[PC] Spelunky

[Fuyumine]

I know what you're thinking: "Spelunky? Caves? Is this another one of those Cave Story rip-offs?" Well, it does involve caves and cave exploration. It does, like Cave Story, feature adventure and platforming, but is it a rip-off of Cave Story? Absolutely not. It's an entirely different game with several nods to Indiana Jones, and it is AWESOME! Indie game developer David Yu's Spelunky is a windows based action platformer that had me skeptical at first, but won me over after 80 unsuccessful run-throughs. No, really.

There ain't much of a story aside from the fact that you play as a trilby wearing, leather-jacket sporting, whip-toting badass that is exploring this cave in search of riches. And if there's a damsel in distress he'll save her. Maybe. If he's in the mood. I mean, he can't hold a gold statue and a broad at the same time. He's got priorities, you know.

The gameplay is your classic action platforming gameplay that you'd find in all classic platforming games. It was a tad — a tad — difficult to get the hang of at first, but once I knew where I could jump, how far I could jump, et cetera, things got easier and, more importantly, fun. The game doesn't slack in the difficulty department either. Like I said before, I ran through this game 80 times (it counts...) without winning a single game. Sure, I'd gotten up to level 8, but that was on try number 70-something. It's hard, man. But it's not pull your hair out, break-your-monitor kind of difficult, but enough to make you go "Dammit!" and happily try again.

And if you actually beat this game, I bow to you. There's no trial and error in this game, meaning you're not going to run into the same level consecutively. You die on the first level and have to start over? The first level will be different the next go 'round. That's what I love about this game. It makes you rely on skill rather than memory.

As you run through levels you pick up stuff like gold, which you can spend in shops that pop up every other level. And the cool thing about that is that you don't have to pay for a damn thing, dude. Oh, you want those bag o' bombs? Go ahead and take 'em! The shop owner is going to pull out a shotgun and try chase you throughout the rest of the stage, but go right ahead! One instance, I had picked up a shotgun and shot the shopkeeper with it and went about my merry way. Hehehe.

You can also use things like bombs and ropes, and other things like bow and arrows and pistols and a myriad of other awesome stuff to help you get through the levels. Not sure if this counts as a power-up, but if you find a "damsel" and save her, you'll get an extra life. That's a good a power-up as any, I say.

The graphics use a retro 8-bit style that is easy on the eyes and lush with color. It's not the best I've seen in this style, but it's still pretty effin' good. But in the end, you're not going to be playing this game for graphics, you're going to be playing this game because it is fun and addictive as hell.

I highly recommend this game for anyone that calls themselves a fan of classic platform games. It's just super freakin' fun. It suffers from a few flaws as far as the platforming, which will keep it from getting a perfect score, but they're fairly easy to adjust to. I would suggest playing this with a gamepad, it'll be much easier on your patience. Download this game! It is free, and it is awesome!

- Chris U.

[BlackJack]

I'm downloading it now.

And what? No awesome tag?

[Sephiroth]

this my friend looks like one of the most epic games I have seen you give us.....

[Fuyumine]

It's awesome, man. I played it some more today, and I still haven't beaten it, dude. I think I did... 120 games? No fuckin' wins. LOL, but it's addictive as hell, man.

Oh, and I found a "kissing booth" in the game, and if you kidnap the girl the booth owner pulls out his shotgun and blasts you. xD It's so awesome.