Cubed3's Reviews
Dead or Alive 5 Last Round is a magnificent 3D fighter that anyone who loves this type of game should play, at least once. It's very accessible to newcomers, but it also has an insane amount of depth and content to satisfy even the most demanding player. Unfortunately, Team Ninja chose to disrespect its newest creation and mar its reputation by offering to the PC gaming community a port that is not only very problematic, but also inferior to the current-gen console versions - and while there is hope for it to get improved via future patches, it's impossible to not stop for a second and simply wonder, "What were they thinking?"
It will intimidate with monstrous foes and unimaginable horrors, but the satisfaction that is felt when they are overcome is quite real. Is Bloodborne a reason to get a PS4? Maybe. This game will keep people talking about it for a long time.
There are so many aspects of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD that work well, but as a whole it just feels off. It's like so many good ingredients being put into a bad recipe. At its core there's a great game here with a fantastic combat system, but it's buried under the story, graphical issues and frustrating gameplay aspects. It's certainly worth giving this a go… but wait until it's on sale. It's a shame this wasn't ported to Vita where it would have worked better.
This second episode feels a little slower (curse of episode two!) but even taken as a standalone it's superb. The storytelling and development are top notch, and if the low point is this good, it shows some much promise for the future.
Frozen Cortex provides that, but only with custom modes, which require patience to create and are less viable for multiplayer. As it stands, it's a one-note game whose one note is fairly enjoyable, at least for a little while.
Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited is the definitive version of arguably the best game in one of the best strategy RPG series around. There is just an absurd amount of content that even the most well versed SRPG fans will find themselves getting lost for hundreds of hours. The interface might be a bit daunting to those that don't already have their feet wet in the genre, but those that stick around to learn the ins and outs of the combat will find a thoroughly rewarding battle system and an absurd amount of quests and side-quests. There is just so much to do and so much that the game does well that not only is this one of the best SRPGs in years, it is one of the best games on the Vita, period. This comes with an unqualified recommendation to anyone that is looking for something to occupy their Vita, with the sole exception being individuals that have already completed the PS3 version of Disgaea 4 with all of its accompanying DLC. Everyone else should mark off a month or so of their gaming time to some SRPG goodness, and maybe alert their family to warn them why they may not be seeing them for a while, dood.
Starships should have rated higher. It would be if Firaxis had bothered to address the simple problems that should have been obvious from day one. Simple things like making full-screen or making the computer's win conditions optional. However, as it is, it's little more than a glorified tablet game a few steps above the company's prior attempt to bring the series to the Nintendo DS way back when. With the fixes, the score would rise easily, especially if it later offers mod support, but as-is… it's just a disappointing miss for something that should have been so easy to get right.
While it plays solid enough, there are a few hiccups along the way like poorly coded AI, missing animation or some sluggish character controls. Episodic structure ultimately was pointless and the way it was handled ended up hurting the flow of the game by having players redo areas back to back with different characters.
There is so much to be pleased about in Dead or Alive 5 Last Round for hardcore fans, those that had stopped playing and are returning to the series again now, and complete newcomers that have yet to dive into the franchise. This is one of the most competitive Dead or Alive games thus far, striking a respectable balance across its large roster of characters, with fast gameplay and plenty of underlying mechanics.
Mario Party 10 expands on the ideas ND Cube had tinkered with in the last pair of games, refining the vehicle mechanic and crafting enjoyable, primarily skill-based mini-games to compete in. The inclusion of a more traditional-type mode using amiibo figures is a welcome one, and perhaps something that will be fleshed out further in the future. Lack of online aside, the game is a worthy addition to the Wii U line-up and a game-night roster. Just be sure to stock up on those amiibo!
Worth. Every. Penny. The most fun and original Sniper Elite game to date, with much improved level designs and ever more visceral, violent imagery. Sniper Elite III: Ultimate Edition is a must for anyone who thinks they might enjoy a bit of sniping action or even just likes stealth action games. The modest price tag (in comparison to many PS4 games) and the lovingly crafted game really do make this genuinely recommendable!
While Total War: Attila is a glorified expansion, it is a glorified good expansion, as it brings forth plenty of refinement and ideas… just not enough to make it a distinctly different game from its predecessor. Even so, it's still a wonderfully solid and enjoyable title, and still worth its price to newcomers of the series. For people who already own Rome II, it might be worth waiting for the price to drop, but, ultimately, it is a game that should be gotten.
Assassin's Creed Rogue is a mediocre-to-decent, open-ended, third-person action game, which many times feels as if the typical Assassin's Creed gameplay has crossed paths with Sid Meier's Pirates! However, it's impossible to overlook an abundance of flaws that are the result of a rushed production, and the fact that this is, in many ways, a reselling of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas's comparisons to the Zelda series amplify its shortcomings but, as a standalone title, the game delivers a very enjoyable adventure. Gamers looking for a simpler challenge will relish the title, while those looking for something more engaging may be put off, but it remains a very well developed experience. Recreating the magic of a Zelda game is a tall order but Cornfox & Bros. has made a valiant effort to do so.
Lack of control options and questionable direction in the visuals, compounded by the uninteresting story and low replayability, hold back White Night from being a recommendation. Only those who truly crave an old school survival horror might get some enjoyment from this title. Other than that, White Night is mostly forgettable.
Those deeply entrenched in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's multiplayer component have likely already invested in this selection, but for anybody else, the Havoc pack delivers exactly what it says on the tin, with the stress-inducing Exo Zombies mode, some great new maps and a beefy weapon to add to the loadout. It's certainly a good indication of the quality to expect from Sledgehammer's next three DLC instalments.
Battlefield 4 is a very impressive title. It starts out shaky, but the bugs and crashes found when it was first released are now gone. It has tactical and epic gameplay, with much replay value. The campaign and the soundtrack drag it down, but it is definitely worth buying for fans of online shooters, especially if they like spectacular large-scale combat with much freedom in customisation and role-playing.
Still, when taken overall, Castle in the Darkness is a wild and undeniable success that serves not only as a love letter to numerous old NES classics, but establishes itself as a worthwhile experience in its own right. The game is just brutally fun, and "one more time" can become "oh wow, is it really 2AM?" in the blink of an eye. This is a very rare sort of title that actually deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the classics it is imitating, and, in some cases, surpasses them.
It doesn't necessarily offer a lot that won't be found in other city-building games, but what it does offer is an open, friendly play-world where gamers can do what they want and have fun doing it. Cities: Skylines doesn't push its audience around or ask too much of them - where similar games might have forced online connectivity or reliance on fussy AI, Cities: Skylines instead opens its arms and asks players to come in, call the shots, and have a blast.
Chariot is a true co-op game. The beauty is that the game can be played and enjoyed in two completely different styles. Puzzles that were fairly easy with a partner become daunting obstacles when flying solo. Each way to play has its merits, and the game length can effectively be doubled by going down both paths. Beautiful presentation and a near complete lack of glitches round out the package that makes Chariot one of the best games to come out for the Wii U.