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Wii Warm Up: Huzzah!
Okay, you guys have probably figured out that a couple of Wii Fanboy staffers are enormous fans of Cave Story. I happen to think that it's completely brilliant, and a better game in terms of presentation, control, music, level design, story, and characterization than just about anything else -- and yes, that includes games that are sold for money. Judging from these off-screen videos, the WiiWare version (developed by Nicalis, home of Knytt creator Nifflas! How perfect is that?), is quite faithful except for the music. We'll have to wait before judging that too harshly. In any case, Pixel is getting my money. I still hope he's involved in this port in some way.Are you guys up for paying money for a formerly free game? What do you hope to see in the "expanded content?" Is anyone out there just discovering the original game as a result of the announcement of the WiiWare version?
Cave Story on WiiWare 'this holiday season' with new 'content and features'
Tucked inside a press release straight from Nintendo of America comes the downplayed news that Cave Story – the Japanese freeware cult-classic – is coming to "Wii this holiday season" via the console's often dubious WiiWare service.But it's not just a straight port, oh no. The indie Metroidvania title will have "new, exclusive content and features created only for the WiiWare version." No word on what those are, what Cave Story will cost or, really, when "this holiday season" it'll be available to play. But, hey, if you've got a "computer" at home, you can play it today. Without waiting. Or paying "money." Download Cave Story (1.5MB)
Cave Story coming to WiiWare this year
Okay, we thought we had seen the best possible announcements out of Nintendo. Sin & Punishment 2. Punch-Out!! We were so spectacularly wrong. Buried unassumingly in Nintendo's press release about the conference is confirmation of a WiiWare release of Cave Story.If you're not familiar with Cave Story, we're very sorry. Also, it's a freeware PC game created by one designer named Pixel; we happen to think that the tile-based action/platformer is the best example of the "Metroidvania" genre ever created -- better than Super Metroid, better than Symphony of the Night. And now it's going to be on WiiWare by the end of the year with "new, exclusive content and features created only for the WiiWare version."We desperately hope it's Pixel himself doing all the creating, but in any case, this is the best news ever and we're going to go roll around on the floor.
The dirt on Cave Story DS, Cave Story-engraved DS
Praised by almost everyone who's played the freeware PC title, Cave Story is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the "Metroidvania" genre, a polished action platformer embellished with endearing characters and a catchy soundtrack. No matter how many times we're reminded of the fact, it always astounds us that the game was designed and developed by a single programmer, Daisuke Amaya, or Pixel, as he's more commonly known. As you might should know, homebrew developer Ravenworks has been working on a DS port for Cave Story. As it turns out, however, Pixel doesn't own a Nintendo DS, so it would be unlikely that he'd be able to play the port once it's completed. In fact, he hasn't owned a handheld or home console since the Nintendo 64! Isn't it a crime nowadays for gamers in Japan to not own a Nintendo DS?To keep Pixel out of jail, Ravenworks and the rest of the "All Things Studio Pixel (ATSP)" LiveJournal community raised $410 and put together a care package of handheld treats as a "thank you" for the DS-less developer's work. Here's everything the group purchased and sent: Onyx Nintendo DS Lite system (laser engraved with Cave Story characters and a message that reads, "Thank you") R4 cart with 2 GB microSD (for playing Cave Story DS! and perhaps DS development one day?) DS carrying case Mother 3 Game Center CX So, how did Pixel take to the package? You can read his reaction, as well as the community's reasons for picking those two particular games for their offering, past the post break! We also used this effort as an excuse to catch up with Ravenworks on Cave Story DS's progress. %Gallery-22693%
New Cave Story: DS demo released, pants soiled
With the approval and source code of Cave Story's father, Pixel, homebrew developer RavenWorks has spent the past year porting the indie classic to the DS. We've called the PC title to your attention before, praising it as one the most charming and polished titles we've ever had the pleasure of playing. The project was originally bound for the GBA, but RavenWorks eventually migrated his code and rewrote the graphics engine to take advantage of Nintendo's new hardware. Current plans for the touchscreen include a map display and a "tap-to-switch-weapons interface" (accompanying L/R weapon switching).Cave Story: DS's newest demo allows you to explore the game's levels and mess with NPCs, its memorable soundtrack playing all the while. Though scripting, weapons, and many other features haven't been included yet, we're just happy to see that progress is still being made on the port. Make sure to download the demo and let RavenWorks know that his efforts are appreciated!If you don't have the homebrew tools necessary to test this early build, we have a few screenshots for you to preview in our gallery. You can also disguise yourself with a Mimiga mask and sneak past the post break for some shakycam video we dug up.%Gallery-4284%
