Cubed3's Reviews
Titanfall may not have done anything to revolutionise the multiplayer genre like it was hyped up to do but has done a sterling job of being the first major shooter to hit a brand new generation of consoles from a studio that is yet to release a game. After six months on the market (at time of writing), it's still a blast, yet it won't be a title that goes down in history. If Titanfall is anything to go by, whatever developer Respawn creates in the future cannot come soon enough, hopefully building upon the strong foundation of this release.
Kickbeat: Special Edition is a fun little diversion in small bursts but it doesn't really stray too far from the path it sets out right at the very start. Despite some solid gameplay mechanics, it sadly lacks the variety of content to ensure repeated play and as such will likely only appeal to diehard fans of the genre.
Over 25 years of history is crammed into Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call, and it is a marked improvement over the first game. Owners of the original won't find too much different, but online versus mode in itself, plus the substantial increase in the number of songs and characters is enough to dip on this sequel. Bursting at the seams with nostalgia, Curtain Call is a game no one Final Fantasy fan can afford to pass on.
Levelling up, building weapons, and crafting armour can give each user a unique experience tailored to their play style. All of the game mechanics blend perfectly in the addictive Titan Mode, and promised updates will only further propel its hooking premise. Sadly, unfinished portions of the game hamper the experience with "Coming Soon" featured in too many sections. If the developers can stay committed, they might just have a stellar hit on their hands. Minimum has taken an awkward route to reach "full" release, but it's still not all there. However, what is available forms a solid blueprint for great things to come.
It's a truly epic experience once the real endgame content is reached, but until that point, the player constantly hits brick walls, and the only thing they're able to do to progress any further is start the mind numbing grind and hoping that they get lucky enough to receive some armour with light.
The developers at Haemimont Games have taken their series apart and reassembled it in a whole new way, and while the result is riddled with flaws, it's also charming, funny, and welcoming to newcomers and veterans alike. As aimless steps away from stagnation go, that's a pretty solid one.
While it starts slow and simple, Teslagrad grows into something worth mentioning and definitely worth playing. Its occasionally unpredictable or unreliable magnetism gimmick doesn't detract considerably from the satisfaction of succeeding in said gimmick, and using the power of magnets like a pro makes the little boy feel like a bona-fide superhero - a regular Samus Aran.
The road to the final scene is filled with hundreds of crossroads where there usually isn't a right or wrong choice, with morality usually being in the eye of the beholder. The lack of modern visuals and extremely minimal sound might discourage people from trying it out, but those perceptive enough to do so will discover a game with a great replay value, especially when compared to its low price.
There is no doubt that Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments will be a sleeper hit and will find its audience, but for anyone who would enjoy a procedural crime investigating game, this title comes highly recommended. By far one of the more interesting adventure games to have come out in years.
With on-the-fly character switching and chaining moves together to enable free-flowing and fast-paced action, WO3U does a good job of trying to stave off the repetition complaint that follows the series everywhere it goes…but it only lasts for so long before the feeling kicks in. It won't be for everyone, and this port doesn't do much to show it's running on PS4 by any stretch of the imagination, but with how much has been packed into this game, series fans will care very little about such quibbles.
The handheld debut of Super Smash Bros. is a successful one that stands proud alongside its predecessors on home consoles and is a must-have for Nintendo 3DS owners, with combat that feels more refined than Super Smash Bros. Brawl and can be enjoyed by casual and dedicated players alike. The roster is also the biggest and best one yet, and the production values are outstanding. While it's still unclear what the upcoming Wii U version will have and how the two versions will interact with each other, those who really value much better graphics and more control options - such as the Nintendo GameCube controller that can be used with a special adapter - might want to wait for it instead. Anyone else, though, definitely shouldn't hesitate to get a copy of this game to settle it in Smash.
Alfred Banks is a very charismatic character but it is just a shame he is not a bigger player and always feels like the background man or errand boy. Additionally, the length is a bit of a shame. Still, this is a game that one needs to look at. Oh, and if indeed bought, keep an eye out for nice looking grandmothers…
The stealth mechanics in Styx: Master of Shadows are bloody fantastic, but the game is completely overshadowed by its poor controls and repetitive scenery, turning what could have been a really enjoyable game into controller-breaking frustration, as an ungodly amount of time is spent repeating the same sequence over and over again, praying that Styx isn't a clumsy mess.
This is almost a director's cut of the game; it is just a shame that the voice acting and some of the dated elements let it down so much.
Xenonauts strove to both sticking to the XCOM formula, as well as striking out in some new directions, however, it fails on multiple fronts. Being a devoted fan there might be something to check out here, but the repetition, lack of choices, and lack of progress will wear on a gamer quickly. Anyone not a fan would likely give the game up very rapidly due to an unfriendly difficulty and little impetus to continue onwards.
If some of the technical issues could have been ironed out, such as the choppiness of the cut-scenes, clipping, or when the HAVOK physics engine goes berserk, this might have been a 10/10. As it is, Alien: Isolation is a very pure gem with some minor hairline fractures. This is a worthy game and comes highly recommended to anyone who enjoys excitement or is a fan of Ridley Scott's Alien, or for fans of survival horror in general.
First-person games are often dominated by a theme of shooting, but Cloudbuilt is one of the few games to place a low emphasis on combat. The game would work perfectly well without any confrontation and it is possible to complete the majority of it as a pacifist. Cloudbuilt's strengths lie in its amazing platforming elements, which are in abundance throughout the game. Whether it is running along walls, boost jumping between platforms or scaling high walls, the game creates a rush of adrenaline that makes it one of the most enjoyable experiences available.
Gods Will Be Watching is one of those rare games that deserves a wholehearted recommendation even though it is definitely not for everyone. It's punishing, occasionally unfair, and relentlessly philosophical, but it's also supremely rewarding and absolutely gripping from start to finish, all for the same reasons. If nothing else, it's a fantastic exercise in how to translate traditionally unplayable scenes into systems of gameplay - and not just token button prompts, but complex, engaging gameplay.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse might put off a lot of its target audience with its bright and cartoony graphics, but devoted Metroidvania/platformer fans will not want to miss this excellently animated sprite game. The controls are good, and there is a lot of interesting locations to explore as this has more of an 'adventure' feel to it than Castlevania does. The progression is slower than would be preferred, and the humour and style can be off-putting, but this is a game that is evident the people who made it actually tried, which is a rarity with games these days.
Complex but certainly not mind-boggling, and challenging yet never irritating or unbalanced, Endless Legend manages to seamlessly blend stunning visuals, an original fantasy universe and the joy of a 4X title's gameplay that will deprive people of their precious sleep with that good ol' "Just one more turn" feeling. Those expecting to start it today and master it tomorrow will be disappointed, though, since it will require a bit of time to be learned - something that certainly isn't exactly most gamers' cup of tea. The rest, however, are in for a tasty treat.