Cubed3's Reviews
Astervoid 2000 earns a lot of points for its local multiplayer spirit, which, when tapped into as prescribed, does lead to quite a bit of fun. The problem is the mechanics are so shallow ultimately, that even a group will probably turn their attention to something with more depth and detail before long. The overall sense of value for this game isn't particularly good, since it's hard to see anyone returning to it on more than a handful of occasions. Overall, then, while it's a nice nod to sci-fi and space-themed arcade games, it's also too frugal and underwhelming in terms of content and inventiveness to be considered as anything other than an average space brawler. Sharing it with friends is its best mode of consumption.
An interesting idea that is lots of fun given the right crowd, but despite its best efforts to make for intriguing level design, the more bells and whistles added to the kitchen layout, the more room there is for frustration to creep in. Overcooked! Special Edition is the best value version so far, with DLC already included, and those that enjoyed it before will enjoy it again. However, just be warned that solo players should steer clear, and those wanting multiplayer fun need to make sure those in tow are not inept at juggling numerous tasks under tense conditions or else the entire group will just quickly start to hate the game and each other…
It's Spring Again works wonderfully for what it is, but doesn't leave much reason to keep coming back after viewing it a few times, as it feels like a cute cardboard book from a thrift store. Children may find it wildly engrossing at first, but their elation will probably wear off as time goes on. Still, for an educational game, this is a nice treat for youngsters, especially those who aren't ready to start slaying dragons and saving kingdoms.
Looking for a fast-paced, patience-testing, platforming challenge that may well make you want to throw your Nintendo Switch across the room in frustration? Then Slime-san is for you! Fans of Super Meat Boy and its ilk will be right at home with this addictive, excellently presented piece of gaming goodness that will have players tearing their hair out, but unable to put down until every drop of juice (or 'slime') has been squeezed out of it.
Activision has played the nostalgia card like a seasoned Vegas pro, and will no doubt enjoy seeing the sales figures of N. Sane Trilogy skyrocket as a result. Vicarious Visions deserves major props for doing a fantastic job of eliminating the "Whoa… This is way blockier than I remember it to be" factor and delivering a 'coot heavy package that manages to enhance the core experience without straying too far from the original templates. That's not to say that it isn't without its issues, though, as the regular, jarring difficulty spikes can be frustrating at times and seem at odds with the needs of its primary target audience (kids), though admittedly this is an observation coming from somebody with the age-dulled reaction times of a gamer long past their prime. It's safe to say that we haven't seen the last of Crash yet...
Those who have played through each iteration of Sword Art Online titles will enjoy this, although it does little new in the gameplay section, and just feels more of the same, just with a new story for Kirito and his team, along with the introduction of what is actually a fun franchise, with the inclusion of Accel World. The problem is that the core mechanics are horribly flawed, and the gameplay quickly becomes dull and repetitive. One for the hardcore fans only this time.
Infinite Minigolf is a very simple, pick-and-play, casual minigolf experience. It will be interesting to see what kind of continued support Zen Studios implements into it in the coming months, and the core game does have enough unlockables to work towards to keep some kind of goal for long term users. Thankfully, this is a very polished title that makes, and thus a worthy recommendation for audiences who are into this kind of games.
Catacombs 1: Demon War feels as dated as many of the games it is inspired by. It also feels unpolished, and as if many of the mechanics are just being tested out. This series could be the homage to early RPGs fans of the genre have been waiting for, though, and despite the low score, this should not be considered dead in the water.
The Banner Saga 2 is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end, and it is the sort of title that anyone with even the slightest interest in the genre should enjoy.
The best Final Fantasy XIV has ever been. Ever moving forward, Square Enix has managed to craft one of the most focused storylines in the game thus far, backed up by exceptional voice acting and a desire to keep quests fresh with great boss battles, characters and dungeons. The main area Stormblood suffers is postgame, where there is little desire to top that subscription back up once the main story and few unlockable dungeons and raids have been completed. Whilst it lasts, though, thoroughly engrossing from start to finish.
Tiny Trax set its goal fairly low and achieved it. It has very shallow and simple gameplay that is dressed up by stunning visuals and polished presentation. Soundwise, the experience is forgettable and leaves no impression whatsoever. After the initial wow factor of the VR implementation wears off, there really isn't much to this game, and, really, it could have been playable without it at all. The multi-player modes may not have strength to support it, either, given the core user base for PSVR headsets is really niche, making this a very hard recommendation. It is as exciting as actual slot car racing.
Namco Museum doesn't have a new hidden gem to offer or gimmicks to reinvent classic titles, but what it does offer is an experience that brings the arcade home. Quality of life features like save states and hints have been added to negate archaic design frustrations, and an option to rotate the screen to look like an arcade cabinet is an ingenious addition bursting with charm. Pac-Man Vs.'s lack of online does stand out as a disappointment, but the collection's roster is strong enough to make up for it. With so many unique ways to interact with the Nintendo Switch, the arcade hasn't felt this alive in years.
Skeleton Boomerang is a lovingly-crafted throwback to the 16-bit era. Hunter moves with all of the grace necessary to survive the horrors of the isle. Controlling his boomerang is almost a game unto itself. Every moment becomes so much more interesting when it involves the curved wonder. Exceptionally skilled players will get a lot of enjoyment out of maintaining combos. The soundtrack can't be praised enough. A playthrough will take around four hours, and it won't outstay its welcome.
Despite what seems like a sincere attempt at trying to stray away from the typical licensed game pitfalls at first, Cars 3: Driven to Win strays off course almost immediately and winds up just another disappointing movie tie-in. The amount of content packaged in almost feels illusory at times, as the presentation gives the impression of a deeper experience. The Hall of Fame mechanic promotes tedium instead of overcoming challenge, and a lack of online multiplayer severely holds the content back. Tracks with no discernible identity and mechanics that feign complexity only serve to make Driven to Win feel even more like a blatant advertisement. With Mario Kart 8 already out for the Switch and better than ever, there's little reason to give Lightning McQueen the time of day.
Theseus is a mixed bag. On one hand it takes a bold step in using a completely counterintuitive POV for virtual reality and makes it work, while on the other hand the game itself is extremely half-baked due to an unimaginative take on the scenario. It manages some stunning visuals and pushes some very strong animations for PSVR, yet there is barely any variety in every aspect of the game from enemies, environment or gameplay. When this game hits its ending, it is sudden and unexpected with very little fanfare. However, with all these flaws, Theseus is pretty compelling and even worth a try because of how enigmatic it is. It has a really creepy atmosphere and is just incredible to look at. There is some potential here, and maybe if the developers had more time to iron out the many kinks and add some basic features, then this would be more than a weird unfinished curiosity.
Sundered constantly tiptoes between mediocrity and plain greatness, but, despite the annoyingly repetitive and, many times, "unfair" horde attacks, as well as a couple of bad design choices here and there, it's definitely a Metroidvania worth checking out, especially for those who wanted something much more fast-paced and battle-heavy, as well as horrifyingly pretty and with lots of Lovecraft in it.
The desire to get just a little further is alive and well, and the mix of sci-fi and horror is unique in the genre. While not the best for platforming, those looking for a different offering will find one here.
It may not be for everyone, but for the more creative of players, Miitopia is a dream. It's genuinely funny, utterly engrossing, and worth the asking price just to see yourself striding valiantly through a forest with Professor Layton, Judge Dredd, and Lady Gaga in tow. Countless hours of playtime (with much more in store for those willing to complete everything there is here to offer, including the bestiary and the post-game content) ensure anyone, from the RPG-uninitiated to the Dragon Quest aficionado, will find plenty to love here - just don't expect anything too complex.
Hey! Pikmin feels more like a completely original piece of entertainment that just happens to stage the titular critters rather being than a true Pikmin title.
While the threat level system theoretically makes for some interesting moment to moment choices, it makes the campaign feel woefully unbalanced at times. Combat also lacks the smoothness one would hope for from the genre, with movement and aiming feeling choppy and imprecise. Between monotonous gameplay and a generally uninteresting story, Solstice Chronicles: MIA lacks the qualities that help shape a successful single-player campaign, and the co-op changes feel like a strict downgrade from its predecessor.