Cubed3's Reviews
For those with patience to get the hang of the quirky controls, Grow Home provides a lot to like. It's a cute game with nice ideas and a somewhat relaxed atmosphere. It's certainly pleasing to see a big publisher like Ubisoft trying out fresh ideas and, in Grow Home's case, it pays off well. The title only disappoints fundamentally in terms of its length - not because it's bad value at $8/£6, but because it causes cravings for more. With any luck maybe Ubisoft will see fit to take Reflections' project's little seed and grow a more fully-fledged game from it, because the ideas and style shown deserve to be seen again.
The beautiful gothic fairytale Dokuro is a great looking game with some creative mechanics. However, its gimmick and source of its creativity is simply not as good on PC as it is on a device with a touch screen. This can be forgiven due to the beautifully dark journey players are taken on in the quest to save princess Dokuro from the Dark Lord. If looking for a escort puzzle-platformer, Dokuro is one of the top contenders in this category, but it is recommended getting it for the PS Vita instead, unless owning a touch screen PC, since drawing is one of the biggest…draws.
Ultimately, Thief is a victim to the issues contained within it. These are things that could have been easily resolved, as well. Erin's capture should have been due to poor circumstance or even a legitimate failing on Garret's part; not his own self-righteous attitude. He should have had a better dialogue. The guards on the overworld should only arrest Garret if he gets caught stealing/doing thief activities, instead of on-sight, and the glitches should have been ironed out. Had those few aspects happened, Thief would have been a decent, if rather slow, game. As-is, it's just frustrating and tedious to play.
Fans of the genre will adore Toukiden: Kiwami, and this is a good entry point for those interested in getting into the hunting genre. The fluid arcade action brings a new spin and there is a ton of content for both players of the original and for those new to the franchise.
The ending is far away, but the journey thus far has been excellent, and so far Life is Strange is proving to be an experience no gamer should miss.
In trying to go bigger and better with Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, the majority of what made the original so good has been lost. Levels are far too large, many enemies cannot be seen, and the mask system is effectively done away with for a poor substitute. This is still Hotline Miami; it's just not as exhilarating. Ironically, the planned level editor may be what saves it, where fans can potentially create surpassing stages akin to those found in the first game. For now, though, if yet to taste either title in the series, definitely make sure to buy the prequel over this for the ultimate and most thrilling experience.
Pillars of Eternity is a rare game that delivers exactly what it promises, all of which are things that gamers frequently ask for: legitimately mature narrative, deep tactical combat, and a genuine challenge free of artificial difficulty. Obsidian claimed the game would relive a classic era, but it didn't stop there. By casting off the restrictions of its inspirations' Dungeons & Dragons-rooted mechanics (and a lot of standard role-playing tropes with them) and building such an intriguing world, Obsidian has made one of the most refined and original RPGs in years.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars is very reminiscent of Lemmings, as the goal is to guide Mario and friends through levels by manipulating objects around them, instead of directly controlling them. Creating inventive ways to avoid hazards and collect coins make each level a challenging, but endearing, experience. The ranking system is well crafted to make the game appealing to both casual and competitive gamers. Creating new levels in the workshop mode and then sharing them online adds further replay value to a game that is already rich in content. The whole package is presented with beautiful visuals and an incredible soundtrack to create something that should not be missed.
For those that have yet to venture into Drangleic, this updated release might just be the best opportunity to jump in. Meanwhile, fans that have already conquered Drangleic may find it a convenient excuse to tackle it all once again.
For those that have yet to venture into Drangleic, this updated release might just be the best opportunity to jump in. Meanwhile, fans that have already conquered Drangleic may find it a convenient excuse to tackle it all once again.
For those that have yet to venture into Drangleic, this updated release might just be the best opportunity to jump in. Meanwhile, fans that have already conquered Drangleic may find it a convenient excuse to tackle it all once again.
The Sword in the Darkness truly lives up to the first episode after the exposition-filled second and goes to show fans of the Song of Ice and Fire universe that this story is truly worth a place alongside the canon of the series. Now exactly halfway through the season, there's a ton of promise and a lot of foreboding for the remainder of the series. So far the Foresters are getting knocked down and kicked harder and harder and harder… which, much like the Starks, will make it all that much sweeter when they finally have their revenge.
While there's still some mindless, if slightly repetitive, fun to be had for the solo participant, Zombie Army Trilogy really shines as a multiplayer experience and does a great job of filling the 'Left 4 Dead'-shaped hole on the current consoles. It's not doing anything particularly innovative, yet the satisfying shooting mechanic, coupled with the ever grisly X-ray killcam makes it a great game to revisit when not in the mood for something more cerebral.
Absolutely fantastic! Helldivers is one of the few games where everyone should actively persuade friends to purchase the game to play it together. It's a game that, at first glance, looks very shallow and repetitive but even after just completing a few stages, it will be realised that this just isn't the case. It really is twin stick shooter mechanic at its finest, and it's mountain of fun - even though it's a pretty visually subpar title.
Despite the low score, anyone who loves point-and-click adventures will probably enjoy Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock, even though it's puzzles are way too easy, the main characters slightly more lively than a pack of zombies, and the graphics, sound effects, and music somewhere between dull and average. Unfortunately, due to this quest's disappointingly short length and half-finished storyline, this feels more like the very first chapter of a game, rather than a completed product. It's a nice snack-sized videogame that can fill two hours of total boredom, but, other than that, it's not something special.
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is probably one of the most impressive Dragon Ball games released so far. With all the game content available, this isn't something that is going to be finished in a day. If interested in the anime series or fighting games in general, this is a good choice for a collection.
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.