Cubed3's Reviews
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth is a tremendously good story bogged down by minor technical issues and some occasionally obnoxious design choices. With two more books, though, this is one fans of historical fiction or adventure games simply cannot pass up. Even with the minor issues, it's one of the best point and click adventures to come out in quite some time.
As an update of the original (which players get for free if they already own Starbase Commander, which is a great bonus), Halcyon 6: Lightspeed Edition adds some cool new systems, but fails to fix the problem of a grind in combat. Adding timers to moves slowed a system that was always very slow even further. Given how prevalent combat is, it is unfortunate this was not more heavily addressed, as the rest of the game shows tremendous improvement. It is simply is not as "lightspeed" as it should be.
NightCry is an incredible experience that's only held back by its extremely poor polish. The controls need a lot of work, especially when trying to escape, and overall, the presentation needed more work in some areas, like the character animations and environment. If willing to look past the cosmetic aspects, though, NightCry is a nightmare that won't be forgotten.
It's going to be an exciting season if The Enigma is anything to go off of. While some of the characters aren't as interesting, the story is going in a really exciting direction. Thanks to the reworked technical side, this is one of the most fluid and enticing Telltale titles to date. Hopefully, the rest of the season measures up as well as this episode has.
Retro to its heart, Cursed Castilla EX incorporates suggestions from medieval paintings, locations and chivalry novels - The Amadis of Gaul above all - on top of a plethora of arcade evergreens, such as Black Tiger, Rygar and Rastan. It's a compendium of arcade perfection, and, as such, it comes exceptionally recommended. Now, if only the good people at Abylight would consider porting over The Curse of Issyos, Hydorah and Gaurodan, too…
Capcom is definitely onto a winner with Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. Taking a Super Nintendo classic and sprucing it up just a touch retains enough nostalgia-factor so as to appeal to older gamers, yet has enough re-balancing, shiny new paint, and extras to ensure newcomers can enjoy the ride, as well. Hardcore or not, there is something for every level here in The Final Challengers. It may suffer when using Joy-Con, but crack out the Pro Controller and this feels as good as the series did in the past.
This was by far the most enjoyable LEGO adventure so far when originally released back on Wii U, and now it still holds up just as well on other formats, despite some lengthy load times between certain scenes. There is such a wide variety of tasks included in LEGO City Undercover that it challenges Grand Theft Auto, the series it clearly takes inspiration from, bringing the LEGO universe to the masses, delivering a slew of smart missions, so many extras to keep players going outside of the core story, along with the trademark LEGO humour.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is a powerful and significant piece of interactive media that, yes, is far from perfect, but successfully puts mental illness at the forefront of the concept, causing its players to come away from the experience contemplating exactly what they have borne witness to, and allows them to better understand the very serious realities that others go through on a daily basis. Ninja Theory earns a great deal of respect for what the team has managed to achieve, but also for respecting those affected by psychosis.
Chicken Wiggle is a charming platformer that blends simplicity with sophistication into a cohesive whole.
Ironcast is a daring title with a concept many would be terrified to touch. The reward is huge, though, as this might be one of the strongest match puzzle games on the market at this point, with depth unlocked thanks to the choice of theme. Every piece of Ironcast works together in a wonderful resonance between style and gameplay, and creates a unique and entertaining experience that fans of the genre will not forget in the near future.
There's a lot wrong with Minecraft: Story Mode. From its technical issues to its plot to its business model, it really has a lot going against it. Yet, despite all that, it still had its memorable moments. As the writing improved, things became more engaging. As the characters established themselves, they became more likeable (and detestable, for some). Hell, one moment even came close to generating tears: an achievement on its own for a game that feels like a Saturday morning cartoon. There's lots of coal here, no doubt about it. In some ways, though, that makes the diamonds shine all the brighter.
Ultra Hyperball represents the variety of the eShop that Switch is quickly gaining: short, but highly playable and unique experiences that cost a fraction of the bigger games. Depth isn't the aim of the concept here; rather a highly accessible, if overly simplistic, game that truly shines in a group gathering.
Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth chapters one through seven prove to be a high quality point-and-click drama that is steeped greatly in historical accuracy. This is a very classy kind of game, with mature themes that treats the audience like an adult, and is probably going to be worth it for anyone who is a fan of the original novels or interested in medieval England. It must be reiterated that this is a very gritty and grounded story that never enters the realm of fantasy the way Game of Thrones does. There isn't even really any on-screen action or violence; much of the drama comes from the characters and the choices the user must make, and the subsequent consequences they entail. Hopefully, Daedalic Entertainment will keep the thrills coming with the follow-up chapters, and maybe the load times and slowdown will be addressed by then, as well.
With its surreal visuals and quirky character design, Original Journey has little trouble drawing attention. Determining whether or not it can retain that attention will depend entirely on the player. On its own, the platforming and shooting aren't all that tightly designed. Relying on level-ups and gear to maintain interest only goes so far. Given a long enough period of time, most gamers will feel like they're just going through the motions.
Even with its flaws, Defenders of Ekron is a fine title for fans of both action and adventure. The campaign is filled with fun scenarios and thrilling boss battles. Controlling the Anakim is an effortless process. Players will quickly adjust to its many forms and abilities. While it is very much a double-edged sword, the massive amount of variety still works in the game's favour. Every stage is different in its own way, ensuring that the player is rarely bored.
The Girl and the Robot has a lot of heart, which is why the myriad of issues are so upsetting. Rough movement, clunky combat, frustrating puzzles, and unresponsive controls make this a tough sell. It's sad, because there's a lot of potential here hidden under all the rough patches.
Despite some irritating writing, and some difficulty balancing issues, Cat Quest is an amazing RPG. It takes the best features of other RPGs, and distils them down into a simple cocktail of fun mechanics and memorable moments. This should do good to scratch an itch for those who have never played a game like it, and those who swear by them. In short, this is a solid title, with few issues really holding it back.
There's no doubt that Kunos has delved into the JDM driving scene with a meticulous sense of craft and attention to detail. This is an excellent representation, with a great selection of vehicles from legendary to modern, each of which feels very distinct and authentic.
Mononoke Forest is difficult to recommend, because the learning curve is difficult to describe. Honestly, it's enough to make many gamers turn away, and for good reason. If one were to get past the obnoxious controls and the initially confusing gameplay, however, there's something enjoyable buried here - it's a shame that it's so frustrating getting to it, though.
This Is the Police should be applauded for taking a concept such as police work and making it into a unique, yet somewhat flawed experience. The tale of Jack Boyd and his struggles to escape the trappings of his troublesome life make for an interesting story, but like his state of mind, the constant back-and-forth between work and contending with ambiguous morality choices through each passing day makes it seem like a never-ending cycle of success and failure.