Cubed3's Reviews
Event[0] is a fun, beautiful, innovative, deeply atmospheric, and extremely engrossing experience… but it only touches perfection. From the notion of chatting with the AI using the keyboard in order to overcome obstacles, to the subjects that the plot revolves around, this gives the feeling that it could be so much more. Hopefully, this was nothing more than a great start for Ocelot Society.
At a first glance Omega Zodiac seems like it could be good, but after a while, it's becomes obvious that the only things where the developers did not try to get away with as little as they possible could were the boob sizes of the female characters, as well as the number of p2w options for players to get lost in. The fact that this plays itself by auto-attacking the targets and moving to the objectives, makes it easy to imagines its creators reading through MMO forums, before taking the "BabyRage" comments about the genre difficulties seriously and removing all obstacles.
It is hard to make an RPG as classic as Dragon Quest VII. The series is known for not trying vastly different things in its mainline entries, rather sticking to a strict established formula that never disappoints its most hardcore fans, especially in Japan where it remains the absolute favourite role-playing experience for most. It is long and it moves slowly with its story, with lots of things to see and do on the side, and levelling up being very slow; however, it never gets boring and manages to hook players with a loveable story and characters served masterfully through witty dialogue, good visuals (if not technically very impressive), and a fantastic soundtrack by maestro Sugiyama-san. It feels very classic in its execution, yes, but the relative non-linearity and all things loveable about the game mentioned previously do contribute to making the long adventure a pleasant trip that never grows tedious. Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a great RPG through and through, masterfully remade for the 3DS, that offers what is perhaps the best value for money on the system in terms of RPG adventuring.
It is such a shame to have to say this about a Hatsune Miku game, because there has been little to fault in previous entries, but Project Diva X is a shocking let-down on many levels. The biggest disappointment is not just how few songs there are, but just how boring they are musically and video-wise. The predicament is that the chances of localising what looks to be one of the most superior titles in the series in Project Diva Future Tone may rest upon sales of Project Diva X—a game that is starved of quality content and introduces ideas that are no improvement on the previously-sound format. Fingers crossed the lengthy localisation process for Future Tone is underway, because it's the game Hatsune Miku fans need after this limp performance.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a great and deeply strategic game, where the sword is not the only tool towards victory. Great importance is put on things such as economy and relationships in a way that might feel overwhelming at first, but that is slowly eased into thanks to the hero mode that basically serves as a tutorial. The lack of multiplayer is a downside, but the AI is enough to raise the replay value of the main mode.
With some deep mechanics and a level of micromanagement that would make even the most compulsive of table top gaming aficionados blush, it is quite easy to see how well Blood Bowl 2 would work as board game. It is for some of these very same reasons, however, that Blood Bowl 2 is somewhat less satisfying as a videogame. The random nature of the dice rolls can lead to some serious frustration and the action is so slow and plodding that it is definitely not the kind of game someone can just jump in and play. There is certainly going to be a target audience that appreciates what this offers, and what Blood Bowl 2 does well it does really well. Grab a six-sided die, then, and some extensive spreadsheets to keep track of stats, because everyone knows it isn't a real American Football game without either of those two items…
Typoman: Revised is pretty close to greatness. A genuinely original idea, a breathing world, and a good flow get caught up by awkward movement and the occasional feeling of being detached. Still, pretty close to greatness is something to brag about. Make no mistake, Typoman: Revised is something the development team should definitely be bragging about.
Meridian: Squad 22 has all the basics of what makes a successful RTS game. The core is solid, and the hunting of the research canisters is a highlight. The problems come from how the controls are unforgivably outdated - especially with squad control/hotkeys - how all units are fundamentally the same, and the fact that the plot that had a lot of potential never actually goes anywhere in the end. It is enjoyable for a quick romp, if someone has a deep craving for a sci-fi RTS, but there are flaws here that prevent it from being great and tackling the greatest of greats within the genre.
Solar Shifter EX is a fun and dynamic shoot 'em up that embodies the genre and adds a little something unique. It's a well thought out romp with plenty of great moments but it just misses out on greatness. No doubt this is an amazing effort from a one-man team and it will provide fans with plenty of challenge.
MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death starts quite positively and is very enjoyable up until around the third or fourth tower. At this point, the combat starts to feel like a chore and there isn't anything new added to keep the adventure interesting. Even post-game is disappointing for this type of title, and it all just ends up feeling quite unsatisfying. That being said, with this type of niche title, the loyal fans will certainly enjoy it. MeiQ is one worth picking up for dungeon crawling RPGs enthusiasts out there that have exhausted all other options, but not really for many other gamers.
At its root, this is a very cool game, but all too often it gets in its own way with poor choices in weapon balance, exploitable map pickups, and all too often luck-based gameplay. At its peaks, it's a great experience and it brings a genuinely interesting twist to the genre, but when it's at its worst, the flaws rise to the surface and become so much harder to forgive.
A.W. Phoenix Festa isn't bad, as some elements are mildly amusing. The building up of the character to compete in the final tournament is a cool element, but the game lacks depth on so many levels while punishing mistakes so hard that the whole thing becomes a grind. There is not much to see, not much to do, and how often scenes repeat is grating. What is seen in the first 15 minutes is in general what the next 5 hours are going to be like, and those first 15 were not that good to begin with. The elements in here have the potential to be a really cool game, but this is more like a framework than an actual game worth buying.
SEUM: Speedrunners from Hell is a love letter to all things metal and game. It's fast, like a bass drum hitting 200 BPM, and it's clearly inspired by the world of gaming today. While its idea may be old, it's clearly highly inspired. While it could definitely use more polish, the experience is absolutely worth it as-is. Let your inner Iron Maiden out, and go for a run.
Obduction might not be for everyone, but it's a strangely enjoyable experience, either for fans of Cyan's classic series, or for those first giving the genre a chance. The world is beautiful and complex, and the seemingly mundane environment is actually a carefully crafted world with intricate detail. There's definitely some frustrations to be had with some of the more obtuse puzzles and occasional technical stutters, but Obduction is definitely a journey worth remembering.
Touhou Genso Rondo: Bullet Ballet catches the feel and tempo of the titles in the Touhou franchise, but it still contains enough to make this experience different from the main titles. The biggest weakness is that it has a poor single-player experience due to how easy it is, but it shines as a multiplayer game, and it is certainly a title that fans of the franchise can pick up and play with their friends or online.
The haunting music serves as a grimy backdrop to what is otherwise a very beautiful-looking game. Each stage is a perfect illustration on the sources they are based on in Norse mythology, with splendid vistas that are equally as impressive. While the gameplay and stages can be slow going at times, or downright frustrating due to constant backtracking in order to discover all the secrets in every stage, the fights against the five Jotuns are the true meat of this game. Jotun: Valhalla Edition contains a Boss Rush mode at the completion of the adventure, which allows for a greater challenge at defeating these bosses, while Thora's journey to reach Valhalla is a satisfying one thanks to a strong acting performance given by Viking warrior.
Seasons After Fall is a beautiful piece of interactive art. The design and sound are all executed flawlessly and are a genuine joy to behold. Swing Swing Submarine has really set the bar high for indie game production values. Sadly, the game does begin to feel slightly repetitive and some more puzzle elements - and especially new locations - would have been most welcome. As it stands, Seasons After Fall is a very pleasing and competent puzzle platform attempt, which, although short, will leave most players more than satisfied.
Unholy Heights, though well-crafted and humorous, is far from perfect. The combination of the two genres may seem like a fantastic idea on paper (and it does indeed lead to some enjoyable moments of gameplay), but there's far too much empty space for extended play sessions to be consistently fun. That said, it fills a hole left open for two of the most starved genres on the eShop, and fans of either tower defence or simulation could do far worse than to spend a few hours in the devil's shoes.
This is all that Duke Nukem Forever could and should have been. A nostalgic blast, with gameplay that is fast and fun, comedy which while cliché actually delivers laugh out loud moments, and a story which is surprisingly engaging. Definitely, one title worth picking up in order to get ready for the upcoming sequel.
With Uno, Ubisoft has taken an old classic and tweaked the formula just enough to make it feel fresh without losing the familiar, addictive gameplay that it's renowned for. It's just a shame that the social aspects that made previous iterations an entertaining, unpredictable place to hang out, have been completely neutered, leaving behind an online component that feels comparatively sterile.