Cubed3's Reviews
The main gripe with The Bunker is the limitations with the gameplay. There are no puzzles to be solved, and it is a linear experience where the interaction stems from opening the doors and picking up the key items in order to progress the movie. However, beyond that is a wonderful acting performance by Adam Brown, Sarah Greene, Grahame Fox and the rest of the cast that inhabit the world below in the dark and quiet bunker. Full of mystery and intrigue, this is a remarkable effort at an interactive movie, which works well enough for another attempt at creating a live action video game. This is a gripping movie, and although short, fans of the horror genre looking for something different need to check this out and experience the unforgettable tale of John in The Bunker.
Dear Esther's appeal is directly tied to the player experiencing it. While it is a masterclass in graphics and sound, the game itself is practically a blank slate. It's like a puzzle with only a handful of pieces. The player isn't obligated to put it together, and they're not in the wrong if they choose to ignore it entirely. Still, this is a uniquely bold experience that pushes the medium in new directions. There are people out there thinking about it, asking questions, and really exploring what they just experienced. That is what's most important.
This is good. Consider this an "optimistic" good, since The Girl and the Robot has shown some clear potential and can rocket uphill as opposed to a "failed to live up to promises" good. This is worth checking out for its moments of 'Ma,' and is certainly enjoyable, but the moments it spends away from letting its atmosphere breath, and, instead, tries to ramp up the challenge and breaks that atmosphere, feel painful. What it does right it does great, and, hopefully, there will be a sequel for this title. Those who do not care for such things, however, there simply isn't anything else to really enjoy beyond some decent cel-shaded graphics.
It is easy to write Metroid Prime: Federation Force off completely without playing it, and there is no question that it has its fair share of faults, whether it is balancing, tedious and gimmicky missions, and a slow set of opening hours, but there is something here that deserves giving it a chance. Running the campaign solo will not result in the best experience, but this has been designed to be played with other people, and that is when Federation Force is at its best. Previously dull missions become fun when they allow players to focus on different tasks, and there is still a visible effort to ensure it feels like a Metroid Prime game, which also runs well and controls smoothly with the recommended setup of Circle Pad Pro or New 3DS. It may not be the type of game nearly all Metroid fans desperately want, and it may go ignored due to that, but Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a great example of not only how to make FPS work on the 3DS, but how to successfully do co-operative mission-based multiplayer.
There is enjoyment to be found in Run Run and Die. The plethora of issues is so bad that they're liable to shock gamers into fits of laughter. All they'll be able to think about is how a video game with such a simple concept could fail so spectacularly. Sometimes the camera will shift to an impossible angle, or the penguin will die unfairly, and it is absolutely hilarious. This game might make for a fun prank to play on friends, or to create a reaction video for a YouTube channel. If that doesn't sound appealing, then stay far away from Run Run and Die.
It's been said that all's fair in love and War, but clearly not by somebody that had just been attacked by bandits four times in quick succession and reduced to wandering Calradia penniless, alone, sans horse, and left wearing nothing more than tattered undergarments. Mount & Blade: Warband does look and feel incredibly dated by modern standards, and while it can prove to be quite an absorbing experience at times, it's unfortunate that those are regularly countered by the frustrating mission structure, clunky combat, and regular progress setbacks. Ultimately this won't be a game for everybody, but those willing to overlook its many irritating quirks could potentially find themselves losing many hours on the lengthy road to victory.
The Huntsman: Winter's Curse would have been a much more exciting experience had it had better direction. There are interesting battle mechanics, but they never reach their full potential, and the textboxes describe dramatic scenes, which the characters on-screen fail to act out. Also, most importantly, basic progression through the adventure is hindered by the bugs that will break all but the most persistent of gamers. There was a predicted winter's curse, but many will feel that it has arrived early in this ultimately broken release…
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is sort of a weird game in that it is both undeniably great and a little bit disappointing at the same time. It is a poor spot to jump into for newbies and yet returning veterans might be a disappointed by how much the game repeats itself. While it might not be the best Shin Megami Tensei title out there, it is still very enjoyable from start to finish. Boasting an interesting (if a bit convoluted) story, and addictive combat system, and more demons than you can shake an evil stick at, there is plenty to sink your teeth into here. There is just a great balance of depth and accessibility here, and hunting and fusing demons is great, addictive fun. It might not be doing much to reinvent the Shin Megami Tensei formula, but then again, it didn't really need to.
I Am Setsuna is a solid title. The story and gameplay both have their moments, even if they feel a little too reliant on nostalgia, and the wooden battles don't stop this from being something JRPG fans will still enjoy. A gorgeous soundtrack accompanies a beautiful, if not repetitive, snowy landscape, and the game holds its own and should feel right at home to people who like mobile RPGs.
The Final Station is a short and ultimately unsatisfying, uncreative journey. It is a short trip, sitting at around four hours to completion, with no incentive for additional exploration or replays. It is priced a reasonably modest rate, to reflect this playtime and that is possibly what turns what may have been a sour experience into a forgettable one. The gunplay on show is fairly entertaining and the game looks interesting enough, but each of the stations do not present enough challenge or lore to make them rewarding or memorable.
Event[0] is a fun, beautiful, innovative, deeply atmospheric, and extremely engrossing experience… but it only touches perfection. From the notion of chatting with the AI using the keyboard in order to overcome obstacles, to the subjects that the plot revolves around, this gives the feeling that it could be so much more. Hopefully, this was nothing more than a great start for Ocelot Society.
At a first glance Omega Zodiac seems like it could be good, but after a while, it's becomes obvious that the only things where the developers did not try to get away with as little as they possible could were the boob sizes of the female characters, as well as the number of p2w options for players to get lost in. The fact that this plays itself by auto-attacking the targets and moving to the objectives, makes it easy to imagines its creators reading through MMO forums, before taking the "BabyRage" comments about the genre difficulties seriously and removing all obstacles.
It is hard to make an RPG as classic as Dragon Quest VII. The series is known for not trying vastly different things in its mainline entries, rather sticking to a strict established formula that never disappoints its most hardcore fans, especially in Japan where it remains the absolute favourite role-playing experience for most. It is long and it moves slowly with its story, with lots of things to see and do on the side, and levelling up being very slow; however, it never gets boring and manages to hook players with a loveable story and characters served masterfully through witty dialogue, good visuals (if not technically very impressive), and a fantastic soundtrack by maestro Sugiyama-san. It feels very classic in its execution, yes, but the relative non-linearity and all things loveable about the game mentioned previously do contribute to making the long adventure a pleasant trip that never grows tedious. Fragments of the Forgotten Past is a great RPG through and through, masterfully remade for the 3DS, that offers what is perhaps the best value for money on the system in terms of RPG adventuring.
It is such a shame to have to say this about a Hatsune Miku game, because there has been little to fault in previous entries, but Project Diva X is a shocking let-down on many levels. The biggest disappointment is not just how few songs there are, but just how boring they are musically and video-wise. The predicament is that the chances of localising what looks to be one of the most superior titles in the series in Project Diva Future Tone may rest upon sales of Project Diva X—a game that is starved of quality content and introduces ideas that are no improvement on the previously-sound format. Fingers crossed the lengthy localisation process for Future Tone is underway, because it's the game Hatsune Miku fans need after this limp performance.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is a great and deeply strategic game, where the sword is not the only tool towards victory. Great importance is put on things such as economy and relationships in a way that might feel overwhelming at first, but that is slowly eased into thanks to the hero mode that basically serves as a tutorial. The lack of multiplayer is a downside, but the AI is enough to raise the replay value of the main mode.
With some deep mechanics and a level of micromanagement that would make even the most compulsive of table top gaming aficionados blush, it is quite easy to see how well Blood Bowl 2 would work as board game. It is for some of these very same reasons, however, that Blood Bowl 2 is somewhat less satisfying as a videogame. The random nature of the dice rolls can lead to some serious frustration and the action is so slow and plodding that it is definitely not the kind of game someone can just jump in and play. There is certainly going to be a target audience that appreciates what this offers, and what Blood Bowl 2 does well it does really well. Grab a six-sided die, then, and some extensive spreadsheets to keep track of stats, because everyone knows it isn't a real American Football game without either of those two items…
Typoman: Revised is pretty close to greatness. A genuinely original idea, a breathing world, and a good flow get caught up by awkward movement and the occasional feeling of being detached. Still, pretty close to greatness is something to brag about. Make no mistake, Typoman: Revised is something the development team should definitely be bragging about.
Meridian: Squad 22 has all the basics of what makes a successful RTS game. The core is solid, and the hunting of the research canisters is a highlight. The problems come from how the controls are unforgivably outdated - especially with squad control/hotkeys - how all units are fundamentally the same, and the fact that the plot that had a lot of potential never actually goes anywhere in the end. It is enjoyable for a quick romp, if someone has a deep craving for a sci-fi RTS, but there are flaws here that prevent it from being great and tackling the greatest of greats within the genre.
Solar Shifter EX is a fun and dynamic shoot 'em up that embodies the genre and adds a little something unique. It's a well thought out romp with plenty of great moments but it just misses out on greatness. No doubt this is an amazing effort from a one-man team and it will provide fans with plenty of challenge.
MeiQ: Labyrinth of Death starts quite positively and is very enjoyable up until around the third or fourth tower. At this point, the combat starts to feel like a chore and there isn't anything new added to keep the adventure interesting. Even post-game is disappointing for this type of title, and it all just ends up feeling quite unsatisfying. That being said, with this type of niche title, the loyal fans will certainly enjoy it. MeiQ is one worth picking up for dungeon crawling RPGs enthusiasts out there that have exhausted all other options, but not really for many other gamers.