Cubed3's Reviews
Mafia III inhabits an interesting era in time rarely visited by video games, and, for the most part, it succeeds in spinning an engaging yarn involving some well-developed characters. Hanger 13 should be applauded for creating a highly detailed sandbox that maintains a gritty, authentic feel throughout, and that, most importantly, is a fun environment to kill both time and henchmen in. It's just a shame that the overall package is marred somewhat by the particularly dense enemy AI and its repetitive mission structure.
Cubed3 gives its old-school 'conglaturation' to Haydee Interactive. Not only because its first creation wasn't afraid to handle its sexiness at full force, but, mainly, because this is actually a great game. Those prejudiced against Haydee's tit… ular lead will lose the opportunity to experience a surprisingly fun indie action-adventure, with fantastic, yet simple, audio-visuals, an almost survival horror-like atmosphere, and a strong, unconventional (for modern gaming standards) attitude towards gameplay mechanics and challenge.
No surprises, no innovations, nothing new or worthy of mention here. With that being said, Episode 6 - Hokkaido generally offers one of the finest levels in Hitman, despite it being somewhat short and easy. These aren't its biggest sins, however. The worst thing about the title at hand is that it's supposed to be the grand finale, only there's nothing really "grand" about it.
BlazBlue: Central Fiction does everything a continuation should: change nearly nothing and simply expand on what has worked in the past. There are more characters and a very complex story, but this game is not any different than any of the past BlazBlue entries. This works in that a fan can come in and everything will feel completely familiar, but it is not so good in that there is nothing revolutionary short of the most convoluted story in a fighting game ever. Purely as a 2D fighter, it works on all accounts, and the diversity of characters should deliver a long time of entertainment.
To summarise, Kyurinaga's Revenge has aggressively bland level design, flawed mechanics, and the only purpose its few bosses serve is to put expensive HDTVs and controllers at risk. Although the backgrounds show some creativity and the combat mode is a serviceable distraction, they do little to stem the tide of misery that is this game.
A worthy purchase option for serious motorcycle fans, and a cautionary tale for curious onlookers, Ride 2 succeeds in establishing itself in the racing space, with authentic track and bike design, a vast array of play styles and options, and a key online support to boost longevity.
The thing about Civilization VI is that there is so much content, that a traditional review struggles to do it justice. The number of units on show, the diversity in buildings, the research tree, the choice over governmental direction and the bonus this gives; it is honestly a title that is best experienced first hand and delved into in the deepest possible way. It is definitely the most fulfilling and enjoyable Civilization to date, and with Firaxis tendency to add expansions and updates to their products, it can only get better from this point onward. Some irritating issues do exist, such as religion and some slight AI deficiencies, but these are minor complaints in a title that is so easy to get addicted to that it is scary. The strategy crown remains with Sid Meier, and it is hard to see any challengers conquering his empire in the near future.
Thanks to an excellently paced single-player campaign featuring little to no fluff, and a multiplayer that emphasises genuine strategy and smart play, Titanfall 2 manages to stand out as one of the better surprises of 2016. The campaign is a very enjoyable sci-fi character drama that is only elevated by its fun cast and equally fun story. A clear eye for level design keeps the single-player fresh, blending the FPS and platformer genres together to continually pump out memorable moments. Titanfall 2 fixes just about everything that went wrong with the original, featuring better map design that plays to the core mechanics, and greatly expands the once dull universe. There are still some issues with multiplayer mode variety, but Titanfall 2 is strong enough to overcome its shortcomings to be a great sequel, and an even greater game.
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 is the most ambitious and enjoyable Dragon Ball game to date, but it still has a way to go. The combat could be smoother and the loading screens leave a terrible impression. That being said, for hardcore Dragon Ball fans, this is a must-play filled with plenty of elements perfectly aimed at that sector. There's also an absolute ton to do here that will keep anyone busy for a long time to come and, as if that wasn't enough, Bandai Namco has already announced six months' worth of DLC, containing characters and stories from the recent (and superb) Dragon Ball Super. Look forward to getting hands-on with Goku Black and maybe even Super Saiyan Rose…
One Way Heroics is fun for a run or two, and the quick learning required is a major source of the enjoyment on the first playthrough. There are a lot of things holding it back, though, and bad graphics/UI are a major issue to begin with. Furthermore, the fun factor due to the novelty of "what happens next?" does not exist here. The fundamental depth of this title is not enough to encourage long term play - the price of entry is cheap, but don't come expecting something worthwhile.
If it can connect with the player, then this game is a profound experience. It takes the medium into different directions, while drawing upon its artistic qualities to find what lies within the viewer. Of course, there's no guarantee that it will garner the same response from everyone. Some people might even say it's pretentious, which wouldn't be an unfair assessment. In the end, this is just a point of view. However, inspiration can't be taken for granted, because it allows someone to look a little harder at the world around them, and a little deeper into themselves. This is reason enough to consider investing a couple of hours into Small Radios Big Televisions.
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 is completely solid. The basics of platformers are left in place, whilst new aspects are brought in to keep it fresh. The story and characters are very well done for this type of game, and the aesthetics, level design and thought put into it shine through in many ways. Including the fact that it can be played twice with the two different characters, as well as challenges and equipment to farm, there is plenty to keep players around. As far as platformers go, this is great, and harkens back to when they were a major genre. Hopefully we will see more of this type of game.
Mark McMorris Infinite Air's spartan presentation and mediocre visuals aren't impressive on their own, but they serve their purpose. This is a snowboarding experience that puts functionality over style. The control scheme has its quirks, but there is a lot of depth to it, so consistently performing the most difficult stunts is very rewarding. The breadth of world-building options is truly remarkable. Gamers have all of the tools necessary to design a typical slope-style run, craft a challenging track to test reflexes and board control, or put together something completely unbelievable. This freedom to experiment can never be underappreciated, because it really helps to set this game apart from the pack. All in all, this is a fine addition to the genre.
It is still hoped that Lara is isolated a bit more in her next quest, as minimal interaction with other characters is where Tomb Raider has worked best, but it has been necessary to shape her personality in this storyline. The rebooting isn't quite there yet, but Rise of the Tomb Raider is sure-fire proof that Crystal Dynamics is on the right track, as the essence of Tomb Raider is alive and kicking here, with plenty of promise for the future. The gameplay mechanics and Lara's determination are more or less solidified, barring an overreliance on the Survival Instincts feature, so now it's just a case of carrying that through into her next adventure and expanding on the already-great atmosphere, freedom and tomb raiding that has been applied in this chapter of Lara's story. There is certainly plenty of bang for the buck in this edition, ensuring PlayStation 4 owners are getting the best deal if they have held out to purchase it.
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.