Cubed3's Reviews
MySims: Cozy Bundle offers two solid titles for Nintendo Switch that promise relaxation and a tad of creativity. It is the ideal game for those that like to bundle up in a cosy blanket and enjoy non-threatening gameplay.
On one hand, BPM: Bullets Per Minute is a neat mix of FPS and rhythm gameplay. On the other one, it's a terribly unbalanced roguelike that is also in dire need of variety. Throw all these in a bowl, and the end result is a soup with a couple of ingredients that shouldn't be here… but, somehow the taste remains pretty darn good. After all, how can you go wrong with a game where you are in control of a Valkyrie that blasts monsters in Asgard with her shotgun, in sync with some fine heavy metal.
The good news is that the atmosphere isn't just good, but fantastic, and as a result the adventure is very immersive despite its lack of a coherent narrative. A solid recommendation whenever the price is low enough, and in the mood for something enjoyably unsettling and mysterious, yet without much meat on its bones.
It's hard to imagine anyone buying Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered because they like the games themselves, as no amount of visual polishing can save this trio of decent to mediocre, and mediocre to awful action-adventures. That been said, if you are into the collecting side of the hobby, and especially if a fan of all things Lara Croft, Aspyr's creation definitely has a place on your shelve.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 aims to please Call of Duty fans of every kind, with three stacked modes - campaign, multiplayer and Zombies - that all have enough going for them to satisfy all Call of Duty fans. Omni-movement is a fantastic addition to the routine gameplay that feels like a natural evolution not just for CoD titles but FPS games in general. However, each mode isn't without its frustrations: the campaign stalls the action a little too often, the Zombies mode can get a tad repetitive and the multiplayer maps vary a little too drastically in quality. Still, this is Call of Duty as it's known and loved. Franchise enthusiasts will likely be satisfied.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins masterfully reinvigorates the musou genre by returning to its roots in some ways — and taking bold risks with established mechanics. It pays off at almost every juncture. While the large roster of playable characters is gone for now and it's certainly missed, by honing in on what truly matters for the genre Koei Tecmo has refreshed an experience that desperately needed it. The result is a more focused, more engaging and simply more fun action title that makes this reviewer very excited for the future of the genre.
Final Fantasy VII fans should already expect this to be a vastly different experience in more ways than one to the original classic game, and the sooner that is accepted, the better, because there is a huge, fun and memorable time to be had in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Despite the slower and drawn-out segments, the characters, combat, and doubling down on the optional content and lore means this is a role-playing game that will satisfy most genre enthusiasts.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered presents definitive editions of two critically acclaimed yet imperfect experiences. While both titles share a distinctive gothic aesthetic and compelling narrative, they offer contrasting gameplay experiences. Soul Reaver is celebrated for its innovative level design and haunting atmosphere, while Soul Reaver 2 is praised for its rich character development and intricate plot. Despite their individual shortcomings, these games collectively deliver a memorable and immersive gaming experience.
Fantasian: Neo Dimension is an exciting turn-based RPG that cements the stylings of Mistwalker and Sakaguchi-san's directorial vision. A marked uptick in quality from Fantasian on Apple Arcade, this revamped version hits the classic highs of JRPGs as well as offers an experience that feels polished, complete and exciting. For lovers of older Final Fantasy games, this will scratch the itch, doubly so with the involvement of Uematsu-san, yet another auditory love letter from the master. All in all, this is THE game for JRPG fans.
Purists may lament that this isn't a true update of the original Ninja Gaiden II, as Ninja Gaiden II Black uses the Sigma 2 port as its base, but what has been put together here is still an incredibly fulfilling hack and slash action game that absolutely is one of the best in the genre. In a time where more and more franchises are going down the open and freer route, this is a reminder that a more linear and confined approach works wonders for this type of game.
Overall, Picross S: Records of the Shield Hero is a solid Picross title that looks as polished as can be. The theming is fantastic and on point, and while more could have been done in terms of soundtrack or video clips, the title provides a solid few hours of entertainment that shouldn't be missed.
Despite its age, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD maintains exceptional quality, offering engaging platforming sequences, visually impressive set-pieces, dazzling vistas, and a high level of difficulty. While the majority of collectibles offer limited in-game value beyond unlocking mirror mode, their inherent appeal, driven by ingrained desire, compels players to seek them out. It's highly replayable and highly addictive, leaving gamers eager to keep playing. It is disappointing that this remaster doesn't include anything new for veterans, but when the foundation is so enjoyable, it's hard to be dissatisfied.
In an age when it seems like bigger is always seen as better, Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a lovely reminder of the fun in a restrained JRPG that simply focuses on telling an engaging story without all the added trimmings around it. While this remaster of the Windows and PSP games is not reinventing the wheel, with similar visuals and the same combat system, the core gameplay here is sure to win round a whole new set of fans who may not have played any of the original titles or even a previous Ys game. The characters are extremely likeable and the combat system - while definitely having its frustrating challenges - is hard not to get a ton of satisfaction from.
The biggest mistake in game design is making a player feel totally disinterested on what's going on in front of their eyes - twice as big of a mistake in the actionless genre of city-builders, because unless given a strong incentive to do what needs to be done, it all feels like tedious, boring work. In Aquatico no one will feel as if they are helping a group of people survive the end of the world. You are basically a project manager of the slowest, least demanding project, where almost everything is done without much input on your behalf.
Life is Strange: Double Exposure offers up some delightfully engrossing story beats and it's easy to get wrapped up in the mystery of the tale. There's a lot to like here with Max's character development feeling fulfilling and the potential for this arc to spawn an even wider tale if the twist at the end is anything to go by. Generally speaking, the performances of the cast are all of a high quality. Where Double Exposure somewhat loses its focus is during the final chapter or two, when the plot seems to fully lean into the supernatural beyond the interesting character development. Some general technical issues with dialogue and graphics also unfortunately result in a frustrating sense of being stripped out of the immersion. Overall, for fans of the series and those who just like a good adventure tale, Double Exposure is worth enjoying.
With the majority of first-person games being rubbish, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an incredible surprise. With the team behind Wolfenstein, it really shouldn't have been. An incredibly fun experience from start to finish with a fantastic story, beautiful environments, taxing puzzles and a fantastic score Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the definitive Indy experience in gaming and, dare I say, all media? (no).
5 minutes of Spellagis is fun… but it remains the same even after 5000 minutes. There simply is no variety to speak of. The arenas, the enemies, the abilities of your auto-shooting mage - they are all extremely unimaginative. In essence, this is entertaining enough to keep most playing it until they reach 100% completion rate… which is easy to do in one single day.
A poor addition in the "series," Pretty Girls Pop Match is an enjoyable Match-3 title, but it's so light in content (even when it comes to the pretty girls themselves) that most are advised to play any other of the dozens of free alternatives that are out there.
In spite of its technical issues, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Trilogy is still an engrossing and tense collection of some of the best twitch-based survival-horror action RPG that also happens to be set in a radioactive Russian wasteland. The atmosphere in these titles are some of the best executed and the gameplay is very deep when it works. It is fair to see why many prefer S.T.A.L.K.E.R. over Metro since it offers an immersive sim-like experience on an ambitious scale for its time, while also having just enough magical elements that keep the universe a little bit of a mystery.
By Mario RPG standards, this is not one of the better ones, particularly when it comes to the pacing, design, and story. What saves Mario & Luigi: Brothership from sinking completely is the strategically engaging and fun battle system, delightful animations that go hand-in-hand with the cartoony art style, and the excellent soundtrack. Other gameplay ideas miss their target, and things become a drag far too quickly.