10 Secret Video Game Shortcuts You DEFINITELY Missed

10. Cave Story - Getting Dra-Gone From The Island

Cave Story is an absolute cult classic, one of the early paragons of indie gaming. The game has been through two development cycles, from original creator Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya to enhanced edition developers Nicalis.

Nicalis ended up in hot water due to vicious DMCA claims on the freeware PC legacy edition of the game, despite it not being the company's original IP. The outcry this generated serves to show just how beloved the little indie title was - both for its addictive action platformer gameplay, stunningly drawn pixel art and beautifully realised story.

The story, one about loss, reclamation and the encroaching terror of environmental destruction rings close to home to many, especially in the current moment. One thing that separates Cave Story from other games that tangle with this theme is it gives players the dangerously tempting option to just not engage.

We have all felt it at one point, the desire to pull back and just not think about the terrible things around us. In Cave Story, you are presented a choice after rescuing the Sky Dragon Kazuma. This dragon offers you an early reprieve - you can choose to not stop the maniacal scientist threatening the innocent (and very cute) rabbit-like Mimiga.

If you select this dialogue choice, one running counter to the very premise of games like this, the dragon flies you away to the mountains, and then game ends - dooming those you were meant to save. Harsh.