The+Cave+-+David

//The Cave// is a 2D side-scrolling adventure and puzzle game, by Double Fine Productions. The story follows a cast of seven archetypal characters (a Monk, a Time Traveler, a Knight, etc.) as they explore a sentient cave that presents challenges based on dark aspects of their personalities. The player selects three characters from the initial cast of seven and can switch control between any of the three on the fly. Each character has a special ability that is useful in particular interactions with the environment. Along the way, the Cave and its various denizens provide voice over commentary, sometime providing hints, other times providing jokes or encouragement/discouragement. The tone of the game is humorous in a macabre sort of way, and the player is occasionally asked to solve puzzles by committing casual acts of violence, including murder. But mostly not murder. media type="youtube" key="E5iBZt2LUbU" width="560" height="315" [|As the video shows], the game can be played cooperatively with two to three players. I played it in single-player mode.

The player/s advance through the Cave by solving puzzles and navigating mazes to reach new sections. Each play through of //The Cave// is different, as each character has a unique section or level suited to their own special ability. Other areas of the cave are the same regardless of the characters chosen, but may not be fully accessible without certain characters' special abilities.

The player/s learn to interact with the environment by pressing switches and other devices, and by moving portable objects from one place to another where they can be of use. This often involves multiple-stage problem solving. For example, in the first area of the game, players must move a fuse from one area to another in order to power a machine, but the player cannot touch the fuse without being electrocuted due to water leaking from the ceiling. Several intermediate interactions in other parts of the level are required before a player acquires a bucket, which can be placed between the fuse and the dripping water. The primary objective is to access new areas, either by finding the appropriate key object or by activating switches and other devices. The game play is complicated by the need to use multiple characters in concert to solve most puzzles, and by the need to utilize special abilities. For example, the Knight's special ability is to become invulnerable (though he cannot walk or use items at the same time). The player can take advantage of this by using the Knight to distract an enemy, while another character sneaks past.

The game works in a classic trial-and-error fashion, as the player/s probe each new environment for novel interactions. Players use visual cues to determine how to proceed, as well as audio cues from the talking Cave and its many inhabitants. Sometimes these cues are explicit instructions ( such as "find the dragon's gold and bring it to the tower"), while other times they are cryptic hints in the mode of the game's dark sense of humor. Scattered throughout the levels are "cave paintings" which depict scenes from each character's past, usually demonstrating their flaws and misdeeds in comedic fashion. In order to collect and see all of these images, players must be thorough in their exploration of each level; this in turn encourages players to think creatively in solving puzzles.

In addition, the risk of experimentation is quite low. Characters are effectively invulnerable, in that they may die violent deaths but be instantly revived a short distance away. The only situation that is effectively a "game over" is a player's becoming frustrated in seeking a puzzle's solution. Since the game's overall difficulty is moderate, it should not be too frustrating for dedicated players.

//The Cave// is available for multiple platforms, including the PC, XBox 360, PS3, and WiiU; I played it on the Nintendo console. The website Gamefaqs has two walkthroughs listed for the game. On Steam, there are presently 1,073 user reviews for the game, 86% of which are positive. On Metacritic, the game has a score of 68/100 from professional reviewers, while users are a bit more charitable at 7.6/10. There is some fan art of the characters and settings on the internet, but I couldn't find any dedicated fan sites.

I found the game to be enjoyable, possibly more for its humor and story than the mechanical action of playing it. Although it is a good example of learning through exploration and experimentation, it is not especially difficult. The variety of characters (and multiple available endings) does make it fun to play repeatedly, however.