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Crystal Caves (1991)

Apogee Software

DOS · Linux · Mac · PC (Microsoft Windows)

3.21 from 29 ratings

311 members have it in their collection · 223 backlogged · 5 wish listed

How long? Main story 9h (from 1 logged playthrough)

Enter an underground world of treasures and traps in Crystal Caves, a colorful EGA game that rivals any commercial game with its arcade quality, puzzles and graphics. As Mylo Steamwitz, enter cave after cave of adventure, gathering teasures and evading countless hazards. Crystal Caves is a mixing of Nintendo's Mario Brothers, Commander Keen, and Indiana Jones. As with all Apogee … Read more
Enter an underground world of treasures and traps in Crystal Caves, a colorful EGA game that rivals any commercial game with its arcade quality, puzzles and graphics. As Mylo Steamwitz, enter cave after cave of adventure, gathering teasures and evading countless hazards. Crystal Caves is a mixing of Nintendo's Mario Brothers, Commander Keen, and Indiana Jones. As with all Apogee games, a high priority has been placed on solving ingenious puzzles built into the game. Episodes include "Trouble with Twibbles", "Slugging it Out", and "Mylo Verses the Supernova" Read less
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Details

Developers
Apogee Software
Publishers
3D Realms, Apogee Software, FormGen
Genres
Arcade, Platform, Puzzle
Themes
Action, Science fiction
Steam
View on Steam

Release dates

  • Oct 23, 1991 (North_America) DOS
  • 1994 (Europe) DOS
  • Jan 05, 1998 (Worldwide) DOS
  • Aug 07, 2014 (Worldwide) Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)

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Rating distribution

5 stars
2
4 stars
7
3 stars
15
2 stars
5
1 star
0
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Community All Reviews Statuses

thebigmack

Status thebigmack Jun 1, 2023

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The fascination of rediscovering Crystal Caves was more potent than its gameplay. Relics of the DOS era are peppered throughout. A fossilized snapshot of pre-mouse gaming and #1-800 call-to-order numbers.

It often wavered a balance between retro charm and a rushed anxiety, impatiently wanting to see it through to the end.

I'm happy to have discovered it fully - a …

Read more

enter image description here

The fascination of rediscovering Crystal Caves was more potent than its gameplay. Relics of the DOS era are peppered throughout. A fossilized snapshot of pre-mouse gaming and #1-800 call-to-order numbers.

It often wavered a balance between retro charm and a rushed anxiety, impatiently wanting to see it through to the end.

I'm happy to have discovered it fully - a gift for my younger self, who never got very deep into the mines.

Read less
2 Comment Permalink
thebigmack

Status thebigmack Dec 17, 2022

I figured 50 cents on gog for a nostalgia deep cut was a good gamble. Its an acceptable platformer. Quick takes below:

  • Having released in 1991, it is visually ghastly comparing it to Super Mario World, released a year prior.

  • The crystallized simplicity of the controls is highly appreciated:
    Left, Right, Jump [ctrl], Shoot / Activate [alt]. The jump's good …

Read more

I figured 50 cents on gog for a nostalgia deep cut was a good gamble. Its an acceptable platformer. Quick takes below:

  • Having released in 1991, it is visually ghastly comparing it to Super Mario World, released a year prior.

  • The crystallized simplicity of the controls is highly appreciated:
    Left, Right, Jump [ctrl], Shoot / Activate [alt]. The jump's good and rocket gun feels great.

  • 3 hits before death is nice but restarting a level after death feels exhausting because of the powerfully slow pace.

  • The fun of 'find all gems to exit' is a drag.

  • With the Apogee logo, I expected more nostalgia. This one is faded in ancient memory now. I'll probably try a few more levels and move on.

Read less
3 Comment Permalink