• they/them/she/her/xe/xer

umbrella enthusiast, proud blåhaj owner. people think i'm a hat for some reason. I make art, sometimes.


ikuyo
@ikuyo

(EDIT: since this is doing Numbers, I figured I'd include an actual download link: https://doukutsuclub.knack.com/database#my-mods/mod-details/5ecc783fee5fa10016eef82e/. There's a known bug with upscaled graphics on resolutions other than 480p, I have it fixed, I'm pushing the update for it soon!)

Cave Story is probably the most important game of my life. It led me to meeting some extremely important people, it was my first speedgame, it is a game I can talk about for hours (AND I HAVE!)

But it ain't perfect. Its age has shown, especially as an old 2004 windows only executable. While official ports exist, people have legitimate gripes with them. And so several mods and projects have been born to keep the game alive.


Cave Story: Tweaked was born as a fork of CSE2, a decompilation project for the original freeware release of Cave Story. While CSE2, at least in its accurate and portable branches, aimed at producing code as close to the original game as possible, it had branches aimed at enhancing the base game with niceties and new features (think GZDoom). Tweaked, my fork, aimed at taking it even further, with a healthy dose of inspiration from Celeste's foundational Assist Mode, by focusing on features that improve the game's accessibility.

Options menu for CS: Tweaked. It shows a framerate toggle, V-sync, resolution, graphical settings, font select, and screen shake toggle among others

Thanks to the backend provided by CSE2, I was able to implement hot-swappable fonts choices, ranging from OpenDyslexic to Monogram to Courier New. I also found how to reduce screen shake or eliminate it altogether. There's several other options here like removing screen flashing, reducing the brightness of the background elements, and adjusting volume for Music/SFX

Thanks again for CSE2, there's full controller support.

The tweaks menu for CS: Tweaked. It includes options such as Infinite Booster, Autofire, Boss Health Modifiers, enabling Grace Jumps, and enabling Mirror Mode

The star of the show is the Tweaks menu, a name I took from Iconoclasts of all places. This menu contains modifiers to the gameplay itself, allowing players to tailor their own experience. Disable the main experience crystals mechanics for extra challenge, or add infinite ammo to your missiles for that one difficult fight. Toggle full invulnerability or turn the game sideways in Mirror mode.

I've been working on this project on and off for ages. I got some news about it when Nicalis DMCA'd every github repo for CSE2, which also hit mine. Besides that, this mod remains a tool that has allowed so many people to enjoy a game i love dearly, and that's all I was looking for when this project started.

An update to this project is coming along. I've fixed a major issue that made upscaled graphics unusable on fullscreen on several settings. I'm also implementing some further fixes for accuracy and allowing people to use the classic Map System rather than the revamped one Tweaked ships with. I'll let you know once it's up!

Also, there was a 3ds port but it doesn't work anymore and I'm not sure why? it works on citra just fine, did I do something on our 2ds??


You must log in to comment.

in reply to @ikuyo's post:

This is extremely cool! I must admit tho, it might be first time I've ever felt that "you can't make the game easier it wasn't easier for ME" grognard feeling in my soul, haha. Forget dark souls, the idea of someone not having to use invincibility frames to cheese balos Got me for a second. Fortunately, I'm aware enough to know how dumb that is and really think this is fucking awesome, might try it next time I do a re-play of one of my fav games of all time

There's the original graphics as well as an upscale provided by Lethrys, a community member in the Cave Story Modding servers. They can be swapped from the options menu.

You can also try using the Nicalis port sprites, but I don't officially provide support for them