Cubed3's Reviews
Choosing to ease off on the weird and wacky antics of previous outings, Mario Golf: World Tour is a resounding success, harking back to the original pure fun of the Nintendo 64 outing, whilst still keeping the 'out there' elements for fans of the GameCube edition, just having them in the background now instead. Whilst lacking in any real innovation, and sadly missing a much desired return of the RPG mode, this almost back-to-basics golfing title is one that Nintendo 3DS owners should seriously consider looking into. Overall, it is easy and intuitive for newcomers, with elements of added depth for veterans.
The Blackwell Epiphany is the epitome of what has made the series so gripping so far - highly intuitive controls, intriguing puzzles, an intense rollercoaster ride of a story, witty banter between the two lead characters, and some fantastic music and voice acting to boot. Those that played the past four titles are in for a treat with this concluding episode, whilst those mulling over what to do after reading this review, be sure to start from the beginning and work through The Blackwell Bundle first so as to not miss out on one tiny drop of the series' magnificence.
Other than the slightly improved visuals and frame-rate that the PC allows, this version doesn't bring enough novelty when compared to the previous console HD versions.
Anyone that played and loved them way back when, this is the definitive version of both, and makes reliving the journey through Spira extra special; they are worth replaying all over again.
Everything Deus Ex: The Fall does is done infinitely better in Human Revolution. Which begs the question, why not just play Human Revolution? After all, it's not like The Fall has a compelling story (spoilers: it ends on a cliffhanger, urging players to stay tuned for the next pay-for episode). Ultimately, Deus Ex: The Fall can only be recommended to one group of gamers: those who must consume anything related to Deus Ex. Everyone else should feel free to give it a miss.
Cubed3 has no problem recommending Constant C to platforming fans. Anyone who enjoyed a game such as Stealth Bastard will find plenty to love in Constant C. Fans of games with heavily physics-based puzzles will definitely be pleased. Indie fans and platforming fans will find a game that performs above its class, though not in the heavy weight division with the likes of Mario, Rayman, or even Super Meat Boy. Still, at $10, Constant C is an enjoyable experience and an easy recommend.
Although it doesn't serve as a replacement for regular exercise, Wii Fit U is probably the best game in its genre, and with the existence of the Fit Meter, is a great way to keep track of and accompany daily activities. There are all sorts of activities included in this package, meaning that there is something for the whole family to enjoy, all whilst staying in shape! To those who are still using Wii Fit regularly, it is also possible to transfer data over to Wii Fit U, so maybe now is a great time to upgrade!
Whilst not a travesty in the platform stakes, unfortunately Yoshi's New Island is rather bland and nowhere near the quality of Yoshi's Island on the SNES, and probably not even as interesting as the oft-criticised Yoshi's Island DS. Arzest - made up of ex-Artoon staff - seems to have taken the DS title, removed the difficulty and tacked on some rather average extras to create what is nothing more than a 'decent platform title' rather than a worthy successor to the old classic. All eyes are now on Good Feel to see how Yarn Yoshi turns out…
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is oozing with quality and polish in every aspect, and easily surpasses the already outstanding previous instalment on the Nintendo Wii. Underwater segments and the partners Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong are very welcome additions, while the level design is as inventive and challenging as ever. The absolutely marvellous soundtrack and lush visuals only further support the tight and extremely satisfying gameplay, resulting in an overall package that is one of the best 2D platformers of all time - one that fans of classic platforming should truly go bananas over.
One Piece's 3DS debut in One Piece: Romance Dawn sets sail but is quickly sunk under monotonous fights, endless corridor roaming that would put Final Fantasy XIII to shame, and a recurring reminder that it is merely a slapdash port adapted to none of the 3DS' strengths.
NES Remix takes most of the NES' early library of first party games, and fractions them into small tasks that help to revisit the most satisfying moments of each, as well as "remixes" some into new types of gameplay involving all sorts of cool and surprising elements. Whether one has already tried these games, or even still owns them to this day, he or she may well find that this new way of revisiting them might just be more fun than the games themselves. Playing NES Remix allows players to discover alternative methods to enjoy these classics in ways that they would not have otherwise found themselves by playing their original cartridges or Virtual Console releases. On the other hand, those who never tasted some of these titles, some of which are perhaps not anymore amongst the most well-known of Nintendo's back catalogue of NES classics, may well find that they want to experience them for themselves in the way they were meant to be played, after they try NES Remix. Indeed, NES Remix sheds new light on those classics to make them more relevant even to this day. Although, with that being said, there will always be players who will simply have a hard time getting into older software on the premise that they look, sound, and play "old", and, other than in the visual department to a small extent, NES Remix does very little to change this.
Blackguards is not not being recommended. In fact, it is being recommended. However, it is only being recommended to the right people. Those people are the true hardcore RPG fanatics - people who will put up with sadistic combat scenarios that will cause most other gamers to quit and load up something a little less painful.
Unepic may not stand out as one of the more original titles in the genre but it does what it sets out to do very well, offering plenty of addictive exploration, challenging combat and fairly in-depth character customisation. It comes highly recommended for RPG enthusiasts looking for a retro action-RPG with modern features at a fairly reasonable price of £8.99.
It is so, so easy to remark about Trine 2: Complete Story's remarkable graphics when the whole game is such a visual delight from start to finish, but the final product overall is a wonderful fantasy tale that comes together beautifully. Whether it is played alone or in multiplayer, this is an imaginative platforming adventure that is incredibly accessible to all. If it has yet to be played on any other platforms, Trine 2: Complete Story should definitely not be overlooked by PlayStation 4 owners.
Want to play a title where there is no guarantee of winning, no matter how good a player's skill level? Then Mario Party: Island Tour is something to pick up. Fun is there to be found, in small pockets of good mini-games (although not consistent or regular), but - as a big fan of Mario Party in general - this isn't the greatest of games.
Act 2 simply cannot come soon enough! Oh wait, that should be the final line, right? Broken Age has two parts to it, one moderately intriguing and short-lived, and another that really harks back to the classic days of point-and-click adventuring and goes on just long enough to draw players deep into the tale, leaving the action at a very impressive conclusion. Can it be said now? Yes, Act 2 simply cannot come soon enough! In the meantime, though, do not miss out on the highly polished adventure!
Sometimes it's great to see an old classic remade and introduced to a new audience, but all these years on, Putty Squad just doesn't hold up with its less-than-perfect controls and quickly-repetitive gameplay. It isn't to say that nobody will enjoy it, though, because there are plenty of levels and challenges to tackle, and it's possible that being familiar with the original game or Super Putty on Super NES could mean this will be more appreciated by such players. For everyone else, however, it's wise to pass.
Already one of the best games to download for the Nintendo 3DS, SteamWorld Dig is now available to even more people through Steam, and they should not pass it up. Whilst the similarities are small to games like Metroid, Terraria and Spelunky, they are indeed there, and they form a short, but extremely fun, little game that demands multiple play-throughs due to its addictiveness and urge to beat it in quicker times than the last. On the other hand, the fact it doesn't last too long and that there wasn't anything added over the 3DS version lets it down slightly.
Revolution is back in a big way, bringing together everything that made the original Broken Sword so joyous to play. Clever puzzles, intuitive controls, stacks of humour and an array of characters that excite and frustrate in equal measure. As for the story…well, when hitting that 50% completion mark to see in the conclusion of Chapter 1, there will be a definite hunger for more. Exhilarating, hilarious, brain teasing and providing a sensory overload, Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse strikes all the right chords and is by far the adventure game of the year. The king is back!
An expansive masterpiece, with amazing controls, stunningly atmospheric music, an intriguing graphical approach and oddball story that keeps players on their toes. Tight controls and intriguing morphing abilities mean that every challenge is extremely enjoyable, and the entire world is open to exploration - no boundaries! Part of the fun is merely trying to fill every tiny part of the world map.