Cubed3's Reviews
Poncho is a short adventure with excellent storytelling and amusing aspects, but far from being a flawless game, because of its technical issues, lack of challenge and altogether limited gameplay potential. An unexceptional game, but with enough personality and redeeming features that prevent it from being immediately forgotten.
BioShock: The Collection is a pretty good compilation of some of the best first-person action—and sometimes horror—gaming around. It is unfortunate that it is not the greatest it could be, and that only the first game was given the best treatment, but these games have never looked or ran better on consoles before. Anyone who never played these titles should definitely give this a shot.
Like all the best party games, its strength lies in its simplicity, its clever design, and the fact that it's just so much darn fun to play. Overcooked is one of those rare gems that possesses the ability to endlessly generate comedy moments and is the perfect choice for those lengthy multiplayer sessions, though probably best avoided if Gordon Ramsay is due a visit.
It may seem indecisive to say that this game is not going to be for everyone, as that's pretty much a given with any title. Binaries is distinct in that it's one of the rare titles that is incredibly fun, but a little commitment will be needed to find it. To the unexposed eye, it's just another hard puzzle-platformer. Scoop that dirt away, dig deep enough, and Binaries is an absolutely brilliant title that manages to be both enticing and rewarding.
On the whole, saying something bad about The Reaper's Due is simply a dishonest stance outside of a few things. There isn't some glaring flaw or shortcoming, some aspect that feels like a punch to the gut, or something that feels super frustrating, just nothing that strikes to the level where playing without it feels like an entirely different experience. It's got all upsides, just not some major upside to make it stand out as more desirable even among its fellow Crusader Kings II expansion peers. Those that want deeper mechanics to the plagues and other things will want this, while others won't be crippling themselves by ignoring it.
Aenigma Os stands out as a really clever take on the modern puzzle genre. It offers great brain training and entertaining game modes that really change how players have to plan their moves. The biggest problems are that it is very similar to many other games and that it is on a home console. While the gameplay is enjoyable, it is one of those games that is best enjoyed in short bursts of between five to twenty minutes while traveling or waiting for something, and that isn't very home console friendly at all.
Weeping Doll is poorly acted, which clashes with the atmosphere, has 'baby's first puzzles' and is "completed" in less than 30 minutes. A working control scheme that won't cause motion sickness and below average visuals are the only saving graces. The story is told clumsily, mostly through narration, and there is no lose state, so there never is any real tension. No tears will be shed for Weeping Doll.
Hide and Shriek is a surprisingly fun little game. It couples a clever premise with charming ideas and an abundance of possibilities. Attempting to track an invisible opponent, who is just as capable at casting spells and setting traps, can also get really tense. Hearts are liable to race as the time ticks down, and one of the players is a shriek away from winning (or losing). There's a clear gap between professionals and amateurs, though, so it could get annoying for anyone new to the competition. The visibility curse could also stand to be nerfed, if not outright removed. It makes spotting and shrieking just a little too easy. Altogether, this is a game that's simply more enjoyable when played with a friend. Startling a random person halfway across the country is amusing, but scaring a best friend is just plain magical.
Earthlock is a beautiful and exciting RPG, being one of the best this decade. It combines aspects that make a game great, like a very well-written story, a beautifully composed soundtrack, and characters that stand out. However, the gameplay is sort of lacking, with most of it being battles. The game also loses its lustre fairly quickly after starting, as nothing really interesting happens until later.
There are few players out there that will fully appreciate this title, a crossover of two rather niche properties, with little to elevate it over the numerous other instalments in the series. The repetitive nature of the quests and the huge amounts of exposition are very off-putting. Hardcore Hyperdimension fans will already be picking this up, and long-time SEGA fans will find plenty of references to keep them entertained, but the core game leaves a lot to be desired.
Whilst lacking the open world from its predecessor, LEGO Batman 3 still offers plenty of content in the form of collectables and unlockable characters, although those who have little to no interest in the source material should probably steer clear of this and pick up one of the stronger LEGO titles.
Featherpunk Prime is a competently-made shooter, but its main issue is that it's too "safe." The level designs are functional, but bland. The unique and challenging guardian fights require dealing with a mundane collection of regular enemies. There are plenty of weapons, but there isn't much of a reason to use anything beyond the shotgun. The art direction is great, but it's part of a game that's entirely too traditional. In other words, there needed to be more forward thinking ideas and different approaches to basic concepts. It's a risky approach, but it's exactly what the game needed.
Some slack could surely be cut for Batman: The Telltale Series - Episode 3: New World Order if it wasn't the very middle of the whole journey - and, as one, it owed itself to be much better than that. The story is still good, the characters probably even better, and, generally, it's not a bad experience, but it pales in comparison to what most people expected from it. As for the cliffhanger ending, it surely ignites interest about how things will unfold, but that doesn't make this chapter any less mediocre.
Given the inexplicable yet continued absence of Left 4 Dead in this current console cycle, Warhammer: The End Times - Vermintide steps up to fill that festering void with gusto. Granted, it doesn't stray too far from the zombie slaying blueprint laid out by its undead inspiration, but given that it's one of the better co-op experiences currently available, it's easily forgivable. With that said, it would be hard to recommend this to any non-PS Plus/Xbox Live subscribers, as ignoring its online social aspects pretty much flies against its raison d'etre. The thin narrative and occasionally iffy AI of the bots just don't come close to replacing the sheer joy of surviving a vicious onslaught of Skaven with a well co-ordinated bunch of mates (or strangers, for that matter).
Sure, the title is long and the gameplay takes a bit to get used to, but this is a unique smaller experience that could fit into short breaks from the rest of life. Make no mistake, it's not the most inviting game, but it does make you feel like you are part of an exclusive club. An exclusive club that fought the base controls and found a fun little title hiding behind them.
In short, God Eater 2: Rage Burst is a brilliant game for fans of monster hunting. While the post-apocalyptic storyline has a surprising lack of death and suffering, the characters are interesting and decently written. The dealings with adversity are fun, and taking down an exceptionally large and dangerous foe is always satisfying. The PC version's poor online is easily its biggest failing, and experts might scoff at the abuse prone Blood Arts, but there's still a lot of enjoyable qualities. This game perfectly captures the addictive "one more mission" aspect, and for anyone it manages to suck in, free time is guaranteed to become a thing of the past.
As far as the horror genre is concerned, Barrow Hill: The Dark Path is very quaint. It was made by a small team, who didn't have much of a budget to work with, but it's clear that they invested a lot of passion into their game. This adventure doesn't have a lot of hand holding, but the puzzles are mostly sensible, and even consistent with the lore. On the other hand, it's a little too easy to overlook certain clues, wandering in the forest gets dull, and it could have used a little more polish. Most of the serious bugs were ironed out, but there's still the occasional oddity, such as a screwdriver mysteriously appearing in one's inventory. Maybe a witch put it there. Who knows?
This feels like the natural successor to Senran Kagura. The ecchi elements of Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni will be a deal breaker for many, but doesn't mean there isn't a quality game beneath the T&A. The combat is dynamic enough to make for addictive play, the story is decent, and most importantly of all, the fan service is fantastic. There are some problems—repetitive gameplay, long loading times and translation issues being chief amongst them—but they aren't noticeable enough to overly mar the final product.
One of the most surprising gems of the year. Every part of Dragon Quest Builders is a real joy, filled with the sort of addictive gameplay that just seems to make the hours disappear. While the hardcore Minecraft fans may consider this as sacrilege, this feels superior in many ways. The Dragon Quest style, the RPG elements, and the entertaining story, all elevate it over its progenitor. Absolutely superb.
FIFA 17 is still an incremental step up in the series, but considering the bold assertions about what the power of the Frostbite engine would make possible, it is a somewhat underwhelming package overall. While The Journey must be applauded for attempting to offer something genuinely new, it's also not particularly brimming with any new content, either, besides its cut-scenes. With Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 looking very competitive, it's disappointing that this year's FIFA couldn't do more. It rather settles for the top four, instead of illustrating its title credentials. There's always next year, though.