Cubed3's Reviews
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is an addictive throwback to the original classic; however, there is a lot of new game mechanics that work well to modernise the formula, without taking away any of the nostalgia. Those looking for a new Pac-Man game will find plenty to love here, including the pellet eating and the ghost trains, combined with the fruits meter, the bomb jump, the jump pads and the ability to bump into the ghosts. Each stage features a sequence of mazes in Adventure mode, while Score Attack tests even the toughest of Pac-Man players who are looking at posting up some high scores. This is a fun adventure that can be enjoyed by fans of the old, as well as younger fans being introduced to the franchise for the first time.
Every now and again, it's nice to have the option to play something that doesn't crave a great deal of emotional investment and can be enjoyed with the barest minimum of cerebral input. Killing Floor 2 confidently ticks both boxes and thrusts itself forward as the perfect vehicle for the mindless slaughter of the digitally infected and does so in a true gore-heavy fashion. There's maybe a slight concern about its longevity when taking its repetitive, shallow(ish) gameplay and lack of modes/bosses into consideration, although regular free DLC updates should be more than enough to guarantee frequent returns for Zed duty when the mood suits.
Unlucky Mage is a game that people looking for a specific itch will find attractive. There is nothing here that is going to grab players who aren't already into the JRPG genre, but those that don't mind the bad graphics and simple battle system will like the throwback. The writing is much more mature than what the visuals may imply, and the story is the main draw of the game. Going in with moderate expectations, the game will surprisingly deliver them.
Geki Yaba Runner Deluxe, despite being ostensibly low-budget, is intrinsically a lot of fun, offering addictive, simplistic gameplay for a relatively cheap price. However, its failure to innovate and the inexplicable price hike it gained in its cross-platform move mean that it struggles to find its own place in the market, especially when compared to other genre entries, and it certainly doesn't mark itself as a highlight of the console's library.
Mixing the best adventure elements of Myst with modern day Hidden Object puzzles, an intriguing story, and lovely presentation throughout, The Frostrune is an absolute pleasure to play through from start to finish. Whilst it may not play exactly like traditional point-and-click titles, relying more on outside-the-box thinking, it takes the core concept and mixes it up to keep things fresh. The attention to detail is apparent in this labour of love and it deserves to be truly appreciated.
Tears Revolude is a formulaic adventure that accounts for the necessities, but doesn't have any style. The cast was designed by a focus group, the plot is straight out of the early 90s, and the dialogue is amusingly simple. Again, it's actually rather charming, but perhaps this is just the easily-ignorable ramblings of an old man. However, it's impossible to defend the grating music and poor graphics. Good visuals aren't quite necessary when it comes to RPGs, but the audio side can't be ignored. On the whole, this is an adventure that probably isn't worth the effort, even though it is quite short.
Ultimately, Dragon Age: Inquisition suffers from a very simple problem. It has enough things like graphical prowess and decent combat and the like to be passable. If the Dragon Age name hadn't been attached to this project it seems doubtful it would have been green-lit. Those looking for a better resolution to the story won't find it in here, and, ultimately, it feels like little more than a polished cash-in than an attempt to build or expand.
Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World is packed to the brim with content. It goes beyond a simple port by incorporating intuitive gameplay tweaks, from Poochy's helpers to customisable yarn patterns. It's a charming, well designed platformer that draws plenty of influence from Yoshi's golden years, but expands on them with cleverly executed mechanics. There are times where there may be a tendency to lean, just a bit, towards more gimmicky concepts, but these are maintained in such a way that it fits within the adventure in a natural way. Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World is the definitive release, and a solid return to form for a dinosaur who was on the brink of becoming extinct on handhelds - again. A must-have for any 3DS owner who enjoys and appreciates the classic side-scroller.
Neon Chrome's Arena mode is a bit unbalanced as to the effectiveness of some classes' unique abilities, and the turret placement and boss appearances can awkwardly take the wind out of the sails. It is also probably a bit formulaic for most people's liking. That said, it's a harrowing experience, focusing very well on skill rather than tricks or abilities. It's a worthy mode that can be entertaining for hours on end.
The Red Pack represents very good value for the asking price, though this may not be the case for players with absolutely no interest in trying F1 racing, as there's quite an emphasis on it here—but even then, the GT cars, Lamborghini and the Red Bull Ring are certainly worth having, as they improve the scope of vehicle in Assetto Corsa. Those with a season pass will see the Red Pack as another piece of excellent content, extending the life and enjoyment of this serious racing sim.
Adventure Pop is no doubt one of the strongest entries in its genre, but it is very much held back by being released on a system where it has few fans. While the already convinced will love it, it will be difficult to make those sceptical towards the genre start playing it, as it at first glance looks like a copy of every other bubble shooter game. Those who do play it, though, will be met by one of the most cleverly designed games in the genre, with plenty of wonderful and creative mechanics that are made to make sense thanks to the story.
Virginia is one of these labours of love that's hard being… hard towards. From the realism-meets-surrealism visuals and the passionate orchestral tunes, to the great way the whole thing is directed, it's pretty obvious that the developer shows lots of promise. Unfortunately, everything crumbles under the complete lack of interactivity, and the initially enjoyably nonsensical… "plot."
Memoranda had so much going for it, but in the end it misses the mark on too many occasions and lacks that gripping nature that the best point-and-click adventures have. From the story that really does not make much sense or give any real sense of satisfaction at the end, to the awkward voice acting of the lead character, and the disappointing nature of most puzzles, what seemed like a great concept fades away from the memory quite soon after completion.
Knee Deep is just as flawed as the souls who traverse its story. The important thing to remember, though, is that it's worth it. The story is original, the gameplay is exciting for how simple it is, and moments rarely feel dull or meaningless. Its wrinkles don't detract from the game enough to keep it from being an absolute must-have for any adventure fan. Hopefully, it'll get the attention it deserves.
Double Dragon IV is, for better or worse, a direct sequel to Double Dragon II. In terms of mechanics, it's practically a carbon copy, but it goes the extra mile by including a number of new moves and enemies. The tower mode and massive selection of unlockable characters are also really nice. However, this game is trapped in an odd limbo. It doesn't do enough to compete with more modern beat 'em ups, and it isn't as iconic as its predecessor. Its appeals to nostalgia don't quite hit the mark. Perhaps the second game gets a little too much credit; some fans probably haven't played it in decades. Comparing a newer entry to fond memories is a little unfair, but maybe more could have been done to make this one really stand out.
Alwa's Awakening is altogether a very impressive effort. It takes full advantage of its 8-bit aesthetics to create a game that wouldn't look out of place on a shelf next to Clash at Demonhead and Whomp 'Em. More importantly, this action-adventure does more than enough to stand out by relying on a foundation consisting of great controls and mechanics. Zoe's three powers strike the perfect balance. They're flexible, but they also show the right amount of restraint. The result is a tightly-designed title that is sure to pleasantly surprise even the most seasoned gamers.
Whether or not the next entry in the series decides to keep Berseria's gloomy atmosphere, it's clear enough that straying away from the series' story norms was the breath of fresh air the Tales of series was desperately in need of.
Go tell Aunt Rhody she needs to play Resident Evil 7, as it's an absolutely stunning rebirth and return to form for survival horror. This soft reboot has reinvigorated the franchise and brought AAA survival horror back. The future of Resident Evil looks very promising too, since Capcom established that the Bakers have taken plenty of visitors over the years and have filmed them all. These experiences are already set up to be the part of some upcoming DLC and for future instalments this leaves plenty of story threads hanging and questions left to be answered.
Although The Little Acre isn't reinventing the wheel in its genre, Pewter Games has made its presence known loud and clear with its debut offering. Despite its length and lack of extra details storywise, there's still room in gaming for time killers like these; ones that don't require hours upon hours of dedication and commitment. With content that can be powered through in a single sitting, the adventure at hand is one that shouldn't be missed out on.
Don't let the change in perspective or the different aesthetics fool you; this is definitely a Resident Evil game, and, even more importantly, one that returns to the core of its roots in the best way possible. Perfect? No. Will players miss the more comic book-like vibe of the original? Sure. However, while Resident Evil 7: Biohazard isn't everyone's cup of stagnant swamp water, it's a cup that everyone should get a taste of, at least once.