Cubed3's Reviews
Tales of Graces f Remastered's most compelling feature is its combat system. It's a serviceable JRPG experience, potentially appealing to younger players disinclined towards turn-based systems. While its emphasis on "the power of friendship" may resonate with this demographic, older gamers will find the narrative lame and its character motivations underdeveloped. Although the writing occasionally exhibits weaknesses, the narrative does offer moments of genuine emotional impact.
The Coma 2B: Catacomb is a worthwhile horror game, but one that will test one's patience. The randomisation compounded with the cruel and unfair AI throwing outrageously long QTEs will undoubtedly frustrate the most dedicated horror fans. However, it is fun to see Youngho again and to find out what he has been up to, and the scares deliver the chills.
The opening of Xenoblade Chronicles X is really something. From the pure horror of watching Earth get wiped out, to the first exploration sequence in the dark and the rain, this game really takes players on a masterful rollercoaster of emotion. The only real knocks against it are the occasional oddly placed music track, and the generally boring city sections, with an additional comment that the systems are often so complicated that they get in the way of fighting and exploring. The story definitely comes in waves, so any player should be more interested in the exploration than purely a narrative experience.
Monster Hunter Wilds is a fantastic time through and through. It might not hit the right balance for all players due to the move to being more story-focused with pacing and things, but for those who like it, there is a ton of fun to be had here. A successful and innovative way to change up the typical Monster Hunter formula and a great stepping stone to finding the perfect balance. A heartily recommended action title where the monsters are the real stars of the show!
The charm of Asterigos: Curse of the Stars is its story, but there is still the potential for more growth in this area, as well as its gameplay. Those that take the time to explore and get to know the characters will find more enjoyment than others. For the casual gamer, one may find Asterigos short and repetitive, but this is still a respectable debut title from developer Acme Gamestudio.
Mullet MadJack emerges as a striking and intense experience, rooted in the legacy of cyberpunk anime's creative and artistic zenith. Its narrative subtly critiques the perils of artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and the multifaceted nature of addiction, seamlessly integrating these themes into the gameplay. Far from a simplistic excuse for destruction, the premise carries substance, delivering its commentary with a sharp, knowing edge. Compounded by its wry wit, it's one of the most original, gripping, and addictive first-person shooters of all time.
Shadow of the Orient is inoffensive and delivers exactly what it promises, which is, admittedly, not a lot. The gameplay is as classic as it gets and is priced appropriately for its content. It's a solid effort that doesn't do anything wrong apart from some dirty level design and leans on being a bit forgettable.
A solid but short VR horror experience, Afterlife VR is a confident and reasonably immersive game. The developer clearly had fun making it but the lack of replayability and shorter runtime stop this from being a full recommendation.
A shoot ‘em up by genre veterans for genre veterans, the trip back to the past by the name of Lilac 0 will put your skills to the test, and make you feel good for every small victory you will achieve, and every cyber-foe the cyber-hero of this cool little indie shmup will slice in half with its dash ‘n’ slash ability. While a bit low on the variety front, there's lots of replay value hidden under the handful of available stages.
KEMCO and Articnet deliver a well-balanced sport-RPG hybrid in RPGolf Legends. Having only two difficulties may bother more veteran players, and the need to grind late-game for some bosses and dungeons may cause a few to give up before the actual end, but for most it is a solid story with engaging quests and an ear-pleasing soundtrack, making it an enchanting tale on Nintendo Switch with high replayability due to its charm and story.
Withering Rooms boasts a surprising amount of content, rivalling some AAA titles. Players will encounter a variety of outfits, weapons, enemies, and challenging boss battles, offering a high value proposition. For fans of Bloodborne seeking a 2D action RPG with a focus on witchcraft, Withering Rooms provides a compelling experience despite its uneven rogue-lite mechanics.
Schim isn't without its merits. For players looking for a more casual, low stakes experience, it can be a relaxing time to shut off the mind to, and the art style alone is worth admiring. It's built on a strong conceptual foundation, even if it struggles to make the most of its intriguing premise. Although it doesn't quite hit the mark fully, Schim should be applauded for trying to do something different and unique. There is a certain satisfaction to leaping from shadow to shadow, much like one might imagine as a child looking out from the window and also imagine during a long car journey. Much like those car-imagining journeys, though, the novelty can fade quickly, but at least it doesn't make one feel queasy, like reading a Beano would.
In the end, Ellison/AM won. He got his game that slaps the player in the face, and yet it's hard to not stand back and be impressed by the sheer audacity of his creation. This is a monumentally messed up story wrapped up in a very hostile experience that has no interest in the player's enjoyment. Whether it's the playability, or the confusing puzzles, or the sadistic traps laid by the developers, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream is not meant for average gamers. This is one for people with true grit in their hearts...and a little patience.
It's hard to recommend Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated to anyone but fans of the 2010 original and maybe to a few of those diehard aficionados of super old-school JRPGS. Bad? No. It's actually a pretty good game, but it leans too much on comedy to be immersive, and its short length makes it feel more like a taste of something more epic in scale and scope.
Doctor Cat shows promise but ultimately fails at the execution. The puzzles themselves are fine, but unfortunately issues with controls ruin the experience completely. It is also unclear why a premise was set for Doctor Cat with what feels like little to no resolution.
Nekograms is absolutely adorable, with challenging puzzles, beautiful art and great sounds. However, it is a bit monotonous, in that it does not offer anything other than the base-type puzzle. Although puzzles are beautifully designed and offer a fun way to spend some time, some more content could really improve this title.
Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip almost feels like a proof of concept for a larger game pitch that's yet to be announced. But apart from suffering from some repetitive strain injury in the late game due to its small nature, it comes largely otherwise without fault.
Big Helmet Heroes offers a straightforward gameplay experience suitable for young players new to the genre. The game features a weapon system that allows players to experiment with different fighting styles and classes while maintaining their preferred character. The game's aesthetic is designed to appeal to children, and the visual gags offer mild amusement. Older gamers won't connect with this, but newcomers will welcome the presentation and simplicity, without getting bogged down in any grind.
Newcomers to the Neptunia series will be drawn in by the humorous tale which should lead them to explore other titles. Returning fans will eagerly lap up the already known personalities. The several issues of few levels, no multiplayer, and no actual outfits to change into outside the DLC partly impacts the enjoyment of Neptunia: Riders VS Dogoos, which is a shame because it is a cheerful, solid addition to the Neptunia universe.
Love Too Easily is a Korean romcom with its heart in the right place. Its various flaws, whether it is the low image quality at the beginning of scenes or the broken English, can somewhat be overlooked by the lighthearted story at play. A playful distraction for an hour or two if looking for a humorous FMV game, despite the lack of depth.