Cubed3's Reviews
Masquerada: Songs and Shadows rides the line between too little and too much, and often swerves into the too little range. Between the difficult to manage combat, and the constant breaks from gameplay for story, this could have been a misfire. Fortunately, it's saved just enough by beautiful artwork, sublime voice acting, and a presentation to die for.
Iron Crypticle is one of the best newcomers to the dungeon crawler genre. While it doesn't come without its share of issues, it's one of the most exciting takes to come along in some time. So grab yourself a few buddies and get ready to die a lot. Just like any good dungeon crawler, Iron Crypticle is all about learning from mistakes, no matter how many times Game Over assaults the television screen.
Despite some continuity errors, episode two of Minecraft: Story Mode still shows that Telltale wants to make this season more than just an extra bid for money. The tension and character drama build to a point where the latter part of the episode flies by, leaving a void that can only be filled by the forthcoming episode three. When the only other complaint is that there's no option to start a romance with Lukas and/or Radar, it's clear that something special is being built here.
Despite a low count of levels and a difficult mechanic to grasp at first, Energy Balance is a decent puzzle game that you will like more if you're into math based titles. However, for those who find math repulsive, steer clear of it, as one's grasp of numbers is the primary decider on how well they will do. For those who do enjoy its charms, this is a great little puzzle game that should not be overlooked.
There's just something about these types of games that make them intrinsically addictive. After playing Graceful Explosion Machine for long enough, and getting into the flow, the experience is fast, manic, and fluid - the sort of gameplay that harkens back to the pure and simplistic joy that was the core of arcade shooters of the '90s. That being said, the real draw of the game is the replayable rankings and leaderboards, and attempting to get those perfect runs on each stage. Without that, the game is a little short for the cost, with just over 2-3 hours of playtime to finish it off.
Not only is Phantom Trigger agonising to play, but it is also really mind-numbingly boring. The game's cycle is just going through linear areas, being forced to fight, and then having to do a 'Simon Says' style memory game. There are some unremarkable boss battles, with no fun factor at all, all following a very similar formula. At about five hours, this kind of game doesn't seem long, but five hours for Phantom Trigger feels like real hard work. The only saving graces are some attempt at having some visual style and some interesting looking designs.
As far as local party games go, Jump Stars is not exactly bad, but it's certainly missing a lot of the components that make such titles shine. It's simple, it's boring, it lacks variety, and there's no point in buying it when there are far better alternatives out there - and, yes, that includes the world of PC gaming, also.
While there are some great moments, overall, this episode feels rather mediocre. Just as the previous episode succeeded thanks to the introduction of the new member, Nebula, the introduction of Mantis here is definitely the highpoint, but outside of this, the story fails to captivate its audience once again. Even the "big finale," which gives two options to destroy the Forge or empower it, fails to give enough of a stinger or cliffhanger to leave the audience excited for the next episode… Two to go and it seems that means the histories of Groot and Drax may be on display. These flashbacks into memory are one of the few saving graces, so they should be good at least.
Episode Three: More Than a Feeling furthers the intriguing story and takes it to new grounds, thanks in part to the carryovers from the previous episodes' decisions and the heart-breaking story centring on Gamora.
Lines is an enjoyable, if not an inconsistent, puzzle game. It's a great time killer, but thanks to the random placement of opposing nodes, levels often feel like winning is more luck and less skill. Still, it does have its merits, and is a good way to pass the time.
Minecraft: Story Mode Season 2 is a shining example of iteration done right. Instead of just slapping a new story onto the previous season's set of mechanics and calling it a day, it seems to be trying to deliver a far superior experience. It does suffer mildly from "setup tedium" when it comes to getting the plot going, but once it does, it becomes clear that there's a lot more going on here than in the first season. Assuming that the ride stays smooth throughout, this is shaping up to be one hell of a sophomore season for Minecraft: Story Mode.
Shantae: Pirate Queen's Quest is a fine add-on for fans of the series. Although an entirely new adventure would have been preferred, WayForward implemented a number of clever ideas to keep this one interesting. Exploring the levels in any order is a neat design decision, and it's nice to revisit Risky Boots' impressive skillset. This DLC also spares its players the meaningless questing, so they can focus squarely on the journey. Altogether, it's a fine way to spend a couple of hours.
The Escapists 2 is not going to appeal to a large audience, but for those that fit the niche, they will most definitely enjoy this. Simulator fans and anyone that favours heavy puzzle elements in their games will be more than happy with what it has to offer. It can be hard to figure out what needs to be done, or how next to proceed, but it will definitely scratch the itch for puzzle aficionados.
White Day: A Labyrinth Named School is a concept that has a breadth of brilliance to it that it just cannot reach due to budgetary limitations. It looks like a game from the early 2000s that was thrown in an HD up-rezzing machine, and plays like one, too - for better and for worse. The fact that this was actually a remake of a game from that period probably explains why it feels this way. The thing is, Resident Evil HD Remaster was also a port of a remake from the same era, and while it is understandable that they may not have had the budget that Capcom had to expand on this old game, that ultimately is not the case for Frictional Games' Amnesia. Maybe White Day's concept is just too ambitious for the team to fully really realise, and the best that anyone can tell them is a hearty "better luck next time." This K-horror game is only recommended to the most hardcore horror enthusiasts who might be curious to see another culture's take on the genre.
Sonic Mania doesn't just stand shoulder to shoulder with the classics of yesteryear; it surpasses them. The level design is absolutely incredible. Each zone features a wealth of obstacles and secrets, and they're all superbly implemented. Players are given ample opportunity to explore, though there's also incentive in speeding to the end.
F1 2017 feels like the final realisation of several years of work, but it also ushers in another phase for the annual series. In terms of core gameplay, the handling models, the force feedback, and the physics engine have all been drastically improved, resulting in a greater sense of control and a much better chance of interpreting the car when its forces are out of balance. Improving this core gameplay aspect alone, whilst addressing the major bugs of last year (like the dodgy AI), leads to a much more immersive and authentic driving experience. Overall, considering the impressive amount of additional content - especially new short course variations, the introduction of classic cars, the new championship mode, the redesign work on many existing tracks, and the improvements to presentation and cut-scenes - F1 2017 certainly is an impressive package, which hardcore fans will find difficult to resist.
An absurdly good game. The story, the world, the characters, and the distractions all add up to one thing: immersion. This is the type of game to invest tons of time in, and for those new to the franchise, it's all the better because there are so many other Yakuza titles waiting to be played! For returning fans, Yakuza: Kiwami gives the inaugural game new life. It's been long enough removed from the original release to feel special again, and, even better, it is released at a budget price. In fact, it's a shame that only the first title has received this remaster, but with some "big announcements" coming this month, hopefully, the others in the series will see similar rereleases on PlayStation 4. Until then, dig out those PlayStation 2s and 3s and get cracking on the rest of Kiryu's story. There may just be time to catch up before Yakuza 6 - billed the finale of Kiryu's story - arrives next March in the West.
Very few stones have been left unturned to create what is a contender for the best Sonic title ever made. More than just an anniversary celebration, Sonic Mania is full of fresh ideas, balancing its source material and addition of all-new elements to elevate it beyond many other platformers that rely heavily on the same old formulas. It is a great pity that Sonic 4 exists, because no game deserves that name more than Sonic Mania; this is the Sonic 4 you have all been waiting for. The hope now is that it does not prove to be a one-off; a sequel with even more original zones and ideas needs to happen down the line. For now, though, it is a time to appreciate Sonic Mania and the incredible work Christian Whitehead and his fellow developers have done.
Episode 1: The Enigma is not what the first chapter of Batman: The Enemy Within should be. Similar to season one, the gameplay segments are subpar, and the small power that choices have over the course of the storyline ruin the replay value of it all. Sure, the story offers some interesting twists and turns that Bat-fans will definitely enjoy, but the World's Greatest Detective can certainly do better than this.
Vostok Inc. is a commendable effort that just feels like a grind with frustratingly simple gameplay. For fans of either of these genres, it might be just the ticket you need to enjoy both of them. The truth is that these genres complement one another perfectly fine, but there's little to make the experience feel like it's more than just a typical foray into both.