The Cube's Reviews
The one good thing I got out of my couple hours with Orc Slayer is the weapon ideas the game provides, but even that was screwed up by how simple and dull the game makes these seem. This is a more than common trait of the game itself really. The lack of variation is so in your face that every simple task feels like a chore.
Neverwinter is one of the better MMO's to release this generation, and especially on console. It's competence is far and wide, and the developers have clearly put in enough effort to give this game a long life-cycle. There will probably be a dip as usual, but with how great it is, I'm expecting much less so.
Coming from someone who followed it for so long, Adr1ft is massively dis-encouraging. However, I feel it might be worth it to a couple of folks who are looking for a more minimal and ambitious gameplay experience. Just keep in mind that it's far from perfect, and that most would be suited elsewhere.
Obliteracers is a top notch game, if you happen to be playing with the right amount of people. Too many, and the game suffers some deeper technical issues, and too little and you're set to gaze at it's hidden but unstable flaws. Thankfully, it's got some personality, so I would recommend it if you are looking for this type of game. In any other case, it should be considered in a cheaper perspective.
Moon Hunters is not only a wonderfully creative game, but it manages to be innovative without getting weighed down by other issues. And, with it’s pick-up-and-play like style, the significance has been added to it’s short rate of completion. The technical prowess isn’t the greatest, but everything else is supremely top-notch.
In terms of retro re-releases, you can do a lot worse than Assault Suit Leynos. I would recommend it to any gamers wanting a change of pace from their normal library, and especially if they’ve been getting a little bit nostalgic lately. It’s not perfectly suited, but it’s hard to think that a better homage wouldn’t come straight off the source.
Spy Chameleon isn't the best indie game on the market, but it's definitely up there and sets it's place in a rather empty niche. It's not completely original, but it reminded me that shouldn't always be the case for a game to be fun. In other words, it's not completely perfect, but nowhere near cold blooded. (Oh the irony)
Cast of The Seven Godsends is one of the weaker titles I've played this year, which is even sadder considering it's also a remaster. The few redeeming qualities are buried by poor design, resoundingly clunky mechanics, and rough controls. Retro games always had some rough spots, but this is inexcusable.
I’ll give Trials of the Blood Dragon props for being creative, but most of the time, that’s all it can manage. Mechanics are disjointed, and gameplay is a general slog, with spiking points of interest. In summary, it’s like the previously released Awesome Level Max on spiked hallucinogenics.
I've played a lot of platformers this year, but Ninja Pizza Girl is part of the 10% that truly excels beyond the genre's typical conventions. It's story is enthralling, funny, and amiable, and the same goes for the gameplay and even replay value. Even after completing the game, there's still a whole lot to love and go through again.
INSIDE is an odyssey I recommend everyone, gamer or not, to undertake. When it’s all said and done, the game did feel a bit short, but every second is worth it. I haven’t felt so strongly towards an indie game story since Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and that’s saying a lot. After experiencing a monotonous world of where specs of dust in pale moonlight beauty in comparison to flakes of flesh wafting in the sunlight, the credits made me sit in the sun, reflect on myself and the progress of our world. It’s hard to discover any true answers in our world, much like the mysteries still left unsolved in INSIDE’s world of scientific genocide, but it’s easy to understand the massive effort it took Playdead to splice together this masterpiece.
Daydreamer: Awakened Edition is a thrilling, albeit compressed sidescrolling venture. It’s good ideas don’t screw around and make a game that could have been written off as creepy and clumsy, so much more. It’s not perfect, but it’s a game we need in this otherwise disappointing summer lineup.
Super Mutant Alien Assault may not have an excellent title, but it makes up for this with it’s fantastic and furiously frantic gameplay. I can’t wait to go back and experiment with the weapon library, which I hope gets expanded in the future. At the end of the day, this alien killing masterpiece is not a lesson in anger, just good passionate fun.
ADIOS is far from an accurate description of space, but it's another game that proves that you don't need to yield from any topic to make an intriguing interactive property. In-game additions like game references and secret levels make the trip even merrier, making space feel like that one true home.
Resident Evil 5 is an acceptable, compelling, but not immediately outstanding addition to the franchise. The remaster certainly doesn’t give it that underrated feel, but if you happen to come across it in a sale or packed with another RE game, it’s definitely worth a shot. And if you’re bored during the summer, why not give zombie-killing another shot?
Hawken is a competent mech shooter, and not much else. If you put enough downtime on it, there will be room to grow. However, with more engaging mech titles already entering the market, I’m worried that not much will last. The lack at something truly new at the heart of Hawken is it’s biggest downside.
Energy Hook is a mess, but not the type of one that’s fun to play around with for a couple of hours. More or less, it’s the type of game that is depressingly bare. So much could have been done with the concept, but so little was done in the end.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XII is a great way to get back into strategy games from a different perspective, if any players have been burned out after the disappointments of Civilization: Beyond Earth and Total War: Rome II. It may lack the grand production values, but it makes up for this with some exquisitely rich ideas and a tight gameplay structure that doesn’t overstay it’s welcome.
After having to commit myself to going through the unfortunate things 7 Days to Die offers, I looked up more to see why it was in this seemingly unfinished state. Turns out, the developers who ported this also worked on the PC version of Arkham Knight. If this really is the case, I’m surprised there isn’t more controversial traction about refunds or store removals. 7 Days to Die simply does everything wrong in nearly every way.
Furi is an explosive type of game, but never once does it get in it’s way. From a company that hadn’t done much before, it’s insane that this game came out so innovative and fun. While it may not appeal to everybody looking for a casual experience, there’s no excuse to pick it up if you’ve got Playstation Plus. You might dive into a new comfort zone you were never aware of until now.