Cave Story Plus

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 199 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 155 out of 199
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 199
  3. Negative: 9 out of 199

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Zeta
    Apr 1, 2012
    10
    Starting off, the player may not be too thrilled with the story, as it isn't until some digging has been done that all is revealed to the player. This version has been given an overhaul in the graphics department, bringing the indie classic into a 16/32-bit style. There are three versions of the critically acclaimed soundtrack to choose from, including the new 3DS arrangements. TheStarting off, the player may not be too thrilled with the story, as it isn't until some digging has been done that all is revealed to the player. This version has been given an overhaul in the graphics department, bringing the indie classic into a 16/32-bit style. There are three versions of the critically acclaimed soundtrack to choose from, including the new 3DS arrangements. The gameplay takes what gamers loved about classics such as Metroid, Megaman, and Castlevania and wrapped it into a delightful package.

    Truly a love letter to an age of gaming long since past, and simply one of the best games ever made.
    Here is a game that is sure to withstand the test of time.

    I do not, however, recommend this game to people who don't like fantastic/catchy music, old school gameplay, or charm in their video games.    … Expand
  2. Tashy497
    Dec 29, 2014
    10
    If you've put off playing this game, you must put off putting off. This game is bloody fantastic.... has the charm of older generation games, but it's not dated, it holds up and will probably hold up for many decades to come. It's one of those games that you'll want a sequel as soon as you beat it. There's some underground methods of playing this game so I only wished I researched thisIf you've put off playing this game, you must put off putting off. This game is bloody fantastic.... has the charm of older generation games, but it's not dated, it holds up and will probably hold up for many decades to come. It's one of those games that you'll want a sequel as soon as you beat it. There's some underground methods of playing this game so I only wished I researched this (originally not worrying about spoilers) because you'll have to start from scratch to go the intended route... even after replaying I still enjoyed it.… Expand
  3. jcdoll
    Jan 15, 2012
    10
    Absolutely awesome. One of the best games I played this year. If you like 2d platformers or grew up playing SNES (e.g. Mega Man, Metroid, Castlevania) you'll love this.
  4. Weapon0fCho1ce
    Jan 25, 2012
    10
    Cave Story is a return to a simple time of simple pleasures in all it's pixelated beauty. Very reminiscent of NES platformers like Metroid and Megaman, it is exemplary proof that adventure platformers can still hold up in a world where games are populated with chest-high walls and health regeneration. set on an island in the sky, the player controls Quote, an exploration robot who has lostCave Story is a return to a simple time of simple pleasures in all it's pixelated beauty. Very reminiscent of NES platformers like Metroid and Megaman, it is exemplary proof that adventure platformers can still hold up in a world where games are populated with chest-high walls and health regeneration. set on an island in the sky, the player controls Quote, an exploration robot who has lost his memory. Upon meeting the Mimiga, a race of small humanoid-bunny-like creatures, he soon learns of an evil scientist's plot to harness the power of the Mimiga to build his own personal army. Each stage has fantastic music sure to stick in your head long after you've completed the game. With different difficulty settings, hidden weapons and powerups, Cave Story Plus will keep you coming back for more.… Expand
  5. Liquid_Blue7
    Mar 17, 2012
    10
    8-Bit in its full fledged glory. I don't even like retro games yet this one was so flawless in every aspect that i couldn't resist. Not only that but its free.
  6. DoctorMedic
    May 17, 2013
    10
    It's worth ten dollars. I know that when I'm buying this game, Pixel's getting a cut of the money. I can't wait for his next project, Gero Blaster. 10/10 diamondium comets.
  7. 95LeD
    Aug 15, 2012
    10
    People tend to say buying this game is like paying 10 euro for poor expansion of already free game. If you feel like that it's okay, but paying is not actual buying game. It's saying "thank you" for the great work made then and now, it's also getting a little gift in return. If you see no point in buying it, play free version. If you love it you'll come back. Cave Story is very addicting,People tend to say buying this game is like paying 10 euro for poor expansion of already free game. If you feel like that it's okay, but paying is not actual buying game. It's saying "thank you" for the great work made then and now, it's also getting a little gift in return. If you see no point in buying it, play free version. If you love it you'll come back. Cave Story is very addicting, fast-paced game mixing various game styles. It reminds of old games back then when boss fights were epic, challenging and unusual. Cave Story keep that rule too, you encounter many bosses and dozens of enemies on your way.… Expand
  8. KingMob4313
    Aug 21, 2013
    10
    A metroivania game with tight controls to rival the best of the 16 bit age, an awesome soundtrack and a story that hits you in surprising ways, I cannot recommend this game enough. Truly stellar.
  9. Keychain
    Nov 1, 2013
    10
    A masterpiece. A simply amazing experience with little to no flaws. Cave Story provides action, adventure, a great story, intense boss battles, amazing soundtrack, loving characters, great level design, and so much more. It is by far one of my most favorite games of all time, and I would recommend it to anyone.
  10. fabio77
    Jun 26, 2014
    10
    If you are an old gamer like me, you'll like this game A LOT!!!
    It's short but has a high replay value (more endings and secrets to unlock).
    Awesome
  11. NoodlePsychosis
    Jun 21, 2020
    10
    This game just does it for me. The charming visuals, catchy music, fun gameplay, varied weapons, visually and mechanically diverse levels all come together to make something extremely satisfying to play. Its also fun even in the non-gameplay sections with great characters and an engaging story, that can be surprisingly dark in some parts.

    Sure some flaws could include how the best    This game just does it for me. The charming visuals, catchy music, fun gameplay, varied weapons, visually and mechanically diverse levels all come together to make something extremely satisfying to play. Its also fun even in the non-gameplay sections with great characters and an engaging story, that can be surprisingly dark in some parts.

    Sure some flaws could include how the best ending is needlessly convoluted to achieve, or how the game has an obvious difficulty spike near the end, but I found the bosses so fun to master that I didn't mind it that much. I like challenge in my games, and this one was pretty fun to figure out,

    This game is ported to almost every Nintendo console ever since the Wii, which warms my heart to see new generations continually get the chance to experience the game. Sure there are incredible blockbuster's like Witcher 3 out there, showing everyone revolutionary levels of world design and story can be. But this game focuses on the simple joys of jumping and shooting. And when its this good and fun to replay, I find it really hard to complain. There's not a single soul I wouldn't recommend this game to.    … Expand
  12. MurBle82
    Dec 5, 2020
    10
    Some flaws could include how the best ending is needlessly convoluted to achieve, or how the game has an obvious difficulty spike near the end, but I found the bosses so fun to master that I didn't mind it that much.

    The charming visuals, catchy music, fun gameplay, varied weapons, visually and mechanically diverse levels all come together to make something extremely satisfying to play.
  13. Anatra
    May 8, 2022
    10
    I loved this game. Ost and graphic are awesome, one of my favorite arts style, and with a high difficulty, I spent hours playing it.
  14. Jotamide
    May 31, 2012
    9
    This game has it all: great art style, simple controls, fun boss battles, interesting story, multiple endings and lots of unlockable content. Not for nothing is the king of indie games...long live the king!
  15. Howrus
    Nov 26, 2011
    9
    If old sprite graphics doesn't scare you - then this is very good game to play. it's Metroid-like 2-D adventure with huge map, hidden locations, power-ups that allow you to reach new locations and etc. Plus funny Mimga!
  16. wololooo
    Mar 12, 2012
    9
    The stellar solo project of Dasuke Amaya gets a semi-remake, with a graphical overhaul and tons of new content. Cute, mysterious and addictive, Cave Story holds its place as one of the greatest platformers of all time.
  17. SylarHRG
    Mar 6, 2013
    9
    Got it for $2.50 on a steam sale. Totally worth it, BUT, make sure you are playing with a controller. Keyboard controls are klunky and a little bit annoying. With that being said and reading some of the reviews, I had no idea there was an original or what the "plus" entailed when I purchased this game. All I know is that my $2.50 has gone a long way, a hell of a lot further than aGot it for $2.50 on a steam sale. Totally worth it, BUT, make sure you are playing with a controller. Keyboard controls are klunky and a little bit annoying. With that being said and reading some of the reviews, I had no idea there was an original or what the "plus" entailed when I purchased this game. All I know is that my $2.50 has gone a long way, a hell of a lot further than a starbucks coffee would.… Expand
  18. mrnice
    Jul 21, 2012
    9
    (The original version is free!) This game is an all-out classic and inspirational work by an individual. You will experience a journey, an adventure of great imagination and originality. Like the animated movies of Miyazaki this is a masterful and ingenious Asian gem that can only hopefully be exposed to a wide international audience. Get it for free (yay internet) if you don't care for(The original version is free!) This game is an all-out classic and inspirational work by an individual. You will experience a journey, an adventure of great imagination and originality. Like the animated movies of Miyazaki this is a masterful and ingenious Asian gem that can only hopefully be exposed to a wide international audience. Get it for free (yay internet) if you don't care for updated graphics and soundtrack.… Expand
  19. asmodeos
    May 23, 2012
    9
    Incredible throwback title. Old school console on the pc, by a guy from nintendo. Im stuck on the last level, but its just my old reflexes! The multiple endings are simple and suave.
  20. upi
    Jan 15, 2013
    9
    Cave Story's charm lies in it's polished platforming, great pacing and an ability to connect with the player on an emotional level. You start out a stranger to a world, without instruction or introduction, but before long you will get involved with the world and it's characters a lot more than you'd expect from 2D platformer.
  21. Claytality
    Mar 31, 2013
    9
    I was on the fence about buying this game but I am so glad I did. Never played the original Cave Story but this game was AMAZING. So much content for such a low price, a game this good would have cost $40 back in the day. Good story, good platforming, great action, great exploration make this game one for the ages. I believe a critic said it best with "the best nes/snes game neverI was on the fence about buying this game but I am so glad I did. Never played the original Cave Story but this game was AMAZING. So much content for such a low price, a game this good would have cost $40 back in the day. Good story, good platforming, great action, great exploration make this game one for the ages. I believe a critic said it best with "the best nes/snes game never released". No loading times, no queues, good music. Ability to choose when/if you upgrade your weapons during the story is nice. Although I beat it in about 7 hours, I replayed it 2 more times to get the other endings/weapons. Multiple difficulties if you aren't so great at old-school platformers like me Ability to change controls helped a lot on keyboard.… Expand
  22. MatthewTheDark
    Nov 27, 2012
    9
    Well, here it is. The king of Indie Games. A classic game with an amazing story, fun gameplay, and a good level of difficulty. So what exactly does the + version add? Sadly, not as much as $10 would be worth considering the original was free, but I got the game for $2.50 via Steam sale so I'm willing to let it slide. After all, this is still the Cave Story we've all come to know and love.Well, here it is. The king of Indie Games. A classic game with an amazing story, fun gameplay, and a good level of difficulty. So what exactly does the + version add? Sadly, not as much as $10 would be worth considering the original was free, but I got the game for $2.50 via Steam sale so I'm willing to let it slide. After all, this is still the Cave Story we've all come to know and love. Considering what they've added, I suppose the extra modes and the game itself gives it what seems like an amazing amount of replay value than your average game. However, left alone the additions seem like you're getting less bang for your buck if you buy it for the price it asks for. Then again, the game is still there. All its wondrous secrets, all its sublime gameplay, all its charm, all its great story and the price is easy to look away from due to the quality of the game itself. I highly recommend this game, despite its asking price for not many additions.… Expand
  23. ninja_dolphin
    Jul 16, 2013
    9
    Cave story is a fantastic throwback to the NES and SNES days with near perfect design, memorable music and a great style. The game has a great amount of challenge that will test your gaming skills and has a mysterious and intriguing story. Only real problem I had with this game was the occasional difficulty spikes in bosses combined with a few far apart save points. Overall a fantasticCave story is a fantastic throwback to the NES and SNES days with near perfect design, memorable music and a great style. The game has a great amount of challenge that will test your gaming skills and has a mysterious and intriguing story. Only real problem I had with this game was the occasional difficulty spikes in bosses combined with a few far apart save points. Overall a fantastic game that will be considered a classic for years to come.… Expand
  24. Norlanzt
    Apr 18, 2022
    9
    It's a good remastered for the original. It removes the 50 fps cap. Same story with additional modes.
  25. 3ls0ul
    Mar 7, 2023
    9
    Este juego aún no lo eh jugado o completado, así que pondré una reseña y nota diferentes cuando lo haga.
  26. tech-noir
    Apr 11, 2012
    8
    Cave Story+ is a famous Japanese independent game that was originally released as freeware with a fan translation. This re-release offers a choice of playing with the original graphics and music, or the remastered graphics and music. Whatever your choice may be, the game is a well done fanfare reminiscent of the classic platform games on the NES and SNES. The keyboard controls takes someCave Story+ is a famous Japanese independent game that was originally released as freeware with a fan translation. This re-release offers a choice of playing with the original graphics and music, or the remastered graphics and music. Whatever your choice may be, the game is a well done fanfare reminiscent of the classic platform games on the NES and SNES. The keyboard controls takes some getting used to even though they are simple to learn, but you do have the option of rebinding the keys and using a gamepad. The plot is comparable the well established lore of yesteryear by being invited to save people and rid a world of evil. The enemies are stereotypically Japanese in design, as well as the overall game mechanics and boss battles. Some of the dialog can be slightly amusing and sometimes charming, but this once again, does not steer too much away from what we have grown accustomed to enjoy from the 80s and 90s console eras. The difficulty settings can be adjusted to your liking, and they each provide an adequate challenge depending on what option you have decided to go for. The power-up system rewards the players who go out of their way to collect dropped items from downed foes. Switching between each weapon rapidly can be tricky, but this does not hinder the player from enjoying the changes, as adapting comes somewhat quickly through your progress. The different weapons acquired throughout the game are all quite useful and play very different from each other. As you change between them, there is much satisfaction shooting down your enemies and conquering bosses. While the storyline is reminiscent of past decades, it is surprisingly unique, in addition to flowing and developing well. This appealing plot provides the player with plenty of entertainment for many hours as you progress through the story. After tougher areas or tougher boss battles, your weapons' levels go down quite a bit as you take damage, and gathering the necessary drops in order to get them back to full power can be a chore. Cave Story+ is full of retro charm, from its game play style to its artistic inventions. There is very little to complain about, as I cannot think of any serious flaws. The resolution settings do not allow for true full screen, as black borders will be placed at the sides. The platforming elements in conjunction with the shooting can sometimes take some skill and getting used to, especially in high action sections. Some portions of the game (namely some bosses) become quite frustrating, no matter what difficulty setting you are playing on. This forces the player to redo a part of the game again in order to face the same boss (or bosses). Each repetition is about five minutes or longer, which constitutes of a problem to me, as dying with certain bosses occurs often. It is a game that may not be for everyone if the genre is not to their liking, but overall, it is quite the accomplishment, especially if you keep in mind that it was designed entirely by one single person, and achieves such positive results. The music is nothing short of superb. It embodies all that was great from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras and makes it exceptional and complementing to the game's presentation and plot. There is also a considerable amount of replay ability, as there are unlockable game modes and four different endings. If you love platform games with shooter elements, this is a must play. If you are unsure about the genre, you owe it to yourself to give this indie classic a try. It took me about 7 hours to complete.… Expand
  27. BasilZero
    Jun 1, 2013
    8
    Cave Story+ is a pretty good 2D platformer which takes elements and aspects from different types of other genres such as shooters, RPG and action games. The game has a sarcastic eastern tone to it with a few internet meme references along with the fact that the game uses audio and a art style which was common in the 1980s and 1990s but is unique now. The game's storyline and charactersCave Story+ is a pretty good 2D platformer which takes elements and aspects from different types of other genres such as shooters, RPG and action games. The game has a sarcastic eastern tone to it with a few internet meme references along with the fact that the game uses audio and a art style which was common in the 1980s and 1990s but is unique now. The game's storyline and characters will make you enjoy your experience along with the sheer difficulty some of the levels and areas of the game will bring to you. Get this game on Steam while it is hot with the price it will be depending if its summer or winter. You will not regret the purchase of this game at all.… Expand
  28. noppy_dev
    Jan 23, 2013
    8
    A good game, but just a graphics update of the original cave story. It may be cool, but just get the original one instead of paying money for something that you can get a lot of the content of and like half of the graphics for free.
  29. cidgrad01
    Dec 30, 2013
    8
    I’m pretty burnt out on the whole indie retro fad but I enjoyed this game. Where I think a lot of these retro games go wrong is when they implement shoddy controls like the NES games of yore. That makes it not fun to play. I’m pleased to say that Cave Story has excellent controls, though, and is a lot of fun to play.

    This reminded me of old NES games such as Metroid but felt like an    I’m pretty burnt out on the whole indie retro fad but I enjoyed this game. Where I think a lot of these retro games go wrong is when they implement shoddy controls like the NES games of yore. That makes it not fun to play. I’m pleased to say that Cave Story has excellent controls, though, and is a lot of fun to play.

    This reminded me of old NES games such as Metroid but felt like an improvement because it controls so well. The final boss fight was a challenge to beat, but not because it was cheap or frustrating. It was merely difficult and required some skill to get through.

    I wish more retro games would stick to Cave Story’s formula and go with fun over frustration as a game mechanic.    … Expand
  30. LPmariiio
    Nov 7, 2013
    8
    This game was really fun to play through. Awesome characters, nice story and atmosphere and also good controls. The levels are nicely designed and all in all it's a great game.
prev
Page:

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. PC PowerPlay
    Feb 29, 2012
    90
    An indie classic on par with Braid or Limbo. [March 2012, p.50]
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Feb 27, 2012
    70
    Retro fun at its best – catching story, long life span, absorbing playability and beautiful visuals. The only disadvantage is the old freeware version which is almost as good as this improved one. [Jan 2012]
  3. Games.cz
    Feb 8, 2012
    80
    Cave Story+ is quite an engaging, an entertaining, even nostalgic experience if you are inclined to be swept over by a wave of nostalgia. An ideal game for everyone, who is longing for classical times of video games, and who is not ashamed of it.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »