Cubed3's Reviews
Retro aesthetics are starting to aim for the 90s, and Shutter brings that beautiful, low-res polygonal structure to the forefront. The problem is that it doesn't feel like a full experience. With annoying and clunky controls, a handful of subpar jump scares, and little to actually do, this is more of a trailer for missed opportunities than a fully realized game. The concept of taking photos of creepy areas could have been more, but Shutter seems content just letting the whole thing be.
Ookibloks really is a tremendously fun experience. It never feels too hard or too simple. While it is possible to fail, it requires running into enemies, and for a lot of the experience, it's harder to do that than to avoid them. Ookibloks holds up enough to be worth exploring, even if it begins to show cracks later on.
Ninja Senki DX is an arcade game, and with that comes some baggage. For it's incredible controls, it has balancing issues that seem easily rectified. Cheap kills can be made up for by an incredible world, and there seems to be some of it here. For the rather low-key graphics, it still manages to work. It would be foolish to miss out on Ninja Senki DX's retro charm, but if you have a hefty backlog, it's not something you need to rush into. So, in summary, it should definitely be experienced by fans of the genre, but it can wait.
Indie games have come a long way, but it's still obvious they are viewed as the lesser option when it comes to gaming for a lot of gamers. It would be a mistake to overlook Stikbold! because it's an indie game. It has its share of hiccups and can falter from time to time, but gamers don't play games for the amazing loading screens. They play them for the game, and once the game is loaded, it is a charming, easy-to-control experience that ensures hours of enjoyability, with or without a partner. Don't overlook this tiny gem because it has these faults; instead, push past them to a solid game that is genuine and truly fun.
Despite some minor flaws in its controls and systems, Good Robot is still an immensely enjoyable experience. The visuals and sounds all play together harmoniously, and it manages to blend two very different genres in a way that's not only fun, but completely approachable for newcomers. Easy to pick up and hard to put down, it's definitely worth a look.
It's great to see Zen branch out into such an iconic and timeless movie franchise for Zen Pinball 2: Aliens vs. Pinball, while staying completely faithful to the source material at the same time. These tables look and feel like the respective Alien titles each one is based on, all helped along by scenarios and sound clips right out of the movies and game. Of course, there are difficulties in trying to get the ball where you want, when you want on each table, but that is the nature of pinball, anyway. Needless to say, this well-designed package, offering a lot of variety, is more than worth the admission fee for tables that will entertain fans of the Alien legacy.
Not everyone can be Smash Bros. Other bigger studios have tried that with a bigger budget, bigger roster, bigger… everything, and have still failed to entirely recapture the magic that is to be found in it. However, what must be understood is that not all games need to be Smash Bros. in order to be good! What Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends tries to do exactly like it, it doesn't do it quite as well. What it tries to do differently from it, however, does feel remarkably good, which does seem to indicate that the great ideas the team does get on its own, are those that translate best in a playable form at the end of the day. This title can be enjoyed by very young fans of the movie because it's not a bad one, and it does offer some things that Nintendo's popular franchise doesn't - maybe not enough of them that would make anyone choose this one over the latter one, but even though it's lacking in more than one department, it can still provide some fun, under the right conditions.
Don't overlook The Witch and the Hundred Knight. For a break from the norm of what it means to be the main characters in a video game; for a dark, apathetic and unapologetic protagonist, and, indeed, script as a whole; for a decent loot-based, role-playing hack-and-slash adventure that is far more accessible and improved with the changes made in this Revival Edition; and for fans of Nippon Ichi Software's previous works, this is a game that shouldn't be dismissed based on mere looks and strong language alone. It's crude, but it's humorous, and there is a deeper and more emotional plot under Metallia's swamp than is given credit for.
The indie community has frequently favoured original and innovative concepts over standard formulae, but there's another side to this world; the side with the heavy hipster-esque, artsy attitude, which creates video games the same way a post-modern-anti-conformist-whatever "sculptor" puts a glass of water on an Ikea shelve, and calls it "high art." Like so, Bacteria tries a lot to be an innovative puzzler, but the only good thing about it is the fact that it will introduce the Game of Life to more people.
Hyperdevotion Noire is a great little side-game that was clearly put together with some skill, and the solid character writing more than holds it together. Those looking for a great strategy RPG may want to look elsewhere, but Neptune fans fond of the previous entries will be more than pleased to find Goddess Black Heart is a very well made game.
Starwhal is a fantastically fun multiplayer romp, which plays in such a way that those who pick it up for the first time, may have a chance at beating a seasoned veteran. It's definitely a game for people who have nearby friends to play with, as the single player content is almost non-existent. For its price and the fun factor alone, this is thoroughly recommendable.
It's easy to see why Insomniac is held in such high regard when it consistently delivers experiences as well polished and enjoyable as Ratchet & Clank. Everything, ranging from the gorgeous visuals to the excellent voice acting, the well-paced story, and the immaculate musical score, contribute to a timeless package well worth its surprisingly low entrance fee. Ratchet & Clank pays loving homage to its roots by enjoying the kind of lavish remix that only fourteen years of gaming evolution can bring to the table and, by doing so, has created a universe well worth saving.
Deadpool is an odd proposition. As an updated port of a last generation title, it fails to take any advantage of the available increase in horsepower, so, by default, fails to elevate itself above any of the other low-budget reissues currently cluttering up the marketplace. As a brawler, it doesn't compare favourably to the likes of Bayonetta or Devil May Cry, purely due to its inferior fight mechanics and lack of depth. As a cheap cash-in job to coincide with the release of a Hollywood blockbuster movie of the same name, it succeeds greatly as it's cheap…a cash in…and it coincides with the release of a Hollywood blockbuster movie of the same name. As a game, it's actually pretty good fun and tosses a few interesting ideas into the mix to ensure player engagement remains constant throughout the campaign. That said, it still doesn't feel like an essential purchase, so while those that specifically seek out a copy will likely enjoy what it has to offer, there's little incentive to return for those that have already played it on one of the previous generation consoles.
One Upon Light doesn't quite nail down the stealth-meets-puzzle concept it's aiming for, but it comes incredibly close.
It allows you to play as the Slavic nations. In other words: it offers exactly what it says on the tin. It might be one thing if this majorly changed the gameplay or tried something major but, as-is, there simply isn't anything to talk about. The Slavs do help with the Huns being OP problem, but, on the whole, it's just three new civilisations to play as.
Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- is a great fighter. It's fast and in-your-face, it has a wonderful depth, and, as a cherry on top of this cel-shaded anime cake, it looks beautiful and has a kick-ass metal OST… but, judging from the lack of new material, it can't really be counted as a "true" new entry into the main series. Let it be said once again: this is great. However, it would probably be better to wait for the upcoming Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- instead of spending any money on this one.
If this game were released in 2001, it would probably be hailed as one of the above-average games of the time period. By today's standards, it's a bit of a mess; no soundtrack, no physics, players are pigeonholed into playing a certain way, and things are just unpolished overall. That aside, it's clear the team at Nano Games has originality and some good ideas, and where the game does work, it works well; in particular, the management features and driving mechanics. It has a severe lack of polish and freedom, however, which, on the whole, makes it feel less like playing a game and more like doing work, but it'll be interesting to see what things this team can come up with and implement (hopefully better) in the future.
The Collider 2 is, undoubtedly, superior to its predecessor in all ways, yet those willing to get it should know what it is, and what it isn't. It's a super-fast, reflex-based endless runner that is as simple as it is enjoyable, as well as easy to learn, hard to master, and even harder to stop going back to the fray for "one more try," and yet, it's also disappointingly low in content (even for an indie title), something that severely hurts the replay value, no matter how fun playing this can be at times.
As much as there is to love in Star Fox Zero, sadly the awkward controls of various vehicles, and the horrendous forced second viewpoint and gyroscope targeting of regular Arwing and Landmaster stages almost ruin the entire experience. There are tremendous highs when the core Star Fox controls kick back in, but moments of frustration are present that simply wouldn't have been if feedback from early hands-on reports had been taken on-board.
Aesthetically, Chronicles of Teddy: Harmony of Exidus is a beautifully crafted undertaking. While the sprawling maps are gorgeous, the level design falls a bit short from a purely gameplay standpoint, and the combat, while well executed, doesn't really add much to the core exploration. It's missing a few seams, but overall it's a very well put together adventure. Even with its flaws, it's definitely one fantastical adventure, and one that's absolutely worth playing.