Cubed3's Reviews
To enjoy ARK: Survival Evolved you're going to have to earn it, and that's a tough sell in this day and age. For those who are willing to sweat over their controller to make even the smallest amount of headway, this is a title you should definitely give a chance. However, if the idea of suffering for a while to gain any real traction sounds horrible, steer clear. Those who survive this are going to prove they deserve to - and that's the ARK experience.
With Minecraft available on both Wii U and Nintendo Switch, it's difficult to work out where exactly Cube Life: Pixel Action Heroes belongs on the Wii U eShop. It tries to do too much and doesn't succeed immensely at any of it, making it little more than a watered-down clone with little lasting appeal for anyone outside of those wanting a local multiplayer shooter - and, even then, it's lacking.
What Semispheres lacks in quantity it more than makes up for it with quality. It's entirely possible to get through every puzzle in just a few short hours, but a reasonably high skill threshold and thought-provoking design ensure the experience remains memorable from start to finish. By having each Joy-Con correspond with each sphere, multiplayer is incredibly natural and comfortable. For that alone, the Switch port comes off as the definitive version. With a truly meditative ambience and stellar puzzle design, Semispheres can be enjoyed in blissful solitude just as much as in the company of a good friend.
Mantis Burn Racing: Battle Cars is a must-have add-on for enthusiastic fans of the original game. If the act of simply racing opponents is beginning to get a bit stale, then throw some machine guns and destructive mines into the mix to turn each race into a total bloodbath. "King of the Track" is a total blast (pun intended) to play and each race can last a while. "Survival" mode is the quicker of the two, as most matches can end in no time. This pack is pure mayhem and a heap of fun to play.
There is a major feature that is tragically both the main selling point and is nigh inoperable due to a lack of interest. The only indication to gauge what the multiplayer might be like is the tutorial and the challenge modes. Had there been anyone else to play Sparc with, it would have been something akin to tennis or racketball with shields. A plain idea, sure, but one that might have worked if the conditions were right.
Although it definitely has style, Mary Skelter: Nightmares doesn't quite excel. The unique premise tends to be undermined by the typical eye-rolling nonsense that plagues anime. There's also not enough of a follow-through when it comes to encounter design. Each class is capable of numerous and creative skills, but the direct approach is almost always the right one. As the game continues, it actually becomes less complex, until the player is merely spamming whatever kills monsters quickly. Still, this DRPG does more than enough to keep one occupied for quite a long time.
It is very difficult to complain about such an affordable and aesthetically-rich package. For its price point, Forma.8 is a surprisingly long and thoughtful Metroidvania-style experience.
Dino Dini's Kick Off Revival can't be recommended. It doesn't even feel barebones; instead, it feels like basic gameplay elements stacked on top of one another. Everything is messy, incomplete and generally broken, and it's hard to tell if it is supposed to be this way, or if everything is just poorly designed. When all is said and done, though, this is just a bad game, and there's no other way to put it.
This is right up there with Super Metroid in terms of sheer class, taking the spirit of Metroid II: Return of Samus and transforming it so wondrously for the modern day that it is barely recognisable, with a plethora of brand-new extras thrown in. Metroid: Samus Returns is no mere remake of a Game Boy classic; it is a love letter to the Metroid series, and a thorough reimagining of the core concept, adding in some favourite elements from later releases, and new content that fits hand in glove. Lay any concerns down, as this is top notch entertainment through and through.
Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition is nowhere near as good as it could be, yet it is still enjoyable for short bursts of gameplay. While the core mechanics are sorely lacking in variety and the stages a bit too underdesigned, boss fights stand out as the main justification for the price of admission, to the point where the spear-tossing simulator might have been a legitimate force to be reckoned with had it taken a Shadow of Colossus style approach. Fantastic art and sound direction don't make up for the underwhelming gameplay and lack of online multiplayer, but they do help mask some sore spots. Lichtspeer isn't going to engage on a deep level, nor is it an entirely positive representation of arcade design philosophy, but it can be fun in quick sessions, and there's always something interesting to make note of.
Taking a mix of point-and-click controls and conversational style, mixing in a heavy dose of visual novel story approach, and being all wrapped up nicely in an anime trapping with a gripping tale of intrigue to boot, all helps to make Tokyo Dark a very intriguing prospect indeed. With a twisting and turning mystery to work through, and many different outcomes to the story, this latest offering from the Square Enix Collective is right up there with last year's Goetia as another indie-gem not to be missed.
Minecraft: Story Mode - The Complete Adventure, thankfully, has enough engaging story content to keep gamers satisfied, some fantastic production values on the voice acting front, and heaps of content packed in thanks to all eight episodes being included. Hopes are high for Season Two to improve upon the shortcomings here.
Redout: Lightspeed Edition is a good pastime for fans of the zero gravity, faster than light racers, but it doesn't manage to be much more than that. Even if you forget every other title in the genre, the weak controls and, occasionally, subpar graphics, don't really sell the game up too well. Overall, this functions as a good way to kill time once you get the hang of the controls, but it won't really suck you in beyond that.
Anybody expecting Drive Girls to be another dumb fun slasher will be sorely disappointed. The learning curve is pretty high, requiring a substantial level of patience, and perhaps even a guide or two. Given enough time and effort, it can be pretty entertaining, and the especially skilled will appreciate the advanced techniques. Until then, all this game has to offer are a poor camera, cheap enemies, and aggravation. It asks a lot and doesn't give much in return. What content is there is stretched far too thin. There are a lot of missions, but very few unique enemies, and nothing in the way of creative level design. Even fans of cheesecake will find depressingly little to satisfy their interests.
The 3DS origins are apparent on more than the graphical side, as the episodic nature coupled with the flashback jumps and multiple characters weighs heavy on Resident Evil: Revelations' story mode, breaking things up far too often, instead of letting things flow in what is otherwise a great survival horror setting. Overlooking the pitfalls, this is still a solid action game that fans of modernised third-person shooter Resi will get some mileage out of, and is multiplied tenfold when diving into Raid Mode.
Bastard's Wound is the expansion that every Tyranny fan should definitely buy, experience, and enjoy, but it's not as… expansive as one might expect. It's good and all, but it's also a very by-the-numbers DLC that plays it way too safe, as it doesn't really try anything new.
The Monster Hunter franchise has a rich and varied universe but outside of a handful of spin-offs; its games have always been limited to their very specific formula. That's a doubled-edged sword, as the fans don't want big changes but those who don't enjoy the series' core mechanics are missing out on a fantastic universe filled with some amazing monster designs and the fabulous Felynes. Monster Hunter Stories breaks the mold and delivers an experience that shows that universe is just waiting for more innovative ideas. Like Final Fantasy Tactics and Dragon Quest Builders, Monster Hunter Stories delivers a wholly new experience that is utterly addictive and absolutely superb. If you enjoy Pokémon, give this a chance!
A brilliant, dark, twisted tale reminiscent of the phenomenal Steins;Gate, and one that will get players digging into every possible branching pathway to experience every facet of the story and finally understand the truth beneath this marvellous tale.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a hilarious, fun, and attractive looking title, despite some technical flaws here and there that are quickly overlooked due to all of its intrinsic qualities. If anything, this is perhaps the one Rabbid game that will truly push the critters into the realm of mainstream on a worldwide level, more so than they have ever been so far, simply because they are such a perfect fit with Mario in that universe, in a way that nobody would have ever expected. It's challenging, for sure, so fans of Mario who are wary of strategy games beware. If even ever so slightly interested in strategy, though, and willing to sit through it all, persevering as much as it takes to see it through to the end is a complete blast. Well worth checking out.
Agents of Mayhem is an uninteresting experience that has been offered in far better ways throughout the history of open-world shooters. That's not to say that it's bad - in fact, for a mediocre game, it can certainly be a fun distraction for a couple of hours. Unfortunately, its potential was thrown from a window, and what we got here is a repetitive shoot-fest that's enjoyable only when there isn't something better to play.