Cubed3's Reviews
The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - Episode 1: Ties That Bind Part 1 is more bizarre than anything. The soft reboot is disappointing, to say the least, but it isn't nearly as bad as it could have been, and Javi's fresh eyes give the episode some much needed excitement. The biggest thing Telltale needs to remedy going forward, though, is the balance between Javier and Clementine. They have a good dynamic overall, but they only seem to get in the way of each other's development instead of playing off one another and growing together. It's entirely possible Telltale is saving that for later episodes, but right now A New Frontier start off with a shaky opener that breaks down the illusory wall of choice more than ever and relies too much on the franchise's past good will to generate interest.
Flying Bunny is a humble game with a modest price. Depending on if anyone wants a Flappy-style game, they likely won't do better than this. It manages to hit all the marks to excel in its genre, and even has a robust amount of content. Really, the only thing holding it back is the flat, cold and cheap looking Flash-style graphics. This is a fun mobile game, but it is stuck on a PlayStation 4.
What an intriguing game! Soulless: Ray of Hope mixes all sorts of clever puzzles with some fine platform antics, keeping players on their toes in terms of the difficulty throughout. Sure, there are times where it may seem too tough to the point of having to almost memorise a certain pattern to progress past specific hazards, and the camera's slow movement does not always help matters at all, but there is so much charm here that simply cannot be overlooked, complemented by a gorgeous soundtrack full of emotion and a wonderful art approach. Ray of Hope impresses at every turn, taking a now well known formula and polishing it to reveal new beauty within.
Quest of Dungeons is what happens when a formula is refined, but largely left the way it is. It's not going to appease those who are sick of the same old, but it will make those who want something that is refined happy. It's clearly not for everyone, but for those who have already dropped hundreds of hours into other dungeons, this one is worth the visit, so definitely jump on in.
Hunting ghosts is taken to a new level as they copy the player upon being defeated, and the quick speed makes this a fun and frantic title, whether it is played alone or with friends. Between the arcade, challenge, and deathmatch modes, there is a lot to do for anyone looking for a simple and very enjoyable experience. The only drawbacks come from the lack of online play, but Extreme Exorcism is still great to play alone or with some friends.
If Lethal VR has any real faults, it is in its absurd price. With around only 30 missions, which can all be beaten in about an hour, there is just not enough content to warrant the asking price. However, what Lethal VR does, it does well. The game shoots straight and doesn't falter... It just doesn't have many rounds in the barrel.
The entire of Batman: The Telltale Series has been an exercise in disappointment. While there are some solid design choices and fresh takes on the characters, the world this is set in feels shallow and the story fails to capture and keep the interest of those playing. The Telltale gameplay has some fun moments, particularly the odd fight scene, but it just feels too safe - by the numbers, and 'just another Telltale game' crafted to the template of all the others. Batman fans will enjoy this original Year One tale, Telltale fans, too, but there's nothing special here, even in the final part, Episode 5: City of Light.
Superhot on its own was already a rich, memorable title that presented something different to the genre. This VR expansion takes that up a notch or ten. It really is like stepping inside an action movie. The level of immersion is second to none, but more important is the level of fun, which throws as many dangerous scenarios and enemies as it can and asks, "How will you stop us?" It is hard not to rise to the challenge—and don't be surprised if a lot of the office furniture is crashing down as those bullets are dodged and intercepted. This is a virtual power fantasy in all the best ways.
Puzzle games definitely have a niche audience, but Nintendo and Jupiter have definitely found that audience on the 3DS. Its reputation as a platform for anyone and everyone has opened up the games to many more players. With Picross 3D: Round 2, there's nothing here to set the world on fire, but it's still an extremely solid, addictive, and enjoyable puzzle title that will keep players engaged for plenty of time and they will have lots of fun while doing so.
It's hard to recommend Don't Disturb, because there seems to be a severe lack of content; content that is either broken or excellent. The beautiful world is realised just fine, but the issues that soon appear bog the experience down. The short play time means that getting around the one-chance puzzles and irritating save system is much easier, but is that trade-off worth it? Still, for those who find the beauty in the rubble, it will at least feel like a short time well spent.
Tadpole Treble has a nice and minimalist "kiddy" look, and a pretty neat assortment of somewhat catchy tunes. As a rhythm game, however, it's nothing special, mainly because one does not need to use rhythm in order to play it. Rhythm is just an appetiser here, not the main dish.
Lara Croft Go is an exciting entry in the series, with obvious blemishes. They don't outweigh the good stuff, but they do prevent it from being as good, which is a shame, because it's one of the best puzzle games of 2016, and it could be argued it's the best on the PS Vita this year. Still, with long load times and testy controls, it feels like the price of entry to this deep and exciting puzzle title could be a bit too high to call it a must-have title for anyone who hasn't experienced Square Enix's Go franchise just yet.
Sometimes, what makes a game exciting is lost in translation. Difficulty can, but if it's handled poorly, it leads to something feeling broken instead of feeling fun. Just Hero feels broken, though some gamers may be able to view it for what it is: a small experience. Still, even a small experience should feel intact, and this just never does.
Final Fantasy XV marries elements that made the series so well loved, with fresh new ideas and inspiration from Western RPGs, and manages to be both a love letter to the series and something brand new. It's so easy to get attached and invested in the story of Noct and crew, despite the game's several flaws, but there are indeed too many aspects that hold the adventure back from reaching its full potential. There are key moments that will be pleasing to long-time fans, but just be aware that there are some drawbacks to this otherwise engrossing role-playing escapade.
While navigating can be frustrating, and there's not a lot of variety in terms of missions, this is a great example of how to engage the player. The dialogue is charming, there are lots of side quests, and the story is very engrossing. Do yourself a favour and overlook the few flaws, for this great adventure far exceeds the issues it has.
Steep is a solid, fun and fluid experience, well worth checking out whether you're a fan of winter sports or not, but there is a sense that the sequel (if there is to be one) will learn valuable lessons from the jumping-off point chosen here. Better yet, perhaps upcoming content will amend some of these drawbacks. With all that said, it's still an enjoyable and refreshing game quite unlike anything else available at this time. Next year will bring rivals, but for now, this is King of the Mountain.
THOTH seems almost upset you've come to see what lies in its depths. While it excels at creating tension and feelings of uneasiness, it occasionally feels like it was left unfinished on purpose, like it was meant to make you feel abandoned upon. This may be enough to turn away a lot of players, but still it's hard to match the feeling of dread as an empty vessel of your former foe hunts you down faster and harder than before. Non-shmups fans should pass by this gem, but be forewarned, because it seems at times, THOTH can't wait to see you fail.
Beholder doesn't hold your hand, because the things you're doing could be considered heinous, or even uplifting; it's entirely up to you. This level of freedom is often teased, but not met. While there are issues that drag the game backwards, players should seek to overcome them, because this is a truly bleak world, and it has no problem letting you know it.
The path that led to this episode wasn't the best that the Caped Crusader could follow, and, as a result, although an otherwise more-than-decent ending, Batman: The Telltale Series - Episode 5: City of Light can't do much to redeem the series' flaws, with the weak application of the choice system taking the biscuit.
The Hatsune Miku phenomena will likely continue in spite of Hatsune Miku: VR Future Live. Barely there gameplay won't make barely there skirts compelling enough. This still manages to be a fine, if pricey, VR experience, since the effect is quite marvellous. Shaking a controller is just not really a long-term plan to make an engaging or precise rhythm game.