Crystal Caves is one of those Apogee titles that a certain group of people will remember fondly. It was released in 1991, the same year as the first Duke Nukem game. And uses a similar engine, with movement happening in half-block increments. Needless to say, even though it was a fun title for its time, it has been in dire need of an update.
And it seems Apogee has agreed. Developer Emberheart Games has revealed their updated version of Crystal Caves, called Crystal Caves HD. This version will come with updated graphics with a much higher color count, smoother gameplay, and you won’t need to run it through DOSBox.
A Ton Of New Features
The adventures of the universe’s best miner have also gotten some expansions. The HD version of Crystal Caves will come with a new episode of entirely new levels created exclusively for the new version. So those who have played the original a lot will definitely want to check out this version.
There will also be support for custom levels. With Steam Workshop integration allowing for creators to easily share their custom levels. The level creator looks really intuitive, and it seems you have access to most if not all of the game’s assets.
The game also comes with animated storyboards, lending some more life to the game’s cutscenes. These have been drawn from scratch in a higher color palette and look amazing.
In addition to a Steam release, there will also be a DRM-free version released on GOG Galaxy. Both of the versions will have achievements, online leaderboards, and a secret level. There will even be a new soundtrack for the game, something that never existed in the original.
The Return Of Mylo Steamwitz
Crystal Caves might be a bit of an obscure game to remaster. But it’s nice seeing this game getting this treatment, as it means a whole new generation of fans will get to experience this game. It’s very much part of the Apogee legacy, a library that helped turn the PC into a legit gaming platform.
So whether you’re a new fan or an old-school fan, definitely check out Crystal Caves HD on Steam and GOG. It’s coming soon! And if you want to check out the original 1991 DOS version, it’s still readily available as well.