so I’ve known about it for years
@@kernium We shall pirate Cave Story+ until Tyrone "Dickhead" Rodriguez learns to never fuck with the Cave Story community. The Cave Story community is small, but it's a thousand people, maybe more, against one of the biggest scumbags in the video game industry.
You hit the nail on the head about Cave Story’s sense of mystery. I was 3 when CS first came out and was content with the flash games I played as a small boy so I never discovered CS that way. But when I got my 3DS and browsed the 3DS eShop I came across the page for Cave Story. (Not Cave Story 3D btw, that was a physical only release.) Anyway all there was on that page was a drawing of Quote, three screenshots, and an ominous paragraph describing Quote awakening in a cave with no memories. It mesmerized me. To this day CS is my favorite game of all time. I have it’s OST on my phone thanks to the Cave Story fan site. And every few months I break it out again to do another 100% run. Whenever someone asks me about the game I immediately default to telling them that it’s free and they should play it. I really wish for Cave Story to be in the spotlight again one day to remind people of its legacy. It might never happen but who knows, maybe Quote’ll appear in Smash Brothers one day. A man can dream.
Cave Story+ was given away for free on the Epic Store last month. It's the only reason I downloaded the Epic Store because I've wanted to play the game for years and I'm not one to turn away from a free game offer.
Sure, we didn't have steam and stuff back in 2004, but at least in europe we had icq where you called your friends by numbers instead of names and virtually punched llamas together.
@@thelegend8570 You're not the first "I'll make my own game with blackjack and hookers" I've come across. The first few never made agame, but one of them has written a compiler for his own language, bootsrapped it and then written an operating system with it... so yeah, never give up i guess.
Good review. IMO You forgot something important. Retro 2D games were a thing of the past when Cave Story came out. Nobody was making games like that anymore, and it seemed like they never would. Pixel changed that.
Been looking for more longform reviewers in the style of Mandaloregaming that talk about non-mainstream and older game titles in depth. The irony that I found you through your Cyberpunk video is not lost on me, but I'm glad I found you!
Cave Story + was given free on Epic Games Store, I played Cave Story back in the day like(2007ish), and I've been meaning to replay it. The only thing that's stopping me from playing Cave Story + though is that they remove Balrog's Huzzah line and I don't think I can do it with out it
There is a way to cheese the final secret boss ballos' final form. You take damage from the spiked floor, and use the invincibility frames to fly up into his eye and use the super rocket launcher to nuke him for a quick fight. It's not game breaking but it does save about a minute.
i pirated this game when it was like 2015, a "watch culture" video showed it and i knew i wanted to play, ever since then i had loved the game, my friends dont know what it is and dont care, i had not seen any quality videos dissecting the game, this led me to believe that this was some small gem. 2020 i am older and more appreciative of games, epic games store had cave story for free, i knew i had to play, so i played and got into the game again, i saw this video and i am so glad i got to hear that this game it not only well known but appreciated, thank you for giving me closure for this game, knowing how well loved it is makes me really happy, thanks for the video, it was a genuinely good video.
Pixel: develops and releases an indie title for free that goes on to be an all-time classic, a true labor of love Epic Games Store: releases Cave Story+ for free in order to get your sweet, sweet user data
I remember playing this in early high school and not engaging much with the narrative but I still remember how much I enjoyed that game just bc of the tight gameplay, music, and spritework. Great video. What a blast from the past.
Never seen you before, but my recommendations know this is my favorite video game, so here we are now. Great video. I love watching people talk about this game so many years after I first played it. Your discussion about the story being one where the heroes are struggling and almost always losing is something I somehow missed this whole time. There was just something captivating about the deceptively simple story, and I think you cracked the code. Removing the rose tinted glasses, I'm able to see a few more flaws in the story and game design, but my opinion is largely unchanged after all these years. I only wish I could experience playing the game for the first time again. I'll never forget the time I first reached the Outer Wall and was hit with the first glimpse of the outside of the island, the beauty of the pixelated moon shining on the thick layers of clouds beneath us while listening to Moonsong, gut-punching us with its mystical and melancholic tone. I don't believe I will ever have an experience like this game ever again.
It drives me up a fucking wall when people insist that Undertale "made indie games popular". Cave Story is one of the most influential and important games of its era, an ageless classic that deserves more respect than it gets
Played Cave Story on DSi in like 2010, loved it, got the regular ending. I immediately wanted to find out how to get the true ending, but never did. I think I'm going to download it on my PC and give it another go once I'm done with Pathologic 2.
I really wanted to thank you for this Jacob. I've played Cave Story some 4 or 5 years ago and I really liked it but I think even if I WAS aware it was the work of one person and found it impressive I didn't realize HOW EXTRAORDINARY this game really his. So thank you for re-contextualizing it for us and explain how grateful we should be it was made
I First played Cave story as a demo on the Wii when I was five or so, (yeah I'm young) and I kinda just forgot about it for like 6 years, until my brother bought Cave story + For the switch, and It looked so fun, so I wanted to play it, but I had no money, and then my brother mentioned that it was free on they're website, and said it was the original, one, and I played the game, and It is one of the best games, I have ever played, The story, The sadness, and how all of the pieces of the lore match-up, after a while, Its just so good, I'm glad I played the original one first, but my god, when I say, I cried, I mean it. This game is the most important indie game ever, and the story, about the person who made it is just amazing, I love Cave story and yes I may be only 12 , This game will be on my favorite games of all time list, till the day I'm 6ft under
Great video. People really need to be more aware that this game exists and that its just amazing. I would say that the best free way of playing Cave Story is the CSE2 source port... Or it WAS the best way before Nicalis DMCA'd that into oblivion, that coincidentally happened a few days before the "+" version was free on EGS, Isn't that interesting? Almost as if it was planned. The freeware version is still really good though, but I guess installing some mods to make the resolution a little bit more modern is a good way to enhance the experience. Also props for putting the unused "Pier Walk" song around half-way in the video, This is the first time im hearing it in a Cave Story video [That's not about the beta].
Great video. This game will always have a special place in my heart, and since I'm the only one of my friends to have played it, the strange aura around this game that you described is just as relevant for me today. I remember playing this on DSi back in the day and "finished" the game (the bad ending) after transferring it to my 3DS. I got so frustrated at the Labyrinth levels that my old 3DS still has a little dent on the start button where I bit it out of anger.
You're hilarious. Cave story is so damn good you guys. Yes the gameplay is fantastic but I can't think of a game with more oldschool charm. Everything is so fitting for it, it is more than the sum of its parts.
Cave story was one of the first times a game made me cry. And you're right the story on paper is silly and stupid. But the core concept of never giving up. It stuck with me when I was a kid. Quote might be a blank slate fit the player. But I think that's what hits the most.
What amazes me the most is how well the music is constructed. Making good music is very hard. And I don't mean catchy music, like pop music, which will stick in your head after a couple of listenings. I mean that the music itself helps to tell the cave story. Just take the main theme for example (the music clip at 14:25). It's not a tune that accompanies the player, but rather an integral part of the whole experience. If you listen to the whole song, then you will get the feeling of 2 voices speaking to one another, having a discussion about what is happening around them and how to fix the problem. For me, the main theme is about our protagonist and Curly Brace. Their relationship to one another and their struggle to reach the true ending. And "On to grasstown" is my favorite song with so much room for interpretation that Viking Guitar made such a badass remix out of it, that the last high guitar note sends shivers down my spine. That's how good it is.
I don’t replay games too often once I beat them, but I have played through cave story a few times, am about to play it again, and can see myself playing again in the future, there is just something special about this game.
Massive respect for sticking to your guns about Nicalis being a douche company. Loved this game as a kid and would have bought Cave Story+ if I wasn't poor as shit at the time it came out.
fun fact: my dad actually helped Pixel and Nicalis fix the European Wii version of Cave Story's sound system, he also played the so called "beta" version of the game back in '04 fun fact #2: Balrog is actually based off a bar of soap correction, my dad worked on the Cave Story website back then, he didn't help Nicalas fix the sound effects for the EUWii version of Cave Story
Honestly its amazing to see that even after all this time, the game is still as relevant es ever. I missed out on the game as a kid, but that just means i get to apreciate it all the more today and am happy to have been introduced to it. Not long ago i started speedrunning the game after falling in love with it completely while watching a friend show the OG version to me and some other friends... TLDR: game gud, blease play (and maybe even check out my super awful speedruns of it....)
*Spoilers* There is a theory that the doctor is Sue's and Kazuma's father, and i never really considered it until now (also explored in Jenka's Story mod) Both Kazuma AND Sue have green hair like him and the doctor has fairly black skin, Kazuma's isn't as dark, but Sue's true skin color IS as shown in the post-credit scene Also, Booster says that Sue was brought along because the whole family went and she couldn't have been left alone, which means that either her father was dead OR that his father went the island with them The doctor is also looking for Sue trough the game specifically, not his brother, not his mother, only Sue, despite her being just a child
I did the true ending once some years ago. It was worth the time invested, I played it in the past not knowing of the true ending however I can still play it over and over. This is the only game I'm willing to speedrun, that's how much this game has affected me. A jewel of my past and present.
For the first time since subscribing a year ago, I skipped ahead to avoid the spoilers. After I finish Pokemon Unbound (which you should 10000% play and review), I'm starting this up.
Since you seem to be into Megaman, I recommend checking out the fanfiction "Guiding Rainbow's Light". It isn't about Megaman himself, so much as about how the world he protects came to be. I often find world building more interesting than Shonen Battle #9001, because it raises interesting possibilities or adds context for why stuff is happening. www.fanfiction.net/s/3387678/1/Mega-Man-Guiding-Rainbow-s-Light
Hi, Gen Z indie fan here. I grew up playing Undertale (I'm 15 years old now) and the last few years of my life have been full of indie experiences such as Hollow Knight (my favorite game), as well as Celeste, Cuphead, Ori, Dead Cells and a couple of others. I recently found out about Cave Story through Epic Games' "15 Days of Games" offer and yesterday I finished it (with the normal ending, of course). I want to provide my perspective on it. I can definitely see how this game has been so viral and influential in the time that it released, especially considering it was free and made by one guy. It was very interesting to see roots of elements from games that I loved, like Hollow Knight and the Ori series. The art and music were honestly fantastic, and the gameplay was quite fun. The story itself really surprised me, especially how it doesn't shy away from killing characters - that caught me off guard in such a cute game! The platforming was good and the variety of weapons was fun to play around with. However I don't think it's completely timeless, you're kinda overpraising it in the video. It shows its age a bit. As someone who didn't grow up with it, it definitely has some gameplay flaws, ones the games that came after it didn't have. Maybe I'm spoiled (I am!) by all of the amazing games I got to grow up with, but certain parts of the game felt a bit chaotic, and I spent way too much time in the level Plantation where I back tracked A LOT. Definitely the weakest level in the game. I'm not saying it's not good, I'm just saying that by today's standards it's not a mind blower. I did enjoy it but I have played far better indie games. But all of the indie platformers I love would likely never exist without Cave Story, so it definitely was very interesting to play through this piece of indie gaming history. If you read all this, well, thanks dude.
Try beating the true ending, hell is ridiculously difficult if you think the boss rush is hard. Also, the only criticism I have is the backtracking in the grasslands, but the graphics are still nice, the soundtrack is amazing, and the game itself offers a fun challenge that doesn't get incredibly difficult unless you go for the best ending
This absolute madman includes BFG division in the video but cuts it at the bass drop. I can't determine if that's worth the excellent bit it's a part of or not.
Be aware Cave Story+ on the Switch is a slightly different and newer version than Cave Story+ on PC. The specific example of carrying all the puppies at once is only in the switch version.
*Is a Gen Z teenager that first played cave story back in 2011 and still goes back to replay it occasionally to this day* (literally yesterday, actually)
I still think that mister Amaya is teaching me about grief with the symbolism of that exchange for the goddess gun. I like how this weapon can make your progress in your "speedrun" easier and achieve that title screen. Unlike if you hold on to it... you definitely must let it go. Move on, acceptance.
Daddy Jacob out here teachin' these kids
I'm like one of like twelve gen z kids who've played cave story
@@brub1738 Im Gen Z, (1997) and I love this game! I played the og and i am playing the remaster rn
I'm so glad I played this game. 10 out of 10. Only a needed of grind lol.
I'm 15 years old but I still played it.
I've been stuck trying to get through hell for 10 years. This sounds like some melodramatic comment about my life, but those who know what I'm talking about, know what I'm talking about.
I remember beating hell once like 7+ years ago, and now i've replayed the whole game and still can't beat hell or win the doctor+core without booster after like a month playing
i have never beaten hell (blood stained sanctuary) with all of my years with the game which is no surprise since i still struggle with last cave/ hidden last cave
I never beat it, but the level design is my jam.
I beat it with a sub 8 time around 9 years ago myself. Just started playing it again recently and can’t for the life of me get past the third phase of the last boss. Idk what it is but age took away my skill xD.
If you're still struggling with this, I just released a video which includes Hell with 3HP on hard mode. Maybe it helps to get through it.
I lived through this shit. I graduated high school in 2001, was on game forums like insert credit during college, and watched the indie scene develop. I beat Hell and got the secret ending of Cave Story on a fucking keyboard 16 years ago. I made a mix CD of the game's music. You did such a good job of explaining what makes this game so special even completely outside the context of its place in history, and listening to you sing the praises of our lord and savior Pixel Amaya made me laugh with tears of gratitude in my eyes.
Me: "Yeah that's pretty impressive ngl, one man made this, that's pretty cool"
Jacob: "THE SPEEDRUNNING COMMUNITY NEVER MANAGED TO BREAK THIS GAME"
Me: "PIXEL IS A GOD"
I play a game cause I like it. A game is a game. I dont care if 1 or 10000 made it. I will give no slack when comparing a game to other games cause of that. It better be good all the same. I'm playing a game for me not to feed some devs ego. Could care less how many people worked on a game.
@@G3RM3X617 ok
@@bloomingreyna you can agree or disagree but just ok means nothing. It doesnt quality as a troll comment either. You serve no purpose.
@@G3RM3X617 ok
@@bloomingreyna 🤣
I literally downloaded and started playing this 2 days ago for the first time. Your timing is bonkers
A story in a cave, idk who cares
I thought Undertale was gonna be Indie Game mohammed
Go to bed
Huzzah
My reaction to the thumbnail: "30 mins of a 20 year old classic covered to death already? Something seems off. "
After his explanation: "I knew it. But I didn't need a reason to unpack cave story again it's like the most important thing to happen to the industry."
Great video
pls review Dave Story next 🙏
Kero Blaster, also made by pixel, while not as epic as Cave Story, is still fun and cute AF
ye
It's pretty good. And I mean, it's a must-buy just to put money into Pixel's pocket, if anything.
I can confidently say curly brace introduced me to Waifu culture.
A man of culture
And by that you mean unhealthy obsession with 2d girls
Same but with Android girls. Very epic if I say so myself.
Android/Robot Girls/Boys are the best, both Quote and Curly are a couple of cuties.
@@_-Lx-_ There is something wrong with you.
It's crazy how the indie devs of this time period were able to create such powerful little brainworm games. I have my iconic SNES and Genesis games that take me back to being a kid on the living room floor whenever I hear the music or see the first level, but games like Cave Story, Shovel Knight, and Undertale have such a grip on my subconscious that it can literally stop me in my tracks at any point. It's like the nostalgia was built in, and I was already in my 20s when I played any of those games.
Oddly enough the most recent game to make me feel that way was Disco Elysium, and that's got none of the early childhood nostalgia triggers for me. I think it's just got something to do with all these games punching you in the gut with simple, pure emotional moments while looping the same catchy music track that makes them feel like they've always been a part of your life.
Anyway, love your videos, thanks for making me think!
looool i literally just started recording my playthrough of Cave Story like 4 days ago, why does it feel like this game is re-entering everyone's conscience at the same time
Blame Epic Games
@@hamedalzarooni442 :0 hamed my dear boy
@@FroMan259 hold up that's you
4:30 this reminds me of the time my grandma bought me the Davecube which could only play super monkey ball
Dave State can suck an egg
5:32 not only that but he made the whole software to even make the music
'Would Link be Link without the green? Probably not.'
BotW Link: cries
Discovering Cave Story is like finding ancient, perfectly working future technology in the middle of a tech renaissance that only produced iphones.
Cave Story is already a 'forgotten' game? God dang it I'm getting old....
Real talk, though, CS is what got me into online gaming, as it was a quality and completely free game (at least the original version) that I could just play over and over and enjoy it anew each time. Heck, it introduced freeware games and game modding in general to me, which was an invaluable form of entertainment when my family couldn't afford to buy me new games. If nothing else, this gem of a game should be appreciate for the sheer accessibility it offered to all, as so long as you had an internet connection and your computer was not a potato you could get and run it perfectly. Outstanding, really, outstanding.
Cave story holds a very special place in my heart.
I first found cave story on the dsi ware, and to say i played it was an understatement. i dumped well over 300 hours on the game
this was one of the few games i 100% completed without any guides. At the time, i didn't have any concept of online chatrooms/forums that discussed how to beat/play games. The journey of discovery i went though was absolutely memorable. i remember spending hours trying to get to the house where you drain curly, and being confused at to what it was for. When i first discovered that you could pick up curly after the 1st core fight with a towrope, i happened to enter that house just for fun, and was absolutely floored when i realized i could revive curly, and was able to meet her again later in the game... i personally cant describe that feeling in words. it opened up a whole new world for me in terms of gameplay. before this, the only games i ever played was pokemon, mario, and mario kart. People take small details like that for granted, but stuff like that for me, a naive child was mindblowing. it set off a trigger to note down EVERYTHING, cause even small things mattered.
that is probably one of my most cherished childhood memories with videogames, and single handedly changed my views of video games even to this day.
Really makes you feel like a story in a cave 10/10
I should have played Cavestory in the 2000s but I never did. I'll have to check it out now. Hell, sounds like Quote (is that his name?) deserves to be the first playable indie character in Smash, given this game's impact on the industry. I'm still pulling for Shantae, but this is one game that sounds like it deserves that recognition even more.
I never knew that this game was a indie developed game released on the internet. I actually thought it was a Nintendo game because I remember seeing the DS version and borrowing a copy from a friend. being confuse when people would talked about it saying its a awesome game, thinking they where talking about the DS version not knowing that they meant the original version.
Gen Z hogs are malding in the chat.
Wait.
I'm a gen Z hog...
I feel like i’m the only one in my friendgroup that knows about Cave Story at all.
That’s bc I bought Cave Story back on DSiware so I’ve known about it for years
Bold of you to assume that I spent money for my "legally acquired" copy of Cave Story+.
This is it, the solution.
@@kernium We shall pirate Cave Story+ until Tyrone "Dickhead" Rodriguez learns to never fuck with the Cave Story community.
The Cave Story community is small, but it's a thousand people, maybe more, against one of the biggest scumbags in the video game industry.
I'm so glad I played Cavestory
I was just thinking about cave story earlier today. and now this appears. Nice.
Dude same, it’s a sign
You hit the nail on the head about Cave Story’s sense of mystery. I was 3 when CS first came out and was content with the flash games I played as a small boy so I never discovered CS that way.
But when I got my 3DS and browsed the 3DS eShop I came across the page for Cave Story. (Not Cave Story 3D btw, that was a physical only release.) Anyway all there was on that page was a drawing of Quote, three screenshots, and an ominous paragraph describing Quote awakening in a cave with no memories. It mesmerized me.
To this day CS is my favorite game of all time. I have it’s OST on my phone thanks to the Cave Story fan site. And every few months I break it out again to do another 100% run. Whenever someone asks me about the game I immediately default to telling them that it’s free and they should play it.
I really wish for Cave Story to be in the spotlight again one day to remind people of its legacy. It might never happen but who knows, maybe Quote’ll appear in Smash Brothers one day. A man can dream.
Cave Story is so good, when I found a Nicalis booth at Eurogamer Expo (2018?), I spent a good chunk of my time there beating the game.
Cave Story+ was given away for free on the Epic Store last month. It's the only reason I downloaded the Epic Store because I've wanted to play the game for years and I'm not one to turn away from a free game offer.
normal cave story is free
Sure, we didn't have steam and stuff back in 2004, but at least in europe we had icq where you called your friends by numbers instead of names and virtually punched llamas together.
As a guy hoping to make a game eventually, I kinda HAVE to play this now... Not that I wouldn't anyway because that shit looks awesome.
It definitely is :)
How big is that "eventually"?
@@Testgeraeusch haha
ha
W h y w o u l d y o u m a k e m e s u f f e r t h i s w a y ?
@@thelegend8570 You're not the first "I'll make my own game with blackjack and hookers" I've come across. The first few never made agame, but one of them has written a compiler for his own language, bootsrapped it and then written an operating system with it... so yeah, never give up i guess.
@@Testgeraeusch I mean, everyone has to have a dream, right?
I know I'm in the minority here but I always thought Dave story was underrated, possibly even the superior version.
Did you get the Alvin and the Chipmunks DLC?
"There is no "Itch""... I've choked in this part.
Good review. IMO You forgot something important. Retro 2D games were a thing of the past when Cave Story came out. Nobody was making games like that anymore, and it seemed like they never would. Pixel changed that.
Been looking for more longform reviewers in the style of Mandaloregaming that talk about non-mainstream and older game titles in depth. The irony that I found you through your Cyberpunk video is not lost on me, but I'm glad I found you!
Hey, a new Cave Story video in my recommendations just as I start my most recent Cave Story binge obsession. Nice.
16:47 The Switch version made it so you could carry multiple Jellyfish Juices and Dogs in the Sand Zone.
I just want to let you know that after watching your Cyberpunk 2077 video I’ve become a big fan of Wingnut Dishwashers Union
On the flip side. my dad was actually surprised that I knew what Cave Story was when I mentioned enjoying it.
You grimy man, don’t lump me in with those fools! I’m part of the knowing few who recognized the video game!
yes, i played the freeware in 2019 and i didn't stop playing it 24/7 until i finished the game
OMG THAT BLEW MY FUCKING MIND!!!! The cave story, undertale thing
19:22 you just shit on all of Samus' alternate suits huh?
Honestly i agree
The secret level of this game if one of the hardest section in gaming I have ever beat.
Cave Story + was given free on Epic Games Store, I played Cave Story back in the day like(2007ish), and I've been meaning to replay it. The only thing that's stopping me from playing Cave Story + though is that they remove Balrog's Huzzah line and I don't think I can do it with out it
I definitely feel you on the final final boss of the game...
Your style has really developed man, this and the cyberpunk reviews were amazing. Always look forward to your vids.
There is a way to cheese the final secret boss ballos' final form. You take damage from the spiked floor, and use the invincibility frames to fly up into his eye and use the super rocket launcher to nuke him for a quick fight. It's not game breaking but it does save about a minute.
"You having a party?"
I feel so seen by this video. Been telling all of my Gamer friends about this for years.
i pirated this game when it was like 2015, a "watch culture" video showed it and i knew i wanted to play, ever since then i had loved the game, my friends dont know what it is and dont care, i had not seen any quality videos dissecting the game, this led me to believe that this was some small gem. 2020 i am older and more appreciative of games, epic games store had cave story for free, i knew i had to play, so i played and got into the game again, i saw this video and i am so glad i got to hear that this game it not only well known but appreciated, thank you for giving me closure for this game, knowing how well loved it is makes me really happy, thanks for the video, it was a genuinely good video.
19:01 Saving this timestamp because this whole tirade is fucking hilarious, well done
The Undertale/Cave story parallel blew my mind!
20:20 Me, who has played this game no joke around 50 times if not more and has played with every single item and weapon: *ABSOLUTELY FUCKING YES*
Pixel: develops and releases an indie title for free that goes on to be an all-time classic, a true labor of love
Epic Games Store: releases Cave Story+ for free in order to get your sweet, sweet user data
pst, keep it between us but....
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the epic copy is apparently drm-free; you don't really need the launcher to play, just download.
So what? Even if that was the case, which it isn't. You're data has been banked, bought and sold countless times over already.
@@acidfruitloops Well aware of that
My poor ass is gonna head to a w e b s i t e thank YOU
The fact that you call the xp pieces Doritos makes me really happy, since I called them doritos in my plays of the game
I remember playing this in early high school and not engaging much with the narrative but I still remember how much I enjoyed that game just bc of the tight gameplay, music, and spritework. Great video. What a blast from the past.
Never seen you before, but my recommendations know this is my favorite video game, so here we are now.
Great video. I love watching people talk about this game so many years after I first played it.
Your discussion about the story being one where the heroes are struggling and almost always losing is something I somehow missed this whole time. There was just something captivating about the deceptively simple story, and I think you cracked the code.
Removing the rose tinted glasses, I'm able to see a few more flaws in the story and game design, but my opinion is largely unchanged after all these years. I only wish I could experience playing the game for the first time again. I'll never forget the time I first reached the Outer Wall and was hit with the first glimpse of the outside of the island, the beauty of the pixelated moon shining on the thick layers of clouds beneath us while listening to Moonsong, gut-punching us with its mystical and melancholic tone.
I don't believe I will ever have an experience like this game ever again.
It drives me up a fucking wall when people insist that Undertale "made indie games popular". Cave Story is one of the most influential and important games of its era, an ageless classic that deserves more respect than it gets
FR
i love cave story i played the wii ware version when i was younger
This changed the whole indie revolution
Guess I cant ignore seeing this game anymore.
Played Cave Story on DSi in like 2010, loved it, got the regular ending. I immediately wanted to find out how to get the true ending, but never did. I think I'm going to download it on my PC and give it another go once I'm done with Pathologic 2.
I really wanted to thank you for this Jacob. I've played Cave Story some 4 or 5 years ago and I really liked it but I think even if I WAS aware it was the work of one person and found it impressive I didn't realize HOW EXTRAORDINARY this game really his. So thank you for re-contextualizing it for us and explain how grateful we should be it was made
I First played Cave story as a demo on the Wii when I was five or so, (yeah I'm young) and I kinda just forgot about it for like 6 years, until my brother bought Cave story + For the switch, and It looked so fun, so I wanted to play it, but I had no money, and then my brother mentioned that it was free on they're website, and said it was the original, one, and I played the game, and It is one of the best games, I have ever played, The story, The sadness, and how all of the pieces of the lore match-up, after a while, Its just so good, I'm glad I played the original one first, but my god, when I say, I cried, I mean it. This game is the most important indie game ever, and the story, about the person who made it is just amazing, I love Cave story and yes I may be only 12 , This game will be on my favorite games of all time list, till the day I'm 6ft under
Great video. People really need to be more aware that this game exists and that its just amazing. I would say that the best free way of playing Cave Story is the CSE2 source port... Or it WAS the best way before Nicalis DMCA'd that into oblivion, that coincidentally happened a few days before the "+" version was free on EGS, Isn't that interesting? Almost as if it was planned. The freeware version is still really good though, but I guess installing some mods to make the resolution a little bit more modern is a good way to enhance the experience. Also props for putting the unused "Pier Walk" song around half-way in the video, This is the first time im hearing it in a Cave Story video [That's not about the beta].
Great video. This game will always have a special place in my heart, and since I'm the only one of my friends to have played it, the strange aura around this game that you described is just as relevant for me today. I remember playing this on DSi back in the day and "finished" the game (the bad ending) after transferring it to my 3DS. I got so frustrated at the Labyrinth levels that my old 3DS still has a little dent on the start button where I bit it out of anger.
You're hilarious. Cave story is so damn good you guys. Yes the gameplay is fantastic but I can't think of a game with more oldschool charm. Everything is so fitting for it, it is more than the sum of its parts.
Cave story was one of the first times a game made me cry. And you're right the story on paper is silly and stupid. But the core concept of never giving up. It stuck with me when I was a kid.
Quote might be a blank slate fit the player. But I think that's what hits the most.
I remember being 16 and finding this game and loving every minute of it. I still listen to the soundtrack quite often as it's so damn good.
I was eating food in my car while watching this video. The SSRI prescription joke made me spit my chilc fil a put on my steering wheel.
What amazes me the most is how well the music is constructed.
Making good music is very hard. And I don't mean catchy music, like pop music, which will stick in your head after a couple of listenings.
I mean that the music itself helps to tell the cave story.
Just take the main theme for example (the music clip at 14:25). It's not a tune that accompanies the player, but rather an integral part of the whole experience. If you listen to the whole song, then you will get the feeling of 2 voices speaking to one another, having a discussion about what is happening around them and how to fix the problem.
For me, the main theme is about our protagonist and Curly Brace. Their relationship to one another and their struggle to reach the true ending.
And "On to grasstown" is my favorite song with so much room for interpretation that Viking Guitar made such a badass remix out of it, that the last high guitar note sends shivers down my spine. That's how good it is.
Fuck fuck fuck! Which UFO Podcast Jacob??? I’m in desperate need of more ufo podcasts. Super serial
If you're desperate, then you know all the ones I do
RIP our strange skies
I don’t replay games too often once I beat them, but I have played through cave story a few times, am about to play it again, and can see myself playing again in the future, there is just something special about this game.
Got this game free in the Ebic Game Store
Never tried it, so good call Jacob on this review
I wouldn't say that subverting tropes is automatically good writing but not having ass pulls or any form of deus ex machina is.
@Starless Yes but the majority of the time they are not. I just couldn't think of a way to phrase it that way that sounded good.
A Cave Story review in 2021, I couldn't be happier youtube remembered I love this game and reccomended this to me.
"cave story....under tale" :O
Jacob should change his handle to ‘King Midas’ because everything he touches turns to absolute gold- Keep up the solid work homie!
Massive respect for sticking to your guns about Nicalis being a douche company. Loved this game as a kid and would have bought Cave Story+ if I wasn't poor as shit at the time it came out.
fun fact: my dad actually helped Pixel and Nicalis fix the European Wii version of Cave Story's sound system, he also played the so called "beta" version of the game back in '04
fun fact #2: Balrog is actually based off a bar of soap
correction, my dad worked on the Cave Story website back then, he didn't help Nicalas fix the sound effects for the EUWii version of Cave Story
Actually never heard or seen this game before. Sounds good though, i will try it
I should love it, but I don't. Not sure why (besides getting bamboozled by the conditional triggers).
Idk if I’ve ever felt as seen in a RUclips video as you literally explaining exactly what my 2004 was including the grade I was in.
4:24 ooof, i feel you there
I once asked for Mega Man Zero for my GBA, but then I got F-Zero instead
ehhh, thanks ma
You deserve so many more subs than you have. You’ve got some of the best reviews I’ve watched in all my time on this site
Honestly its amazing to see that even after all this time, the game is still as relevant es ever.
I missed out on the game as a kid, but that just means i get to apreciate it all the more today and am happy to have been introduced to it.
Not long ago i started speedrunning the game after falling in love with it completely while watching a friend show the OG version to me and some other friends...
TLDR: game gud, blease play
(and maybe even check out my super awful speedruns of it....)
Oops, I accidentally released a timeless masterpiece
*Spoilers*
There is a theory that the doctor is Sue's and Kazuma's father, and i never really considered it until now (also explored in Jenka's Story mod)
Both Kazuma AND Sue have green hair like him and the doctor has fairly black skin, Kazuma's isn't as dark, but Sue's true skin color IS as shown in the post-credit scene
Also, Booster says that Sue was brought along because the whole family went and she couldn't have been left alone, which means that either her father was dead OR that his father went the island with them
The doctor is also looking for Sue trough the game specifically, not his brother, not his mother, only Sue, despite her being just a child
At 7:19 , I was sure there was a skillshare plug inbound. Wouldn't mind you using a sponsor either. You make great content.
I did the true ending once some years ago. It was worth the time invested, I played it in the past not knowing of the true ending however I can still play it over and over. This is the only game I'm willing to speedrun, that's how much this game has affected me. A jewel of my past and present.
For the first time since subscribing a year ago, I skipped ahead to avoid the spoilers. After I finish Pokemon Unbound (which you should 10000% play and review), I'm starting this up.
The only reason I havn't went back to playing Cave Story is because I cant get through the absurd nail to the groin boss rush.
It's pretty easy once you master it, hell is much, much more difficult. Also, use your life pot if you aren't going for the best ending
Would you mind reviewing the playable chapters of Critters for Sale? I think that it's something up your alley.
I loved this game for 7 years and i remember one day and thats today. Then i searched this on yt ,i found this video . Video is pretty cool
This is the first video of yours I’ve seen. Very funny and good video!
Since you seem to be into Megaman, I recommend checking out the fanfiction "Guiding Rainbow's Light". It isn't about Megaman himself, so much as about how the world he protects came to be. I often find world building more interesting than Shonen Battle #9001, because it raises interesting possibilities or adds context for why stuff is happening.
www.fanfiction.net/s/3387678/1/Mega-Man-Guiding-Rainbow-s-Light
Hi, Gen Z indie fan here. I grew up playing Undertale (I'm 15 years old now) and the last few years of my life have been full of indie experiences such as Hollow Knight (my favorite game), as well as Celeste, Cuphead, Ori, Dead Cells and a couple of others. I recently found out about Cave Story through Epic Games' "15 Days of Games" offer and yesterday I finished it (with the normal ending, of course). I want to provide my perspective on it. I can definitely see how this game has been so viral and influential in the time that it released, especially considering it was free and made by one guy. It was very interesting to see roots of elements from games that I loved, like Hollow Knight and the Ori series. The art and music were honestly fantastic, and the gameplay was quite fun. The story itself really surprised me, especially how it doesn't shy away from killing characters - that caught me off guard in such a cute game! The platforming was good and the variety of weapons was fun to play around with. However I don't think it's completely timeless, you're kinda overpraising it in the video. It shows its age a bit. As someone who didn't grow up with it, it definitely has some gameplay flaws, ones the games that came after it didn't have. Maybe I'm spoiled (I am!) by all of the amazing games I got to grow up with, but certain parts of the game felt a bit chaotic, and I spent way too much time in the level Plantation where I back tracked A LOT. Definitely the weakest level in the game. I'm not saying it's not good, I'm just saying that by today's standards it's not a mind blower. I did enjoy it but I have played far better indie games. But all of the indie platformers I love would likely never exist without Cave Story, so it definitely was very interesting to play through this piece of indie gaming history.
If you read all this, well, thanks dude.
Try beating the true ending, hell is ridiculously difficult if you think the boss rush is hard.
Also, the only criticism I have is the backtracking in the grasslands, but the graphics are still nice, the soundtrack is amazing, and the game itself offers a fun challenge that doesn't get incredibly difficult unless you go for the best ending
Alone for that description you deserve a like lol
the exp weapon thing is genius design to this day
This absolute madman includes BFG division in the video but cuts it at the bass drop.
I can't determine if that's worth the excellent bit it's a part of or not.
Be aware Cave Story+ on the Switch is a slightly different and newer version than Cave Story+ on PC. The specific example of carrying all the puppies at once is only in the switch version.
Gratz on 50k my dude
*Is a Gen Z teenager that first played cave story back in 2011 and still goes back to replay it occasionally to this day* (literally yesterday, actually)
I still think that mister Amaya is teaching me about grief with the symbolism of that exchange for the goddess gun.
I like how this weapon can make your progress in your "speedrun" easier and achieve that title screen.
Unlike if you hold on to it... you definitely must let it go.
Move on, acceptance.