3D-SF Cave

May 28, 2005

Platform: Java

Tags: action, free, game, java, macwinlinux, onebutton, rating-g, remake, sunflat

By Jay | add to favorites | add to your website | Comments (23)

3D-SF Cave is a fun little Java applet game that can be played quickly and easily in any Java-enabled browser. Although there is not much to the gameplay, the game's no-frills presentation cuts right to the chase.

The game is played from a first-person perspective, flying through a cave. Walls of the cave are all around, and you control how high or low you travel by clicking the mouse. Click and hold the mouse button to ascend, release to descend. Alternatively, you can use the space bar instead of the mouse button for control. Gravity is added to the formula thus creating a bit of inertia that must be overcome and stabilized to the best of your ability. Hit a wall and the game is over.

Analysis: 3D-SF Cave is a pseudo-3D implementation of a smaller 2D version: SF Cave. Both games were created by Japanese developer Sunflat, and feature just one button control. It is believed that one-button games will herald a revolution in games on mobile devices. I believe that one-button casual games on any platform are among the most successful games at reaching the largest audience possible.

Simple and accessible, no frills, just gameplay. Click.

(13 votes cast) *Average rating will show after 20 votes cast

23 Comments [leave a comment]

1179 - beat that. =)

Posted by: jay | May 28, 2005 3:37 PM

Got it: 1374. (Previously I got 1170 and I was like ARGH.)

This is a great game, and I get the feeling I'll keep coming back to it. My only complaint is that because of randomness in generating the levels, some games are far easier than others, making score a misleading statistic. One's score is a measure of their skill at the game (my score increased linearly for the first five or so plays) but once a certain level of skill, randomness determines how well they do, to some degree. A game that is mostly descending or staying level and fewer gates is far easier than a game with a lot of ascension or quickly alternating levels and a lot of gates or just horribly placed ones (like just beyond the top of a ridge).

Beyond that, though, this is a great and gorgeous game.

Question: My Favorites got wiped somehow this morning, and I'm wondering if you made any changes to the site or anything, or if my browser just had a minor cookie accident. One of my friend's favorites is fine, so it's probably the latter.

Posted by: ACLS | May 28, 2005 5:24 PM

wow. such simplistic graphics and gameplay, and yet, it's fun. great find.

Posted by: Brandon | May 28, 2005 5:45 PM

Good analysis, ACLS.

And as for the Favorites feature, I have not made any changes to that code in quite some time, though I need to revisit it sometime soon to get it working for those still using that annoying internet explorer browser.

Posted by: jay | May 28, 2005 5:54 PM

My best is 2989, or something around there, I cant remember it was a few days ago. I know it was above 2500. When you get to 2500, the graphics start messing with your brain i found, and you kind of go into a trance. Pretty fun

Posted by: Capuchin | May 29, 2005 5:03 AM

3646 woohoo... I'm the current champ !!

GREAT GAME BTW !!!

Posted by: VJ | May 29, 2005 12:04 PM

I remember getting addicted to the original 2D version of this game. My friend found a 2-player version as well, but i could never remember the site.

The 1st person perspective adds to a really claustrophobic feeling. It makes the game a lot more personal, and even quite intense. I keep gasping at every close call! Maybe i'm just addicted to these games, but it's still great. A good job.

Posted by: Talps | May 30, 2005 4:20 PM

834 cant go no more!

Posted by: Dojo | June 1, 2005 9:49 AM

I encountered this same type of gameplay in a game called Kya: Dark Lineage on the PS2, except you also had left/right control. The concept in that game was that there were air currents threatening to push you into the ceiling, and pressing the X button put you into a dive. Simple idea but very fun.

Posted by: Johnny Pi | June 13, 2005 5:39 AM

it's surprisingly difficult, considering the concept, but rather enjoyable. ^_^. Not too bad at all. I forgot how to work the controls a couple times[- _-sheepish] but still...engaging. :) Brava to Sunflat

Posted by: Katherine | June 13, 2005 7:45 PM

i hit 4000 flat. i hate kya. dumb game, but fun minigames. this was a fun game though, kinda like helidrop, only better.

Posted by: Sparky

| November 21, 2005 8:13 PM