Cubed3's Reviews
It's hard to recommend Don't Disturb, because there seems to be a severe lack of content; content that is either broken or excellent. The beautiful world is realised just fine, but the issues that soon appear bog the experience down. The short play time means that getting around the one-chance puzzles and irritating save system is much easier, but is that trade-off worth it? Still, for those who find the beauty in the rubble, it will at least feel like a short time well spent.
Tadpole Treble has a nice and minimalist "kiddy" look, and a pretty neat assortment of somewhat catchy tunes. As a rhythm game, however, it's nothing special, mainly because one does not need to use rhythm in order to play it. Rhythm is just an appetiser here, not the main dish.
Lara Croft Go is an exciting entry in the series, with obvious blemishes. They don't outweigh the good stuff, but they do prevent it from being as good, which is a shame, because it's one of the best puzzle games of 2016, and it could be argued it's the best on the PS Vita this year. Still, with long load times and testy controls, it feels like the price of entry to this deep and exciting puzzle title could be a bit too high to call it a must-have title for anyone who hasn't experienced Square Enix's Go franchise just yet.
Sometimes, what makes a game exciting is lost in translation. Difficulty can, but if it's handled poorly, it leads to something feeling broken instead of feeling fun. Just Hero feels broken, though some gamers may be able to view it for what it is: a small experience. Still, even a small experience should feel intact, and this just never does.
Final Fantasy XV marries elements that made the series so well loved, with fresh new ideas and inspiration from Western RPGs, and manages to be both a love letter to the series and something brand new. It's so easy to get attached and invested in the story of Noct and crew, despite the game's several flaws, but there are indeed too many aspects that hold the adventure back from reaching its full potential. There are key moments that will be pleasing to long-time fans, but just be aware that there are some drawbacks to this otherwise engrossing role-playing escapade.
While navigating can be frustrating, and there's not a lot of variety in terms of missions, this is a great example of how to engage the player. The dialogue is charming, there are lots of side quests, and the story is very engrossing. Do yourself a favour and overlook the few flaws, for this great adventure far exceeds the issues it has.
Steep is a solid, fun and fluid experience, well worth checking out whether you're a fan of winter sports or not, but there is a sense that the sequel (if there is to be one) will learn valuable lessons from the jumping-off point chosen here. Better yet, perhaps upcoming content will amend some of these drawbacks. With all that said, it's still an enjoyable and refreshing game quite unlike anything else available at this time. Next year will bring rivals, but for now, this is King of the Mountain.
THOTH seems almost upset you've come to see what lies in its depths. While it excels at creating tension and feelings of uneasiness, it occasionally feels like it was left unfinished on purpose, like it was meant to make you feel abandoned upon. This may be enough to turn away a lot of players, but still it's hard to match the feeling of dread as an empty vessel of your former foe hunts you down faster and harder than before. Non-shmups fans should pass by this gem, but be forewarned, because it seems at times, THOTH can't wait to see you fail.
Beholder doesn't hold your hand, because the things you're doing could be considered heinous, or even uplifting; it's entirely up to you. This level of freedom is often teased, but not met. While there are issues that drag the game backwards, players should seek to overcome them, because this is a truly bleak world, and it has no problem letting you know it.
The path that led to this episode wasn't the best that the Caped Crusader could follow, and, as a result, although an otherwise more-than-decent ending, Batman: The Telltale Series - Episode 5: City of Light can't do much to redeem the series' flaws, with the weak application of the choice system taking the biscuit.
The Hatsune Miku phenomena will likely continue in spite of Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live. Barely there gameplay won't make barely there skirts compelling enough. This still manages to be a fine, if pricey, VR experience, since the effect is quite marvellous. Shaking a controller is just not really a long-term plan to make an engaging or precise rhythm game.
For anyone who has ever had an interest in marine life then ABZÛ is a required play. It's a stunning interactive aquarium with plenty of flair. The absence of restrictions allows for players to immerse themselves entirely in all of the undersea happenings. Every scene is an event to be cherished, and even the most minimal of interactions are memorable. There are a few moments that are so powerful that text or even a video could never hope to do them justice. If the concept sounds appealing, then don't hesitate to pick this game up immediately.
Despite a plot that shines through its absence, and that doesn't make any connection with the player, and although the puzzles offered here are insanely easy, the magnificently beautiful fantasy land of Silence is definitely worth traversing… but only if you are very young, or at least a complete and utter beginner in the genre.
Darksiders: Warmastered Edition is a decent port overall. There aren't any particularly major issues, though the audio-visual errors might be a little jarring. The boosted frame rate and image quality are well worth the trade-off, especially for fans of the previous console version. The game itself isn't spectacular, but it has some great ideas and solid execution. The presentation is also quite good. While its last gen roots are clearly showing, this game still showcases an impressive atmosphere. The cut-scenes and voice acting are top notch. Action-adventure fans might find a lot to like here.
Ico and Shadow of the Colossus set the bar ridiculously high, and years of delays didn't help, but The Last Guardian fits into the series and sets itself apart from the rest of the gaming world, rounding out the Ico trilogy as some of the biggest, prettiest, most unforgettable experiences anyone will find in gaming. Technical issues like framerate, glitches, and controls (most or all of which will hopefully be patched out as time goes on) don't stop this from being a gorgeous and highly emotional gaming experience—exactly what fans have come to expect from Fumito Ueda. The development team's vision was clear, if the execution was a little lacking, and the final product doesn't feel like one that should've taken ten years to hit shelves, but The Last Guardian is still an achievement in both storytelling and game development that gamers shouldn't miss out on.
Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live's second stage is great for those who want to go to a concert without the effort of getting up or leaving home. It is certainly cheaper than the price of actually going to a Miku concert and has more songs to choose from while the show is on. If there is one thing Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live does do well it is simulating the concert-going experience.
Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live is an impressive albeit pricey VR experience. It is not a terribly exciting rhythm game at all, since it is just relying on such a basic shaking gesture. Only those who are interested in a VR experience or are Hatsune Miku fans should apply here, since that is what its strengths are: a passive musical spectacle.
Final Fantasy XV is the result of the designers being out of touch and being unable to make any sort of connection with the players. It has a really rough start and is a game with high highs and extremely low lows. It is both a technical achievement and a game design disaster. It is capable of really clever storytelling and character development, while also failing at the basics of telling a simple story. Final Fantasy XV offers a huge amount of land to explore that feels ultimately small due to how few points of interest it actually has. More often than not, this hardly feels like an RPG at times, and yet because of how strange this game is, it might be worth a look. In the end, maybe Final Fantasy XV needed another 10 years of development considering how unfinished it feels.
It's a Final Fantasy straight out of the 90s and deserves the attention of every fan of the old-school games. World of Final Fantasy isn't a grand epic adventure, and its main narrative is probably a little too convoluted, but it uses its franchise's history to wonderful effect, blending iconic characters, a simple turn-based battle system, and a monster capturing mechanic that is sure to appeal to more than just Final Fantasy stalwarts to create a genuinely hilarious and enchanting RPG that might not warrant many replays, but fills a void that has been left abandoned in the series for too long.
The Little Acre's biggest fault is that it could be a lot better. The majority of the puzzles are stimulating, and the story has some very nice theme weaving in the narrative that's seldom realised in video game stories, but the pacing between Aidan and Lily detracts from the overall experience. Lily's concept works on paper, but her actual performance and underwritten personality falls flat next to Aidan's fleshed out character. Pewter Games' first outing is a charming one with a lot of ambition, but some restraint would have certainly led to a more cohesive package.