Over the last few years Cave Story has become one of those rare indie games that has permeated mainstream gaming with resounding success. The once unapproachable Japanese PC game has been adapted and released (and re-released, and re-re-released) so many times that most gamers no longer have to wonder what was the big deal with Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya's retro-inspired platformer. However, little is known about the game that was released just before Cave Story, but set in its universe, that is, until now. Ikachan, another of Pixel's freeware PC games has finally been ported to the 3Ds so that gamers can discover what makes this little game so special.

Ikachan puts players in the role of a squid, who wakes up in a mysterious underwater cave, with has no recollection of how he got there, or how to get out. After a bit of exploring, it becomes apparent that this...