Cubed3's Reviews
The handheld debut of Super Smash Bros. is a successful one that stands proud alongside its predecessors on home consoles and is a must-have for Nintendo 3DS owners, with combat that feels more refined than Super Smash Bros. Brawl and can be enjoyed by casual and dedicated players alike. The roster is also the biggest and best one yet, and the production values are outstanding. While it's still unclear what the upcoming Wii U version will have and how the two versions will interact with each other, those who really value much better graphics and more control options - such as the Nintendo GameCube controller that can be used with a special adapter - might want to wait for it instead. Anyone else, though, definitely shouldn't hesitate to get a copy of this game to settle it in Smash.
With on-the-fly character switching and chaining moves together to enable free-flowing and fast-paced action, WO3U does a good job of trying to stave off the repetition complaint that follows the series everywhere it goes…but it only lasts for so long before the feeling kicks in. It won't be for everyone, and this port doesn't do much to show it's running on PS4 by any stretch of the imagination, but with how much has been packed into this game, series fans will care very little about such quibbles.
There is no doubt that Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments will be a sleeper hit and will find its audience, but for anyone who would enjoy a procedural crime investigating game, this title comes highly recommended. By far one of the more interesting adventure games to have come out in years.
The road to the final scene is filled with hundreds of crossroads where there usually isn't a right or wrong choice, with morality usually being in the eye of the beholder. The lack of modern visuals and extremely minimal sound might discourage people from trying it out, but those perceptive enough to do so will discover a game with a great replay value, especially when compared to its low price.
While it starts slow and simple, Teslagrad grows into something worth mentioning and definitely worth playing. Its occasionally unpredictable or unreliable magnetism gimmick doesn't detract considerably from the satisfaction of succeeding in said gimmick, and using the power of magnets like a pro makes the little boy feel like a bona-fide superhero - a regular Samus Aran.
The developers at Haemimont Games have taken their series apart and reassembled it in a whole new way, and while the result is riddled with flaws, it's also charming, funny, and welcoming to newcomers and veterans alike. As aimless steps away from stagnation go, that's a pretty solid one.
It's a truly epic experience once the real endgame content is reached, but until that point, the player constantly hits brick walls, and the only thing they're able to do to progress any further is start the mind numbing grind and hoping that they get lucky enough to receive some armour with light.
Levelling up, building weapons, and crafting armour can give each user a unique experience tailored to their play style. All of the game mechanics blend perfectly in the addictive Titan Mode, and promised updates will only further propel its hooking premise. Sadly, unfinished portions of the game hamper the experience with "Coming Soon" featured in too many sections. If the developers can stay committed, they might just have a stellar hit on their hands. Minimum has taken an awkward route to reach "full" release, but it's still not all there. However, what is available forms a solid blueprint for great things to come.
Over 25 years of history is crammed into Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call, and it is a marked improvement over the first game. Owners of the original won't find too much different, but online versus mode in itself, plus the substantial increase in the number of songs and characters is enough to dip on this sequel. Bursting at the seams with nostalgia, Curtain Call is a game no one Final Fantasy fan can afford to pass on.
Kickbeat: Special Edition is a fun little diversion in small bursts but it doesn't really stray too far from the path it sets out right at the very start. Despite some solid gameplay mechanics, it sadly lacks the variety of content to ensure repeated play and as such will likely only appeal to diehard fans of the genre.
Titanfall may not have done anything to revolutionise the multiplayer genre like it was hyped up to do but has done a sterling job of being the first major shooter to hit a brand new generation of consoles from a studio that is yet to release a game. After six months on the market (at time of writing), it's still a blast, yet it won't be a title that goes down in history. If Titanfall is anything to go by, whatever developer Respawn creates in the future cannot come soon enough, hopefully building upon the strong foundation of this release.
Hyrule Warriors is an outstanding crossover of The Legend of Zelda and Dynasty Warriors with addictive gameplay, a slick presentation, and a lot of content. In fact, the mix of the two series works so well that it has to be wondered why it took this long to materialise. Few franchises boast a legacy that matches The Legend of Zelda and it's a joy to play as characters other than Link after all this time, giving them a well-deserved spot in the limelight. Those familiar with Warriors games (like Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper, also on Wii U) will know what to expect, while Zelda fans should definitely consider giving this game a try, as long as they don't go in expecting it to be like a regular Zelda instalment. What Hyrule Warriors is, though, is a highly enjoyable spin-off that's filled with all sorts of fan service, which might just be the best way to ease the wait for the next mainline The Legend of Zelda game coming to the Nintendo Wii U next year.
Metro: Last Light Redux is a certifiable successor and a triumph of the creative human spirit that 4A Games displayed during their deplorable working conditions. A quality game that is on par with the likes of Half-Life 2. Bursting with atmosphere, tight controls and stealth mechanics, the only other comparable titles are Wolfenstein: The New Order and the previous game, Metro: 2033 Redux. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys single-player first person action games, Metro: Last Light Redux should not be missed.
This game is best described as the companion to Metro: Last Light Redux, where users are better off getting the retail compilation. The amount of visual fidelity and craftsmanship displayed in this game is unparalleled considering the lack of budget and absurd working conditions the crew had to endure during its development. It is a testament to the work of 4A Games and visionary Dmitry Glukhovsky.
Rogue Legacy is a unique game that will appeal to a specific set of gamers and probably frustrate the rest. Those who find it fun will enjoy it greatly, with hours of playability, fun aesthetics, and enough variety to ensure no two playthroughs are alike. Rogue Legacy is brutal, punishing even slight mistakes on the player's part, and demanding many, many attempts at getting even one room farther than the previous attempt at conquering the dungeon.
Too many technical anomalies and unintentional randomised factors can make some attempts unplayable. However, it is legitimately satisfying when able to complete a procedure or accomplish a manoeuvre, thanks, of course, to the gratitude felt when the game does not throw-up all over itself.
It's actually refreshing to see Zen release a table that isn't affiliated to Marvel or Star Wars for once, and as per usual the team has pulled out all the stops to deliver a product that does Telltale Games' franchise justice. The Walking Dead is an easy recommendation to anybody with more than a passing interest in pinball, and it's certainly one of the nicest tables Zen has released in some time. Picking this up should be a no brainer.
Ice Cream Surfer is a reasonably fun little timewaster, and at a time where shoot 'em ups are fewer and further between, some diehard shooter fans might feel like this is worth a punt. A far cry from the great 2D shooters of the past, though, it offers surprisingly little, it can be frustratingly cheap, it doesn't run without flaws despite it coming nowhere close to challenging the hardware, and unforgivably it lacks any substantial form of recording high scores. It's a budget title, but there's far better things on the eShop to spend that fiver on.
All of the underlying wrongness of Infinity Runner can probably be traced back to Wales Interactive overstretching itself. The game was almost definitely envisioned as something more open and complete, until a lack of money or time forced the developer to squeeze its ideas into the shell of an endless runner. The rigidity of the genre ruins almost every promising aspect of the game - it defangs the antagonist, dilutes the plot to the point of irrelevance, and - most damning of all - makes the fact that the protagonist is a werewolf almost inconsequential.
The beauty of pool is that there is no story to plough through, no defined ending to strive towards - other than winning the current match - and this very essence is captured perfectly in Pure Pool. It's just the tale of a man with a stick and some balls getting down to business on a table...!