Cubed3's Reviews
Heading Out is one of those games that will either grip you from the outset or show all of its hand in the first hour, never to be looked at again. If invested in the character and the story, a really interesting tale will be laid out with lots of opportunity to review and revise the outcomes. If it’s a fully realised driving experience that is being wished for however, this may get left on the side of the road.
In anime-styled puzzle horror adventure High School Dirty Secrets, a student wakes trapped in a dark school where a killer and plenty of girly panties can be found, and while said school has a very good, oppressive atmosphere, the almost goofy use of fanservice, the repetitive walking-simulator gameplay and the not-that-well-handled story make this fail both as a scary ride, as well as an engrossing quest filled with mystery and riddles.
Nioh 3 modifies the series formula, producing mixed results. The game features a more varied action combat system for fights and challenges. As far as action goes, it still features some of the best mechanics in the genre, even if it's on the easier side, and regular enemies are exploitable. Storytelling and worldbuilding lack depth, but the headliner has always been getting lost and fighting for survival in these types of games. At worst, this is just another decent soulslike action RPG that doesn't break the mould. The big open world is welcome, but it does not deliver on its full potential due to uninspired level design.
Boulder Dash 40th Anniversary Edition is not everything that fans could have hoped for. What should have been a wonderful celebration of a classic series turns out to be a middling package marred by a lack of control options and default controls that don’t offer the best experience. Getting rid of the classic game progression system and failing to include a proper leaderboard system really limit the potential of what could be otherwise one of the most comprehensive collection of caves for a decent introduction to the franchise for newcomers. Thankfully, the classic Boulder Dash formula remains as addictive as ever and is executed competently here.
While the audio and visual elements of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined are top-notch, those familiar with the depth of the original might not be entirely on board with the drastic changes. Although some are legitimate improvements, there is always a nagging feeling that there could have been a definitive Dragon Quest VII, and not just a "reimagined" iteration. Despite some misgivings from a long-time Dragon Warrior VII fan, this is still a righteous JRPG that delivers on most fronts. It’s easier than ever now, but thankfully not so easy that failure is impossible, and no one is likely to be stuck for long.
Dark Auction falls into a rare spot that the plot and writing is actually pretty interesting but the story is still tough to recommend. The characters feel real, and the tension and mystery is very good, but it goes nowhere fast. There are certainly some other problems such as the auction puzzle parts being a big letdown, and the main mystery not being as big as it first seems, but mostly it is just that more needs to happen. The overall plot meanders, and it really grinds down what should have been a brisk and interesting story that could have been told in half the time or less.
Attempting to channel that special The Goonies magic, indie metroidvania The Good Old Days borrows its premise and aesthetics (kind of) but stumbles in execution. The muddy level design, punishing backtracking and the especially poor controls are hard to stomach, and despite being made with multiple runs in mind, this ultimately isn’t fun or worth finishing even once.
This is a series that has far more iterations and versions that anyone could possibly imagine. While a huge contributor to the 'grand strategy' genre, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8, even remade and expanded, is too dense with too little payoff to highly recommend to anyone except series fans. General strategy gamers will be put off by the death-by-menu gameplay and lack of interesting things happening for what amounts to playing small hands of poker and shuffling Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
Subnautica offers a compelling underwater adventure with genuine moments of awe and dread, but middling pacing, grind-heavy systems, and a narrative that overstays its welcome hold it back from true excellence. Solid enough for those drawn to the premise, yet far from essential.
Within about two hours one can see almost everything Super Box Delivery: Beyond the Horizon has to offer, which is a shame as, even with its severe lack of content, it manages to be quite the tasty snack - one that could easily turn into a big meal with a little more time in the oven. A wasted opportunity, really.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade arrives on Switch 2 with a confidence that immediately sets it apart from the competition, delivering an experience that feels both ambitious and assured from the moment the journey begins. The result is a version that feels consistently engaging, impressively cohesive, and far more polished than many would expect from such a lavish production running on a portable system. This release stands as a testament to what a thoughtful adaptation can achieve, proving that scale and spectacle need not be sacrificed for accessibility. A beloved classic has been reimagined once more, and the hard work gone into it ensures that its magic remains undeniable on Switch 2.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a nice-to-have update that adds a little extra graphical polish and more multiplayer options to an already smooth experience on the upgraded hardware. Mouse controls and voice recognition are a little hit and miss, however. The big challenge is that the bulk of the game's latest changes are already part of the rather brilliant free 3.0 update, pushing Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition into more of a non-essential pickup for those who want it.
Offering a refreshing, polished experience, Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Happy Home Paradise is an excellent DLC package to sit alongside the core Animal Crossing: New Horizons base game. Refined, flexible decorating options with a large catalogue of unlimited items mixes up the pace for creative freedom without the hording slog of the regular island. Happy Home Paradise is, quite simply, a playground of cosy fun.
A fairly by-the-book platformer where gameplay never goes to any great heights or depths. Certain small aspects regarding platforming and combat can occasionally become annoying, but these negatives aside, the art and general charm of the game is quiet compelling. The story hints at some dark sci-fi plots, and exploration is satisfying, if sometimes annoyingly difficult. The characters are especially attractive with their highly animated visual novel portraits, which gives a sense of life this genre often doesn't have. Overall, though, Kotama and Academy Citadel feels like it needed more cohesion to really come together.
Despite its occasionally tedious mechanics and uneven pacing, Atlas Wept succeeds where it matters most: in its heart. Its melancholic tone, thoughtful themes, and simple-yet-endearing cast linger long after the credits roll, elevating it above its mechanical shortcomings. Fans of narrative-driven indie RPGs, especially those drawn to EarthBound/Mother-inspired experiences, will find much to admire here. It stumbles in terms of gameplay, but its emotional resonance ensures it will be remembered fondly.
Massively let down by the overbearing and too frequent fanservice, Vera Blanc: Full Moon doesn’t live up to its potential. It is a shame because the inventive minigames that can be skipped to leave the pure story are addictive and keenly anticipated. The design, with its pop art vibe, sadly clings to the sexist views of a bygone era that have no place in modern society, and ruins the full enjoyment of a courageous lady’s adventure.
It is an excellent sign when the range of negative points of a game are so few that they are of an almost insignificant nature. Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights meets that criteria. The issues discovered are minor, and the strength of narrative and difference in each romance route are genius and plentiful, making it a top-class addition to the visual novel library on Nintendo Switch. A minority might be put off by how long each romance route takes, but for VN fans the longer the better! A sequel would be very well received too, such is the desire for more adventures from the not-so-cursed royal lady.
Divinity: Original Sin II is an exceptional take on the whole CRPG/Dungeons and Dragons thing. Most of the time, games like this are too clunky and obtuse to work on consoles, and are hard to get into due to the UI, but Larian cracked the code and made it work beautifully. It’s a bit disappointing that the Joy-Con 2’s mouse feature was overlooked, but it’s impressive how well it performs on a console using just a gamepad. This is an awesome port, and the fact that it’s a free upgrade for anyone who owns the 2019 Nintendo Switch version makes it totally worth jumping back in with a new character.
TMNT: Splintered Fate is a fun, approachable roguelike that finally gives the turtles a solid action-adventure with replayable loops and co-op charm. It’s not perfect — the genre has seen deeper systems elsewhere, and the base Switch version shows its hardware limitations — but it’s a worthy purchase for TMNT and roguelike fans alike. While the Switch 2 edition is the definitive way to play, Switch owners will still find a lot of enjoyment with this one, albeit with some limitations.
Some gamers enjoy experiences that gamify mundane work activities. The fun is how accurately it can capture the experience of the profession. The Mortuary Assistant: Definitive Edition not only cheapens the effort put into making cadavers presentable for funerals, but it also turns into a major hassle with Paimon constantly pestering Rebecca, thinking it’s amusing to remind her of her past heroin use. This could have worked if more thought had been put into the embalming process and if the presentation had been more polished.