Cubed3's Reviews
After playing Hitman: Episode 1 - Paris, it's easy to reach the following conclusions. #1: instead of any new innovations and ideas, this new addition to the franchise just takes what made it great in the first place, and improves upon it. #2: although this is just the first step of many, it somehow feels that the complete package will be the best yet, and, #3: exactly because of this, IO Interactive must surely smooth out the many rough edges of its, otherwise, great product, especially the - currently - lukewarm plot, and, even more importantly, the many flaws of its online content.
While Alienation might lack Resogun's instant hook, it retains its visual flair and stacks enough firepower in its core to keep even the most ardent shooter fans busy for a long time to come. Sure, the storyline might be somewhat hackneyed, but it's a genre that doesn't really require a deep narrative and its robust play mechanics, competitive/co-operative multiplayer options, and deep layered rank progression more than compensate for any shortcomings in plot. Housemarque has once again remained true to its arcade roots and delivered a solid twin-stick that channels its many influences into a game far exceeding the sum of its parts.
For the time being, Hitman: Episode 2 - Sapienza is probably one of the best experiences the Hitman franchise has yet to offer. The beautiful Italian seaside town is gargantuan, and offers plenty of ways to have fun (in other words: assassinate). Some of the flaws, like the insufficient plot bits and connection issues, persist, and yet it feels as if Hitman is generally on the right path.
Far from bad, or even mediocre, yet even further from being awesome, Hitman: Episode 3 - Marrakesh is just… good. It's playable, it's fun, it will manage to please fans of the series, but it's inferior to the previous chapter in almost every aspect, and, most of all, it feels rushed. Hopefully, the same won't happen with the, still yet to come, fourth episode.
There is nothing wrong with Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII. Just as before, for those new to the genre, it will be a daunting order made more so by the increased diplomatic focus, yet to those whom are already initiated, it will be a pleasing game to curl up to for those looking for a more action-focused, and less family-murdery, Crusader Kings II. Either way, it will be divisive, but its quality also undeniable.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited - Thieves Guild is an enjoyable and distinctively different DLC in comparison to all that has come before. The story section is entertaining and keeps the player interested throughout, while the new additions to the base game really help to enhance and improve the overall experience. There's definite value for money here.
For those who persevere, Prog.1 will no doubt challenge most gamers in ways only a handful of platformers ever do. Still, for the seamless speed that this operates on, it focuses too deeply on cheap tactics and even deception to really feel fun. Long story short: only the seriously committed need apply.
However minor the various issues may seem, LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a worthy addition to the LEGO Star Wars videogame franchise. Even though the gameplay mechanic feels a little bit dated, and is still susceptible to a plethora of mechanical glitches and rough controls, this latest adventure is a refreshing take on the ever-expanding galaxy that is Star Wars. With new locations and characters taken from the movie itself, with a booming soundtrack to back it up and plenty of humour thrown in, this LEGO adventure is a must-buy for any fans of either LEGO or Star Wars, and is definitely one that should be experienced with another player, if possible.
Crush Your Enemies takes itself just seriously enough to stand out as a full-fledged title, but isn't afraid to have fun along the way. There isn't a lot to turn the RTS genre on its head, but the gameplay is solid. The developers obviously put a lot of work into laying out and balancing each map, then packing the rest of the game with a sense of humour and a light-heartedness that probably could've carried even a poor game to goodness—and this one was already anything but poor.
Monster Hunter has a huge fan-base, but those new to the hunting genre may find it very difficult to get into Monster Hunter Generations. The combat and design can be quite niche and challenging to newcomers. That being said, though, for fans of the series, this is a superb addition. It may not have much of a narrative, but the focus on gameplay and new additions make this a fantastic amalgamation worthy of its price-tag. For those who enjoy Monster Hunter adventures, prepare to lose a lot of time to this. It has the same sort of addictiveness as an MMO and drags its audience back again… and again... and again…
Calling INSIDE merely a "worthy successor" would be doing it a disservice. It's not just great relative to its sibling; it's great, period. Its cinematic, artistic, and structural techniques have set a new standard for 2D platformers to be measured against. It's possible that in the future, someone will piece together its occasionally disparate story elements into a more meaningful whole, which would likely make it one of the best games of all time. For now, it is "only" one of the best games of the year, an arresting journey, and a solid puzzler.
Tumblestone is delightful and surprisingly addictive. The wide variety of challenges, all which subtly change the pacing of the game, make for an experience that doesn't really grow old. The story mode keeps things fresh with twists on the basic mechanics, and the arcade and multiplayer modes present fast-paced challenges that really test observation and decision making. No matter what experience puzzle-lovers are looking for, they'll probably find it in Tumblestone.
For parties and families, this is a title definitely worth picking up and it does a great job in encouraging solo play, too. There's little new here, though, with most of the gameplay feeling old hat. Overall, Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on Nintendo's Wii U is a decent addition to the series but lacking anything special to elevate it to that next level.
A low price tag doesn't excuse the low amount of effort put into Ascent of Kings. Everything works on a technical level, but it's just so unimaginative that it can't justify a second play-through, let alone a first. It's a meandering mess of ideas taken from far better platformers, blended together in an hour-long hurricane that destroys any and all quality in its path. There's simply no appeal to the MS Paint drawn world that's been created; it's a boring and thoughtless mini-disaster that should just be ignored and forgotten.
For the devoted fans of the Neptunia series, this is definitely a title worth picking up. It's still the same reference overdosed, trope obsessed, fanservice heavy RPG series it's always been, and for some, that's great. The new characters are decently charming, and the story is substantially longer than some of the recent Neptunia spin-offs. If cute girls based off of the gaming industry's biggest titans (and has-beens) isn't your thing, though, there are other, better, RPGs worth your time.
While Table Top Racing: World Tour is a wonderfully designed racer, the lack of local multiplayer does hold it back from reaching its full potential as a party game - most of the fun of the genre is removed when there is no way to see or hear the reactions of the opponents when they fall into the malicious trap laid out for them. The campaign will at least last for a while, however, giving it some hours of fun and plenty of value - and who doesn't enjoy the charm of toy cars driving around in a sushi restaurant?
7th Dragon III Code: VFD doesn't deviate from the standard JRPG formula, but it does challenge players to think of unique ways to approach combat.
Barbie and her Sisters: Puppy Rescue would have done well as a Facebook game or smartphone app. However, as a console title, it suffers from downtime and repetition. For people who intend to play this as a five-minutes-at-a-time game, it will be a blast, but very few people play on consoles like that, making it difficult to recommend even to long-time fans of the Barbie brand.
The problem with Senran Kagura Shinovi Versus isn't its questionable, sexual hormone-fuelled visuals, but the fact that there's nothing more than that. Those seeking to see the girls of the - equally devoid of actual entertainment value - anime series fight, bounce, and get undressed, will have a blast. Unfortunately, those seeking a great hack 'n' slasher wrapped up in some cute girly underwear will be quite disappointed… and not from the underwear.
Robot Arena III offers a lot of fun for enthusiasts of robot wars. Some clean-up with the physics engine is needed, though, as well as a better in-game tutorial; as it is now, it's difficult to get into for newcomers and the physics do at times feel broken. The game is ultimately great fun, however, especially once the robot building is mastered.