Cubed3's Reviews
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance is not perfect. There are times the irreverent take on "Metal Gear" is just a little too irreverent. There are characters and lines of dialogue that one could do without. There are a handful of encounters that jump up and down on the "cheap and unfair" line in a way that The Wonderful 101 never does. And there are some cut-scenes that go on a bit long. However, the first time one slow motion flips in the air and slices an enemy in half with a Zandatsu, grabs his cyborg spine and smashes it for precious energy juice, it's obvious that these are very minor issues in a very good and highly recommended game.
The Banner Saga is a very good game with some obvious flaws. Some are due to budget, some are due to poor design. That doesn't stop the game from being fun, although it can make it occasionally frustrating. Still, it's worth playing and seeing and hearing.
CastleStorm succeeds at blending together the tower defence and 2D physics-based destruction genres to create a unique and very fun game that doesn't shy away from being a goofy, good time for the player with its dry sense of humour.
Call of Duty: Ghosts is everything that Call of Duty titles have been in the past: fast-paced action and the usual competitive multiplayer with a few twists thrown in. Single-player is interesting to a point, if a little too short this time around, multiplayer will keep players coming back for more, but does little to push the series forwards, and Extinction is a nice little distraction but nowhere near as fleshed out as it could be. For anyone thinking of getting the PC version, though, knock the score down to 4/10 as in good faith it certainly cannot be recommended until it's fixed. Right now it is plagued with performance issues that would make many consumers' heads ache and even the most average system die a death. At current it feels like only 1/3rd of the game is playable and that isn't good value for money.
Bravely Default is classic Final Fantasy in everything but name only. Despite dropping the famous moniker and attempting to become a successful new RPG series in its own right, this is the game that Final Fantasy fans have been missing in their lives for far too long. The added beauty of this very traditional role-playing experience is that it is accessible to all types of players due to the difficulty options and simple tutorials, making for a game that is great for those still new to the genre, but also offers a lot of challenge for the more seasoned gamer that demands it. Bravely Default is a great start for this new Square Enix franchise, and proves that allowing other developers to craft the types of RPGs that have been long-missed by the Final Fantasy company's fans can lead to extremely positive results. This is one game any RPG fan should be setting money aside for, whether they already own a Nintendo 3DS or not.
No touch or motion controls that don't always do what is asked of them; no microphone gimmicks to blow hundreds of times into incredibly infuriating wind instruments; no involuntary hand-holding that removes the need to explore and continuously breaks up the flow of the game—A Link Between Worlds is the very definition of what classic top-down Legend of Zelda games should always be about. It is clear that 2D Zelda thrives and is at its ultimate best when it sticks to its roots, and A Link Between Worlds does exactly that, and more. This is the return to form that long-time fans have been wishing for in the classic 2D format for the Zelda franchise for many years; it is the greatest entry in a very long time.
All in all, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy shows there is still plenty of mileage in the series, but as time has been called on this particular line of Hershel Layton adventures, it proves to be a fitting closure with some great twists at the story's conclusion, along with clever plot elements that tie this precursor trilogy back into the first ever game, The Curious Village. Whilst not as gripping as the finale to the original trilogy - the truly sublime and epic Professor Layton and the Lost Future - this is still one that fans should not be without.
EDGE is a great example of value for money. With over a hundred levels to conquer, plus a familiar ranking system, there is plenty to do to keep players busy. Not only is there a fair amount of content, but the game's discounted price of £1.79 makes this easy to recommend to anyone who owns a Wii U and wants a fun, unique experience. This low price point lasts up until January 2nd, 2014, so those interested have plenty of time to grab it. Don't hesitate; at this price, the game is a steal. Go buy it now!
Super Mario 3D World is a superb first attempt at a 3D Super Mario Bros. platformer from Nintendo. It's more than just a simple Mario title with multiplayer bolted on. The game weaves together a plethora of unique, compelling and occasionally downright bizarre ideas that simply work. Mario and friends run, jump, float, crawl, climb, throw fireballs and explode cannonballs across multiple worlds of charming designs, experimental ideas and rock hard platforming towards the end. Super Mario 3D World is one of the best titles on the Nintendo Wii U and one of the best platformers, period. Go forth and save the Sprixie Kingdom!
At a glance Pokémon X and Pokémon Y did seem like a standard leap in numbers and a new look, but upon diving into the new world, it's more than just a pair of new Pokémon games. Developed, refined and streamlined, the new 3DS titles are a testament to Game Freak's ability to maintain the core Pokémon strengths but keep the action fresh and still exciting after fifteen years. If you've yet to play a Pokémon title, are a lifelong fan or dipped out several generations back, this is the generation to embrace. Pokémon X and Pokémon Y are a tantalising pair of games that simply must be played on the 3DS and 2DS.
As controversial as the score may be, it is hard to argue against Rayman Legends being the unrivalled platform adventure of this generation, and the 'one to beat' in the upcoming new generation of systems that is about to kick-off. Building upon the superbly solid foundation of Rayman Origins is no mean feat, but Ubisoft has indeed managed to out-do the House of Mario in the genre in which many thought Nintendo was untouchable. Made for Wii U, playing this on any other format will undoubtedly be an inferior experience.
Whilst not perfect, DuckTales: Remastered stays faithful to the NES original and its gameplay mechanics, with the exception of forced collectibles and prolonging levels with cut-scenes. Fans of the show will be pleased to know that Alan Young has reprised his role as Scrooge McDuck and he still does a fantastic job at it, despite being much older now. For fans of the classic that like the inclusion of full voice acting and don't mind exploring every inch of a level to gather items required to progress, definitely check this out. However, for those that didn't like the NES version of DuckTales and despise the unforgiving difficulty of retro titles, steer clear of this remaster.