Cubed3's Reviews
With its satisfying controls and enthralling action, Flinthook is an exemplary roguelike. It gives players the space they need to really come to grips with the titular character's unique repertoire. Each raid presents its own challenges, and there's enough agency to keep every attempt interesting. The constant loop of level-ups of booster packs is maddeningly addictive. There's always something to look forward to, but never at the expense of the game's core. A bevy of extras, such as hardcore and infinite modes, round out this superb release.
Late Shift would be a fine movie, although it would falter from an odd lack of direction from time to time. As a game, though, Late Shift just feels too disconnected from the player to justify even giving them control. It does allow you to steer the story, and on occasion it feels like the decisions that have been made actually mattered. Still, the player's involvement just feels like the movie occasionally wondering where it should go.
For fans of the interactive movie genre, Late Shift is, without a single doubt, a product worthy of its price tag. Those grown tired of the usual flaws of this flavour of games, however, beware, as these make their appearance here too, with choices rarely changing things as much as they should.
forma.8 is all about exploring the environment, and to that end, it gives plenty to explore. With some clever enemies and bosses, and one of the most beautiful, yet minimalist, art styles around, it manages to set itself apart from so many other Metroidvania games. It suffers from its touchy controls, but is still worth a trip.
There is a lot to like about The Magic Circle: Gold Edition. This is a really original story, and a clever way to tell it. It might be a short experience, but there is a lot of charm packed into this tiny little package. Additionally, the basics of the gameplay here are quite clever, and it ties back into the story almost perfectly. It is in the execution, though, that things fall apart, and this is one of those games that is a far better experience than it is a game. They never figure out a way to integrate the gameplay into anything cleaver, and all of the puzzles here are extremely basic and not very interesting. This is one of those games that is very easy to root for, but less easy to actually enjoy. It is still probably worth playing through one time just for the story, but don't expect to get too much else out of it.
Specter of Torment feels like a new mode more than a sequel or an expansion, and it benefits from this. With a new story, completely new move set, and a much darker tone, it's a must-play for fans of the original release. Make sure to grab a controller, because the keyboard isn't ideal for everything Specter Knight is capable of. Congratulations, Specter Knight; you're too good for a keyboard.
Castle Battles is something even people who are intimidated by strategy games should invest in. While perhaps players who enjoy deeper experiences will find the simplicity trivial or beneath them, this game is just satisfying enough to give them the successful feeling that they want. There are some minor issues, but they don't make the game any less fun, or any less worth your time.
More of a zen experience for the mind than a puzzle game, Induction lives to see you succeed. Every so often, it feels like it's not using its full potential, but this isn't like a lot of other puzzle games, which make players feel bad for having to set them down. Setting down Induction is a time to reflect on what you know and what is being asked of you, and it's so powerful that this may be one of the best puzzle games to come along in years.
Kona has a lot of potential, and with it being the first part of a series of games, hopefully its missteps won't squander its future potential. There's so much beauty dripping from every corner of this game that everything feels genuinely special. Kona only falls because of its technical issues, but it falls hard. With a bit of refinement, this could be a modern classic. Right now, though, it's a lot of potential that never quite cuts it.
In Vitra is an ugly, unfortunate mess of an RPG that never quite manages to form an identity of its own. The already pitifully short and poorly written plot ends far too soon without really resolving anything, with a shameless sequel hook that fails to close out the narrative in any meaningful way. Gameplay is traditional, but boring, without any visual flares or twists to mask the fact it was haphazardly put together in RPG Maker. In Vitra is an unpolished, overpriced attempt at an RPG that desperately needed a redraft and another year, minimum, of work done on it before it could even be considered launch ready.
Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is Capcom's little survival horror that could. With so much contention about this entry being in first-person and the complete lack of returning protagonists, many felt wrongfully disgruntled about this truly innovative and expertly crafted survival horror that plays the way classic Resident Evil would play in the current generation. The developers finally figured out what made Resident Evil tick, and they did it by taking a long and introspective look at the most beloved entries in the series and putting a new spin on them. PSVR and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard together is by far one of the most successful experiments since Resident Evil 4.
Rain World has so much potential, it's infuriating to watch it crumble under the weight of trying to be difficult. There seems to be a new mantra in gaming that the game's not good unless it's brutally hard, and this is clearly misguided. If it controlled better and gave the player a bit more sympathy, Rain World would have been sublime. As it stands, though, Rain World is just an angry experience, yelling at gamers for every little mistake.
From encouraging beginnings, Anoxemia only continues to deteriorate minute by minute. Strong controls only become weaker and the gameplay only matches this decline. It feels as if every effort was made to curtail the early embrace of exploration and discovery. Even the resource management becomes an uncomfortable routine. The early signs of promise show a studio that had genuine ideas of capturing the mirk beneath the seas, but ultimately there just isn't enough to stop Anoxemia from being dragged to the depths below.
Honestly, it's really not bad. While the attempt at a greater story is nice and the new maps are welcome, it's just that it's not really worth talking about unless someone is already invested in the base game. The story is thin, there aren't really all that many new mechanics (two new weapon types is about it), and the rat killing is just as fun as ever. Think of it like seconds at a meal. Nice if the meal was enjoyable, but someone isn't going to suddenly change their mind on the quality if they weren't interested before.
Major\Minor does the major parts right in a lot of clever and beautiful ways. The world is fantastic, the art is wonderful, and the plot is filled with twists and turns. However, all the minor things it does wrong, from specific character traits that eventually builds up a cast comprised almost solely of Mary Sues, and the inability to save anywhere or easily read previous text boxes. These little flaws really pull what could have been a great visual novel down a couple of pegs. It is still a highly recommended read for anyone into the furry fandom, or who can stand a cast filled with Mary Sues, thanks to the story and the artwork.
Scribble definitely carves its own niche as a solid, out of the box party game for the Wii U. Since it doesn't require anyone to mess around with additional Wii Remotes or other accessories, it's really easy to set up and play anytime. It's hard not to wish there was slightly more to the game, and despite the simple controls, it would have been nice if there were a couple of options for alternative control setups. It won't turn any heads, but it's a solid Pictionary clone, and one that's sure to please party-goers of all ages.
Adding fresh ideas to revitalize an old idea can yield some excellent results. However, it requires a certain degree of effort to be put in to nailing what made the original great. Only then can the solid foundation be built upon. Snake games as a concept have had decades to become extremely polished, yet Sssnakes seems to ignore the lessons of the past in favour of trying new things. The result is a game that feels completely half-baked, with new "features" that struggle to stand up while the ground crumbles beneath their feet.
It's fair to say that often the game bites off more that it can chew. The more tenacious players will get the most from 8DAYS. Those who are willing to embrace dips in pacing, balance and fairness will see equal spikes in design, direction and gameplay. Those who rely on a sturdy narrative or a strict structure to provide their gaming enjoyment will be put off by the varying styles and direction. It is a worthy effort, but only to be enjoyed by a select few.
For those looking to enhance their EUIV experience to the max, Mandate of Heaven is certainly one of the more 'core' expansions. With some nice and unique changes for the Far East, it will be very promising for those seeking to play as one of those nations. However, people focused on the more Western nations won't get too much out of this beyond a few baseline modifications that really aren't worth the price of the expansion in and of themselves.
Delicious! Pretty Girls Mahjong Solitaire won't win any awards for originality, not even in the super-bloated world of Mahjong solitaire games, yet fans of the genre will enjoy it despite the lack of any extra bells and whistles. Furthermore, the price of the whole package is almost as delicious as the girls in it.