Cave Story...in 3D! (In more ways than one...)

Developer Nicalis and publisher NIS America are teaming up to bring a 3D remake of Cave Story to 3DS, simply titled Cave Story 3D.

Cave Story 3D takes the original title and remakes it entirely, shifting from the game's classic 2D sprite design toward a more modern 3D-modeled game. The game will still retain its 2D gameplay, thereby making Cave Story 3D a 2.5D game, of sorts. This allows the game's backgrounds to be affected by the Nintendo 3DS's display, adding to the world's large, organic design.

A comparison of the WiiWare and 3DS protagonists

The game is being worked on with the supervision of Cave Story-creator Daisuke Amaya, or Pixel. The original Cave Story was released in Japan for free in 2004, but in the past year, the game has seen a revamped graphical release on WiiWare in March 2010 and a DSiWare port this past November. Like in those projects, any art asset or musical change goes through Pixel for clearance before being implemented into the final product.

Concept art of the starting cave

Beyond the graphical and musical recreation, Cave Story 3D will include sections and gameplay elements unique to the game. When originally creating the game, Pixel had cut a number of locations and a couple elements from the final product, but in Cave Story 3D, the extra game content will be brought back to create a fuller, richer experience. Furthermore, Pixel says that the reception of this game could dictate whether Cave Story will see a full-fledged sequel in the future, despite his statements prior removing the possibility of more Cave Story.

Cave Story 3D is still early, but Nicalis and NIS Ameica expect to see the release in early summer of this year, close to the end of the "launch window" for the new Nintendo handheld.

SOURCE (and interview): GameSpot GamesRadar

WiiWare Demos Overview #2

Last week, Nintendo debuted demos for WiiWare titles. It appears as though every week, a new demo will be released, and from then on, the demos have a month to do as much as possible, but some demos will last longer if they are given high enough rankings on the Nintendo Channel, if BIT.TRIP developer Gaijin Games is to be believed.

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Cave Story

Developer: Studio Pixel
Publisher: Nicalis
Original Release: March 22nd, 2010
Price: 1200 Wii Points

What is it?
Cave Story is a side-scrolling shooter adventure title developed by one man: Daisuke Amaya. Originally a PC adventure, the game is revised and improved on the Wii, complete with upgraded visuals and music (with the option to switch either back to their older renditions). Players assume the role of a young boy waking up within a dark cave, only to end up in the midst of a conflict between a race of creatures called Mimiga and the nefarious Doctor bent on world domination. Over the course of the game, players collect a number of upgradeable weapons and face a number of intense boss fights fit for any retro gamer. The game's weapons are upgraded by items dropped by enemies, but watch out: if you are hit, you lose those upgrades!

What does the demo have?
According to Nicalis head Tyrone Rodriguez, the demo contains roughly twenty minutes of the main game. The demo begins with our hero falling from the sky and landing amid two quarreling Mimiga in Mimiga Village, and the demo continues through Egg Corridor (and maybe more, though I have my doubts). Players can run through the demo with the new and old assets and at one of three difficulty levels.

How does it compare to the full version?
The full version contains many more environments to traverse, including Bushlands, a sand-covered wasteland, an ancient labyrinth and more. Besides a much larger arsenal of weaponry, the game provides players with special abilities earned over time. The game also has three different endings depending on what the player does over the course of the adventure, and the full product contains three bonus modes: a boss rush, a time attack more for the final area, and a mode which swaps the main character with another protagonist.

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Previous Games:

11.22.10 - And Yet it Moves / BIT.TRIP FATE / Jett Rocket / ThruSpace

Cave Story to DSiWare

Unveiled through a Nintendo Power preview, Nicalis will be bringing Cave Story to DSiWare in the near future.

The details for the title are scarce as the announcement came from the upcoming Nintendo Power's preview of the issue. What is known is that the game will be the entire Cave Story adventure, with the map and menu accessible on the bottom screen. The game has received the blessing from Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, the original creator of Cave Story, just like the WiiWare version released earlier this year.

The DSiWare version is already completed and undergoing final testing phases internally before being submitted for Nintendo's approval. A release is not set as a result of potential problems in this stage.

Nicalis producer Tyrone Rodriguez had previously made mention that the company was working with Pixel on expanding Cave Story to other venues, and it appears that DSiWare may have been one of those outcomes. There is no telling if other products from Pixel will be coming in the future or not, but it might be safe to assume at least one more Pixel title will be coming to some platform in the future courtesy of Nicalis.

Nicalis is an independent developer and publisher formed in 2007 focused on creating highly entertaining products, usually alongside other independent publishers to bring their work onto consoles and handhelds. The company's sole release thus far is Cave Story on WiiWare, which launched in the US this past March. The European release is still pending. Nicalis is also working with Nifflas on NightSky, a puzzle platformer with a unique silhouette design, and Nigoro which has been developing La-Mulana, a massive adventure title expected for release this year.