Cubed3's Reviews
Peaceful music and simple game mechanics, which could do with a clearer tutorial, as the extensive help menu is not necessarily easily signposted, moving sideways on the farm instead of having a top down view typical to farming games, is easier than it sounds. Hours can whizz by while coin collecting to see what crops and creatures will next be unlocked, although Plantera Deluxe is more of a dip in-and-out kind of deal than one you can constantly play, making it perfect for a before bed game, or any time where relaxation is needed.
Waku Waku Sweets on Nintendo Switch is an example of how cute graphics do not necessarily make a fun game. The ridiculous game mechanics that swiftly remove any enjoyment from what in its original 3DS form made it a fun easy game brightening up a gamer's day, makes this version feel unplayable. The story and characters may be entertaining, but that is worthless when making the treats themselves have a permanent invasive and unavoidable tutorial mode. Perhaps a patch in the future may resolve this issue, as it is doubtful even the youngest of players need constant reminders of how to whisk a bowl or break an egg once they have accomplished it successfully themselves. Until that patch comes, go hunt out the 3DS version which can actually be enjoyed without wanting to throw the console out of a window or in a bin.
The first two Shenmue games are undeniably very important, but they fall just short of being great. They are undeniably unique, even all these years after their release, and the best thing that can be said about them is that they are interesting. It is a really fun world the games put forward, and it is great to explore and figure out where to go and what to do next. At the same time, though, they don't necessarily play that well, and they show their age in a lot of unfortunate ways. This is definitely more of an acquired taste, and it is probably best to say that these are better experiences than they are video games. They're worth checking out, particularly for someone that has fond memories of them on the Dreamcast, but be warned that there are some warts that need to be looked past before you dive in headfirst.
At the end of the day, you know exactly what you are going to get from a F2P title like World of Tanks: Blitz. Micro-transactions are never welcome, but a necessary evil in this market, and graphics are of a mobile standard, with everything other than the pretty accurate recreations of the vehicles themselves, and all operate with as much heft and weight as expected. Great if you are a tank enthusiast, but for everyone else moving a sluggish brick around a low textured map can get tiresome quickly. This is countered by the length of matches being short enough that a quick tactical battle can be done while waiting for the kettle to boil, and dived into if something a bit more spectacular is installing. Newcomers are going to enjoy the pick-and-play factor. Stalwarts are going to make the most of cross-save and cross play to add a few more layers and months to their experience. It'll stay on the system, but only likely revisited when frustration kicks in from major titles and taking it out on any poor soul that dared to challenge a Switch owner with a Pro Controller.
Blair Witch is probably best played on other platforms, where the pop-in is not so atrocious, and where the game won't break. The atmosphere during the day time is diminished thanks to the low level detail that generates only a couple of meters away. These glaring flaws hurt Blair Witch from becoming immersive, and the obtuse path to the good ending won't be figured out without a guide. There is potential here, since the foundation is solid, but this version is not easily recommended.
The Coma 2: Vicious Sister would be an acceptable entry level horror-adventure for teenagers. It is easy enough to be picked up by mostly anyone, and the multiple endings add some replay value to encourage new gamers to try things differently next time. The low-key art and animation just barely get the game's point across, and would be more impressive in an adventure title that wasn't horror-themed. Fans of Clock Tower might find this interesting, but it is an amusing distraction at best.
Road to Guangdong can be commended for its unique concept and colourful imagery, but that is all it has. The mundane feel of the story is part of the appeal, as is the relaxing vibe, but there is no substance or discovery to be had, since there is no agency or wrong path. Driving is barely deeper than driving in one direction. Keeping the line under the red bar, and just selling whatever that can found is as engaging as picking out maggots from a heap of rice. The original OutRun is over 30 years old now, and yet manages to have more going on when driving.
Anyone expecting a radical overhaul of anything major within Civilization VI in this latest New Frontier Pass release may be disappointed. While the two factions are a fun change and focus on military might, which is always enjoyable, there is not much else within them that will set pulses racing. Where the Gaul and Byzantium pack adds enough to be worthwhile is in the 'Dramatic Ages' game mode - which does indeed provide an alteration on a key game mechanic in such a way that it will force players to have to rethink their style of playing.
Once it gets into gear, Assetto Corsa Competizione turns into an enjoyable enough driving experience, with some often frustrating quirks. Every move, pass, and failure made is analysed, scored, and presented back with a grade at such a granular level you'll be left scratching your head at how you ever passed your driving test in the first place. However, the unstable framerate, janky animations, erratic camera modes, and lack of other in-game tracks and vehicles without paying more for the DLC, means that this is one for racing sim aficionados only.
Battletoads is a stunning return for both the toads and Rare, a team that hasn't had much output recently. While it can become a little tedious to play alone, this is an excellent game to try with a small group of friends on a Friday night. Humour, variety of gameplay, and local co-op make this a great addition to anyone's library.
Jessika cannot be recommended lightly, as although the premise for the plot is promising, the factors of suicide and problematic elements of Jessika's characters could have been handled and portrayed better. In the end, the plot seems to rely on the shock factor of the subject matter and does not put enough focus on its delivery, leaving those in control with a sense of wanting more from a title that demanded so much of them.
Eternal Hope is reasonably well designed in terms of gameplay, even if the controls feel sloppy and some puzzles do not always make much sense. It is difficult to make puzzle games last very long, but this one definitely has enough length for its low price point. A stronger story or tighter gameplay would have made this game into a great one, and the team behind this adventure certainly has the potential to do it, but as it is, Eternal Hope just lacks focus.
Collapsed is the sort of title that has good ideas but lacks the polish and follow-through to recommend. Some of the issues might be patchable, such as lack of button reassignment, item crafting rework, or painfully-frequent falling into the floors, but fundamentally this lacks what makes the genre itself so enjoyable. The controls feel far too stiff and combat suffers from wild difficulty swings. While the hope of new gear or skills keeps people going, it is not long before even these fall before the general frustration of playing.
NBA 2K21 is still a wonderful digital simulation of basketball, with a wealth of modes to enjoy, but the MyCareer story has become stale and the microtransactions far too prevalent. This is not the step forwards that it needed to be to keep the series fresh and engaging. In other words, this title does not provide a compelling argument to upgrade from last year's version.
This is a fantastic beginning to the sequel that fans were waiting for. Corpse Party is so unique and intriguing that it's excellent to see the series is here for the foreseeable future. With the chapter that is available providing such a tight and fun experience, the stable experience of the game once you've surpassed the errors, and the promise of more to come, Corpse Party 2: Dead Patient is worth your attention. Just stay away if the tortuous atmosphere of the story sounds disturbing, as it's much darker than you might expect.
The Coma 2: Twisted Sisters does so much right that it is scary in its own right. As with the game that preceded it, this sequel elevates all of the individual elements that made the prequel feel special. With strong design, systems and an intriguing story, this title will be hard to put down. Heartily recommended for the strong of heart and those who want a very unique and tailored horror game. With stakes this high, it is a truly heart stopping experience: dead good.
Tiny Racer is an extremely hard title to recommend to anyone. The non-contact racing is fine, and if there was an option in the settings to complete races without bumping into other cars or getting flung off the course by a ramp, then this might have had more going for it. Heck, even if it threw the racing out the window, and instead became a stunt-game that focused on accruing points for performing crazy and whimsical stunts, this would've been a more enjoyable experience - but alas, Tiny Racer takes the best parts of 'yeeting' toy cars in a bedroom, and turns it into a highly frustrating digital experience.
Sense: A Cyberpunk Ghost Story nails the Cantonese-flavoured, paranormal horror aspect, but fails as an adventure game. Apart from the bugs, untrustworthy mechanics that can erase an hour of progress just because something didn't work as intended, and the lack of a decently told story, this is mainly hard to recommend because its main gameplay loop revolves around running back and forth between the same handful of rooms, trying to "convince" an item to be picked up, by first finding a reason to… even though you've already done so.
Using the Soulflame to conquer Ki's challenges gives Evergate a twist on the usual style of puzzle platformers.
Well, it was never in doubt really, was it? Super Mario 3D All-Stars represents the pinnacle of platforming goodness and with perfect ports, as well as top notch optimisation for the console, it's a must-buy.