Cubed3's Reviews
Indie developers should take a good look at Exo-Calibre as it can provide a very helpful lesson: a video game doesn’t always need a high complexity or seemingly endless content to be enjoyable. This shoot ‘em up, which looks, feels and plays as if it came straight from the ‘90s, manages to be one of the finest in the genre. Without introducing a new mechanic, focusing on pleasing a niche hardcore crowd, or having tons of unlockables, Exo-Calibre is simply fun to play - and sometimes that’s all it takes.
Stasis is a point-and-click adventure that fans of science fiction horror will want to check out, especially if Stasis: Bone Totem was enjoyed. These games can be played in any order, but Stasis’ focused setting and shorter length make it the more appealing place to start. It will shock in most places, but its twisted plot will keep everyone engaged to the end. It has been adapted well for Nintendo Switch, despite some minor issues. Just make sure to go into Stasis for the story before anything else and prepare to think about it for a while afterwards.
Heartworm has a strong atmosphere, greatly enhanced by an excellent use of PS1-style graphics. And that’s it. That’s the only thing good about this indie survival horror experience. A survival horror experience where the only true horror is the boredom that will have to be endured while the protagonist runs around aimlessly (without anything posing any real threat). It's all topped off with occasional not-exactly-that-deep thoughts on life and death.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution does a great job of feeling exactly like a Game Boy Advance game that holds up in the modern day. Despite limiting itself to the capabilities of a previous console, its presentation is incredibly charming even when not played in the modern style, and the game design on display is strong enough that Shantae Advance might actually surpass some of Shantae’s other recent outings. While some of its action-centric areas can get a little confusing to explore, and it never goes quite as cinematic in its set pieces as other games, the overall package is strong and series fans will not be disappointed.
Heretic + Hexen by Nightdive Studios is an easy recommendation for collectors or newcomers to these super old and once popular titles. Ideal for someone who loves old school Doom “clones,” or simply players who want to relive the beginning of the Serpent Riders saga once more, as well as the new campaigns that were created for this re-release.
Drag x Drive is a smart way of putting the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con to good use with clever, fluid mouse control in a futuristic wheelchair basketball setting. With a unique setup and a fairly steep learning curve, it may not appeal to everyone, though. Once controls become second nature, there is satisfying competitive fun to be had. Drag x Drive does offer good value for the asking price, but there is a lingering feeling of needing more to flesh out the overall experience.
Is This Seat Taken? is a charming logic puzzle game that can be beaten in just a few hours. The entirety of its playtime is enjoyable, with a touching little story and great difficulty curve that builds up to some real challenge towards the end. With no real penalty for taking it slow, though, the game can still be beaten and the story experienced even by non-puzzle fans.
The Sinking City had a great idea, but it was ultimately poorly executed. The remaster was a chance to address its main flaws: combat playability, mission structure, and level design. However, only the graphics got attention when they never needed them. The revamped visuals do admittedly look very good and make Oakmont feel more immersive, but they were a misplaced priority when everything else was unbelievably poorly tuned.
Shadow Labyrinth isn’t an awful game. It is fairly competent on a technical level and provides a lot of weapons and abilities to unlock. Unfortunately, it is lengthy and the way it is paced means the majority of it ends up dull and repetitive. The strength of its story and the occasional high points in gameplay prevent it from being terrible, but in a genre as oversaturated as search-action, this is just not good enough.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is one of the grandest pieces of literature ever written, and it has quality to its quantity. However, at times, the quality suffers as a result, and it could have benefited from a couple of additional editing rounds to weed out certain aspects. Some routes are terrible compared to the general quality of the game. At the end of the day, fans of the Danganronpa and Zero Escape franchises have a game that is on the must-buy list and will last a very long time. It comes strongly recommended to visual novel fans in general, and even to non-gamers who are into heavier pieces of literature.
Many indie titles have a formal understanding of retro pixel-bit graphics, chiptune soundtracks, and Metroidvania design, but few of them successfully build a nuanced and complete template around said formula. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is one of those rare occasions. For whatever design quibbles may lightly diminish the end result, Pocket Trap has nevertheless crafted one of this year’s best games.
Pokémon Friends offers a charming set of puzzles that ramp up nicely in difficulty. It's a hop-on game that's ideal for younger players and compelling enough to grip the older lot. There is a good variety of challenges in the base release, but it is a shame that extras are tied to fairly expensive DLC. There are no Nintendo Switch-specific modes, either, so some players may opt for the paid mobile release instead. Unlike the free mobile base game, though, the paid edition allows for unlimited puzzles to be played per day, so there is incentive to keep going to unravel them all.
Despite the story shortcomings, there is a lot to like about Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune. The gameplay shines above the rest of its shortcomings, and the diverse upgrade paths for various characters through crafting, loot, and equippable skills really helps make the game feel fresh and exciting throughout a fairly lengthy adventure. Even a year or so after its release Frontier Hunter is worth checking out, despite the absolute deluge of other titles available in the genre.
DLCs are often targeted at those wanting to expand the core game. Ashes of Elrant, though, is largely more of the same. Problems in Chained Echoes' main quest, like the grind of battle, lack of player progression or questionable ending, are not addressed in the slightest. Those looking for a story-adjacent experience will be interested, but anyone after something new is going to want to pass.
A substantial lack of instructions and in game help, coupled with a poor story, makes Tamagotchi Plaza's value for money and enjoyment level on the low side. It has the potential to be quite innovative if it expands on the game's premise and uses all of the Nintendo Switch’s technology capabilities. Overall, Tamagotchi Plaza fails on a basic level that casts a large shadow on any future instalments. It is extremely different to the original egg-shaped Tamagotchi, and needs more substance to be worth more than a cursory glance considering the physical and digital price tag.
SpongeBob SquarePants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated is a nostalgic blend of platforming, exploration, and light combat. The adventure is driven by collecting Golden Spatulas and Shiny Objects in a colourful Bikini Bottom. The new graphics look incredible and, from some angles, could pass as movie-quality CGI. SpongeBob’s fluid moveset and open level design are highlights, but restrictive gameplay mechanics for Patrick and Sandy, along with occasional camera and control issues, counter this. SpongeBob SquarePants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated is an amusing, straightforward collectathon best suited for fans of the show or genre, or anyone with a craving for good old-fashioned platforming.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the 2D series into the modern age with respect. A diverse range of levels constantly introduces fresh ideas to stave off repetition, and the focus on satisfying momentum-based gameplay that rewards mastering of abilities is the perfect match for ninja hack and slash platforming. Speedrun goals, collectibles and unlockable harder stages mean this is a game that will keep being returned to long after the main quest is over.
Darksiders Genesis is a fun, lighter take on Darksiders, excelling in co-op and arcade-style action but falling short of Darksiders II’s depth or the trilogy’s narrative weight. It is less demanding than III’s punishing combat and more replayable than the original’s linearity, making it a solid but not standout game in the series. The co-op features are the main event and breathe some variety in a series that has been growing derivative with every entry.
Dear Me, I Was… is a great showcase for how to present narrative games in a hand-drawn watercolour style. After letting the emotions felt from its story settle down, the immediate thought is that it is hoped that there will be an actual video game in this style from Arc System Works in the future (a Hotel Dusk remake perhaps). Dear Me, I Was… is a story that can be enjoyed in bed like a book, or watched during a lunch break instead of a YouTube video essay or Netflix TV episode. It’s not a video game, it’s a beautiful short story, and if that sounds like a great time then put some headphones on and give it a watch.
Shadow Labyrinth's strengths lie in its bold reinvention of Pac-Man as a cosmic horror tale, with tight combat and a richly detailed world. The UGSF connections are a treat for Namco fans, nostalgic callbacks without pandering. It’s a love letter to Namco’s arcade roots, twisted into a dark, ambitious epic that swings for the fences. For those craving a fresh take on a classic or just need a solid Metroidvania, it’s a haunting journey worth taking. While Bomberman's grimdark reinvention was a huge misfire, it's surprising just how much Shadow Labyrinth works as a strange and twisted take on such a cartoony concept.