Cubed3's Reviews
Gravity Rush may have been the must-play game on PS Vita but, in coming to PS4 it is now one of the top titles on that system, as well. Each platform has its selection of games everyone needs to experience, and Gravity Rush Remastered is one of those. It doesn't last too long, but from start to finish this is a joyous romp, featuring a charming set of characters in a fascinating world, with fluid, mesmerising gravity-based gameplay that controls that much better on PS4. Packed-in DLC content and fun side missions with online leader boards add to the already excellent value, so make no mistake in picking this one up and preparing for Gravity Rush 2.
After the undead Exo-based antics of Advanced Warfare, and the more recent Cthulhu-inspired 'Shadows of Evil', it feels like the zombies mode has gone back to its Nazi roots with 'Der Eisendrache'. This, combined with the four new multiplayer maps, ensure that Awakening is a solid first entry to Treyarch's planned content that should keep the armchair warriors busy until the next scheduled drop.
As a game, Tales of Symphonia is still the shining gem it once was… in regards to story, that is. The story that was so strong, the characters that became so beloved, and so much more, are all present and correct. However, as an update, this feels like it was lazily done, with only a small amount of effort put in.
King's Quest: Chapter 2 - Rubble Without a Cause presents a new environment, one that is attractive, if a little small, along with the same challenges as before, the same lovely graphics, strong morals, and goofy characteristics, along with a voice cast that is very talented, bringing a lot to the table. There have been some much needed improvements brought in for this chapter, thankfully, which bodes well for the next episode, although more emphasis could be put on actual decisions made throughout the adventure.
Strawberry Vinegar might not be as emotive as the previous creations of Ebi-Hime, but it's entertaining nonetheless. The things that it does well? It's cheerful, well-written, oh so sweet and cute, has some heart-warming scenes, and is full of pictures of food that look so tasty that's it's hard not to experience a bit of stomach rumbling after a couple of minutes. The things that it lacks? Being the harmless easy-going tale that it is, it won't exactly shake the foundations of the genre. It's good… and that's just about it.
Imagine a novel that's little bit funny, a little bit romantic, and that takes an unexpected, yet great dramatic turn. The character cast is interesting, despite being nothing special, the accompanying artwork is pretty but generic, and story is pleasantly short, but it will be hard reading through it more than once, for the simple reason that the writing is subpar. That's the problem with No One But You; it's not "painful" to read, but it's a mundane experience nonetheless.
Mitsurugi Kamui Hikae had the potential to be a solid hack and slash title, but such potential has been squandered. What sours this game is that outside of combat, everything else, from the repetitive mission structure to the average visuals, feels lazy. If more time and effort had been put in, this could have been good but, instead, the experience completely falls down.
Level 22: Gary's Misadventures is a lot of different extremes, if the good to bad spectrum is a tangible thing. With a controller, all of the movement issues are completed resolved. The art work is absolutely stunning, even for a retro-styled title, and the music is impressive, yet wears thin after a while. As it stands, Level 22 is almost a casual game trying to be more. While the stealth components are inventive, there's just not enough to save the whole experience from being too cumbersome to be enjoyable through the whole of the experience.
Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition is an enhanced version of what was already a monumental RPG. With this release on home consoles, everybody now has the chance to enjoy what is one of the generation's best games. It does so many things that other RPGs do not, allowing more freedom to explore, fight, and build a character on the player's terms. The story here is neither revolutionary nor the best one seen in this genre. However, it is what is around the story that makes it such a compelling experience. An incredibly interesting battle system, great dialogue and general narrative development launch the title into the top tier. The fully voiced characters are the cherry on the cake. This is a AAA-level experience with a 60 hour adventure created using indie money, and that is one of the biggest compliments you can give to a developer and a game.
Hitman GO: Definitive Edition is a nice little detour away from the open-world stealth-based contract killings that the main games in the franchise have been known for. Instead, playing as a miniature Agent 47 on a chessboard-like setting in a turn-based game is an addicting process, where many hours can easily be lost trying to figure out the walking patterns of the Agent's next target. Its simple gameplay makes it easy for newcomers to jump in and play. With seven campaigns consisting of roughly 15 levels each, there is a lot of fun to be had in this minor deviation from the Hitman franchise - hopefully one that will be revisited in the future.
The Following should appeal to anybody who enjoyed holidaying in Harran during the original outbreak, and provides the perfect excuse to electrify a meat cleaver and slice up a few more shambling corpses for old time's sake. Those yet to witness the thrill of evading a pack of hungry virals by shinning up onto the nearest flat roof can pick up the Dying Light: Enhanced Edition which besides including both the full game and The Following expansion also includes a further two DLC packs of co-op zombie-slaying fun.
Players will be caught up in the wonders of Train Valley as quickly as they learn how to work its mechanics and lay tracks like a rail tycoon, all thanks to its accessible nature and engaging gameplay. The experience gets more challenging over the course of the 24 levels, yet the optional objectives and sandbox mode mean that it caters to a range of skills, so any budding train managers can play without fear of being overwhelmed or bored. The low price of £6.99 means that there is fantastic value of money for pretty much anyone who picks it up as it is easy to quickly get hooked on making the most lucrative and efficient rail networks possible to finish not only all 24 levels, but also all of the optional objectives. Anyone who remains to be convinced should try the free demo on Steam - it is highly likely that it will soon be followed by a purchase of the full version.
Anyone who has truly experienced the Great Wide Open will surely appreciate this gem of a survival-themed video game that independent developer The Molasses Flood has created; a gem that provides a world that is as immersive and beautiful as it is dangerous, and that gives new meaning to the term 'Survival of the Fittest.' It should be noted, however, that, as fun as sailing, scavenging, hunting (or running), and crafting is, The Flame in the Flood should be enjoyed as a whole because, while as a game it is flawed, as an experience, it is simply magnificent.
For all the niggling little flaws faced throughout, Heaven's Hope still retains more than enough oomph to keep the adventure from grinding to a complete halt. Sadly, it is lacking the promised humour, yet the smart puzzles, and variety included, make for an intriguing journey, albeit a frustrating one at times as the order things must be completed can be too restrictive.
Republique is an engaging experience all around, providing intelligent and thoughtful storytelling, despite the occasional cliché here and there. For those who have enjoyed the journey so far (regardless of the ending), it's a solid recommendation to dive into right now. For those that like their tales wrapped up neatly, however, it might be best to wait a bit till the complete experience is out on 22nd March.
The "anything goes" style of game design employed by Dragon's Dogma is destined to fuel endless discussion regarding its pros and cons. It's no exception to the jack of all trades adage, but it has almost mastered enough things that it transcends the faceless, homogeneous garbage that such attempts at broad appeal usually result in. It's best described as consistently imperfect, which is more of a recommendation than it sounds. After all, a report card of straight Bs is preferable to one that's half A, half F.
While Monster High: New Ghoul in School makes very good use of the IP, it is still barely passable as a game. Fans of the show will enjoy the adventures as a new ghoul at Monster High, and being friends with Ghoulia, Spectra, Frankie, and the rest of the gang at Monster High will certainly be entertaining enough. However, there are gameplay issues which drag the score down a lot. It gets extremely boring going through the same corridors over and over again, and fearleading could not have possibly been designed worse. This makes Monster High: New Ghoul in School a title that is extremely boring to play through from start to finish, even for fans of the show.
There's something that definitely seems to be missing from Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest. The challenge is certainly there, but it brings its own sacrifices, as well. Ultimately, the narrative feels a little worse off for its separation into three parts, and despite each telling a complete story, there's something nagging about the "What if?" that always seems to come to mind while playing. Despite that, the characters and the challenges provided give so much that, aside from its shortcomings, it's still a compelling story, and an excellent role-playing game.
While there are very few issues with the game from a technical point of view, and it has very few annoying features, it completely lacks a hook and great, memorable parts. Momonga Pinball Adventures is the definition of a mediocre game. It is not bad enough for people to yell for refunds, but it is certainly not good enough for anyone will return to. Much more could've been done, but simply wasn't. The addition of one big pinball table could've done wonders, providing replayability and something for pinball fans to truly enjoy. Sadly, it didn't. The developer went their own way to create a new colour, but the project clashed somewhere along the way, creating a mess instead. It is, however, hinted that there will be a sequel, maybe one that will better mix the elements into something new.
Does Dark Cloud hold up and withstand the test of time? Yes, it does - quite well in fact. The problem is that, even at its launch, while it was fun from an objective viewpoint, it had some problems. In no way is it bad, though, as, quite clearly, everything is made competently and enjoyable. Just that its age lines are quite clear and the rising standards of the industry will make this title an interesting throwback worth playing, but perfectly fine to ignore as well.