Cubed3's Reviews
Given the inexplicable yet continued absence of Left 4 Dead in this current console cycle, Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide steps up to fill that festering void with gusto. Granted, it doesn't stray too far from the zombie slaying blueprint laid out by its undead inspiration, but given that it's one of the better co-op experiences currently available, it's easily forgivable. With that said, it would be hard to recommend this to any non-PS Plus/Xbox Live subscribers, as ignoring its online social aspects pretty much flies against its raison d'etre. The thin narrative and occasionally iffy AI of the bots just don't come close to replacing the sheer joy of surviving a vicious onslaught of Skaven with a well co-ordinated bunch of mates (or strangers, for that matter).
Sure, the title is long and the gameplay takes a bit to get used to, but this is a unique smaller experience that could fit into short breaks from the rest of life. Make no mistake, it's not the most inviting game, but it does make you feel like you are part of an exclusive club. An exclusive club that fought the base controls and found a fun little title hiding behind them.
In short, God Eater 2: Rage Burst is a brilliant game for fans of monster hunting. While the post-apocalyptic storyline has a surprising lack of death and suffering, the characters are interesting and decently written. The dealings with adversity are fun, and taking down an exceptionally large and dangerous foe is always satisfying. The PC version's poor online is easily its biggest failing, and experts might scoff at the abuse prone Blood Arts, but there's still a lot of enjoyable qualities. This game perfectly captures the addictive "one more mission" aspect, and for anyone it manages to suck in, free time is guaranteed to become a thing of the past.
As far as the horror genre is concerned, Barrow Hill: The Dark Path is very quaint. It was made by a small team, who didn't have much of a budget to work with, but it's clear that they invested a lot of passion into their game. This adventure doesn't have a lot of hand holding, but the puzzles are mostly sensible, and even consistent with the lore. On the other hand, it's a little too easy to overlook certain clues, wandering in the forest gets dull, and it could have used a little more polish. Most of the serious bugs were ironed out, but there's still the occasional oddity, such as a screwdriver mysteriously appearing in one's inventory. Maybe a witch put it there. Who knows?
This feels like the natural successor to Senran Kagura. The ecchi elements of Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni will be a deal breaker for many, but doesn't mean there isn't a quality game beneath the T&A. The combat is dynamic enough to make for addictive play, the story is decent, and most importantly of all, the fan service is fantastic. There are some problems—repetitive gameplay, long loading times and translation issues being chief amongst them—but they aren't noticeable enough to overly mar the final product.
One of the most surprising gems of the year. Every part of Dragon Quest Builders is a real joy, filled with the sort of addictive gameplay that just seems to make the hours disappear. While the hardcore Minecraft fans may consider this as sacrilege, this feels superior in many ways. The Dragon Quest style, the RPG elements, and the entertaining story, all elevate it over its progenitor. Absolutely superb.
FIFA 17 is still an incremental step up in the series, but considering the bold assertions about what the power of the Frostbite engine would make possible, it is a somewhat underwhelming package overall. While The Journey must be applauded for attempting to offer something genuinely new, it's also not particularly brimming with any new content, either, besides its cut-scenes. With Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 looking very competitive, it's disappointing that this year's FIFA couldn't do more. It rather settles for the top four, instead of illustrating its title credentials. There's always next year, though.
Headlander deftly delivers a smart story via a constant stream of varied, original ideas, to ensure a journey that feels remarkably vibrant and fresh from start to finish. Crammed full of Double Fine's trademark humour, and loaded to the brim with references to classic sci-fi, it pays loving homage to that corny, yet fun, era of film and television, that often gets overlooked in the age of the green screen and digital effect.
Fans of CiNG's previous works - such as the Another Code games and the duo of Hotel Dusk / Last Window - will be impressed by the tale told, as well as the audio and visuals found in Chase: Cold Case Investigations, even if only for the short time it lasts. The low price barrier for this Nintendo 3DS eShop release is high incentive for impulse purchasing, though, yet few outside of text adventure enthusiasts will find true value for money in this one.
Mario Party: Star Rush is a fresh take on the series, with new mechanics that keep things quick and unpredictable. The level designs are perhaps a little bland compared to the older titles, but the mini-games, boss battles and additional challenges bring together an enjoyable little package that can quite easily be played solo, with solid multiplayer and an eShop download option for those with a single copy of the game.
The world of Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor has a unique magic to it. Its alien world feels strangely familiar, and the mundane, everyday experiences of the cute, pixelated protagonist, will surely strike a chord with anyone who had suffered an even remotely similar fate. The problem? We get enough mundane in real life, and, unfortunately, this title has very little to offer besides that.
Mortal Kombat X remains a slightly inferior fighter compared to other titles, but mostly when it comes to depth, because, while very "old-school" and bare-bones, it's a very enjoyable experience, nevertheless. As for the XL upgrade it got, while not a game-changer, it fixes the many problems of the original, adds all downloadable content, and makes it a worthy purchase, even for those who were setting on the fence about it.
Tempest is enjoyable… for what it's worth. There are some issues that just feel like weird game design, but even though it's not perfect, it's still really exciting to manage every facet of your war vessel. It makes it feel like every victory was truly yours. It is clearly a war machine with some blemishes, but she's mighty fun to pilot.
The Bug Butcher does a fine job of paying homage to the arcade titles that inspired it. Rather than attempt to be an inept clone, this shoot 'em up goes for a faster, more frenetic take on the concept. The variety of bugs and traps makes each level feel fresh, and there's enough of a difficulty curve to keep everything interesting. When played for score, this game becomes even more enjoyable. It's not quite as polished as it could be, but all things considered, Awfully Nice Studios delivered a quality product for insect-blasting enthusiasts.
Yomawari: Night Alone on PlayStation Vita is a brilliantly refreshing return to the iconic Japanese horror game, and it's a real joy to see it get localised here in the UK. Horror aficionados need to pick this one up and when better than just in time for Halloween? Get some good headphones, a pitch black room, kick back, and let this special adventure take you on a journey, but don't forget to keep a torch nearby, just in case...
Without a doubt the best Rhythm Paradise game so far, Rhythm Paradise Megamix is the ultimate package - almost like Nintendo's own NOW That's What I Call Music compilation. Rather than some half-baked bundling of past releases together, the team has taken the most loved rhythm mini-games from the past, spruced them up, pieced them together nicely on 3DS, covered them with comical storylines, and then whipped up a fresh batch of mini-game goodness to add in, just for good measure. Rhythm Paradise Megamix is just what the doctor ordered, and the perfect early Christmas present for Nintendo 3DS owners of all ages.
Marvel's Women of Power pack sees Zen Studios dip into the well of licensed properties, and bringing to life some of the lesser-known female super heroes in the Marvel comics franchises. The audio serves a great purpose in giving these characters some personality that would be enjoyed by newcomers to this Marvel property. The A-Force table is the easier of the two due to its openness; however, both tables are ultimately great additions to the ever growing Zen Pinball family. The comic art style used further embellishes a pack that Zen Studios has put as much tender loving care into as any of their previous packs.
RIVE is a fantastic shoot 'em up game that will push the limits of patience and fortitude. Roughshot, the main character who traverses the stages in a spider tank, dies a lot. Because of this, certain battles may take up to or over thirty minutes of constant dying and trying again before the moment of victory comes. It is extremely satisfying when these moments occur, but it can be hard to be persistent when the game can feel like it is unfair at times.
Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls isn't a game that's going to change any pre-existing opinions on the series. At its core, Yo-kai Watch as a series is more about the adventure than any specific goals, and that's evident in every part of the game. There are lots of good reasons to take time to thoroughly explore every inch of the game, but it's not really built for those looking for a more straightforward RPG experience. That said, for fans of the charming world of Yo-kai Watch, there's only more to love this time around.
While far better, Duke Nukem 3D is somewhat like the first Mortal Kombat; something that mostly managed to be relevant due to its risky style and attitude. It still looks and plays alright, but, besides being a good show-off, the Duke didn't have what it takes to keep up with the competition. Nevertheless, the 20th Anniversary World Tour edition is, without a single doubt, the definite one, even though it doesn't do much to improve the experience.