I am not well versed in the Nintendo classics. Super Mario World and Super Mario 64 are the only two I ever beat. In fact, two is probably a significant percentage of the total number of my game conquests. Not a single Zelda is on that list- I would always get bored about halfway through, thinking, “Oh, another puzzle filled dungeon.” For Metroid is was more, “Oh, look, it's this same room again- with the same enemies.” My attention span is rather terrible when it comes to single player games. Thus, it is quite strange that I found myself enamored with the Metroid-inspired Freeware title Cave Story. It's a rare adventurous romp bursting with character, great mechanics, and (despite its lineage) individuality.
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Grotto Fable is a side-scrolling-action platformer. This means you enjoy two dimensions: up/down, and left/right (though technically you also have Time, but I think physics is still hazy about that.) You also shoot things. With energy, fireballs, missiles, swords, and even bubbles. As things die from fatal cases of getting shot, they drop health, missiles, and golden sparkly triangles which, when enough are collected, elevate your arsenal to new heights of awesome-opossum. The machine gun is pretty much all you really need, but the other weapons are useful for taking advantage of the level design to safely destroy dangerous foes. And fully upgraded missiles can utterly devastate a boss in moments.
The point to your zealous crusade against all things? There is an evil doctor man, and he is giving evil drugs to cute dog people. If that isn't reason to switch to full-auto and duct-tape the trigger, than I doubt your humanity. But don't let my simplistic summary fool you, Cavern Tale subtly pulls you into its engaging narrative. It employs few characters, sparse dialogue, but in those few conversations you gain friends and find purpose in continuing your battle against evil. I found myself coming back to the game constantly, eager to see what was next, to save the day, to be the big hero.
The game captures you. How many commercial games have managed that of late?
Accompanying your adventures in Den Epic: A stellar sound-track of old-timey MIDI music. It's awesome. It's never annoying, and partners perfectly with the charming pixel graphics. Yes, everything is sprites, but the smoothness in which they move creates a wonderful feel. The enemy movement is excellent and varied, the bosses are legendary, and your character moves through the game world as an extension of your immortal soul. Everything is crisp, sharp, and shining from enough polishing that similar efforts on a lover would result in premature marriage proposals.
There is little negative to say about Spelunking Anecdote: and that is a return of the classic Metroid repetitiveness. Enemies respawn upon returning to a map, resulting in the same fights numerous times. Several of the bosses are fought again and again (though the attack patterns change.) And finally, a few of the areas become quest hubs, and you will find yourself running back and forth over them. In any commercial game, I would call it out as the same plain laziness that infests all classic Metroid titles (which many gamers inexplicably love) and games of similar ilk. However, this title was made for damn free, and it's amazingly fun, and it's only imitating the failures of the past like a son-turned-father smacking his own annoying brat.
Cave Story is a pinnacle of game design. It exhibits a creative talent every game company should be fighting to recruit. It's free. You owe it to yourself to play it.
