The most astounding thing about the original Cave Story wasn't its quality, but its mere existence. The PC title was a pure solo effort on the part of Daisuke "Pixel" Ayama, with all aspects of production handled by him over a five year period. Compared to that level of dedication, the quality of the game almost seems an afterthought. But now, Cave Story has been remade for the 3DS, with a larger team and much better production values, and the contemporary-level sound and graphics prove that Cave Story 3D isn't just an ambitious game, but an exceptional one as well.

Cave Story's roots were in 8-bit adventure games like Metroid and Castlevania, and anyone who enjoyed those games will immediately fall in love. However, Cave Story 3D goes beyond that old-school aesthetic and delivers a surprisingly complex narrative. Players are cast as the boy robot "Mr. Traveller" (his actual name left unrevealed until the ending), but they know nothing about him, other than the fact that he just woke up in a dark cave. From there, they explore a vast series of inter-connected caverns and find themselves thrust into the role of hero, protecting the cute and fuzzy Mimigas from the genocidal plans of a mad scientist. Not only is this story far deeper than the cheery designs would lead one to believe, but the world is full of hidden corridors and extra paths, including choices that determine wether or not beloved supporting cast members live or die.

Cave Story 3D doesn't deviate from the original story, and it plays almost identically to its predecessor. The major difference is in the graphics and sound, which are completely revamped. Since part of the original's charm was in its retro appearance, some fans might be concerned that the game would be reduced by 3D graphics. Fortunately, the new details enhance the experience. The character models themselves are still simple and cute, but the environments have received an exponential increase in detail. Levels that were once confined to a limited palette now feel like entire worlds unto themselves, with all manner of crags, crannies, and character details. This is especially apparent upon activating the 3D effect, where the stereoscopic caves almost suck attention away from the main 2D action.

Unfortunately, the greatest competition for Cave Story 3D is itself. While the 3DS version is much more immersive, the eShop still has the original Cave Story as an 800 Point ($8 USD) downloadable title. The 3D version, on the other hand, is a $40 USD retail cartridge. The game is good enough that Cave Story veterans will want to buy a remastered version, but those unfamiliar might wish to start with the less expensive version. Of course, Pixel's solo masterpiece is good enough that most players will want to see it get this definitive 3D treatment, so you might as well just go straight for the 3D version.

GameDynamo's Score for Cave Story 3D (3DS)

	Score	Description
Graphics	95	The retro classic has been remade as one of the most beautiful games on the 3DS. The caverns are characters unto themselves, remastered with intricate detail and personality.
Sound	85	The original chiptunes have also been enhanced with more powerful sound systems, while retaining their retro charms. However, the lack of voice acting is disappointing, as lines like ineffectually sympathetic mini-boss Balrog’s “Oh Yeahh” beg to be spoken.
Gameplay	92	Though the game hasn't been substantially updated, it still offers an excellent design, and it's extremely fun to explore the caves while upgrading your character from a barely-armed weakling to a walking tank.
Play Value	85	The game itself can be beaten fairly quickly, but the amount of secrets is staggering, and the story is complex enough to merit multiple playthroughs.
Final Score	90	While some may balk at paying the full price for a game acquired more cheaply via download, this is the definitive version of Cave Story, and fans of classic side-scrollers should not miss out.

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