| Frequently Asked Questions [sect301] |XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Find answers to common Cave Story questions about getting the best ending, accessing Sacred Grounds, obtaining items like the Tow Rope, and more. Expert walkthrough tips.

Q: How do I get Cave Story?

A: Cave Story is a PC game that's free to download. Check the "Getting Started" section for more information.

Q: How do I get to Sacred Ground and the best ending?

A: In order to gain access to this secret level, there are a few things you must do:

1. Skip the Booster v0.8; you'll receive the Booster v2.0 later on in the game.
2. Make sure you get the Tow Rope in the Core, so you can take Curly along with you.
3. In the Waterway, enter the Waterway Cabin and drain the water from Curly, then pick her up again and go through the remaining portion of Waterway.
4. The next time you see Curly, she should be in lower-right part of Plantation, with her memories gone. Go to the Graveyard in Mimiga Village and acquire the Ma Pignon in a boss fight. Go back to Curly and feed her the mushroom, and she will regain her memories. Make sure you get the Iron Bond from her.

With these requirements fulfilled, the door to the Prefab House will be open during your final escape, which will lead to Sacred Grounds.

Q: I'm trying to find the Tow Rope in the Core room, but nothing's showing up for me. What's going on?

A: The Tow Rope only shows up if you did NOT acquire the Booster v0.8 from Prof. Booster. This of course means that you cannot rescue Curly.

Q: I talked to Ma Pignon, but when I said "Yes" to his first question, he responded with "Ha ha, I doubt it." What am I doing wrong?

A: First of all, in order to fight Ma Pignon you must save Curly in the Waterway. If you did, then the next time you see her she should be busy having amnesia at the bottom right corner of Plantation. Talk to her, then talk to the Cthulhu native standing right next to her bed, who will mention "a mushroom that can cure amnesia". Only then will you be able to fight Ma Pignon.

Q: I found the Little Man in the Graveyard but can't get him to come with me?

A: You must enter the Little House at the bottom of Outer Wall and speak to his wife first.

Q: Which Polar Star upgrade should I get?

A: It really depends on your preference. You can find the pros and cons of each weapon in the Weapons section. If you want to try out all the weapons, I suggest you save a copy of your profile just after you beat Curly to test out the Machine Gun, and make another copy at the Labyrinth Shop to test out the Snake. If you want my personal opinion though, I say go with the Spur.

Q: Is it possible to have multiple save files?

A: The game itself only limits you to one save file, but there are a couple of ways to store multiple saves. The easiest method is to just copy the entire Cave Story program folder and create distinct shortcuts for each. Cave Story is only around 5MB, so you won't be wasting a whole lot of space.

Another, more complicated method (but requiring only one copy of the game) is to go to the Cave Story program folder and find the file named "profile.dat". This is basically your save file, so you can create a new folder and back up the file into that folder. Make sure you rename it so you can tell what file it is (e.g. "Last Battle with Spur"). You're then free to start up a new game without compromising your previous data. When you want to load a data file, get rid of the current save file and paste the desired file instead, making sure to rename it "profile.dat".

Q: What's your hell speedrun time?

A: 3'36"8. Don't bother me about it.

Q: I think this method is a lot more effective than the one you listed.

A: Great, send it to me. If it works, I'll add it to my guide and give you proper credit for it.