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The Cave |OT| Choose your own Adventurers
- Thread starter Vert boil
- Start date
I thought
they were stuck behind the door with three switches, can I use the Twins' special ability to open it from the other side?
Yep, I fed the dog and he is sleeping now
Yes. The camera will then follow whoever switched his character last.
Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
Invisiclues time!
Did you talk to the Master at the top of the mountain?
What's the weight limit on that bridge, anyway?
Love that part.
Just finished my first playthrough, working on Time Traveler / Monk / Adventurer now
Completed it twice now, it's fun but something about it just makes me yearn for a true point-and-click adventure game from everyone involved. There is obvious talent on display here, the animations, voice acting and writing are testament to that. The controls however, seem to be an attempt to integrate all that with console-friendly gameplay and it's something that Double Fine or Hothead haven't really got the grasp of, outside of Stacking, and to a lesser extent Death Spank.
The puzzles boil down to simple jigsaws, where you receive a mess of pieces, take a look at each piece, and then put them all in order. Once everything in a world clicks, it's satisfying, but there's room for complexity here. And it never really gets more complex, outside of a few select rooms.
I'm not bothered by the controls, they're functional, but the idea behind them hampers what could otherwise have been a fantastic adventure.
Worth playing, but a shadow of what could have been.
The puzzles boil down to simple jigsaws, where you receive a mess of pieces, take a look at each piece, and then put them all in order. Once everything in a world clicks, it's satisfying, but there's room for complexity here. And it never really gets more complex, outside of a few select rooms.
I'm not bothered by the controls, they're functional, but the idea behind them hampers what could otherwise have been a fantastic adventure.
Worth playing, but a shadow of what could have been.
Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
I really enjoyed the game quite a bit, but Gilbert's view that large inventories leads to lazy puzzle design is a bit off. Zero inventory is very restricting, and if Gilbert can't pull off really challenging puzzles with it, then it's almost definitely too restricting.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Think I'm almost done with first playthrough on PS3. Love it so far, the only complaint is the mechanically obtuse puzzle solution for the Time Traveler's part bucket. Even though in my head I had the correct solution, the execution requires something specific from the controls that it was nigh impossible to know.
I also see that on PC this would not have been a problem as
:\ Ah well, no big deal, I really liked puzzles otherwise, in this section in particular but also elsewhere.
A big complaint is how much unoptimized the game is on Mac and on PC. On a laptop that destroys PS3 in performance with every multiplayer game I've tried, this game runs like a dog! It's a laptop with i7 and 650M card, and the game runs sub 30FPS in 1280x800 resolution with shadows and SSAO turned off, and only slightly better under Windows on this same machine.
On this same machine, BF3 runs at 40-50FPS in 1600x1050 resolution with settings on High, so... yeah. DF, your engine looks nice, but it performs like crap (I think they're just using Unity with LUA scripting btw.)
I also see that on PC this would not have been a problem as
characters auto-stick to objects they're pushing
A big complaint is how much unoptimized the game is on Mac and on PC. On a laptop that destroys PS3 in performance with every multiplayer game I've tried, this game runs like a dog! It's a laptop with i7 and 650M card, and the game runs sub 30FPS in 1280x800 resolution with shadows and SSAO turned off, and only slightly better under Windows on this same machine.
On this same machine, BF3 runs at 40-50FPS in 1600x1050 resolution with settings on High, so... yeah. DF, your engine looks nice, but it performs like crap (I think they're just using Unity with LUA scripting btw.)
Chris Remo
Member
I'm sorry you're having performance issues--you could try emailing support@doublefine.com just in case.
Our engine has nothing to do with Unity--it's our own internal engine written in C++, with Lua scripting.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
On Mac it runs kind of close to 30FPS if I disable absolutely everything from the visuals options and stick to 1280x800 resolution. On PC I can keep and option or two enabled to achieve same level of performance. I don't know if this is something other people are seeing with similar hardware (I have 15" MBP Retina) but the game runs pretty much worse than anything recent I tried. Games like Alan Wake and BF3 run far better even when in higher resolutions.
I'll try it tonight on a desktop PC which has a bit weaker hardware but with AMD GPU and see if it runs better. If it does, maybe it's just some Retina screen quirk.
I will also try SMC reset, as that once solved a problem I had with Braid, where the game ran like crap (literally in slow motion), and after SMC reset it ran at a buttery smooth 60FPS @ 1920x1200. And guess what, I just ran Braid and there it is running in slow motion again. I'll report right after SMC reset, but that wouldn't have affected Windows partition, I think.
Enjoying The Cave much more after switching over to KB/M from a controller. Almost all of the muddiness in the character movement went away, can just concentrate on playing now without that being a distraction.
Atmosphere, puzzle design, artwork, writing all seems very well done - all the important stuff I'd want out of a game like this. Juggling characters and backtracking for items due to the lack of a traditional inventory is a chore, though. Gives me that "boy I'm glad I don't have to do that part again" feeling, even if the content is neat.
It's an interesting take on the moment to moment gameplay of an adventure game, just not convinced it's a better one. Patrick's suggestion on the most recent Bombcast of an "everybody group with me" button would make a huge difference in keeping momentum going, at least for single player. Might be more manageable in co-op, haven't had the chance to try.
Atmosphere, puzzle design, artwork, writing all seems very well done - all the important stuff I'd want out of a game like this. Juggling characters and backtracking for items due to the lack of a traditional inventory is a chore, though. Gives me that "boy I'm glad I don't have to do that part again" feeling, even if the content is neat.
It's an interesting take on the moment to moment gameplay of an adventure game, just not convinced it's a better one. Patrick's suggestion on the most recent Bombcast of an "everybody group with me" button would make a huge difference in keeping momentum going, at least for single player. Might be more manageable in co-op, haven't had the chance to try.
WiiRevolution1
Member
Just got this on the WiiU. No off tv play still sucks.
Game is great so far. 30 minutes in and loving the atmosphere. Puzzles are quite puzzling, dunno how far I'll be able to get through this since I usualy suck at puzzle like games but liking it so far. Just got the actual cave entrance now and can't wait to explore it some more.
I chose the Time Traveler, Knight, and Twins on my first playthrough.
Game is great so far. 30 minutes in and loving the atmosphere. Puzzles are quite puzzling, dunno how far I'll be able to get through this since I usualy suck at puzzle like games but liking it so far. Just got the actual cave entrance now and can't wait to explore it some more.
I chose the Time Traveler, Knight, and Twins on my first playthrough.
Strange in Stereo
Member
lol I just did that part. Great indeed.
If you follow the King something awesome happens too.
He's right, a load of stuff in your inventory + a load of way to complete puzzles is lazy design, but there's a middle ground between that and one item at one time. I mean, in the tutorial for The Cave it says a button is 'use an object with another object'. The only time I had to use an item with another was to
to put the battery into the video recorder
I agree that The Cave's system is way too restrictive, and it's a result of compromises that I regrettably see as inevitable. The tweet from Gilbert saying 'if you're stuck, take a break' is symbolic of this apparent need to satisfy audiences they otherwise would have no hope of pleasing. Yet they forget that people like a challenge, they don't want to go from point A and point B and be done with it. And it's these people that need to be catered for. They would greatly appreciate a game that can both create devious puzzles and make them laugh while they solve them. There's a gap in the market for this type of game now, with the writing and animation skills from this (these?) team(s). There's no need to shoehorn what you know into what you don't, because the end product speaks for itself. Why is catering to a niche such a bad thing? Considering the flow of the internet, the niche very quickly becomes the norm these days anyway.
Regardless, The Cave is good fun as it is and I've spent more time with it than all 'AAA' titles released this year.
Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
Yeah, that's why I said it's "a bit off". I see his point, but it's not inherent to an inventory system, it's just another way to design a puzzle badly.
And I'm not even sure if a challenging game is a "niche". I'm pulling this completely out of my ass, but I'm really skeptical that difficulty measurably affects game sales. Maybe at the extremes, but a RIDICULOUSLY difficult game is just a bad game, more often than not. Developers seem deeply concerned that as many people can finish their games as possible--I understand this just from a labor perspective (you want everyone to see everything you made) but I am really not sure that getting stuck in a game turns people off from buying or playing more games.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Resetting SMC on Mac didn't do a thing for this game. Still runs badly. It did fix the slowdown in Braid and Dolphin emulator like I was expecting.
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
Just completed the game for the third time. Such a great game. So good, I don't even care about off TV play. I have now experienced all 7 adventures, and I still want more. I really hope DLC is coming.
Anyway, my favourite adventure is The Hillbilly. My least favourite is probably the Monk.
On the Wii U, there was just one annoying, gamebreaking, glitch that I kept running into -
Anyway, my favourite adventure is The Hillbilly. My least favourite is probably the Monk.
On the Wii U, there was just one annoying, gamebreaking, glitch that I kept running into -
At the very end of the Zoo level... On two occasions, the game froze before the final sequence, making it impossible to progress, even though the narration continued as though you had completed the level. It's annoying to have to restart that level from scratch, so be careful! (Possibly worth Saving the game before you reach that point.)
Incendiary
Banned
Just found a really neat detail in the Time Traveler's puzzle:
Apologies if that's been mentioned already.
If you leave anybody in the past/present, and go to the spot they're waiting in the present/future, there's a skeleton of the party member in that spot.
Stallion Free
Cock Encumbered
Yeah, that was a nice touch.
snoopeasystreet
Member
Havent got a chance to play the game yet. Think I'll pick it up tomorrow. Having only watched the GB Quick Look, I have one question.
Is there any interplay between between the characters from a narrative sense? From what I saw, there didn't seem to be much (if any).
Is there any interplay between between the characters from a narrative sense? From what I saw, there didn't seem to be much (if any).
It's not really like Trine though. Trine is all about physics based puzzles and platforming and some combat.
The Cave pretty much is a classic point and click adventure game except with a different interface.
unfortunately none at all
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
There's definitely something odd going on with performance of the game (testing it on Mac now) I switch the resolution as low as 640x480 and disabled all visual options, and still couldn't get anything near stable 30FPS.
Then, and this is what really makes it odd - I increased resolution back to 1280x800 and enabled every single visual option - and I got performance better than ever. It was actually running at a somewhat stuttery 60FPS, whereas before it could never dream of reaching more than 20-25FPS under same conditions.
Then again, the massive framerate differences might be tied to a location being displayed. Even though it often has no rhyme or reason, as two equally simple looking parts of the initial cave could run at anything from 20 to 40 to 60FPS. Makes the game kind of unplayable.
Then, and this is what really makes it odd - I increased resolution back to 1280x800 and enabled every single visual option - and I got performance better than ever. It was actually running at a somewhat stuttery 60FPS, whereas before it could never dream of reaching more than 20-25FPS under same conditions.
Then again, the massive framerate differences might be tied to a location being displayed. Even though it often has no rhyme or reason, as two equally simple looking parts of the initial cave could run at anything from 20 to 40 to 60FPS. Makes the game kind of unplayable.
Infinitemadness
Member
Love this game, so much so that I bought the set of mini figures from Double Fine. They'll go nice with my Stacking nesting dolls.
Joe Shlabotnik
Banned
There is essentially zero platforming and the only reason it's not literally point and click is because Gilbert felt players needed more active control these days. A handful of puzzles are slightly timing- or control-based but it is about 98% traditional graphic adventure (albeit very streamlined compared to earlier games).
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Tried the game on PC with hardware that usually runs all games about the same as laptop, and this game ran nearly perfectly on it. Very solid framerate, I think was around 60 all the time. So there's definitely some issue there with the compatibility with the laptop hardware. Again, i7, 650M, but the game runs decidedly worse than on PS3. Maybe if someone from DF can test it on 15" RMBP you'll probably see see what I'm seeing.
I also have a question for those who completed the game with some of the characters. When I completed the game with first three characters, it went through credits, and then at the end, after it said "Thanks for Playing" it started loading... and just stayed on the loading screen. Had to quit the game, which caused console to shut down with three beeps. After I loaded the game again, it acted as if I'm playing for the first time. Cave did its intro narration and it let me select any of the seven characters. Is this normal for 2nd time around? All the paintings I unlocked are still there, so it doesn't seem like save file got corrupted.
I also have a question for those who completed the game with some of the characters. When I completed the game with first three characters, it went through credits, and then at the end, after it said "Thanks for Playing" it started loading... and just stayed on the loading screen. Had to quit the game, which caused console to shut down with three beeps. After I loaded the game again, it acted as if I'm playing for the first time. Cave did its intro narration and it let me select any of the seven characters. Is this normal for 2nd time around? All the paintings I unlocked are still there, so it doesn't seem like save file got corrupted.
It sounds like your game crashed at an unfortunate moment but yeh, it just loops.
New game+ spoilers:
Visiting the tourist shop at the beginning will show trinkets from your first set of adventurers behind the sleazy dude, rather than generic ones
Also, any characters you get the bad ending for will be dead in the cave by the trinkets you have to get find at the start.
SpoonyBard
Banned
Too bad the difference between good ending and a bad ending was just the last two panels of the character story. It the game was designed a bit better maybe there could be two ways to solve each character puzzle. Like a kill option and no-kill option. Saying that, launching the nuke in the scientist mission was great fun...
On my second playthrough I encountered a bug that made it impossible to finish the game. Somehow (a friend played that part so I don't know how it actually happened) the Knight held on to
even though it was shown to be stuck underwater. I never tried putting it down until the very end - I thought it might be nice to keep it till the end. So when I reached the end I realized that it was impossible to put it down. Now the Knight is stuck at the very end and cannot pick up the item needed to exchange for the trinket to finish the game, which is kind of funny since he is already holding the right item he would need to walk through the last door...
Still a great game, haven't been drawn into a game like this in a long time. Two thumbs up!!!
Excalibur
Still a great game, haven't been drawn into a game like this in a long time. Two thumbs up!!!
Played through the first section with the Time Traveler, Scientist, and Adventurer (yes, all the women. Don't judge me!) I'm really enjoying it. It's gotten a few laughs out of me so far and the puzzles have been fun. Also (not really spoilers just the Cave talking but I'll tag it anyway)
"There's no dying in the cave." then "I wonder if that last team is still down there. I should find them, wouldn't want the corpses to scare away the tourists." Which is it, Cave? D:
Same thing happened to me on my second play through. except for me it didn't show up in his hands until much later after loading a save.. Very odd indeed.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Wow, there's good endings? Is it possible to get them on first playthrough for any of the characters? It didn't seem like game was giving me any options but to be 'bad' with TIme Traveler, Scientist and Adventurer.
SpoonyBard
Banned
It's based on a decicion you make in the last couple of minutes of the game. The Cave talks about it, but it's not easy to realize how to make the decicion. Just think about what the cave has been saying before you exit through the last door.
The Technomancer
card-carrying scientician
Whelp, just bought this on a whim after a friend who was really excited about it told me about it. Didn't know anything about it really, but it looks cool and its DF, so I'm sure I'll have a fun time.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
Well, crap, when I visit him now right as I'm starting with my new three adventurers, the shelves behind him are empty. I think they were empty the first time around as well, what generic ones are you thinking of? I hope this doesn't mean that the game didn't register I already completed the game once (presuming that there's some award once you complete it with all seven of them?)
*edit* Ah, nevermind! I see what you meant
Yes, the status was clearly saved from the last playthrough.yes, this will unlock the 'good' ending
Dwight Schrute
Member
OK played the demo on Wii U and then insta buyed the game. Loved the style. The athmosphere. The Cave voice. Hope it'll hold !
edwardslane
Member
I downloaded the demo on WiiU and was very pleasantly surprized at the gameplay..it's a fun game and for 14.99 i decided to purchase it.
What blows my mind is my son turned 3 in september and he knows how to play it.. he's loving it. Makes the purchase that much easier to make when its making him solve puzzles and he's enjoying it.
i think the 7/10 reviews are fair. It's a good game
What blows my mind is my son turned 3 in september and he knows how to play it.. he's loving it. Makes the purchase that much easier to make when its making him solve puzzles and he's enjoying it.
i think the 7/10 reviews are fair. It's a good game
Any else have problems with some of the achievements on Steam? I double checked and I got every painting, including the ones for good and bad endings on all characters, but the achievements for the good and bad endings, getting all the paintings, and getting all the characters to the bottom did not click for me.
It's not a huge deal for me, I'm just kind of annoyed.
edit: http://steamcommunity.com/app/221810/discussions/0/846943514109612896/
Maybe some other year I'll get them.
It's not a huge deal for me, I'm just kind of annoyed.
edit: http://steamcommunity.com/app/221810/discussions/0/846943514109612896/
Maybe some other year I'll get them.
gutter_trash
Banned
playing as Hillbilly, Twins and Monk on PSN at home,
playing as Knight, Adventurer, Time Traveller on Steam at work.
I am loving this game and it grows on me more and more as I play.
Sorry Scientist lol, I will play you last because you seem the most borningest.
I don't get the lowe metercritic ranking eh, youngsters these days.
playing as Knight, Adventurer, Time Traveller on Steam at work.
I am loving this game and it grows on me more and more as I play.
Sorry Scientist lol, I will play you last because you seem the most borningest.
I don't get the lowe metercritic ranking eh, youngsters these days.