Cubed3's Reviews
Blackguards is not not being recommended. In fact, it is being recommended. However, it is only being recommended to the right people. Those people are the true hardcore RPG fanatics - people who will put up with sadistic combat scenarios that will cause most other gamers to quit and load up something a little less painful.
NES Remix takes most of the NES' early library of first party games, and fractions them into small tasks that help to revisit the most satisfying moments of each, as well as "remixes" some into new types of gameplay involving all sorts of cool and surprising elements. Whether one has already tried these games, or even still owns them to this day, he or she may well find that this new way of revisiting them might just be more fun than the games themselves. Playing NES Remix allows players to discover alternative methods to enjoy these classics in ways that they would not have otherwise found themselves by playing their original cartridges or Virtual Console releases. On the other hand, those who never tasted some of these titles, some of which are perhaps not anymore amongst the most well-known of Nintendo's back catalogue of NES classics, may well find that they want to experience them for themselves in the way they were meant to be played, after they try NES Remix. Indeed, NES Remix sheds new light on those classics to make them more relevant even to this day. Although, with that being said, there will always be players who will simply have a hard time getting into older software on the premise that they look, sound, and play "old", and, other than in the visual department to a small extent, NES Remix does very little to change this.
One Piece's 3DS debut in One Piece: Romance Dawn sets sail but is quickly sunk under monotonous fights, endless corridor roaming that would put Final Fantasy XIII to shame, and a recurring reminder that it is merely a slapdash port adapted to none of the 3DS' strengths.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is oozing with quality and polish in every aspect, and easily surpasses the already outstanding previous instalment on the Nintendo Wii. Underwater segments and the partners Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong are very welcome additions, while the level design is as inventive and challenging as ever. The absolutely marvellous soundtrack and lush visuals only further support the tight and extremely satisfying gameplay, resulting in an overall package that is one of the best 2D platformers of all time - one that fans of classic platforming should truly go bananas over.
Whilst not a travesty in the platform stakes, unfortunately Yoshi's New Island is rather bland and nowhere near the quality of Yoshi's Island on the SNES, and probably not even as interesting as the oft-criticised Yoshi's Island DS. Arzest - made up of ex-Artoon staff - seems to have taken the DS title, removed the difficulty and tacked on some rather average extras to create what is nothing more than a 'decent platform title' rather than a worthy successor to the old classic. All eyes are now on Good Feel to see how Yarn Yoshi turns out…
Although it doesn't serve as a replacement for regular exercise, Wii Fit U is probably the best game in its genre, and with the existence of the Fit Meter, is a great way to keep track of and accompany daily activities. There are all sorts of activities included in this package, meaning that there is something for the whole family to enjoy, all whilst staying in shape! To those who are still using Wii Fit regularly, it is also possible to transfer data over to Wii Fit U, so maybe now is a great time to upgrade!
Cubed3 has no problem recommending Constant C to platforming fans. Anyone who enjoyed a game such as Stealth Bastard will find plenty to love in Constant C. Fans of games with heavily physics-based puzzles will definitely be pleased. Indie fans and platforming fans will find a game that performs above its class, though not in the heavy weight division with the likes of Mario, Rayman, or even Super Meat Boy. Still, at $10, Constant C is an enjoyable experience and an easy recommend.
Everything Deus Ex: The Fall does is done infinitely better in Human Revolution. Which begs the question, why not just play Human Revolution? After all, it's not like The Fall has a compelling story (spoilers: it ends on a cliffhanger, urging players to stay tuned for the next pay-for episode). Ultimately, Deus Ex: The Fall can only be recommended to one group of gamers: those who must consume anything related to Deus Ex. Everyone else should feel free to give it a miss.
Anyone that played and loved them way back when, this is the definitive version of both, and makes reliving the journey through Spira extra special; they are worth replaying all over again.
Other than the slightly improved visuals and frame-rate that the PC allows, this version doesn't bring enough novelty when compared to the previous console HD versions.
The Blackwell Epiphany is the epitome of what has made the series so gripping so far - highly intuitive controls, intriguing puzzles, an intense rollercoaster ride of a story, witty banter between the two lead characters, and some fantastic music and voice acting to boot. Those that played the past four titles are in for a treat with this concluding episode, whilst those mulling over what to do after reading this review, be sure to start from the beginning and work through The Blackwell Bundle first so as to not miss out on one tiny drop of the series' magnificence.
Choosing to ease off on the weird and wacky antics of previous outings, Mario Golf: World Tour is a resounding success, harking back to the original pure fun of the Nintendo 64 outing, whilst still keeping the 'out there' elements for fans of the GameCube edition, just having them in the background now instead. Whilst lacking in any real innovation, and sadly missing a much desired return of the RPG mode, this almost back-to-basics golfing title is one that Nintendo 3DS owners should seriously consider looking into. Overall, it is easy and intuitive for newcomers, with elements of added depth for veterans.
Child of Light is a great first step into the genre for Ubisoft and a thoroughly enjoyable experience overall. It takes the classic Active Time Battle system and puts a twist on it with the Timeline mechanic. The presentation is top notch and sure to generate some interest in the game all on its own.
Kirby is back with a bang! Whilst many adored Kirby's Epic Yarn, the team at Cubed3 actually preferred the more traditional Kirby's Adventure Wii and Kirby Triple Deluxe follows in that game's footsteps. Although the quirky Kirby Mass Attack was indeed sublime, going back to the core of the Kirby series is much welcomed. This is everything that Yoshi's New Island should have been - inventive stages, tight platform action, cleverly hidden secrets that are worth finding, and a general high level of polish throughout.
Treasure-like in its level of sheer ingenuity, Dakko Dakko's Scram Kitty and his Buddy on Rails is the sort of addictive shooter that is a must-own for Wii U owners and belies its initially brief appearance in the length stakes. Not exactly short to start with - thanks to the difficulty stakes - it is the draw of coming back to better times in the Challenge mode or uncovering every hidden kitty on each stage that brings considerable added value to what is already a bargain at just £8.99 / €9.99.
After two decades of racing, the Mushroom Kingdom crew have come together in a package that ticks a lot of positive boxes - tight controls, exceptional course designs, brilliant music and plenty of scope for high-octane online/local races and battles. Quite simply, Mario Kart 8 is absolutely sublime and the best overall installment in the series so far.
Ultimately, Dark Souls II adds a lot of new features to the formula, but can't quite manage to match the brilliance of the original Dark Souls. What it does provide, though, is still a challenging and highly entertaining journey through the desolate world of Drangleic, one that is most definitely worth experiencing for fans of the genre. With this likely being the last game in the series to also appear on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, it's certainly exciting to think about the future of the franchise and what From Software could achieve on newer hardware, along with all the lessons learned from this game.
Utterly addictive and packed to the brim with what is currently months' worth of content - with years' more of it guaranteed in regular updates - Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn absolutely deserves taking that leap for both MMO and Final Fantasy fans alike. Just be prepared for something very different if not coming from an MMO background, and to say goodbye to whatever free time there once was.
Although Stick It to the Man is fairly short, the unique gameplay mechanics and humorous nature of the game make it a worthwhile purchase. Fans of titles such as Psychonauts and Grim Fandango should definitely check this one out. However, those looking for a game to sink a lot of time into should look elsewhere. Forgetting the length and replay value, Stick It to the Man is a unique title full of harmless fun, which is more than welcomed in a world overpopulated by shooters and action games.
After a while, though, things do begin to get a little samey, with the button-mashy nature of the combat and simple, linear gameplay beginning to wear a little thin. However, for the younger audience, this is a great title to introduce them to, and the story is certainly one to appreciate.