Cubed3's Reviews
DreadOut distinguishes itself within the horror genre by drawing inspiration from Indonesian folklore, creating a unique and intriguing atmosphere. Regretfully, it is painful to play due to the harrowing roughness of the final product. Despite its current flaws, it possesses potential for improvement. A critical update is necessary to rectify game-breaking glitches, crashes, and graphical bugs. Given the prolonged period of unresolved issues on the PC platform, the likelihood of these fixes being applied to any console versions is remote.
Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit is a surprisingly effective and well-made entry in a franchise that is overblown and played out. The adventure gameplay crossed with survival horror is exactly what this series needed. Bolstered with impressive pixel art and animation, it stands out from average indie horror titles by setting the bar high with its craftsmanship. The plot and time travel rules won't always make sense and come at the expense of the writer trying to tell a story. Looking past these flaws is still an impressive and butt-clenching horror title that is dense with thrills and chills.
Max Mustard is a joyous platformer that wears its inspiration on its sleeve. It makes great use of the PS VR2 hardware by involving players in the action not just through direct control of Max, but through interactions with the environment. The popping colours, happy vibes and cool art style all help it feel really polished and exciting from start to end. With punchy boss fights and a great sense of scale, there really isn't anything this doesn't do really well. A thorough recommendation for PS VR2 owners!
Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered is far from a definitive remaster. It was always a subpar FPS on Nintendo 64, and try as it might, Nightdive Studios could only polish an average shooter so far. The developer's efforts were also questionable since the multiplayer mode was cut, and some of the new visuals look horribly out of place. At the very least, Turok 3 is (mostly) preserved along with its predecessors, and fans can rest easy knowing that they have the entire trilogy at their fingertips.
Madison VR is a real thrilling port of this horror title and is an example of just how immersive the genre can be when played in this medium. The original gameplay is expertly translated into the VR space and indeed arguably amplified by it. From a sound and atmosphere perspective, this is a premium experience – even if at times other games on the Meta Quest have offered a bit more of the tactile interactable objects. Some of those quality of life and accessibility features could use improvements and may put some people off. However, it’s so easy to get lost in this world and taken over by the creepy atmosphere that overlooking some of the missing features is relatively easy to do.
Amerzone: The Explorer's Legacy is a fantastic adventure game and a great remake. What Microids has created here is a great tribute to Sokal's original work, producing something far more lavish and accomplished that manages to carry the charm and emotion that the storytelling deserves. A real good 'un!
Lunar Remastered Collection is a meticulously curated compilation that preserves the integrity of the original PlayStation versions while introducing subtle enhancements. Gameplay remains largely unaltered, with the most significant quality-of-life addition being adjustable battle speed controls, so some modern players may need to curve their expectations. This feature streamlines combat, expediting minor encounters and grinding sessions. Lunar Remastered Collection showcases two exemplary JRPGs from the genre’s peak era and offers a compelling, accessible package at an attractive price, making it an essential experience for enthusiasts seeking a nostalgic yet refined presentation of these influential titles.
Star Wars Outlaws is a fantastic and thrilling entry in the series. It uproots a lot of the established Star Wars game tropes and benefits hugely from ditching the Jedi. Kay Vess' first outing is a worthy adventure that not only cements her character as a sarcastic rogue but as a contender for the top spot on the scum and villainy podium. Pair this with beautiful visuals and sound design and this is a Star Wars game fans need to pick up.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster offers a streamlined experience with an easier gameplay balance, improved controls and some regretful censored content. While some of these changes may disappoint series veterans, the core appeal remains intact. The overhauled visuals and simplified gameplay mechanics make it more accessible to a wider audience, including younger and casual players.
There is nothing overtly wrong with Farmagia, yet somehow it doesn't captivate interest as much as other Marvelous farming titles. It has an intriguing story, a lot of tasks to focus on for progression in terms of attaining skills and expanding the farm, and a variety of characters to lead the party. However, unlike other agriculture themed series, the repetitive nature of farming creatures and romping in dungeons grows old fast. It feels like it is missing a spark, but if there is a sequel, hopefully it will find the excitement that all the other Marvelous farming titles possess that is absent here.
Among metroidvania titles available, Rusty Rabbit holds its own, though it falls short of its contemporaries due to the disruptive flow of cutscenes and narration. Its controls could be more fluent and responsive, but the dense atmosphere and writing carry the weight of the experience, making it memorable and interesting enough to stand out from the crowd in a saturated genre.
Once the one that would show the industry how things should be done, Civilization VII is an unpolished, pale imitation of what a Civilization instalment should be. There are a myriad of problems with this, but the biggest one is that the wonderful feeling of freedom for which the series was always known for is now completely gone, as players are forced to go down very specific paths in every single match. Unless there’s a very, very big sale, it would be best to stay away from this bundle of disappointment.
Elrentaros Wanderings had so much potential. After one inevitable wall and annoyance too many, the flaws will be too great to ignore any longer and will result in most just abandoning the adventure. From the utterly simplistic town, complete with non-moving NPCs, to various soft locks based on the general lack of a progression system, to simple design choices like the lack of save slots, this feels more like an alpha version or a tech demo, not something that its peers are just far better than.
One of the most disappointing mixed bags of 2025, there are so many cool ideas and mechanics in Greco-Roman-flavoured metroidvania Somber Echoes, but the way they were implemented kind of ruins what could be something truly fantastic. An intriguing story that’s badly told, neat platforming mechanics that are needlessly strict, exploration that makes you want to find it all and at the same time has you thinking if it’s worth the trouble, and, finally, combat that is great...but only when everything works the way it is supposed to. Fans of the genre should keep an eye on it, but be prepared for something that is annoying and fun in almost equal measures.
Nailing all the key aspects of what draws players into the genre, each hour or so run is fast and fun. Amazingly, the characters play wildly different, from zipping all over the board to blanketing it with bombs. While StarVaders is missing that rare chance of a single card or move that instantly becomes overpowered, the power curve is typically satisfying. The only thing holding things back are the frequent freezes and crashes, along with Steam Deck problems of buttons freezing. Thankfully, the save system is forgiving, so these are only minor annoyances.
There are far better games in the series than the original Resident Evil, so it's no surprise that this remaster, which is mainly a visual upgrade, isn't amongst the franchise's greats. That being said, it is very entertaining, very good looking, and the few changes and additions make it a good pick even for veterans. Yes, it's not perfect, but it is undoubtedly the definite version of Capcom's 1996 classic.
It might be from a different decade, but the vibrant colours and toe-tapping soundtrack alongside unforgettable characters make Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana a perfect fit on PlayStation 5 in the 2020s. It feels like it has come a full circle from its PS Vita origins, providing new fans the opportunity to play the incredible tale of Adol and Dana's adventure and returning fans to once more enjoy the thrill of what is like the best Ys game to date.
The standout features of Reynatis are its combat mechanics and soundtrack. Overcoming the initial disappointment caused by the subpar visuals and repetitive level design will be challenging for many players. However, those who persevere and allow the game's strengths to emerge will find themselves immersed in the intense action and captivating spectacle.
Haunted House's task-based exploration and emphasis on stealth offer promising foundations for a compelling gameplay loop. However, challenges with enemy interactions, inconsistent stealth cues, and the occasional lack of reliable hiding options detracts from the overall experience. Refining these aspects could elevate gameplay to its full potential. Its premise may not faithfully represent the Atari 2600 Haunted House apart from the scenes of eyes in the darkness, but overall Haunted House does manage to be a compelling experience on its own.
There are many quality games out there made with RPG Maker software, but almost all of them were created on a PC using a professional tier version. It is possible to make something in RPG Maker With on a console, but anyone looking to create their epic magnum opus will be discouraged by the lack of art assets and the sheer density of complexities that go into making anything, which is made harder on a controller. Gamers who only want to play the RPGs might be better off playing any other indie RPG in the eShop. The user generated content will be amusing at best. The RPG Maker With scene might be more interesting on PC, but on consoles, this is a teaching tool for kids to learn about game design.