Cave Story walkthrough

 - Bubbline (aka Bubbler)

L1 > L2: 10 EXP

assembly hall in Mimiga Village and putting out the fireplace there.  It's

Story.  It has a lot of potential use at Level 3 but is otherwise pretty under-

whelming.  It has an ammo supply of 100 which regenerates on its own slowly.

Level 1: Shoots very short-ranged small bubbles forward.  Up to four onscreen

at once.  Extremely slow ammo regeneration. 1 damage.

quite a bit.  Much faster ammo regeneration.  2 damage.

Level 3: Now, this is where things get interesting.  Holding the fire button

barrier.  After a few seconds they'll pop and send out a small bolt of

electricity which travels straight across the screen wherever you're facing.

pop and release bolts.  This can be used as either a shield weapon or a unique

projectile.  3 damage (up to 45 total if you can hit an enemy with all 15 bolts

 - Blade

Very powerful weapon given to you by King at a certain point in the story.  Its

strong enemy or boss's face) and it has a short range, but the damage is huge

Level 1: Throws a small spinning blade forward.  Only one onscreen at a time.

Level 2: Throws a large sword forward.  Much shorter range than level 1, and

still only one onscreen at a time.  This level is unique in that it is

entire game if used correctly.  Against powerful enemies or bosses, if you're

the enemy or boss.  18 damage.

Level 3: Launches a spirit of King imbued within the sword.  The spirit will

disappears halfway across the screen or hits something.  If he comes in contact

with an enemy or projectile, he'll stop and let loose a huge area-effect of

slashes all over the place.  Though Level 2 is potentially more powerful, Level

many of the smaller slashes as possible.  Since MAX is 0 exp from Level 3, this

weapon will always level down if you take any damage.  The damage from the

 - Nemesis

Special weapon of great strength that can be obtained by trading King's Blade

to Mister Little.  The weapon is unique in that levelling it up outright causes

levels.  Luckily, this also means that taking a hit from just about anything

will guarantee resetting it to Level 1, at which point it's at its strongest.

Overall, it's probably a more similar weapon to the Polar Star than anything

else, even the weapons that you actually trade the Polar Star for.  Infinite

velocity and great damage.  Only two onscreen at once, but the velocity is so

great that you can generally shoot it very rapidly regardless.  Did I mention

it pierces?  12 damage.

attain.  I kind of wish this were more powerful than Level 1 given how

difficult it'd be to keep the weapon at this level, but it's not the case.

"Polar Star Level 4" if there were such a thing.  6 damage.

it's too bad you couldn't possibly have it until very far in the story.  It

launches rubber ducks that travel extremely slowly, it's worse in every way

than the Polar Star Level 1 except for equal damage.  1 damage.

 - Map System

room you're in.  The map is tiny, doesn't show your current position and has a

unviewable, so it's of very little use except collectibility.

 - Silver Locket

An item found in the fishing hole to the west of Mimiga Village.  It triggers

 - Arthur's Key

Found at Arthur's grave in the Cemetary.  Use it to access Arthur's house, at

 - ID Card

Found in Egg #06 in the Egg Corridor.  Use it in Egg #01 to open the barrier to

 - Santa's Key

The key to Santa's house that he dropped to the east in the Bushlands.

 - Rusty Key

A key Kazuma found in the room he's stuck in.  Gives access to the Power

 - Gum Key

Another key conviniently located in Kazuma's captivity room.  It opens up the

 - Jellyfish Juice

the ceiling a bit east of Santa's house that only appears after talking to

Chako.  Use it to put out fireplace fires; it's also one of three components

needed to create a bomb.  It's the only Key Item you can receive more than

 - Chako's Rouge

Some red lipstick.  Obtained by examining Chako's fireplace before you obtain

then sleeping in her bed while she's standing there.  It has no use, other than

 - Charcoal

A lump of charcoal found by putting out the fireplace in Santa's house.  It's

 - Gum Base

Bushlands.  It's one of three components needed to create a bomb.

 - Bomb

A bomb crafted by Malco, in the Power Generator Room of the Bushlands.  Use it

to blow open the door of the building Kazuma's trapped inside.

 - Curly's Panties

Found in a hidden alcove behind the wall in the bedroom of Curly Brace's house

in the Sand Zone.  They have no use, other than proof that you really, really,

REALLY like robots.  If you own both this and Chako's Rouge, you are officially

the most envied man in Cave Story!  Okay, I made that up.

 - Hajime

A dog that stays in Curly Brace's bedroom in the Sand Zone.  One of Jenka's

five missing dogs.  He's the leader of the bunch.. or so he claims.

 - Mick

One of Jenka's dogs.  He's supposedly an adept treasure hunter, and loves to

sleep in treasure chests.  What he does with the contents is anyone's guess.

Found in a chest at the end of a hidden path between the Sun Stones and Jenka's

 - Shinobu

Another of Jenka's dogs.  He has poor vision so he prefers to stay in dark

places.  Found in an abandoned house at the end of a hidden road that begins in

 - Kakeru

Yet another dog of Jenka's.  He loves bones and has buried them all over the

place.  You can find him at the end of the sand-bottomed section of the path

 - Nene

A beautiful dog, the only female of the group.  She sleeps all the time, and

 - Life Pot

Restores all of your HP when used.  It can only be used once, and there are

 - Turbocharge

receive this for free from the Gaudi shopkeeper, Chaba, in the Labyrinth.  It

 - Clinic Key

up and west from the Camp.  Obtained from Dr. Gero, the physician in the Camp.

 - Arms Barrier

Halves weapon EXP lost when you take damage.  Found the top part of the Camp,

Unless you took the Machine Gun, you'll have to come back to this area with the

 - Cure-All

A pill found in the abandoned Clinic in the Labyrinth.  It supposedly has the

ability to cure anything.  Give it to the Physician in the Labyrinth Camp.

 - Booster v0.8

A jetpack that can be equipped and unequipped from the inventory menu.  Once

it's equipped, press and hold Jump while airborne to launch upward for a few

moments.  Can only be used once in the air until you hit the ground again.

 - Booster v2.0

midair if you press the jump button.  If you want this instead of the Booster

falls down by leaping just at the red marker on the ground.  It's required if

 - Tow Rope

you didn't take the Booster v0.8).  It was used by the robots who came to the

 - Curly's Air Tank

Given to you by Curly Brace after the events at the Core.  With it, you're

 - Alien Medal

damage.  It's engraved with an image of Ikachan, the hero of a game named after

himself that was Studio Pixel's previous work before Cave STory.

 - Whimsical Star

if you talk to him with the Spur weapon in your posession.  It will cause small

 - Teleporter Room Key

in the pools at the bottom of the Plantation.  You'll need to talk to Kanpachi,

the fishing Mimiga, to help you get it.  Use it to unlock the room just west of

 - Sue's Letter

You'll find this stuffed in your inventory after you wake up inside the jail.

It's a leeter from Sue explaining a lot of what's been going on as far as the

story that you've had to just piece together by this point.  It also contains

 - Mimiga Mask

A head covering that looks just like a Mimiga.  Wearing it will allow you to

speak to the Mimiga in the Plantation who aren't allowed to speak with humans.

 - Broken Sprinkler

A broken water sprinkler from the Plantation.  Useless by itself, but can be

 - Sprinkler

It's new... isn't it?  This can be taken back to Momorin in the Plantation Safe

 - Controller

technician.  Too bad he's a big fat coward.  Obtained from Itoh after giving

 - Mushroom Badge

Useless item given to you by Ma Pignon in hopes you'll leave him alone.  I hope

 - Ma Pignon

Mystical, ultra-rare mushroom that's said to restore people's memories.  Has a

well.  Found in the small storage room above the Mimiga Cemetar.

 - Mister Little

This guy's very, very hard to see and has gotten himself very, very lost.  At

It's said he is the proud owner of the world's most splendid gun.  Has a

 - Medal of the Red Ogre (aka Clay Figure Medal)

Proof of the warrior who's finally able to put an end to the Red Ogre.  It's

 - Heart

Looks like a nice fat heart.  Dropped by enemies, it floats in the air wherever

that enemy was destroyed.  It heals 2 HP.

 - Heart Bundle

Looks like a cluster of three hearts.  Dropped by enemies.  Heals 5 HP.

 - Missile

A missile that's dropped by enemies and hangs in the air.  Restores one missile

 - Missile Bundle

A set of three missiles dropped by enemies.  It restores three missile launcher

 - Small Energy Crystal

 - Medium Energy Crystal

A larger flashing yellowish triangle that drops from enemies.  It gives five

 - Large Energy Crystal

 - Life Capsule

A short tube with a flashing heart inside.  Raises your max HP by anywhere from

 - Weapon Energy Capsule

A short tube with a flashing triangle inside.  If you break this, energy

crystals will spill all over.  It has 2 HP.

 - Treasure Chest

Small orange chests hidden all around Cave Story.  They hold all kinds of

 - Save Disk

Looks like a red, spinning floppy disk.  Press Down in front of it to get the

option to save your game.  If you choose to retry after you die, you'll revive

 - Refill Terminal

Restores all of your hearts and Missile Launcher ammo instantly.  What it

doesn't tell you is that it also refills all your ammo for all weapons that use

it back to full, such as the Bubbline and Machine Gun.  Looks like a computer

 - Missile Expansion

This triplet of missiles looks like a Missile Bundle pickup, but it's only

found in treasure chests.  It permanently increases your Missile Launcher's

ammo capacity by five.  Once you have the Super Missile Launcher, these appear

 - Dog

- 3-02  Upgrade Locations -

capsule.  Some of these are possible to miss.

 - First Cave: In plain sight as you descend toward the Polar Star, on the left

wall.  +3 HP.

 - Mimiga Village: Found in Yamanshita Farm on the top of Mimiga Village.  Head

to the far right, it's in the small pool.  +3 HP.

 - Egg Corridor: At the very beginning, you have to drop down to the left just

 - Egg Corridor: Go through Cthulhu's Abode and out the top door.  Jump left.

 - Bushlands: Just past where you found Santa's Key, go east to a set of two

horizontal rows of star blocks, jump on them and to the left.  +5 HP.

 - Bushlands: In the Execution Chamber, the tall building with the skull on it

to the right of Kazuma's shack.  +5 HP.

 - Sand Zone: East of Curly's House and past the Sun Stones, it's in the top of

the first thick pillar made up of star blocks.  Try not to blow up all the star

blocks when fighting the Polishes to create a path and reach it.  +5 HP.

 - Sand Zone: At the end of the hidden path behind a pawpad block on the far

right wall between the Sun Stones and Jenka's house, behind a line of star

blocks.  Found next to a chest containing one of Jenka's dogs.  +5 HP.

 - Labyrinth: Nestled next to the left wall of the first room of the labyrinth

when you're sent there, a ways up into the room.  +5 HP.

 - Plantation: Sitting on a platform hanging from the far upper-left ceiling.

 - Plantation: Talk to the puppy that appears on the left platform just under

the red skull signs on the top right section of the Plantation after Momorin's

finished the rocket.  +5 HP.

 - Sanctuary: Bonus life capsule.  Found in plain sight as you make your

initial descent.  +5 HP.

These each give +5 Max Missile Launcher Ammo.  Your max ammo carries over to

the Super Missile Launcher.  You'll have 30 missile ammo if you find them all,

 - Bushlands: To the left of the hut in the air above the shack where Kazuma's

trapped.  Jump around the series of platforms around where the Save Point is

between the Power Supply Room and Kazuma's shack to reach it.

 - Bushlands: Inside the very hut that the previous expansion's sitting next

to.  Opening it will trigger a fight with Kulala.

 - Egg Corridor?: When you go back to the Egg Corridor later in the game,

you'll find the eggs have hatched.  The dragon where Egg 12 used to be is quite

 - Egg Corridor?: In the ruins of the Egg observation Room, in plain sight.

 - Sanctuary: Bonus expansion.  Just before you fight the Heavy Press at the

with an arrow Bute on either side.  Above this platform is a single Star Block

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 - Critter:  You see these from the beginning to the end of the game, there are

several varieties.  The first you meet are dark blue and live in the First Cave

but in the Egg Corridor you'll find green ones that are slightly more powerful.

flying ones you meet).  Lastly, during the Undead Core battle, Misery has the

 - Bat:  The most basic enemy, you'll find them in many different areas as

well.  Dark blue ones fly in vertical patterns in the First Cave, black ones

Bats snake up and down horizontally in the Final Cave.  Misery also has the

 - The Door:  This posessed door with an eyeball is located only once, at the

end of the First Cave.  He's just a trap that'll deal damage to anyone who

doesn't pay attention.  What's more, he only spawns once ever, never again once

 - Chin Fish:  There is only one!  Also known as "Egg Fish".  He floats lazily

in the Reservoir to the west of Mimiga Village.  He drops no items.

 - Pignon:  A little white mushroom that hangs around the Mimiga Cemetary.

 - Giant Pignon:  A bigger mushroom that's basically as defenseless as normal

Pignons, but takes more hits to defeat.  Doesn't drop items.

 - Gravekeeper:  An angry orange being with a knife.  He's invincible from the

 - Behemoth:  Blocky elephants in the Egg Corridor.  They're slow, extremely

 - Basil:  The spark that runs around the ground in the Egg Corridor.  Instant

 - Beetle:  There are two types of Beetle; one flies around freely and is

usually a sign of a Basu approaching.  The other hangs on walls and flies to

 - Basu:  A giant beetle that takes a lot of punishment and periodically shoots

 - Power Critter:  A big, fat blue Critter found in Bushlands.  It's slow, but

if it lands on you, it'll deal a LOT of damage.

 - Jelly:  A little jellyfish that flies around more or less in place in the

Bushlands.  For whatever reason, they don't exist until you examine Chako's

 - Kulala:  A huge jellyfish that lives in the ceiling east of Santa's house.

It's tough and can make itself invincible for short periods so heavy firepower

is recommended.  It drops Jellyfish Juice.

 - Mannan:  A ghostly gravestone-looking monster in the eastern areas of Bush-

anyone who shoots it.  Can only shoot where it's facing.

 - Frog:  A large frog.  It jumps around.  That's all there is to say.

 - Rabil:  Rabid Mimiga that lives on the east side of the Bushlands.  Hops and

dives at you.  You'll find more Mimiga just like this at the Balcony.

 - Press:  Instant-death trap that falls from above.  Luckily, it falls rather

slowly and you can run under them easily.  Can only be damaged after they're

falling (or as they're falling).

 - Puchi:  A tiny frog that falls from the ceiling during the boss battle in

the Bushlands.  Pathetic, great to kill for supplies.

 - Polish:  An angry sun-looking monster that rolls around walls, ceilings and

floors.  Destroying it will produce several Babies.

 - Baby:  A tiny Polish that floats and rolls around.  Very weak but comes in

 - Sandcroc:  Dangerous trap of a monster.  Stepping on certain pits of sand in

the Sand Zone and Outer Wall will cause them to snap up quickly.  You can dodge

and destroy them but it's dangerous.  They retread back into the ground if they

 - Skullhead:  A long reptile skull that bounces along the ground ceaselessly.

 - Skullstep:  A Skullhead with legs and more HP.  Can run around quite fast.

Hurt him enough and he'll lose a leg and move drastically slower; hurt him more

and he'll lose his other leg and suicide.

 - Skeleton:  Tough lizard skeleton that leaps high into the air and tosses

 - Armadillo:  Looks more like a snail of sorts, it crawls along the ground on

 - Crow:  A big green bird found in the lower Sand Zone.  Some of them carry

skullheads which can shoot bones when airborne.  Others fly by themselves and

 - Flowercub:  Terribly weak living flowers produced by the boss of the Sand

Zone.  Use them for supplies.

 - Gaudi:  The guardians of the Labyrinth.  There are two types; ground Gaudi

 - Armor:  Fully-equipped Gaudi found only in the deepest parts of the Laby-

rinth.  They're very athletic and bounce around high and low, tossing sets of

 - Gaudi Egg:  Defenseless eggs that deal no damage.  Useful for supplies.

 - Fire Whirr:  They hover up and down in enclosed spaces, spitting out a ring

 - Buyobuyo Base:  A long, flat contraption that sits on floors and ceilings in

the Labyrinth and ejects Buyobuyos to defend it.  The Base itself isn't

 - Buyobuyo:  Small, annoying flying creatures that exit the Buyobuyo Base

They're a mess to handle but the longer you can deal with killing them without

killing the Base, the more powerups you'll earn.

 - Fuzz Core: A fluffy round white floating sphere found in the deepest parts

of the Labyrinth.  They float up and down and won't attack unless threatened,

such a formation that's very difficult to pass by without shooting.

 - Fuzz:  One of many smaller orbs that orbit a Fuzz Core.  They stay in their

 - Porcupine Fish:  These fish come in droves as soon as you enter Ironhead's

underwater arena and never stop.  They swim in from the left in large schools

and towards you.  Try to kill as many as you can before they get dangerous.

 - Dragon Zombie:  The sad, Red Flower-enraged remains of the latest batch of

Sky Dragons in the Egg Corridor.  They stand around helplessly until someone

approaches or damages them, at which point they'll go berserk and attmpt to

 - Counter Bomb:  There's only one of these in the game, and it's super-strong.

It waits at the end of the "Egg Corridor?" and floats there, soaking up huge

amounts of damage and counting down to 0.  When it reaches this, it'll explode

about the size of an entire screen around itself into nothingness.  It looks

 - Night Spirit:  A big ghost cat that floats up and down the sky near the

Outer Wall.  It has a habit of launching huge waves of "sideways balloons" all

 - Hoppy:  A small yellow creature who loves to defy gravity by hopping along

 - Midorin:  A little hyperactive plant bulb that runs around the Plantation.

It's weak and harmless to stand on, but very fast and random in its movements.

 - Droll:  An orange giant who keeps watch over the Mimiga at the Plantation.

It won't hurt you unless you try to attack it, at which point it'll leap back-

 - Gunfish:  These large fish found in the lake at the bottom of the Plantation

beads.  They can be a nuisance to travelers but they also happen to make good

 - Orange Bell:  A big, fat, happy bat with a wide grin.  He's not that tough,

 - Stumpy:  Super-quick dragonflies that zip all about the Plantation.  Their

 - Bute:  A small cherubin that lives in the Sanctuary.  They come in three

close, at which point it'll dash and jump around attempting to stab you; and

 - Mesa:  A hulking brute of an angel that lives in the Sanctuary.  His only

 - Rolling:  An eyeball that rolls along floors, walls and ceilings in the

Sanctuary.  It is invincible.

 - Delete:  An enemy in the Sanctuary that sits on walls.  If you disturb it,

it'll count down from 5 then cause a small explosion that will leave the wall

 - Green Devil:  Fat little demons that flood the Seal Chamber at all times.

---------------------

- 3-04  Extra Modes -

---------------------

weren't in the original.  All of them really beg that the main story be

completed at least once before you try them; it's likely they were originally

intended to be downloadable content.  Either way, at least three of them are

selectable from the beginning of the game.  As far as I know thus far, these

mode from Original-difficulty Story Mode that I don't have listed.

In Story Mode, you're given the option to choose between Easy, Original or Hard

difficulty settings when you start a new file.  These modes offer little

 - Quote's sprite is recolored to have yellow clothing and a teal scarf.

 - You take half the damage from all sources as you would in Original mode,

 - Quote's sprite is changed rather drastically; he has light blue clothes,

white he has normally.  Also, his eyes look a bit different.

 - There are no Life Capsules in the game, except for the one you can get from

the dog in the Plantation.  The damage you take is the same as in Original.

 - Mainly just Story Mode, but with Quote's sprite replaced with Curly.

 - Three brand new save files just for this mode.

 - Can only play on Original difficulty.

 - Some new dialogue to reflect Curly being the playable character.

 - Your playable character actually has her own dialogue in this mode.

 - Curly in the story is replaced by Quote.  He's much less talkative than

 - "Curly's Panties" key item is renamed "Your Panties".

 - You can actually see Quote's official "face icon" as created by Pixel in

This is the game's Boss Rush mode.  You'll start by receiving the Polar Star

You'll start in a room that looks and sounds like the Core area from Story

Mode.  To your left is a "Weapon Trade" cthulhu who's useless at this point.

To your right is a Refill Terminal.  There'll be a couple Life Capsules for 3

HP each, and several Weapon Energy Capsules.  To the far left is a barrier, and

to the far right is a statue of Balrog and a door.  Attempt to open the door to

be greeted with the boss's name and be teleported to the very same room in

up and potentially collect more upgrades and weapons.  For every boss you de-

a fanfare, which is a nice touch.  Sometimes, bosses will directly drop items

for you after you defeat them.  Also, as you defeat bosses, the Weapon Trades

cthulhu might offer a new weapon for you.  A good way to tell if there's a new

to attain said weapon in Story Mode.  For example, after defeating Curly you

can trade him your Polar Star for a Machine Gun.  Conveniently, the path opens

back to him after defeating Curly as well.  It's probably also worth noting

fight (including Balfrog) you'll be asked if you want the Booster v0.8, which

you can deny if you want 2.0 after a couple bosses.  Also, you'll receive Chaba

items (Turbocharge or Whimsical Star) after the bosses after which you'd be

receiving the Polar Star and counter again.  Your time will be reset. Also,

next boss unless you're purposely avoiding them.  Lastly, remember to power up

your new weapons with the crystals supplied in the main area; it's embarrassing

how often I've forgotten to do this after receiving a good weapon!

For strategies on any boss, refer to the walkthrough above.  The bosses are

aka the Sacred Grounds.  By no means should you attempt this before you've at

Starting a game in this mode will place you in a special 'starting area' before

 - Polar Star

 - Fire Ball

 - Bubbline

 - Blade

 - Nemesis

 - Spur

You'll also notice that you begin with the Booster 2.0, though you need it to

complete The Sanctuary anyway.  Move right to find two Life Capsules which each

give you the MASSIVE bonus of 26 life.  For whatever reason, these don't open

instantly like the ones in Boss Attack.  Move right a bit more and  you'll see

a gap in the floor.  Falling down this gap will cause the 290 Counter to

activate and you'll get the black wind message--from this point on, the mode is

identical to playing The Sanctuary on Normal in Story Mode.  Good luck, you'll

--------------------

--------------------

 - The Great Hero, Arthur (part 1)

characters are collected in Arthur's house and agree that it's your job to go

to the Sand Zone in their stead.  Instead of going through the teleport right

away, leave Arthur's House and head up to the right side of the Mimiga Village

and enter the Assembly Hall.  Jack will be there alone.  Talk to him to learn

 - Chako's Rouge (Chaco's Lipstick)

The first time you enter Bushlands (Grastown), and go to Chako's house, talk to

her then examine the fireplace so she walks over and talks about it.  Go to

sleep in her bed as she's standing here (it's the only time in the game you'll

be able to get her to).  You'll receive Chako's Rouge as a useless collectible

and she'll be asleep where you just took a nap..

 - Curly's Panties (Curly's Underwear)

At any point in the game go into Curly's place, then into the back room.  Use

your Map System and notice the secret passage behind the wall that's invisible

jump up and head all the way to the right until you fall.  Jump into a tiny

open an invisible chest containing Curly's Panties, a useless collectible.

 - Ikachan!

adventures of a small squid with the titular name.  There are several Ikachan

way, Iron Head.  If you manage to defeat Iron Head without gettin hit a single

time, you'll earn a cameo in the form of a swarm of Ikachans swimming by, then

before falling into the Reservoir you'll receive an item.  Check your inventory

and you'll have the Alien Medal, a useless collectible adorned by Ikachan's

 - Can I be a Mimiga, Too?

in the Plantation so you can communicate with the locals.  After she and Itoh

finish the rocket, you're supposed to talk to her again to trade back so that

you'll have your rocket for the final challenges of the game (and this is the

to several hidden easter eggs.  You'll face the normal Last Cave even if you'd

a Booster at all.  If you make it to the final bosses, much of the text will be

different, especially from Misery and the various caged Mimiga.  To top it all

Quote's adventures will show him with the Mimiga mask in the areas he was

wearing it, and Quote's sprite will keep the mask during the entire ending!

 - The Red Ogre

Demon) enemy that "only true heroes face".  This is the same Red Ogre mentioned

by Jack in an earlier easter egg.  To face it, you must get the Booster v2.0

red marker on the ground).  If you get the 2.0 back from Momorin later in the

game before riding the rocket to the Last Cave, you'll face the Hidden Last

Cave which is much more challenging than the normal one.  At the very end,

you'll have to fight the Red Ogre as a boss.  After defeating him, he'll drop a

 - The Great Hero, Arthur (part 2)

After defeating the Doctor at The King's Table but BEFORE you head up to the

Black Space, talk to Chako.  Keep talking to her and she'll eventually compare

you to Arthur, the hero fo the Mimiga.  After doing so all the Mimiga up around

 - Statue Carver

you'll fall into a room between the Plantation and Statue Chamber.  Go into the

hauled out.  Not only is this the only point in the game at which you can see

the Doctor's real name by examining his statue, but you can destroy all these

for huge (+20) weapon crystals, hearts or missile packs.  Once destroyed, the

 - Alternate Character Themes

enough.  They replace Quote with another character on the main menu, along with

their theme song, some of which you can't even hear in the game by any other

means.  They are as follows:

Under 6 minutes - Curly Brace; Running Hell (Isn't this Ballos' theme?)

Under 5 minutes - Toroko; Toroko's Theme

As far as I know, no one's ever finished Hell in under 2 minutes.  It's

-----------------------

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inclusion in my previous FAQs.  There are some tips that just don't fit

anywhere else, either.  If you know of a hint that doesn't appear here but that

 - All over the game, there are spaces with hidden items behind them.  If you

shoot them, they'll make a 'tink' sound and if shot enough they'll reveal the

hidden item.  Rapid firing weapons like the Machine Gun are ideal for finding

 - You can completely avoid the first battle with Balrog by simply answering

"No" when he asks if you want to fight him.  You don't miss anything, either,

 - Shooting with a simple straight-shooting weapon like the Polar Star or

 - Though getting a weapon to "MAX" from Level 3 may not actually make it

stronger, it's wise to do so, and to keep all your weapons at MAX whenever

possible.  Taking hits decreases your Weapon EXP, so keeping them at MAX makes

them safe to use without fear of de-levelling whenever you need them.  Well..

 - The Missile Launcher may be more situational than other weapons due to the

fact that it takes ammo, but it can level up too, and it's wise to get it to

Level 3 and keep it there; it'll shoot three missiles for the price of one!

 - The Fire Ball and Snake are the only weapons that won't break destructible

 - The Machine Gun can push you into the air indefinitely at Level 3 if you aim

it towards the ground.  Needless to say, this is incredibly useful for many

reasons.  Conversely, you can shoot upward while in the air to push you down

 - The Nemesis is best to keep at level 1 for full power.  Levelling it to 2

furthermore, it's the easiest weapon to level in the game, but also the easiest

 - This is a rather useless trick, but you can ride the small and large flying

Critters in Bushlands like platforms while you're flashing during invincibility

frames.  Many other flying enemies can be 'ridden' like this as well; there's

reach the door to the Final Cave before you're supposed to, but it's extremely

difficult, and only earns you a generic 'stay back' message at the door that

you'd otherwise never see.

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- 4-01  Credits -

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 - Big big impossibly huge thanks to Pixel, the one-man game-making team that

WiiWare version.  If you ever read this, you're an inspiration to all us gamers

 - Thanks to Nicalis who brought Cave Story to a much wider audience with its

fruition.  You guys rule.

 - Thanks to the Cave Story Tribute Site (http://www.miraigamer.net/cavestory/)

years since I very first played it.  (Rockin' forum, too)

 - Thanks to GameFAQs, inspiring me to write this FAQ in the first place.

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- 5-02  Copyright -

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- 5-03  Contact Information -

Leon Hurley
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.