Cubed3's Reviews
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a game hardcore puzzle types will enjoy, despite what any screenshot looks like, but any fan of RTS or even stealth games will be annoyed by the very narrow path of figuring out the current "stealth puzzle" facing them. If it is any indication of the slog that will be faced, a warning appears if you have not saved in over a minute. For the very narrow niche of puzzle gamers, they will enjoy figuring it out, but for everyone else, it is simply far too much guess-and-check, and the pure repetition grinds the player down.
Make no mistake about it, Zero Time Dilemma is a disappointment, but it's mainly because fans of the franchise are such devoted ones. Taken on its own merits, without looking back to how the series was, it is certainly not a bad game, and has some excellent qualities that leave it an overall good experience, and definitely not a bad one.
A strong case can be made for Rise & Shine. It boasts fantastic visuals, tons of references that appeal to the older crowd, and a more thoughtful approach to running and gunning. Unfortunately, it never realises its full potential. There are numerous intriguing elements, such as destructible cover or contending with adversaries while platforming. Simply put: they don't get enough attention. If a few of the less interesting segments were excised or moved to optional modes, and in their place were stages designed with a more advanced skillset in mind, then the campaign could be tighter and more complex. All told, it's still a worthwhile venture for shoot 'em up fans seeking a change of pace.
This latest trilogy pack from Zen Studios is a blast to play, and is a worthy addition for pinball enthusiasts.
Xenoraid is just not very much fun. It has some interesting ideas, and some that are just confusing, but for the most part it's the same space shooter that has been seen time and time again. It's like the Expert mode of an old shooter, where things have been tweaked, but it largely feels like the exact same game. While the upgrade system and loadouts are pretty interesting, they feel like an exciting game leading into something much less appealing.
Even with its handful of changes, or regretful omissions, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King on 3DS is a grandiose adventure that manages to evolve the series in terms of technical achievement and presentation, story-telling and overall convenience. It takes advantage of the enhancements of technology to help make this adventure a joy to work through, unlike some older RPGs can be nowadays. It is a definite pleasure, while still delivering the classic feel of a Dragon Quest title that most of its devoted fans, more so in Japan than anywhere else, expect to find with every new release that the series has seen to this day. Lack of orchestrated soundtrack or minimal censorship should definitely not put anyone off this historical masterpiece, even on the humble and ageing 3DS hardware. This, along with perhaps Ever Oasis, might be the last major RPG release for the system, as it probably sees its last year of relevance in 2017, and it could not hope to go out with a bigger bang than with this impressive port.
Factoring both packs into the overall package that makes up Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Future Tone, there is very little to fault in this true arcade rhythm experience. Clocking in at 224 songs strong, the sheer number of tracks is incredible, and the fact so many of them are fantastically addictive is icing on the cake.
Nearly a year on, Street Fighter V still doesn't quite feature the sort of content a modern fighting game should pack in, and this limits the number of casuals and newcomers that could potentially be brought into the scene. Definite improvements have been made in the last twelve months, though, and whilst there is still work to be done and there are some hard-to-ignore graphical issues that dominate screens, if you can add the DLC characters into the roster through unlocking or purchasing, there is no better time to jump into the Street Fighter V ring.
If an adventure game was only judged by its graphics and music, Silence would have been highly recommended. The world that Noah and Renis explores is stunning, with rich environments and a fantastic use of colour. The soundtrack is appropriate for every situation and quite good. However, the rest of the game suffers due to an uneven story and poorly written characters. There are a handful of charming and even brilliant moments, but they're sandwiched in between occurrences that will only confuse and frustrate the viewer. This is a game of peaks and valleys, and it ends after going over a cliff.
Although this is a forgiving stance, there's just so much more that captivates: from the intense battles, and slaying of dragons, to the gradual sense of empowerment as the player's character grows and develops, distinguishing powers and abilities. There are so many hidden secrets in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, so many facets to unearth, and choices within those to fraternise over, it's hard not to be sucked in by its charm and intrigue. So long as it's appreciated for what it is, a revisiting of a classic that influenced practically all open-world RPGs that came after it, Skyrim Special Edition is a very stellar package which holds up very well indeed, despite it's issues, against more recent competition. If you've never played it, now is the perfect time, and with the advent of the Playkey service, it opens up the game to a much wider audience.
A game designed strictly around boss battles isn't the easiest sale, so it's great that Furi has a slew of fantastic encounters that are challenging and exciting. Each Jailer will take a good while to defeat, but failures can never be attributed to poor game design or inexplicable issues. However, the spotty frame rate is unfortunate. The optional time trial and harder difficulty modes are welcome additions for exceptional players. If the idea of spending several minutes to an hour or more on a single fight - no matter how well-designed it is - doesn't sound appealing, then steer clear. This Prisoner's epic is as rewarding as it is punishing.
LostWinds is a fine game that doesn't require a lot of effort to see through to the end. The short play time, easy puzzles, and practically non-existent enemies make for a fine way to spend a lazy Sunday. Unfortunately, its lack of substance and long-term appeal guarantees that it will be forgotten before long.
An incredible game that marries beautiful presentation with fluid and fun gameplay. It tells a story set during World War I that feels believable and invokes thought when things go awry. With a reasonably short, but well planned, campaign and endless potential in the multiplayer, there is definitely value if Battlefront is one's preferred big shooter franchise. A thoroughly enjoyable game that takes the formula back toward the depth of the game's predecessors while keeping in the trends of the modern expectations of the genre.
Without doubt, this is a must-play for fans of the series, managing to be a perfect accompaniment and semi-sequel to the original. Though the first game indisputably felt like a complete tale, Steins;Gate 0 nonetheless feels like an essential part of that story, and is so integrated with the original that it mostly feels like the whole story is finally being told. The voice actors' performances, the stunning art, and the superb soundtrack all combine for a final product that is absolutely top tier. Every aspect of this game is polished to perfection. Again, this is, regardless of medium, one of the finest time travel stories that has yet been told.
Cyber Chicken could eventually become a decent shooter, but it needs a lot of work. Badly-tuned boss fights, poor mechanics, and massive game-halting bugs completely obliterate any possibility of deriving enjoyment from this game. The dated jokes are more likely to cause stomach cramps than laughter. Gamers looking for a Metroidvania fix will find nothing but misery here.
Stardew Valley brings new life into what has otherwise been an extremely stagnant genre. While the Story of Seasons series has tried shifting its formula from time to time, none of the recent releases have made great strides in making the experience feel meaningful, especially in regard to character development. While Stardew Valley does keep the daily grind of farm simulation going, it intersperses the mundane with real storytelling moments and endearing characters that will keep you coming back for more.
1954 Alcatraz has its own level of charm that helps it to just about keep its head above water. However, it also lacks any punch throughout. None of the characters are particularly beguiling, the puzzles faced are not especially memorable or even taxing, and the story itself only just holds the attention long enough to finish the approximately eight-hour journey. Thankfully, there are multiple junctures during the tale that are just about intriguing enough to warrant keeping multiple saves to see how things play out differently - but only the most perseverant will likely do so, with the majority just switching off post-credits. Those sticking around to see the ending variations, though, will find that 1954 will forever be resigned to the past, with no strong memories remaining at all, neither negative, nor positive.
A decent enough addition to the series, but ultimately, one that fails to bring anything new or special. Hardcore Picross fans will be picking this up regardless, while those who may be interested in trying out the number crossword puzzler would be better off going for the tie-in version to whatever franchise they prefer, or even the 3D version.
There are not enough adjectives to describe what a pleasure it is to experience Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure. From the smart acting and intriguing story, to the clever puzzles included and great locations to explore, everything in Big Finish Games' project is a resounding success. Adventure fans have been waiting a long time for this, and it is pleasing to see that the wait was indeed more than worth it. Tex Murphy is back, and hopefully there is much more to come, especially with the officially-supported fan remake of Overseer, The Poisoned Pawn well underway.
Deep Silver didn't need any more bad games under its belt, but if there is nothing else that can be said, it can be stated definitively that this is not as bad as Ride to Hell: Retribution. Some would call this a victory, and it's a noble effort to not throw away work that was already underway, yet that's part of the core problem. Homefront: The Revolution wasn't finished and released because gamers needed something great to play; it was completed and sold because some manager out there refused to let the work go to waste.