Cubed3's Reviews
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.
The comedy, the story choices, the setup - it's all done well in Tales from the Borderlands: Episode One - Zer0 Sum. The next episodes can't come quick enough! Grab the season pass and enjoy waiting with baited breath for each episode to be released. The team here at Cubed3 certainly will be!
Remaking one of the lesser appreciated entries to the Pokémon juggernaut could have been a risky endeavour, yet with adding all the improvements to the mainline games since to Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire makes even the preserved negatives of the originals seem smaller in hindsight. A worthy choice for people new to the series, yet providing enough new functionality for fans, as well, these jewels are worth preserving.
This is a masterpiece, raising the bar higher than ever, and is truly rewarding for those who have completed the original and kept their save files. The question was asked, and Telltale answered. If it continues in this way, then Season Three could very well break a man emotionally.
While Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is very much aimed at a core audience and may alienate potential newcomers, the fans are going to adore it. It keeps many aspects the series is famous for, while expanding a new and fun story with a ton of fan service. For fans of Persona it's a must-buy, and for those new to the genre it's worth a shot - even without getting all the in-jokes there's still a great game here.
While some of these issues are understandable for the last gen platforms to have, there is no excuse for the developer to waste the new hardware's horsepower and release the game running only at 30fps. All the new graphical effects won't mean much in the end if the core gameplay suffers. As far as sandbox crime games go, Grand Theft Auto V is an incredible achievement in world building, and comes recommended, but just don't expect the best action.
Approach Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal with an open mind and there's a good portion of fun to be had here. As easy as it is to dwell on flaws, it's also worth calling out the good points and Boom has them aplenty. It's short, uninspired and plays it a bit too safe, yet Sanzaru Games has recognised what makes Sonic tick and played to his strengths, with a new twist on a classic formula. It is fun whilst it lasts and is definitely deserving of a play through. This is Sonic, just not quite as he was previously known.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker may be a humble little game that may not aim very high, but it succeeds as a quality and polished title for those who want a relaxing and easy going adventure-puzzle game. An excellent game for the kids, and any Nintendo enthusiast will enjoy this mellow title as an alternative to the frantic battles of Bayonetta 2, the wacky races of Mario Kart 8 or the beat downs of Super Smash Bros. Sometimes a fun guy just wants to chill and go on an adventure.
Akiba's Trip: Undead & Undressed is not anything other than a decent game that offers nothing special beside otaku jokes and a fast visit to the Mecca of Japanese pop culture. The game could have performed so much better if the fighting system was more fun and the story did not rush through important parts. As it does do that, though, a higher score cannot be given. For any otaku out there, this is a title worth getting for its comical value and the great spot on jokes. For anyone else, however, this is a title to avoid.
There's a lot to love in Shadow Warrior, but some of its problems, such as poor pacing and underwhelming boss fights, hold it back from being more than just a fun throwback to classic first-person shooters. It's still a good game with great combat that's well worth checking out, though, as there aren't many games that offer a similar experience.
Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is a 40,000 fan's dream come true for the attention to detail given with the variety of units. Lore-nuts will enjoy the telling of the Armageddon War, and armchair Generals will find their mettle tested on a regular basis here against the utterly relentless green horde of Orks. Where it fails to attain a higher score is in its lack of accessibility, documentation, polish, and, particularly, the ambitious price point. Most would want a manual book that is appropriately accurate on release day for any price, let alone a game costing £30.
Trine: Enchanted Edition offers a traditional platforming action-adventure game with a unique and incredibly entertaining twist. The physics make playing through each level even more fun, as players can experiment with the objects and enemies to their hearts' content. The whole game is presented beautifully, with an amazing accompanying soundtrack that fits perfectly within each of the levels. Whether it is exploring the hallways of the Astral Academy or navigating the Crystal Caverns, Trine delivers a truly memorable experience thanks to its entertaining gameplay, luscious visuals and truly legendary soundtrack. The smooth and enjoyable co-op mode is very much the delectable cherry on top of an already irresistible cake.
Lots of fun and challenging gameplay await those that will embark on a journey that pays tribute to the Souls series, adding some new, subtle twists into the mix. However, the most appropriate description one could give to this otherwise great action-RPG would be "close, but no cigar… very close that is." The gameplay is entertaining, but lacks that extra something that would make it truly remarkable.
Shadow of Mordor shows that the Tolkien licence still has a lot of life in it yet. It falls short a little in that some of the aspects feel like they don't quite live up to what they promised, but this is a great first step for a brand new IP. Hopefully this won't be the last we see of Talion.