 | This page needs more images. This article could benefit from some visual aids. Please find or create images of the subject and add them to the page. |
The Entrance Cave is the initial drop off point for the Spelunker, who descends from a rope into the cave at the start of each new adventure.
It provides a safe environment to familiarise yourself with the controls, and contains the main door leading to the Mines. Once a Shortcut has been unlocked, you will also gain access to the shortcut house from which you can choose the point to start your adventure from.
Upon your initial visit, the entrance cave will be dark and the door to the mines will be locked. You will find an abandoned Journal, which will begin the interactive tutorial featuring the player as Yang. After completing the tutorial, the Spelunker finds the key to the door tucked in the journal, unlocking the main game. In co-op mode, the tutorial will be skipped and the players will find the door already unlocked.
The Entrance Cave changes over time to reflect your progress through the game. As the number of playthoughs increase, small details are added to the cave to represent the time the Spelunker has spent there. Tally marks will be carved into the walls, and discarded bottles and dishes will begin to pile up.
The door also shows three recesses to hold gems, which are placed upon defeating the final bosses. One yellow gem appears once the Spelunker has defeated Olmec, and a second appears if Olmec is defeated without the use of shortcuts (the 'Iron Man' achievement). A red one in the middle will appear once the player defeats King Yama.