Cubed3's Reviews
Blaster Master Zero is a brief and faithful successor to Blaster Master. This may not be as hard as the NES game; it has modern conveniences like checkpoints and save files as it slavishly pays lip service to the classic. It does Sunsoft justice and perfectly captures that distinctive Sunsoft sound that they were known for in the NES generation.
The Secret Monster Society - Chapter 2: Time, Dreams and Underwater Travel picks up where the first chapter left off, improving in almost every way, including funnier quips, smarter (and tougher) puzzles, along with the same gorgeous visual style, superb voice acting, and amazing Banjo-Kazooie-esque soundtrack. It cuts off a bit quicker than expected, but for its low price there is definitely a fantastic ride here to get you through until Chapter 3 rolls around. There are still some quirks that linger from the first chapter, but hopefully they will be fixed ahead of the release of Chapter 3.
This year's edition of the Just Dance series lifts the game beyond its former releases thanks to its focus on treating players to various extras the more they play, as well as integrating the online component so smoothly. There will always be a tendency to jiggle the Joy-Con randomly - as with the Wii Remote in the past - in the hopes of cheating to get a decent score, but some of the fun factor is removed by doing that. Just Dance 2017 on Nintendo Switch is as close to perfection in the genre as possible, even if this version has lost some of the features included in the already released Wii U edition.
Yes, this is way too expensive; yes, it's in need of a decent amount of fine-tuning here and there; and yes, after getting a taste of a mini-game you have pretty much experienced everything it has to offer. However, while 1-2 Switch is not as good as it should be for a launch title, and although it gives a bitter tech demo aftertaste, it's hard to deny how fun it can be when gathering a bunch of friends ready to go bat-switch crazy with it.
What a hidden gem! Snipperclips: Cut it Out, Together is a definite must-buy on Nintendo Switch, showing off not just a fantastic idea with great puzzles, but driving home the team-work element that works so well on Switch thanks to its 'play anywhere, anytime' ethos. Sit with a friend, get family members involved, or even go it alone, play it in tabletop mode, portable, or even on the big screen - whatever the case, it all works perfectly. This is going to eat away at the hours, without a doubt. SFB Games and Nintendo have struck gold with this one.
It is refreshing to see something that feels fresh in a genre that often sadly feels all too similar, and the ingenious part is that the developer has simply taken familiar elements to do this. Anyone who has ever played any Magic: The Gathering-inspired TCG is going to feel right at home with the card structure, but the board adds much complexity in a form rarely seen in the genre. This complexity and single-player makes it a perfect game for both veterans and newcomers to the genre who want to dip their toes in the deep waters and get a fully competitive experience.
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is exceptional. It's always incredible to see what new ways Yacht Club Games is able to reimagine the same universe, and without fail, it does it in a way that makes the experience feel completely fresh. While the setting may be similar, Specter of Torment is so completely unlike the previous two games, both in setting and gameplay. Everything about it is absolutely addictive and impossible to put down, making it a perfect launch title for the Nintendo Switch.
Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey's story isn't going to impress and combat will rarely, if ever, offer any semblance of a real challenge but Gust has tucked so much care into the overworld and crafting that the plot and action feels inconsequential most of the time, and the tense free narrative is a nice concept that can easily be realised fully in the next instalment. Firis is far from a perfect JRPG or high point for the franchise, but it's an admirable effort that shows that Gust still has a few tricks up its sleeves eighteen entries and twenty years in the game.
Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey is a fantastic addition to the franchise. The new world design, new visuals, and small tweaks to the many ingrained game systems make this the definitive Atelier experience. With a tremendous lifespan, consisting of a plethora of side-quests, a long main storyline, and a long, long list of items to synthesise, it should more than live up to many players' expectations. It's thoroughly recommended to fans and first-timers, alike, although be prepared to sit through a good 30-minute slog before the game begins to get going.
Replaying these games once again really hammers home just how great they are. Even with knowing every chapter, every death, every culprit, and every twist, there is still just so much to enjoy here. So many funny moments, great characters, fantastically surreal situations, a superb soundtrack - it's just all so good. So good, in fact, that the lack of any new content can even be overlooked. It's even better for those new to the franchise that can experience all the twists and surprises that are there in abundance. This is a release that even the home audience of Japan hasn't got yet (nor has it even been announced!), and one that Western fans should snatch up.
A heavily stylised game based on programming is hardly destined for universal appeal, but those who do fall into its niche will find plenty to love about Human Resource Machine. Whether you are unfamiliar entirely with computing, or a professional in the field, the charm on the game's surface is such that it's impossible not to fall in love with the cute characters and hilarious dialogue, even if it's all over a little too soon.
When it's not suffering from an identity crisis, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter is a fine adventure/mystery game. Each case is intelligently designed and some aspects are really fascinating. Drawing conclusions from deductions is satisfying, especially when the right call is made. However, far too much time is spent engaging in distractions. This game would be much more fulfilling if it stuck entirely to what makes Sherlock Holmes great. That means no pointless activities, no misguided characterisation, just a plethora of mysteries that are fun and interesting to solve.
Both Maniac Mansion and its sequel, Day of the Tentacle, are highly regarded even after all this time, and with good reason. This remastered edition of the second title is a welcome return for a highly enjoyable - and comical - point-and-click romp that would otherwise be completely overlooked in today's modern gaming world. Even in this form it might well be shunned just because of its genre, but that would be a mistake. It may no longer be King of the Hill, but it is still a mighty fine adventure, filled with smart quips, amusing one-liners, and some crafty puzzles.
WRC 6 offers a solid and perfectly respectable rally experience that has a more accessible first route into rally games for the uninitiated. A certain improvement on its predecessors, it sets out a new roadmap for how the titles should be going forward. Although shallow in parts - especially audio - there is still a lot of enjoyment to be had with fun handling and the mix of real courses, and 'based on real locations' special stages gives an authentic World Rally Championship experience. Ambitious eSports aspirations were perhaps a stage too early for this series, but there is definitely potential here and it will be worth keeping an eye on the next title to see if the team can iron out some of the wrinkles.
Dying: Reborn VR is a waste that does manage to have some okay visuals and a couple of interesting puzzles that are completely undermined by a lack of smooth turning that ruins the experience. It may be fine for those who don't mind turning at set degrees, but everyone who likes smooth turning should not buy this game at all. It doesn't help that the PSVR version is $9.99, which is, at its core, a feature that should have been in the standard game. Lasting at about two hours, Dying: Reborn VR is just not a worthy purchase for any PSVR customer.
Of all of the Nindies to land on launch day, Vroom in the Night Sky, is without a doubt the worst.
Shovel Knight became an instant classic for a reason, and the ability to pack it up and take it anywhere makes it a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch. Available as a standalone app or as a collection of all three campaigns, the titular Shovel Knight has dug his way into the hearts of Nintendo fans everywhere, and the ability to take the game anywhere makes the Nintendo Switch the ultimate platform to experience the Shovel Knight phenomenon.
Do not let the ending put you off Firewatch, nor let the talk of 'Walking Simulator' give any sort of preconceived notion of this being boring. What has been delivered is one of the most engaging narrative experiences in recent times, draped beautifully over a thoroughly enjoyable adventure, with plenty of scope for going back to uncover more details, finding new conversation avenues, and stumbling upon all manner of intriguing information not seen the first time round.
DESYNC had a nice idea on its hands, but it executed it pretty poorly, as it forgot the most important thing when it comes to video games: not gameplay, but a carefully planned and balanced design. As a result, it's annoying instead of challenging, the combat feels sluggish and not fast or varied, and the whole thing is a bit too much of system hog for what it has to offer. Better stick to Quake…
The White Bomber and family head up a worthy return for the Nintendo Switch. Barring hiccups with online lag and repetitious voice clips, Super Bomberman R is a satisfying candidate for multiplayer competitions and online battles.