The Polar Star Permanent Trade Stalemate (Read this if your new to the game)

[Awsomesawse]

I enjoyed this game very much up until the point that I got to the first "boss" in Sand Zone. After you beat her you have the option to trade in your weapon for her's (a machine gun with regenerating ammo).

I made the trade, not knowing that it was irreversable. I regretted doing the trade and I missed my cherished Polar Star!

I made my way to the Cave Story txt walkthrough here: http://www.cavestory.org/guides/CaveStoryFAQ.txt

It was there that I found out that there would be 3 other opportunities to trade in your Polar Star gun for a different one. The guide even states: "Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the Machine Gun so I would recommend keeping your Polar Star for now, but it's your choice." Since there is no alternate save option in the game (or save states :P), I was forced to restart to the beginning to keep my Polar Star.

The machine gun is fine, but already I'm frustrated with it as it has regenerating ammo. If you hold the button down, you're going to run out.

If your interested in the different weapon choices, the guide linked above has a weapons section giving a description of each weapon.

Anyway...learn from my mistake and weigh your options before you do this trade. That ole Pea Shooter is definitely the most practical gun I've seen in the game so far.

The game as a whole is wonderful. I love it's SNES style graphics, reminiscent of Metroid, Mega Man, even some Kirby.

The End.

Edit: The new file I started is on Normal difficulty and I have to say...boss battles are way more difficult. It's a lot more fun and there's more risk (ie. your weapons downlevel faster when taking dmg, and it takes more to level up). Definitely a worthy challenge.

[MasterLuigi452]

Spur is overrated. I love Machine Gun after watching Cave Story TAS.
Besides, after you get Turbo Charge, ammo is not a problem.
Also, hard mode is intense.

[Kamakou]

Well, i think it was kinda fun. First time I played the game, I was like "finally a better gun". By the end of the game, I just thought the game was tough as nails, since I didn't know about the alternate weapons. 2nd playthrough I didnt get it, and... well holy tits, it was worth waiting out.

[Awsomesawse]

I'm playing thru right now on Easy mode with the machine gun and I gotta say, I'm really enjoying it. The machine gun is OP right now since it propels me upwards, helping me get to those hard to reach places. I haven't gotten a double jump ability yet, so it's really coming in handy.

Easy mode's bosses are a lot easier than Normal. It seems that bosses in Normal have some sort of enrage mechanic when they get low on health...increasing their movement speed and/or firing rate. If I can make a WoW comparison: Easy is to Normal as LFR is to Normal raids.

Also I got the Turbo Charger now (yay!).

[michael porn]

Yeah, before you get the Jetpack, the machine gun is a life saver.

[sh_amp]

The hover of the machine gun is so much fun, for me it's the most iconic weapon in the game.

[SwordSaint]

Because of the different endings and weapon trade options, the game with worth just finishing and playing through over again, even multiple times. It isn't long by any means, and has a decent amount of replayability.
Don't be too heartbroken about the machine gun it IS a fun weapon (especially at max level when it grants you hovering, you can also get a reload speed upgrade later), pick up the snake or the spur next time around.
If you do decide to play through on harder difficulties and going the Hell route later, you may need the Spur because of its different and powerful mechanics.

[Necdilzor]

Woah! I didn't know there were more weapons x.x Is this true for the original too? (I don't have the steam game)

[SwordSaint]

Yeah, even the freeware version has the different weapons available. Cave Story + doesn't have a lot of completely NEW content for the main storyline.

[Nex]

so i have to start from the beggining?Well shame.I liked the macgine gun cuz i was able to fly and save myself from the monsters.Well i guess you can't ♥♥♥♥ around too much.I'll just start over and get the upgarde later in game.After finishing the game i'll do my last save and go hardcore with the maschine gun.I really hate when i lose my thing in a game or do something wrong.It just feals like starting all over again.

The game is great and i really enjoy playing it.I need a brake from games like Borderlands and stuff like that.This is awesome and i don't mind playing it again.

[Are You Nervous For Tommorow?]

also dont see the doctor when you see him falling in labyrinth, wait out and you get a much better object from him

[Werewing]

Ha! Personally I like the Lv 3 kickback better than V2 Booster! Just use burst fire (Meaning: Release the key occasionally) and your ammo should regenerate almost as fast as you use it.

Moreover, after you've played the game's best ending from start to finish, you'll start being able to Speedrun the game in an 3-4 hours per playthrough. The biggest problem I've had is forgetting to save.

[HakkWolf]

Well, with a game with multiple endings like this, you're really not meant to know the reprocussions (and benefits) of trading weapons. If you can hold out until you get booster V2 for the ability to 'fly', you'll be rewarded with an upgrade to the polar star itself if you return to the hermit in the first cave.

[Lost_Kitty]

It depends on what you want. I got the machine gun in the first run and flying makes life a lot easier. That being said Spur is useful in hell and the few boss fights you can use it in. Snake is also a fun one but it depends on what you want in a game. That being said, you can finish the game in about 4 hours once you know what you're doing.

[zhunGamerTTV (人^▽')～]

Spur is good if you plan to go up against Ballos because of the level1 reset on all weapons. Spur doesn't care about the EXP, because it's a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ charge laser gun. But you can get that only if you have the Booster v2.0 in the first place, so it's a tough one.
I beat the game with a Machine Gun on my first run, it was fun!