Cubed3's Reviews
Daedalic has a strong back catalogue of really enjoyable adventure games, so if the urge strikes for some point-and-click goodness it would be better to just look through that and find anything else other than its disappointing most recent offering.
It is not all disastrous, and hope remains that the second and third episodes up the ante to smooth over the cracks of Issue 1. Tune in next time, folks, for the exhilarating review of Issue 2 - Patriot Frames to find out what happens!
The pacing jumps up 10 notches and things become interesting due to the powerful super zombies and the urgency to not stay in a single place kicks in. It breaks up the monotony and it is these moments of originality that make Dying Light stand out from other games of this ilk, and is why it comes thoroughly recommended.
Be it the high level of entertainment, great replay value, varied, yet equally fun gameplay styles, flawless controls, vibrant graphics, lively audio, or immense attention to detail, Pix the Cat is simply one of the best Arcade experiences of this year. The only reason why this isn't a pure 10/10 - or even a 9/10 - is its lack of additional maps for the main mode, and the fact that it's not a title that will hook players for hours upon hours. It's more like a snack between full meals… a very tasty snack, that is.
As a standalone title, Saints Row: Gat Out of Hell is fun enough, but it feels like a stripped down version of what it should have been. It's a real shame; there are moments where the game really shines.This game is a fun distraction, but sadly a forgettable one. It feels like it could have been so much more...
While a wonderful game, sadly Splice may not actually get the chance to prove itself to anyone outside of its niche audience due to the high initial investment of trying to figure out exactly what to do, why, and what results it leads to. With that said, for its intended fan base, and to those who will like it and make it past the initial barrier of figuring the game out, Splice will be a fantastic, creative and brain-teasing experience that is well worth the time and money.
Two years ago, Cubed3 described Gunman Clive as "a stunning masterpiece of a platform game". Gunman Clive 2 is no different. The scale may have expanded, but the gameplay remains pure and focused. New mechanics are all fantastic and the platforming itself is tight, solid and satisfying. It may be short, but it means that all the fat has been trimmed to produce an unmatched experience that can (and should) be enjoyed by every 3DS owner.
There's no denying that Defense Grid 2 is an absorbing experience, and its low barriers to entry ensure it should appeal to seasoned RTS vets and tower defence noobs alike. For lovers of the blueprint, it's really not that hard to see why this series has become synonymous with the genre, and that in itself should be recommendation enough.
Tengami offers a great visual experience that is truly worth experiencing. Its graphical style and how it entwines into the gameplay elements is truly and unquestionably of high artistic value and something that has to be experienced to be understood. Nyamyam's Tengami creates a very meditative atmosphere, in a beautiful way, that is truly a wonder to experience. While it is short and some puzzles towards the end might be a little annoying, overall it is a very fun and fluid experience well worth attention if looking for a beautiful puzzle title.
Ultimately, Blackguards 2 is very good and enjoyable, but gets weighed down by some stupid limitations and flaws, such as its often unfair difficulty and still-present bugs. It boasts a great strategy aspect and a decent story, but falters elsewhere. Enjoyable, but frustrating at times, and not enough spiders to eat those bugs!
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is at times frustrating, but is mostly a fun, light-hearted, and immediately and consistently enjoyable videogame. The characters are loveable, the music is catchy, the graphics are solid, and the amount of care put into the game's setting is admirable. It successfully blends old and current philosophies of game design and execution, being reminiscent of classics like Zelda and Sonic the Hedgehog but also striking out and standing firmly as its own series, and one that will hopefully be around for a long time.
It's nice to see a developer try and re-imagine the Geometry Wars formula with varying worlds, but it's not entirely paid off this time round. The vast majority of the game is great fun, it plays brilliantly, and there really is mountains of content on offer for a fairly cheap price. It's a shame that a good chunk of these new, rotating worlds are painfully frustrating to play on because of the player's lack of vision.
While it looks like one, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is not a demo. It could - and should - be cheaper, but that can't erase the fact that this is a product of a very high-quality and depth.
Considering Underground was developed originally as a simulator and will hopefully assist in the development of surgical skills, it's great to see it works well as a standalone game, too. This type of tangential learning, using games as teaching tools, is amazing, and it's fantastic to see it being used here. There are a million places this sort of idea could succeed; hopefully it will be used a lot more in the future.
As is, this is a demanding strategy RPG that will turn away casually interested parties. The outrageous difficulty is admittedly a preference for some gamers, and those who are hungry for these types of games will not be disappointed. Natural Doctrine is a raw example of pure strategy with such delicate situations amidst a roaring hurricane.
Samurai Warriors 4 is an absolute blast from start to finish, especially in split-screen. With a multitude of characters and modes it could - and will - keep many people entertained far longer than any other entry in the series. As the first proper next-gen game in the series, it has a really colourful and pretty aesthetic that should keep the PS4 audience happy. All in all, it is a very recommendable game.
A potentially great game hindered by severe issues. Warhammer Quest is still a very fun and promising game…when it works. Sadly, too often it doesn't. The gameplay is great and the classes are fun and varied, but that does not help much when the game can freeze up at any point. Forgiveness is given due to the very generous auto saving that prevents this from completely destroying things, but after resetting Warhammer Quest for the 10th time in a very short period due to weird bugs, it does get very annoying.
On the surface everything in Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is just fine. It's as if a beautiful 3D animated film has turned into an innovative, thinking man's 2.5D platformer, with a great balance between well-implemented challenge and pure enjoyment. After a play-through, though, some of its flaws begin to surface.
Although Game of Thrones: Episode One - Iron from Ice is yet to test new waters with its gameplay, the difference of multiple lead characters and their impact on the bigger world is very promising and it's going to be interesting to see how it pays off in future releases. As a standalone chapter, whilst a little narrative heavy and gameplay light, it's a great start that fans of Telltale and Martin's series will adore, capturing the tone of the source material perfectly.
Bedlam is great fun, fast-paced, challenging, and humorous. The bugs that exist just now will hopefully be fixed during its Early Access period on Steam. Therefore, problems aside, Bedlam's story and gameplay should keep the interest going right up to the end. Bedlam has huge potential, but is unfortunately not quite fulfilling it at the moment and is simply a fun-yet-average shooting game with a quirky story.