Cubed3's Reviews
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army not only brings back a classic but reverently improves on it. The updated graphics and voice work create a more in-depth story from the original, and thankfully the Switch 2 can handle every aspect with little to no frame drops. With a fancy new move set and an extra battle partner to boot, solving the Capital’s supernatural threats is more refined than ever before. Set your pace with any difficulty and join Raidou Kuzunoha XIV and his trusty black cat to solve the case!
No Sleep for Kaname Date is a side-game that does not provide a lot new in terms of gameplay, instead acting as an additional, enjoyable bonus story for existing fans. As long as a player goes into this not expecting the next chapter in the AI: The Somnium Files story, but an addendum to the first two games, then they’ll have a good time hanging out with Date and Aiba once again.
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom - Prince’s Edition is a marvellous JRPG achievement, boasting a gorgeous Ghibli-fied visual style, compelling story and engaging real-time combat. The transition from turn-based battles to a real-time action-RPG is a welcome one that pays off marvellously, culminating in a unique sense of style that’s as enjoyable as it is refreshing. For Switch 2 players, the excellent performance is another great reason to pick this one up, with a steady 60 frames per second serving to make this charming adventure all the more engrossing.
Starlight Legacy is aptly named, considering the legacy past RPGs have on today's adventures. It is accessible for both veterans and new fans who may be intrigued by older titles but don’t want to have infrequent saves. The use of quality of life improvements elevates the classic look of retro RPGs and creates a captivating humorous tale so good a sequel is hoped for.
Hitman: World of Assassination delivers easily some of the most entertaining gameplay of all titles released on Nintendo Switch 2 during its launch window. For all its ridiculously hilarious possibilities that go almost as far as imagination will allow for, this may well be the ideal recommendation for those after a solo game that will provide dozens of hours of enjoyment up until the next big release on the system. The one big caveat, however, is the online requirement that causes halts and crashes, and locks out a large chunk of content. It is a huge blemish on what is a cracker of a package.
It is clear that Serpentcoil Island was largely made for longtime fans of the series. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and players who already love Shiren and can embrace the high-stakes risk-reward loop should welcome him back to the gaming landscape with open arms. Serpentcoil Island offers intense dungeon crawling with minimal frills, and there definitely is an audience that will gobble this up and come back for more. However, for newcomers or casual players, the learning curve will likely prove too steep and the payoff feels like too much of a trek to get to. Even experienced roguelike players who have come to enjoy the genre’s modern expansions may find this new Shiren a bit too dated in design to hold interest. It feels like it will enthrall certain audiences and bore others to tears, with very little middle ground between those two extremes.
The Nintendo Switch version of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix suffers from its reliance on cloud streaming, which introduces input lag, connectivity dependence, and performance issues that undermine the series’ fast-paced combat and the Switch’s portable appeal. The high price, risk of server shutdowns, and failure to deliver native ports for games that could feasibly run on Switch hardware further sour the experience. While the cloud tech can be effective in ideal conditions, these conditions are rare, and this version pales in comparison to native ports on other platforms. Some of the entries in this compilation are classics on PlayStation 2. It was understandable that the demanding Kingdom Hearts III made in Unreal Engine 4 might not be feasible on Nintendo Switch, but there was no excuse for the much older titles.
Having transformed considerably since its early bug-filled days, Disney Dreamlight Valley provides dozens of hours of enjoyable play on Nintendo Switch. Regular events and a rotating shop of cosmetic additions mean there is always something new around the corner. Being able to fish with Donald and take walks with Minnie and Ariel in human form brings an immeasurable amount of joy, and looks set to do so for the foreseeable future.
The cloud version of Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind on Nintendo Switch cripples its combat mechanics with input lag, unstable framerates, server disconnects, and visual compression, turning a kinetic, spectacle-driven system into a sluggish, frustrating experience. The issues are compounded by the inability to play offline, which clashes with the Nintendo Switch’s portability and the game’s reliance on precise, fast-paced inputs. While the core game remains engaging when it works, the cloud infrastructure’s unreliability makes it near-unplayable for many, especially in combat-heavy scenarios. For the best experience, Kingdom Hearts III is better played on anything else where native versions deliver the intended fluidity without these technical barriers. When it works, it almost works, but lag, stuttering, and connectivity issues make fighting Heartless feel like battling the servers instead.
Worms Armageddon may not be as compelling on the content front as sequel Worms WMD, and it is a missed opportunity to not make use of the touch screen for map creation, but this is still classic Worms at its finest. The range of customisation options and trademark humour go hand in hand to ensure this is always going to be a game to come back to when pining for wriggly multiplayer warfare.
To a T is a mixed bag. It’s a nice little cosy game that doesn’t ask a lot of the player, but it has control issues that take away from the fun. The story is okay and, depending on your sense of humour, you may even find it funny, but at the same time, it can be a bit too simple and hard to judge who it is designed for. At the very least, you will remember the opening theme, even if the game itself isn’t in perfect shape.
PC gamers may have been enjoying System Shock 2 for decades, but now it's time for console owners to get in on the fun. There is no escaping the fact that this is a true PC experience. The UI and menu system are intertwined with using a mouse, and try as they might, Nightdive Studios' method works as best as it possibly can. There was a very good reason why BioShock had to streamline a lot of the features from its progenitors. These developers are wizards for making it work at all. Some of the early game may feel a bit floaty and could put off some players, but sticking with it is unbelievably rewarding as the protagonist becomes a cybernetic monstrosity. Sometimes it's better to become one with the machine than to fight it.
Kudzu is a throwback to adventure games on the Game Boy, and can be played on an actual Game Boy. It does not do a whole lot original within the genre, and in some places is a little dated, but as a homage to the '90s it succeeds.
Covenant of Solitude has the relaxing feel attributed to most KEMCO titles, alongside the usual twists and at times quite dark events. The customisable main party members adds an enjoyable change to the standard stereotypical lineup. It may lack additional features of newer titles, but that doesn’t diminish the intriguing plot or the joy of exploring the varied dungeons.
There really isn’t much to say other than the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster collection is the best way of experiencing some of the most definitive titles of the genre outside of original hardware. Some may moan about the quality of life improvements in terms of the boost features, but in a world with so much gaming choice, it’s extremely welcome. Just play Final Fantasy IV first; it's ace.
Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii offers a fresh, naval-themed take on the well-established series template, with some enjoyable new additions and some of the series’ greatest hits when it comes to side activities. It’s a pleasure to play as Goro Majima again, even if the story here isn’t as compelling as mainline entries. It’s a must-play for those who already enjoy the series, and offers something different enough to encourage a look from those who don’t (yet).
Capcom’s decision to finally localise Prosecutor's Gambit is a tacit acknowledgment of fan dedication and an unspoken apology for its decade-long absence. The result is a collection that completes a vital piece of the Ace Attorney canon, proving that the wait was ultimately worth it. This superb duology is a must-own for any adventure game enthusiast or for anyone who enjoys tense stories about battles of wits and cunning. Sometimes, the most epic showdowns are two people outsmarting each other in a courtroom.
Black Myth: Wukong surpasses all of its predecessors and leads the genre with fantastic boss battles, beautiful visuals and an engaging lore to base its game around. Veterans will gasp at their precious Elden Ring being toppled, but this, in all respects, is the true (monkey) king.
Final Fantasy XVI represents another step toward the event horizon of the branding's identity utterly collapsing. It isn't a bad game, but it fails to connect on a deeper and emotional level than what its past successes achieved. This is largely due to a weak supporting cast that lacks presence and a melodramatic lead who rarely gets chances to have any fun. For all of its faults, Final Fantasy XV attempted to throw whatever it could at players to create a varied experience. Final Fantasy XVI has a few tricks, and they're action and cinematic set-pieces. After about 20 hours, it becomes tiring, and after that the next 20 hours become utterly mind-numbing. It wouldn't be so bad if the fighting were deeper and the level design more fun.
There are better rhythm games out there, but people who like the genre are going to find a solid title here; people who like Avicii’s work are going to find a solid title here; and people who like to see a lot of colours, lights and sounds while cruising a spaceship to music—at breakneck speed or as casually as they want—will want to check this one out, too.