The Cube's Reviews
Art of Balance is probably the best puzzle primary game I’ve played all year. Although the premise seems like it would fit better during the tediousness of a Sunday night train ride, it’s a game I can now see myself playing in nearly any occasion. Other puzzle games fall short, and Art of Balance simply shows them how it’s done.
Overwatch released with swords honed, ready to slash the multiplayer opposition. Future releases offer continued enjoyment and possibly the growth I desire, while current models are filled stunning movement and gameplay mechanics. For the first time the lack of currently released story elements excites me; it adds a tantalizing mystery to the plot. I've already spent more time speculating on the Overwatch universe than any other game. This could be a side effect of playing too much Dark Souls 3, but unlike Dark Souls 3, who doesn't provide concise answers to questions of lore, Overwatch will periodically release new videos to fill in gaps in story. Overwatch breaths and bleeds battle contention to the point we know this game was made for and by FPS fans. For this and everything above, I will stand a hero by Overwatch's side till it disappears into video game history.
Dead Island barely faded away from it’s initial reveal in 2011 with good marketing and a clear-cut emphasis on zombie killing, but all Definitive Edition does is stall the franchise from becoming infected into obscurity. It’s a game that’s partly pleasant with a companion, but not attentively tenacious alone, leading to a strong disconnect if you’re buddies are away. An added game Retro Revenge could have helped matters, but it’s just as half-baked and soulless as what’s come before it.
Score Rush Extended is less of a great SHMUP and more of a lesson to others influenced by the genre on how to do it justice. It’s also a great example of how lackluster visuals doesn’t necessarily mean bad gameplay, a fact that still isn’t spread too often nowadays. By accomplishing both of these goals and being a great game overall, Score Rush Extended is a definite keeper.
Shadow Blade Reload is an example of how to properly pull a platformer off without the unnecessary clutter seen in more tropey and uninspired titles. It’s to the point which ties into it’s accessibility and overall entertaining value, and it’s a game I can easily see myself going back to after finishing once, or even twice.
Raiden V is packed to the brim with content, but I couldn’t imagine finishing all of it, unless I was a true fan of the series. It’s still fun to play with an appreciative birds eye view, but the high asking price lessens the experience to something only a professional would ask for. In that scenario, it’s the head of it’s game.
Prison Architect is a game I would definitely recommend to any simulation diehards, but some looking for a more accessible pathway into the genre may want to take it easy. However, most of the major flaws have been ironed out from the Early Access experience, which is a sign of improvement others aren't as worthy of.
Anima: Gate of Memories is a somewhat memorable, competent action platformer. It’s best strengths are pulled down by some noticeable flaws, but it’s nothing to criminal to bring the whole game toppling down. So as it stands, when you got some money in your digital wallet and have bustled through every AAA role player with general fatigue, you can do a lot worse than Anima to alleviate these feelings.
Despite it’s flaws, Crazy Strike EX Bowling is by far the best bowling game you can get on current generation consoles. Wii Sports may have the legacy, but if your garage sale/ swap meet made it long gone by now, this is a great way to relive those great moments. And don’t let the setting fool you, as getting a whole lot of strikes feels much more significant.
For some hardcore stealth fans, Shadwen’s gameplay might be the kick they need to enjoy the genre’s true constraints once again. But to anyone else, it’s losses weigh more than the high points. There’s substance, but no flavor, scope, but no size. To everyone else, the game will likely feel like a case of lost ambition.
After playing a handful of badly designed stages, VEV: Viva Ex Vevo is the type of game I’d expect at a cheapo tech show. Among the vaporware and broken reveals, it’s shown as a barely functioning tech demo. In fact, watching something as poor as that, would be far more lively than sitting through this interactive sludge.
Instead of naming this current installment Doom 4, id Software decided to rebrand. The all caps'ed DOOM makes sense to me; this game is very much so the original rebuilt with modern technology. We were once given a glimpse of Hell on Mars through a view of 8-bit, now the pain and all its glory shines at 60fps. Changes have been made: the story has been spiced up, Glory kills now fly in your face, the double-jump now creates a ton more platforming, and upgrades of all kinds are everywhere! These changes put DOOM at odds with any current first person shooter out there.
It is most grievous for me to label my first 3DS review with such a low score, but it is imperative that players understand: I don’t even think most fans of the series will like this game, and if fans won’t like it, newcomers will definitely not.
The Sun and The Moon isn't a bad game, but it's far from spectacular. It's an example of how one design aspect can simply not carry a game to new heights, as imaginative or entertaining it might be. Other problems will always arise, and without a proper panacea, everything can quickly seem shortsighted.
Alienation does top down shooters justice, making every mission more exciting and innovative than the last. As well all the characters are very well balanced as a whole. And for the $20 purchase, it is a great price for the amount of content that is given. Alienation can be played very casually, yet it can also be incredibly competitive and intense, I would recommend this to anyone a fan of this genre.
In the words of Tegan and Sara, “Everything is Awesome”. This might be the case for the music catalog in Loud on Planet X, but it becomes pretty noticeable that the gameplay is on a far different tune. If you’re a casual indie music fan, I’d say wait for a major sale, but any junkies should definitely dive right in. (Just be wary of the flaws) You might find a new favorite song, just like I did. (PS4) LOUD on Planet X’s PC port is one of the stronger precedents I’ve seen this year of console games improving in a more hardcore setting. The game now manages to feel complex without leading to clumsiness, and it’s a great feeling. With a new sale, it would be hard not to pick this up. (PC)
What I love most about UnEpic is the variety of gameplay styles I can try. I can spend an entire playthrough focused on wielding magic, another on shooting at enemies from afar with a bow, a third only using scrolls, or I could just laying waste to everything after purchasing some over-powered UN gear. There are still many secrets for me to discover and different endings to conquer. Maybe once I've solved every mystery my fingers will become unglued to the controller, but as for now I continue to shed light on the desolate halls of Harnakon.
Adam’s Venture Origins is a game that fails to have restraint with it's constant puzzles. Although, a fair amount of these puzzles are actually decent and engages the player fairly well. Adam also has a humorous personality at times, but the overwhelming amount of poorly written dialogue and forgettable voice acting makes an annoying combination. At the point in time where decent graphics for a game like this is imperative it fails on that goal with ease. This is a game that is boring and forgettable, that is annoying and really has many problems that need to addressed if there is going to be another addition to this series.
Regardless of length, No Time to Explain was a treat to play, and I'm not talking about a chocolate chip cookie here, but rather a pop-rock covered chocolate habanero.
Looking back on the Leon campaign there were a lot of action button sequences that I felt were a little uncharacteristic for a Resident Evil game, but most of these took place during long boss battles. I’ve been hesitant on divulging information about Resident Evil 6’s story line. I feel many die hard fans will be disappointed with the interweaving of so many characters into one game. Usually a Resident Evil game has you controlling the same duo of characters for most the game, giving plenty of time to establish a well thought out story and connection between characters. However cool the idea of having our heroes together in one game seems, it isn’t well executed.