Cubed3's Reviews
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.
An often-forgotten gem of the Wii U library gets a new lease of life on its successor, and it marks a perfect stopgap between the majesty of Breath of the Wild and the carnage of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe later this month. Minor framerate issues and higher price tag aside, LEGO City Undercover ranks as one of the very best LEGO games and an ideal portable companion.
While there's plenty of light-hearted arcade fun to be had with this title, and despite the sizable helping of modes and content, somehow, the gameplay experience itself just seems a little bland and hollow. There's some real challenge in the latter parts of the single-player offerings, yet far before one reaches that point, there's a real chance players will be day-dreaming of more colourful variations of the theme, such as SSX Tricky or, more recently, Steep. Snow Moto Racing Freedom is a fairly decent package, but it's also not particularly polished or distinct. Future entries should address the dodgy central physics issues and general lack of personality.
Captain Kaon shows a lot of promise, but there are too many aspects that need to be tweaked or fixed. The graphics are passable, but the frame rate borders on horrendous. The difficulty balance is heavily stacked against the player early on, but then jumps between "too easy" and "too infuriating," depending on the objective. The soundtrack is just awful. There's one song that plays during every mission, and it must have been composed with just six or seven notes. It has a better chance of driving someone insane than being trapped miles underground, while surrounded by hostility.
FATED: The Silent Oath tells a short but compelling story steeped in Norse mythology, with some great set pieces that play to VR terrifically. It’s a pleasant change to find a set of characters that are as likable as this, and there are some clever design choices at work to make the VR experience viable for such a story-driven game. It's a shame there isn't more of it.
King's Quest isn't a graphical powerhouse, it's not a bastion of good gameplay, and it isn't even a particularly excellent puzzler. What it is is one of the best stories found in gaming; the amount of charm and love put into the game, and subsequently poured out of the game, makes it a unique experience just about anyone can get behind. Here is a story that would put most award-winning animated films to shame, and cleverly binding it to puzzles and gameplay segments helps invest players even more into this unforgettable, emotional journey.
The Utopia DLC, tied in with its major update, goes a long way to breathing life into a game that had grown stale on many fronts. The race actually feels a lot more alive, and the Unity/Ascension system gives something to work towards during the game. For more casual fans, the free update is likely enough, as it offers a surprising amount of content, whereas more hardcore fans will want to spring for additional features that especially change late game. The combat system that has been an issue in many people's eyes unfortunately sees no changes, but the rest of the game has been overhauled to a much better state. The singular problem is arguably the update gives more than the DLC, which has a steep cost.
The Nonary Games is a collection of two examples of some of the best visual novels available. Expect a riveting mystery full of interesting and layered characters, and even some diabolical puzzles. Whilst Nine Persons, Nine Hours, Nine Doors is clearly the game that got the most attention for this compilation, it doesn't mean that Virtue's Last Reward is the lesser of the two... 999 just needed it more and it pays off beautifully.
Has-Been Heroes is a funny and charming title that blends the age-old tale of heroes embarking on an adventure with the humour of them escorting the princesses to school.
While having an additional campaign is swell, the real stars of the Elite Class DLC are the hover vehicles. They offer an exciting spin on traditional racing. Taking the time to learn their intricacies is a very rewarding endeavour. The higher top speeds and looser handling make for very frenetic and sometimes chaotic races. All in all, a fine purchase for any fan of Mantis Burn Racing.
Snowbound is a fantastic add-on that's sure to please Mantis Burn Racing veterans. The four tracks not only look great, but they're also fairly designed and fun to race through. A lot of time could be spent just testing out how all of the vehicles behave on these treacherous ice-covered roads. Everything is seamlessly integrated, so both campaign and multiplayer gamers aren't going to run into any issues. Most importantly, this DLC is free. How can anyone complain about that?
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - Episode 3: Above The Law continues its remarkable success with advancing the progression of main characters, their pasts, and their relationships, but what struggles as a result is a clearer picture of the season as a whole. Of course, like is seen in the first two episodes, things can change mighty quickly, and it's definitely possible that it ends up finishing with a bang. For now, though, Above the Law does its job ramping up excitement for the next instalment, but unfortunately not for the same reasons that the first two did.