Cave Story

The Good
In my youth, every game was an adventure, every nook and cranny was explored over and over again, every aspect of the game was thoroughly enjoyed and I must have played my first ten or so games 50 times or more. Maybe this was because the games really were that good, that it's not just nostalgia, but that the games really were better back in the days. Then again, maybe not. Maybe it was simply because I as a kid couldn't afford new games more than two or three times a year, and living in a small town with no internet (hey, this was in the 80s), trying out new stuff wasn't really an option unless one of my friends somehow got hold of a new exciting game that we'd only read snippets about in those rare foreign video games magazines. Thus games like Metroid and Zelda were played over and over (and over) again. Going back to try to relive those moments in 2005 does little else but leave a sour aftertaste in my mouth, and another of those fond childhood memories destroyed forever.

Enter Doukutsu Monogatari. For this is the first time since Another World and Flashback that I can sit down with a ridiculous smile on my face and just enjoy the sheer fun of a fantastic platform adventure. Doukutsu Monogatari more than lives up to the memories of the fantastic 2d platform adventuring of the 80's, if fact this game outshines them all. This is, simply put, awesome. The graphics are great, the music is great, the controls and story and the FEELING is great. And if you think the game is easy to solve (it will take you about six hours), then there's a harder game mode that is not accessible through any menus, but by doing things a little differently on the second (or third) time through. I will, however, not spoil any of the fun by saying how, but when was the last time your actions in a platform game actually affected how the story develops further on? I can't even think of a pure adventure game where this was possible.

All in all, a fantastic game...and it's free, so there's no longer any excuse for not playing this. And spread the word.

The Bad
The "down" key is used for opening doors, talking to people and examining stuff, normally the "up" key would be used. This might take a while to get used to.

The Bottom Line
If you miss the old times, or if you simply want something that is fantastically fun and beautiful, and that lasts a while (Doom 3, anyone?), the Doukutsu Monogatari is perfection.