Cubed3's Reviews
For an unknown studio they come out swinging pretty good with Dreamscaper, the core game is fairly engaging and interesting, but the core loop has some serious progression issues, as well as bad difficulty balance. Trying new moves and weapons is the highlight of the experience, but the very slow lack of progress and difficulty walls hold this back from being truly great.
Ultimately DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power does exactly what it has set out to do, which is to create a fun, enjoyable experience for younger players. What is really surprising, however, is that adult players can also find so much enjoyment. All the basics are there, and are done to a good enough standard that if a DC fan, there are enough little nods and references to hold interest. If your children are just getting accustomed to the comic book/gaming genre, and as a parent struggle to find a suitable entrance point, this is the perfect start.
Keeping aristocrats' clothes clean is a tough job, but the loyal staff are keen to fulfil their duty. The variety of cloak materials makes it possible for all the one hundred plus levels to all be engaging and feel a challenge. Their exact thoughts about their demanding masters unknown, there is no doubt that Puddle Knights is a novel addition to Nintendo Switch, with plenty to keep minds occupied in seeking safe passage in this puzzler. Understanding the mechanics is simple, but conquering all levels including the harder ones will take a lot of practice.
The fighting mechanics are passable at best, and the huge roster of fighters is a great boon, but with its incredibly poor performance and boring story mode, it is just best to avoid JUMP FORCE altogether.
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous is not a big improvement over Kingmaker, but it is an improvement, nonetheless. Some of its elements are exceptional, like the overwhelming variety in classes, skills, and "paths," or the general epic aura it has, while some other parts sit somewhere between decent and good, like the story (which is a bit too stereotypical), the Crusade portion of the gameplay (which is a buggy chore), and the actual role-playing, which, while fine and all, won't be enough for those spoiled by other modern classics of the genre. Despite some its flaws, it is undoubtedly very entertaining, and highly recommended, as it will surely satisfy your hunger for a good RPG.
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt is an amazing triumph of fantasy world design. It successfully pairs fast action gameplay with slower methodical planning and preparation moments, as well as having an incredibly fun main storyline with plentiful side quests. At this point the game has been out for a long time, but it is highly recommended that it is on anyone's lists especially if they missed the boat on the original release. In a word, fantastic.
Astalon: Tears of the Earth is a very, very simple mix of metroidvania-like exploration, and rogue-lite challenge, but a simple mix that works wonders. You'll die a lot, but you'll keep on returning just to get a little further on the journey towards the top of this treacherous spire, and learn of its secrets, with your skill and perseverance being your main tools. Don't miss out on this modern-yet-retro indie gem. 'Conglaturation!!!' LABS Works!
If there is any love for the original, pick this up immediately. A fine job has been done creating a really playable title for 2021, without losing any of the charm of the original. The camera change is a stroke of genius and makes life so much easier leading to a more enjoyable experience all round. The issue isn't with the remaster, but the source material. Zool Redimensioned is sadly a bit of a product of its time, and isn't going to draw any new fans with its difficulty and confusing design choices. Sadly, for most this Ninja isn't going to resonate with younger players looking for the next plumber killer. For the rest, though, you have a greater remaster than you could ever have hoped for, let alone what the star of the Amiga may deserve.
Personally, rarely does a Metroidvania game capture the imagination, often being lost to the backlog due to their constant trial and error navigation and repetitive backtracking. With that thought at the forefront, it's a credit to developers TiGAMES that F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch still hasn't been put out to pasture in the backlog farm. Everything about this title is a joy and great, engaging gameplay is complimented by a beautiful world that springs to life on the PS5 both visually in its setting as well as its characters and stories. Top this off with a great protagonist and you have a game of the year contender in every respect. Metroid Dread? Who needs it.
Quake Remastered is as good as a remaster can be. Not in the sense of the visual enhancements it has made, which, while fine and all, are just the tip of the iceberg. What makes this an excellent repackaging, is the content at hand, due to the addition of all expansions (+ 1), and the support for lots of fan-made and official mods, with more coming in. Melted the single player experience? Now lose your sense of time with online pvp or co-op fun, as well as Crossplay between all modern systems, including the humble Switch. This edition of the FPS classic is also super cheap, and is available for free for those who have already purchased the original. Nightdive Studios has given you plenty of reasons to start fragging and gibbing. You ought to thank them.
Anyone who has played a game or two from the Pretty Girls series is aware that expectations must be kept kind of low, as most games are somewhat simple, and the only incentive, besides the fun factor, is the fact that players can unlock more anime girls and costumes. Pretty Girls Klondike Solitaire is one of the least meaty in this, already low-fat, franchise, as the actual game is just Solitaire, with no additional bells and whistles, or addicting scoring mechanics, and the roster of girls is very small, and with a disappointing amount of outfits per girl to unlock - usually just one. Buy it if you must, but you are advised to wait for a discount.
Qix meets the Pretty Girls "universe," in an arcade-style, casual-friendly title that's pretty enjoyable, although it won't win any awards for its originality. As for the titular cuties, there's a nice enough number of them to unlock, as well as a few costumes, but other entries in the series have been much better in terms of variety.
Filled with humour and mystery QV is a fine puzzle addition to Nintendo Switch. Quby's inquisitive nature coupled with her determination to make friends no matter how spikey the personality is makes playing as her a joy. This is accessible for all players no matter their puzzle ability, and there are hours to be spent figuring out how to get Quby to each gate, avoiding environmental traps, as well as enemies who will chase her. This isn't over once the story is completed. There are seventy nine achievements to unlock for completionists, an extra difficult level, and it is easy to want to re-experience levels simply for the fun of being with the charming Quby again. Apart from occasional levels that seemed set at the wrong difficulty for both the difficulty setting and the point in the game, QV is a must-play for all puzzle enthusiasts.
Never has a game felt so divisive when scoring. For many The Longing is going to feel like one of the most ill-conceived video game notions in history. For others what is delivered is one of the most intriguing and addictive pursuits ever created for home media. With plenty to do, or not as the case may be, the freedom of choice is intoxicating. With so much time to kill also, every decision never feels like the wrong one. If things don't go exactly as hoped on day 1, there's still 399 days to set things right. Relax into that cosy armchair, grab a book, and watch that sand in that hourglass slip away.
With such a well-respected and well-known title such as Cuphead, there really isn't a lot that can be said for the PS4 port that hasn't already been stated since its original release in 2017. A fiendishly difficult platformer with a great soundtrack and beautiful level design and aesthetics awaits any gamer that loves a challenge, and is happy to put the hours in. Sit in a darkened room, avoid any and all of those pesky real-world interruptions, and take on a telepathic giant carrot. Ace.
As one of many Ken 'Masters' (very pleased with that one), the initial reaction to Samurai Shodown is a jarring one. Expecting to mow down hordes of AI controlled characters easily and instead getting beaten to pulp in a matter of seconds can be off-putting, to say the least. What quickly becomes apparent however is that gameplay treads the fine and brilliant line of 'easy to play, difficult to perfect'. Once a bit of caution is implemented, not a lot in the genre is as satisfying as a graceful dodge, parry and complete destruction. This is great for forgetting the old ways and embracing the way of the Samurai.
Bare minimum ports with performance issues they may be, but Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a most welcome release that hopefully fuels the flame for a fourth in the 3D series. The lack of polish or any real noteworthy adjustments or additional content, as well as the third game losing its way following the first two great entries, put a dampener on the package, but there is still good value for money here that fans of challenging games will do well to check out.
Is Tekken 7: Ultimate Edition worth getting into? Absolutely, but only when it hits that sweet discount price it's been consistently reduced to this year. Beginners may have to do some online reading and watching to learn the fundamentals and beyond, but since the online scene is still strong, it's worth the effort if that's what you're looking for in a fighter right now. Otherwise, there is little offline to keep many entertained unless you have a local sparring partner.
Littlewood defies tradition with its unique premise, proving that Happy Ever Afters really can happen. Having control over how world reconstruction occurs is a huge bonus, enabling everyone to have an individual style with endless scope for personalisation, even with resident demands. Gameplay will stretch into dozens of hours, with you having the freedom to focus on whatever aspect of rebuilding you want, subject to certain quests being carried out.
The amount of customisation that players can use to create the best team that suits their playstyle combined with a captivating story, highly detailed environments, and lovable characters make Ruinverse undoubtedly one of KEMCO's finest RPGs. The main story will take around twenty hours to complete, with dozens more hours needed to complete all the side quests, which are optional, but reveal more about the characters, and provide more valuable items. The multiple endings make completing such side-quests more important if the best ending is to be achieved, although what constitutes such an ending will be down to player perspective. Skilfully written, with an even balance of humour and gravitas, Ruinverse belongs in every RPG fan's collection.