Some regional release sagas roll on and on, with publishers on tight budgets or with limited resources sometimes deciding not to jump through the hoops for ratings and approval in Europe and Australia, particularly. One example has been running for so long that those asking for it gradually forgot to complain any more — Cave Story on the 3DS eShop. It arrived in North America on 4th October 2012, and now it has a release date for Europe.
As you can see in the tweet below, Nicalis has given a 1st May release date for the region.
Later in the publisher's timeline they were inevitably asked about Australia, and confirmation was given that a rating had been attained — no firm date given as yet.
Pricing will be revealed soon, yet this does mean that arguably the best version of the game on Nintendo hardware is finally arriving outside of North America. Are any of you in Europe and Australia still hyped about this one?
Comments 66
I've been hyped since this game came out on DSiWare in the US!
It's about time since the boxed version goes for stupid amounts. Will pick this up soon after release.
Man I should have gotten a couple dozen of the boxed versions before their price shot up :/
(they're a completely different version to the one getting released on the eShop though)
Its about f****** time how does it even take two years.
YES YES YES!
I'm really happy you guys finally get to enjoy the game! Is this seriously the first Cave Story to come to Europe?
This is fantastic, though I do wish they'd also release Cave Story 3D as a download version. I'd probably rather play that version of the game, but unfortunately it costs £60-£70 for a UK release. And seeing as none of that goes to the developer, I'm not inclined to buy it. Will definitely pick up this release come May 1st!
HHHHHiiiiiiiiiiiiAAAAAAAAAAA !
HOW ! WTF ! How come Nicalis finally waked up !
I would love to buy this, but I've already got the original for free on PC, and although it may sound cheap of me, I don't really wanna buy what is essentially the same game - late! A shame, though!
@allav866 No, it's not the first time. We're able to buy it on the Wii Store here in Europe. It is the first time we get in on the (3)DS, though, so that's cool.
I'm still waiting for Shantae: Risky's Revenge to come out here...
And you think you had a hard time waiting for SMB3 America
Aleluya!!
@GloverMist Although the base game is essentially the same, I believe the Eshop version is the equivalent of Cave story +, which does have a good bit more content than the original pc version.
Wow! Imagine being able to have access to the same digital catalogue as the rest of the world! It's like it's the year 2000 or something!
Yes!
And here I thought Nicalis would just let it die behind the curtains. Good to see they didn't!
Now I wanna know what happened to their plans with the eShop version of Yatagarasu.
@GloverMist @KeyMastar I'm pretty sure the eShop version has the Wind Fortress as an exclusive area, so the purchase wouldn't be wasted in any way.
Is this really happening? Oh thank GOODNESS.
@Kaze_Memaryu
Yatagarasu was renamed to "Legend of Raven" and moved to Vita, PS4 and XBone. The 3DS version was ditched.
Tsk, cancelling a 3DS version AND giving it a terrible name? Nicalis just lost me.
@Kaze_Memaryu @KeyMastar Oh, cool! Thanks for the advice! I'll probably at least consider checking it out!
What is this version of Cave Story based on ? The original or the Cave Story+ PC one.
Excellent News.
My 'library' of games will have to keep growing
I might have to lose a decade of my life playing them all
@Frapp Haha!! Nice One
@unrandomsam More or less CS+. It doesn't have the enhanced graphics from the WiiWare version, or the Machine Gun Challenge or holiday themes from the Steam version, or the New or Remastered soundtracks, but everything else is there, plus the Jukebox from the DSiWare version, widescreen view, and the 3D layering.
ok, so ive always wondered and maybe someone here knows, i have the physical copy for 3ds. i thought that would be the best one, it looked like it had better graphics than the download version. am i missing anything by not getting the download one? is it different or better? im in NA by the way. thanks in advance to anyone who can clear this up for me.
Already have the boxed version. It's such an amazing game though so i might pick it up again.
Cave Story is one of my favorite games of all time. Hope you guys enjoy it.
nope, don't believe it.
Well that's nice and all, but I ended up playing Cave Story+ on the PC over a year ago. While it is one of my favourite games, I don't believe this is the + version so I wont be rebuying it.
@allav866 - Nope, luckily the best version is on the PC, and that's been out for years. Cave Story 3D at retail, although rare, did also release in Europe.
@GloverMist - I don't think refusing to buy the same game on another platform can ever be considered cheap.
Just FYI, the eShop listed price is £6 - a steal!
Too late. Not buying it because it has taken them FAR too long.
I find this similar to SMB3 in NA. A highly rated game, that has been released and rereleased in several formats finally making it.
I guess it would be better if you finally get SMTIV, as there is no other format for you to play it.
I would love to play this one. I wanted to play it when the release was announced over a year ago, and I still want to play it. The delay may have been ridiculous, but I'm still stoked!
I COMPLETELY forgot about this.
First time I'm getting this game too!
Best game ever on the 3DS!
@allav866 Just read something saying every version other than the original freeware version and the Steam one is really buggy. (And the Steam one has worse text than the original). It needs to be perfect for me to want another version especially this late in the day.
Congrats you guys! Drinks for EVERYONE ON ME!
Glad to see EU getting this, finally. Haven't indulged it myself in the states as of yet, but once my backlog gets shorter I might have to check it out now.
Nice one not played this yet.
It's about damn time! I've been wanting the extras features in this that aren't in Cave Story 3D for ages.
Even though I kinda want to boycott this for making us Europeans wait this long, I won't be able to resist buying it.
Cave Story is my religion. i live and breathe this game. it makes me happy when i'm sad. i love cave story, and i thank it for the life i've been given. hopefully the European audience will enjoy it as much as we in the US do!
conglaturion!!! europe!! you finally get cave story 3ds eshop edition!!!
@HappyHappyist @PLATINUM7 so what is the difference between the physical copy of cave story 3d and this download version?
And people in North America complain when a game comes out in Europe and Australia like a week before them...
Wow, just wow. I thought Nicalis has quietly shelved this in Europe. What is their actual official excuse for the massive delay? I'm sure I've read something on here before where they were complaining about Nintendo Europe making it difficult (?) for them but it's strange how very few (any?) other E-shop publishers seem to have any notable problems....
I have seen the other Cave Story 3DS on shelves here in Australia for years though; it's only this eShop version that's taken so long.
I have seen the other Cave Story 3DS on shelves here in Australia for years though; it's only this eShop version that's taken so long.
this is the "clone" of the dsiware version for the 3ds shop right? definitely the most solid version of all of them (besides the PC, because "huzzah")
@sinalefa
Agreed, I would much rather hear news about SMTIV. I've been able to play cave story for ages.
I bought this game agea ago when there was a real bad 3ds game drought. Its amazing. Im glad its on eshop so that people dont get ripped off buy gready barstewards whi sell it for crazy prices on ebay.
Cool, but since I already have this on my US 3DS I think getting this again would be kinda pointless even if the game is top 10 game of all time material.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!
@3dcaleb The 3ds eShop version of the game is CaveStory+, the retail version isn't. between the two, you would prefer CS+, because it's cheaper and has more bang for your buck... (i've got all the ports though, i'm not ashamed of it either. CS is my love and life.) if you haven't played the game, CS+ is the way to go.
@3dcaleb
The physical version has completely remade 2,5D polygonal graphics and rearranged music, and looks like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUVLyT1xtmw
The eshop download version retains the original pixel art and chiptune music, with stereoscopic 3D depth applied to the visuals, not unlike Mutant Mudds, for example, and it looks like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJbAs-sSX4A
Also, it includes two extra -and very difficult- optional areas not present in the original freeware release (Wind Fortress and Nemesis Challenge).
If you ask me, this is pretty much the best version of the game currently available.
@GeminiSaint Best one is the Steam one (With the text back to the original freeware text). It has the Wiiware updated visuals. All the soundtracks (Including the one from the retail 3D one) and content. The original text is the best.
Glad to see it cong to Europe, love the 3D retail version, but have thought of updating my DSiWare version eventually
@unrandomsam
That's actually debatable. Both translations are equally fine in my book. I have no preference in that regard. As for the visuals, yes, Steam has the updated graphics from WiiWare version, but lacks the stereoscopic layered 3D from the 3DS eshop version. So it's sort of a tie. In the end, it really just depends on whether you want to play it on a PC or on a handheld console.
@Windy: Time to lift your Nicalis ban now, eh buddy?
@HappyHappyist @GeminiSaint
ok well i already have the physical version, and i love it. but really what im wondering is, is it worth getting the download version just for the wind foretress and nemesis? cause i dont remember them from the game so i dont think they were in the physical version that i have. and is that the only difference in content/levels between the two?
nice! I will buy it on sale! =)
@3dcaleb
Well, it depends. If you enjoyed the retail version of the game and are willing to play a version that's graphically much closer to the author's original vision (original graphics and music), and also includes a couple of new, super challenging areas, then go ahead.
A note on Wind Fortress and Nemesis Challenge: These two areas are not incorporated into the main game. They are accessed from the main menu instead. Also, they are hair-pullingly hard (especially the second one).
@3dcaleb me personally, i prefer the 16-bit style graphics over the [imo] ugly models in the retail version. The download version is quite gorgeous, and I think worth the price of admission alone.
The additional content is a great bonus, but i honestly didn't touch it that much, just me though. Like GeminiSaint said ^^^above me there, they're incredibly difficult. if you like bonus content in games, you might have spend lots of time though, but i'm not one for things like "challenge mode" or "boss gauntlet." if you are, you'll have a ball.
@GeminiSaint @HappyHappyist
cool. well thanks alot for all the info both of you. might just have to get it sometime soon.
Got the downloadable version.
On Wii.
Then on 3ds.
Then I discovered there was a boxed version and that it was hard to find.
Got that too. Only 3ds cart I've got.
Still haven't killed Ballos.
But I've enjoyed everything so far.
The hell has frozen over. Only took 15 months after the American eShop release.
Now if only we could get the other ones missing like Ikachan which I would buy instantly. I already have Cave Story in Steam and in Wiiware so won't really be needing this 3DS version. Hopefully 1001 Spikes will release in EU the same year as USA.
Will the Cave Story 3D someday appear in the eShop as well since the cartridge version was never really sold openly anywhere at least in Europe?
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