Good news my fellow Spelunkers of SCEE territories – the wait is over! It’s time to charge up your headlamps and push your cave exploring tendencies to all new heights… er, depths: Spelunker HD is coming to the PlayStation Store tomorrow.
Throughout your arduous adventure you will encounter all the wicked elements of Timothy Martin’s original 1983 masterpiece, but with so many newly concocted ways to die it may feel a bit like a devilish set-up… a cave of untold riches guarded by more pits, tricks, traps and more enemies than are stars in the night sky. But the only stars you’ll be seeing for weeks will be the ones circling your head as you run, jump, blast and scratch your way ever deeper towards the 100,000 meter finale. The 100 newly devised caverns may be set in 10 brand new high definition environments, but are just as behemoth in size and complexity as you remember and expect. And getting to the bottom is only half the battle.
But that’s not the only catch; Spelunker, reputedly the weakest character in all of gaming, lives up to his shameful reputation yet again. You’ll have to pull off this insurmountable feat without so much as scraping a knee or the fragile explorer will undoubtedly get woozy and slip to his death. Don’t worry, what Spelunker lacks in physical prowess he makes up for in bravery… well, at least that’s where you come in. You’ll need to muster the bravery of two to embark on this epic adventure that has left so many others lurking about as ghosts.
Yep, that’s right; plenty of gamers (now reduced to ghosts) have tried their hand at unlocking the ancient mysteries of this infernal cave, never again to be seen topside. There is a reason that this game received the PlayStation Store Top Sales Award in Japan for 2009, but don’t think that brushing up on your Japanese will help your chances – the hordes of ghosts don’t negotiate, and unsuspecting gamers of various languages, the world over, have been making the ultimate sacrifice for 28 years now.
BuzzFocus.com definitely braved the cave, and nominated the North American release of Spelunker HD in two game-of-the-year categories: Best Console DLC Standalone Game & Most Entertaining Platformer. Joystiq.com‘s JC Fletcher didn’t leave his ghost underground and honored Spelunker HD with a top pick of 2010. And PSNStores.com‘s Eric G. called Spelunker HD a masterpiece and ranked it as the #1 PSN Game of the Year! Well, enough of the flattery – grab your steel cleats and as much dynamite as you can pack. With cooperative online multiplayer and competitive cave racing in addition to the lengthy single player experience, you will learn to crave the cave!
And be sure to join the other explorers at the Spelunker HD Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/SpelunkerHD, to lament your wildest Spelunker death experiences and brag about your deepest successes.
25 CommentsAdd Yours
1
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:05 pm by Pacman_Ownage
… About time I guess :I…
Am I right in thinking there were rewards through Home with this game? Do you know if there are in the EU release, or have I heard something wrong…
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:22 pm by Brett Ballow
Hi Pacman_Ownage, no Home Rewards in the EU release.
2
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:05 pm by V_Ben
Never thought I’d see our site mentioned in a blog post! Eric really does love the game, we can’t get him to stop talking about it every time we podcast
So happy people across the pond can buy it now (myself included!)
Ben Jones,
Contributing Editor, Europe
PSNStores.com
3
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:07 pm by ibiris
That looks pretty cool, I may be making a purchase!
Don’t think i’ll use the retro mode much, but i’m sure there’ll be an easy trophy to get from it
4
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:11 pm by magmar126
This game is awesome!
Waited impatiently for it’s release over here
Will we see Spelunker Black too,
or is that too much to ask right now
5
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:15 pm by GothPunk
I won some US PSN credit from PSNStores.com and used it to buy Spelunker HD. I had listened to Eric G talk about it so much I just had to buy and it and see what all the fuss was about it.
The missus and I have a lot of fun playing it, she even makes the Spelunker death music now when I do something silly, XD.
Which leads me to my question Brett – do you know if EU players can play online with US players in Spelunker HD?
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:28 pm by Brett Ballow
GothPunk – Glad you two have been enjoying so much! Yes, EU and US players players will be able to play online (and will also share leaderboards).
6
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:19 pm by ShadowFlex
My Playsations got the Yellow Light of Death and just doesn’t want to work anymore. I looked around and all technical experts employed about this fault found it was the same problem; gas build up on the board causing cracks in the solder. It was even on watchdog. I still have months of PS+ and nothing to use it on, shame it broke before the Vita launched I would have prob bought one. Sony told me it was my fault for not venting it right, but it’s on a tv stand right next to my window. I’ve been with Sony since PS1 and I’m very dissapointed (Both my PS1 and PS2 still work….) First all my info’s hacked, the my console packs in all together. Poor show.
7
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:27 pm by Shou_Kobayashi
Will there be a Demo?
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:37 pm by Brett Ballow
Shou_Kobayashi, there’s no demo… you’ll have to brave up and dive straight in!
8
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:38 pm by Yeroon
Free for Plus members?
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:44 pm by Brett Ballow
Hi Yeroon, Plus members can pick it up for two weeks after launch for a 20% discount!
9
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:39 pm by Shou_Kobayashi
… *sigh*
10
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:46 pm by scottsymons1985
at ShadowFlex – poor guy
11
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:48 pm by GothPunk
Hi Brett, thanks for answering my question, that’s great news. Even more people to play online with so ^^.
12
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:48 pm by Carnivius_Prime
How much is it? Kinda tired of spending £10 or so on a PSN game I find I don’t actually enjoy and could have avoided if there had been a demo or trial. Ain’t like we can resell them like we can with discs. The game looks alright but I dunno if I’d enjoy it enough myself. I’d like to just give it a go first.
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:05 pm by Brett Ballow
Carnivius_Prime – It’s 9.99 Euro, or equivalent in other currencies. Looks like you’ll get the 20% Plus discount too.
13
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:49 pm by Chocobo115
Price? better not be more than 9 euro, less prefered
14
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:50 pm by Huono_peleis
No demo, no buy.
15
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 12:50 pm by ArsenalMark
No demo, No buy.
16
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:00 pm by Chocobo115
2 weeks after for plus membersw? then 2 weeks I’ll wait unless you overcharge it ofc. Then I won’t bother at all.
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:09 pm by Brett Ballow
Hey Chocobo115, the Plus discount is effective at launch and continues for two weeks.
17
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:00 pm by Pendrake
I agree with Pacman. I’m sure this was supposed to have Home rewards and possibly a Home space. If it had had decent Home rewards then I’d have bought it in a flash but as it doesn’t and it doesn’t even have a demo then it’s a very unlikely purchase unless that Plus discount price is very low indeed.
Every week there’s new games on the store and lots of them. We don’t *need* more games, so you have to make us *want* more games if it is to sell. A demo would have let us try it, rather than just taking your word for it being good and watching a little video. Also, Home is more popular than ever before and the Home faithful would buy anything for rare items as it’s so much more fun hunting those than hunting mere trophies.
Missed opportunity.
18
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:20 pm by JonnyPauz
@ShadowFlex just get it reflowed, should get at another year out of it
19
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:45 pm by X201
Demands EU version called Caving HD and UK version called Potholing HD
20
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:48 pm by DanielMeier
Hrm, no Demo, not cool at all. Guess i will skip.
21
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 1:49 pm by Querdenker
Sorry, but in this case I’ve got to go with the crowd: no demo, no buy.
This is the same reason that kept me from buying Dungeon Hunter: Alliance back then while the Plus discount lasted. In the end DH:A did get demo, and after playing it I’d gladly buy it at a discounted price.
Sony really should make demos a must-have for PSN titles, just like Microsoft did for XBLA titles.
22
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 2:13 pm by Menorkamer
I feel the same as Pendrake. I’ve bought so many games only because I played a demo, and thought it was awesome. I don’t have time to play all the games I already own, so no demo no buy.
23
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 2:46 pm by Danlisa
If it’s £7.99 I’ll buy it (that should be the fair conversion from the Euro).
Anything more and I’m getting one of the Splinter Cell HD releases instead.
24
Posted on 9 August, 2011 at 3:56 pm by dean1076
i bought this on 6th july so how is this new to psn lol..
25
Posted on 10 August, 2011 at 10:34 pm by ibiris
Wish I had never seen this article. After watching the video I decided to buy it. I’m not normally easily frustrated, but I find myself irritated beyond belief playing this! Played the tutorial and the first level. The ease at which you ‘die’ is very impressive… don’t think i’ll be playing it again.
Posted on 11 August, 2011 at 12:43 am by Brett Ballow
Awww… c’mon ibiris – turn on the ‘Rope Assist’ feature and give it another shot. Part of the overall appeal of Spelunker is how fragile the character is; it has become a badge of honor to be able to complete the game in Japan. You’ll be able to zip right through the first environment (10 levels) in no time!
We close the comments for posts after 30 days. If you would still like to comment on this post, please use our contact form.