Cubed3's Reviews
If an experienced fan of rogue-likes, there is a lot to enjoy in this package.
Below is a niche title if there ever was one. Beautiful, haunting, and downright demanding of the player, it's a game of little victories. Explore mode is only moderately easier, but it does make this a bit easier to grasp for those who aren't particularly adept at dungeon crawlers. However, the price of death feels too steep, and it's hard to recommend Below to anyone who isn't a diehard fan of the genre. It's very good, but definitely not a good first dungeon crawler.
Bleeding Edge has almost nothing to offer. What potential it has in it is woefully stuck in a product that is so meagre and void of content. It is like taking a single slice of cheese, and trying to cover an entire pizza pie; there just not enough here to make this work passed a few hours, and that's all. There are not enough modes, not enough interest in the community to keep it going, and the combat is way too simplistic for high level play.
Bloodroots is madness in all the best ways… and in one of the worst. Difficulty is well balanced, and even when combat gets truly maddening, the experimentation the title offers is so much fun, it's hard to complain. However, when trying to platform through the many perilous environments, it becomes obvious where its faults lie. The camera and controls in these sections work against what's otherwise a very fun brawler, and drag the experience back from true excellence.
Fixing an internet connection or returning stone boulders to their correct place in a zen garden will provide hours of fun in either single player mode, or by inviting friends to maximise the range of destruction in the chaotic multiplayer mode. The jaunty tunes accompanying each level blend well with every single aspect of a business fully explored, which many will relate to from their own work experience, only without the additional damages. Good Job is an excellent "job" for any game collection.
For all the scathing comments about FUT's predatory and disgusting practices, it cannot be denied that FIFA 20 is still a great game.
The depth of emotion that the story dips into is remarkable considering the game style, with the music and sound effects combining to create a specific atmosphere within it.
Nostalgia for games played in the past adds to the positive atmosphere that Antiquia Lost holds, albeit with a shorter gameplay than some past epics, but not with any less substance in what is included in the plot and battle system. The unusual characters keep the story moving forward, even when the main party occasionally appears to hit a dead end. The plentiful quests and range in difficulty levels mean that the replay value is great, as is the engaging story.
Wearing its influences on its sleeve, Gogen Soft's psychological thriller, is an ode to the visual novel scene of the '90s - and more than a fine read. Sure, it won't win any awards for its original, long, multi-branching story, or high replayability, yet Bios Ex - Yami no Wakusei's strong atmosphere, well-written characters, and great writing, manage to save the day
Mediocre world design, poor pacing, and plotting that fails to fully capture what made the original so special, it's hard not to walk away feeling like this isn't a disappointment across the board.
Hunt: Showdown is a great blend of battle royale and survival horror; one that is an enjoyable, but also unbelievably tense, and merciless gaming experience. Apart from being quite rough around the edges, its unrelenting nature (courtesy of its surprisingly cruel permadeath mechanic), and almost awful matchmaking logic, make this a game for only a few - a few who must put hundreds of work on it, if they don't won't to spend most of their time staring at the words "You're Dead!"
Ask anyone who has played DiRT Rally 2.0, and they'll probably mention how great this is. They are right. This is one of the greatest rally games one can enjoy right now, with the Game of the Year edition being the best way to do so, as it includes every DLC that has been released. The problem with it, is that a great deal of the content on offer requires being online, yet this is plagued by some severe connectivity issues.
Simple, yet satisfying. Skies of Fury DX is a mobile title that belongs on the Nintendo Switch. A quick pick-up-and-play experience that has appealing audio-visuals, can be enjoyed in short bursts, and has flexible multiplayer options. The only downside is the lack of variety in the types of stages and missions that are on offer, particularly for the current, £14.59 price tag.
Only the most die-hard of retro game enthusiasts will get something out of SEGA AGES Shinobi. Everyone else would find a much more enjoyable experience with the other Shinobi instalments found in the SEGA Mega Drive Classics compilation
This truly requires historical understanding of the limitations of the time it was made, and that many RPG developers were just barely coming to grips with 3D engines. Everyone else would be better off replaying Skyrim.
Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is likely going to still be a cult classic like its predecessors. This experiment has proven to be a huge success. Even gamers who are turned off by the words 'procedurally-generated' and 'roguelike,' might actually enjoy this new take on ronin simulation. It is mostly elevated thanks to the combat, and the attention to detail of choices that can be made to tip the scales in one's favour. Don't expect something like Ninja Gaiden 2, since the combat here is more methodical and gritty.
Hell Warders won't even be remembered as the sloppy low-budget experiment that it is. It won't be remembered at all. It is much too rough to meet the standards of average gamers, and not weird enough to be interesting. It certainly is a huge hassle to play for more than four hours, but those first few moments before the balancing gets out of hand are actually enjoyable.
One Piece fans rejoice, there's a ton here to enjoy.
It is a huge package of value that seemingly never stops giving.
Shenmue 3 is a tough recommendation for general audiences.