I've been looking forward to this release.
Crystal Caves is not a bad game, but its age can make it a bit difficult to get into. The developer of this HD version appears to have kept the game intact while giving the graphics and sound an overhaul.
Just look at the game's trailer (
At about 1 minute into the trailer) when it shows the cutscenes! They've managed to perfectly keep the style of the art from the original, except now it is animated!
As far as I can tell they didn't add anything to the scene itself, which I consider a sign of respect towards the original work.
I'm looking forward to challenging the new fourth episode and the level editer looks like it could be fun to mess around with.
I suggest taking a look at this forum thread that covers some of the new features and changes:
https://www.gog.com/forum/crystal_caves_hd/crystal_caves_hd_fixes_and_changes_from_the_original_game And for convenience here are those changes: • Barrel added to the Episode 3 level selection area where you would get stuck if you played levels in the wrong order.
• Missing key added to E3L10 and E3L12 so you can open treasure chests.
• Unreachable chest in E3L09 can be reached now
• Candle pickup has a sound now.
• Fruit does not spawn randomly anymore, so the run for the top score stays fair. Instead, each level has 3 hidden triggers that spawn fruit nearby when you approach them.
• The green border when collecting all the crystals is back! For the players that don't know, the Green border indicates that you have collected all the crystals on the level and it is ok to exit.
• Some levels throughout all 3 episodes got additional bonus pickups & secret crystals. This was done to fill empty areas in the levels from the original game.
• Impossible to get crystal in Episode 2 is "slightly" easier to get now. You still have to work at it!
• Whirlwind treasure trap...is it really a trap? Can you discover how?
• The remake features new difficulties - Easy, Normal, and Hard where Normal is the original difficulty. On hard, you get fewer hearts & less ammo but the score multiplier is bigger - this is for veteran players & highscore seekers
trusteft: Do you get the original or just a clone of it working from within the remastered?
allope: It's the original along with the linux and macOS version. I guess there is no MacOS version for HD....listed as "Extras"
Many of the other games product pages on GOG have a notice right at the top when the classic version is included with the purchase.
For example, BioShock has a message at the top of its page that says "
BioShock Classic is included with your BioShock Remastered purchase".
They should do the same with Crystal Caves HD, hopefully someone will add this quickly to prevent any confusion.
Dray2k: Nice release.
Hopefully we will see a Rick Dangerous release at some point :)!
If Rick Dangerous 1 & 2 are released here on GOG I would buy them. ^_^
I'm also hoping that this remake of Crystal Caves may mean that we'll see an HD version of a similar game called
Secret Agent as well sometime in the future.