Game Review: Crystal Caves

I’m sure that the title alone would invoke many (and mostly wonderful) emotions to those lucky enough to have played through this platforming ‘gem’ (ahh-Ziiiiiing). CC was released by Apogee Software in 1991 in three parts as Apogee would often do. The first part, Trouble with Twibbles, was shareware (free to everyone) with the next two parts Slugging it Out and Mylo versus the Supernova requiring monetary sacrifice. It was because of this release style that I got to play so many classics (or at least their shareware) which are pretty much the basis for my gaming enjoyment.

The game’s antagonist is Mylo Steamwitz, a ‘hair-brain scheme’ loving dude with his eyes on making a big buck quick. Though never quite getting there. He enters the crystal caves to get the capital needed for these investments. There he will take on all kinds of creatures and machinery, who are determined to stop him taking those crystals back with him.

The game has a dry sense of humour, which is particular to this era of gaming. You will even find puns taken at other games (Commander Keen’s helmet in deadly green sludge) and though you won’t ROFL you may chuck (the beginning of a chuckle which is cut short upon realising the joke probably doesn’t warrant a vocal laugh, but will still leave you feeling warm).

This game was great! It was to be said. Though, as a child, I never even approached finishing the game. But I have already accepted my total and utter uselessness as a child gamer, and so wasn’t too surprised to find the game significantly easier than I remembered when I recently played through it. Each episode took maybe a couple of hours, with the third episode amping up the difficulty notch a little.

The sound is terrible (read: awesome DOS sounds), but you have to love it for its simplicity. The jump sound will, however, drive you crazy.

For an early platformer, the controls and mechanics are pixel-perfect. There are also some interesting ideas at play, like reverse gravity, low gravity, and a plethora of switches requiring some basic problem solving.
8/10 – Classic DOS platforming….a little repetitive after three episode done back to back

The game is now freeware, so I’ve decided to post them up here. You will probably need a DOS emulator, such as DOSbox to run it in.

Crystal Caves 1

Crystal Caves 2

Crystral Caves 3

The original download I found was bugged out on a level, where you couldn’t enter the exit. This drove me a little crazy….These files are fine though
Also, a really cool site for more info and even an interview with the creator:
Perilious Crystal Caves Website [no affliation :( ]