The Cube's Reviews
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.
Overall solid game, but could use improvement.
I won’t go as far to say Dungeon Punks will likely be the best brawler released this generation, but it’s certainly up there. It’s blend of great mechanics, enemies, and a funny story show that the developers knew how to make a brawler great. There is some tedium here and there, but it was nothing that stalled me from playing, because everything else was so strong.
Shiren the Wanderer may have a long subtitle, but it’s the smallest nitpick I could provide of this otherwise fantastic rogue-like. It’s the proper way to reintroduce the lesser classics to a new audience, and in a way that everybody’s familiar with. There’s no hardcore pandering here, just good plain fun.
Bethesda genuinely surprised me with Vault Tec Workshop. While it doesn’t leave a good impression at first the massive amount of tools you can require is anything but constricting. In fact, it’s so good, that it might change the minds of those who originally wrote settlements off.
Quadrilateral Cowboy is an extremely unique game that is only hampered by it’s later innovations and simple story. However, the way the game presents these aspects make up for their shortcomings. The sense of awe with every task is wonderful, and it’s mind-blowing how inserting commands over and over doesn’t feel repetitious, thanks to strong design. It might be a bit unaccesible for those who haven’t played a puzzle game in a long while, but it will definitely cater to the fanatics.
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.
Tumblestone is the corner stone of what an eighth generation Match 3 game should be, even with one or two glaring flaws. It’s central ideas feel so invigorating in a more and more mobile generation, and Tumblestone takes the outsider path, to devastating effect for it’s competition.
Human Fall Flat has some issues, but it’s one of the few games I’ve played recently where it weaves into the gameplay in rather enjoyable ways. This works even better with other people, making me realize why the game has gotten so much online publicity. It doesn’t thrive off of one gimmick, and is successful and captivating because of that.
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.
Forza Horizon 3 offers many ways to customize its experience, catering to a number of play-styles and giving players the freedom to tweak systems until they’re left with something that they personally find satisfying. On the technical and mechanical level, Horizon 3 never fails to impress. It’s on the periphery of the game’s design where some questionable decisions threaten to get in the way of the fun. Nevertheless, with incredible production values and an emphasis on letting players find their own way, Playground Games has built what is comfortably one of the best open-world racing games since Burnout Paradise.
Dishonored 2 mostly follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, and in doing so stumbles in a number of the same potholes. Yet, it doesn’t fail to deliver fun in the form of a visually arresting, moody romp that combines complex, interwoven levels with an emphasis on player choice. When it sticks to the formula set out by its fondly remembered older sibling, Dishonored 2 delights. Surprisingly, it’s where this sequel chooses to innovate that the experience loses some of its lustre.
Around an hour and a half to two hours long, Realm of Shadows is quality vs quantity all around. Besides for some really obvious foreshadowing, minor technical gripes, and uneventful decision making, I’m really looking forward to how Telltale expands this universe, for the better or for worse.
Fenix Furia is an above acceptable platformer that should reside in the library of any modern console owner looking for a great indie treat. The content’s there, the action too, and it’s a great choice to play with a friend, family member, or significant other. It may not be the most innovative, but it’s another one that proves that doesn’t have to always be the case.
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.
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.
Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book is an excellent JRPG, and is recommended for anyone wary of the niche after frequent missteps. There’s still a few problems here and there (which could be a bit embarrassing considering it’s the 17th game in the series) but the innovation isn’t overloaded and instead natural.
Blue Rider is a refreshing twin-stick shooter that takes influences and innovates at the same time. It’s the best blend between these ideas I’ve seen in ages, although I do wish it was expanded more and wasn’t so choppy here and there. Besides that, it’s hard not to have fun with such a well-managed shooter.
All in all, Stranger of Sword City is a far surpassing RPG in gameplay, but is brought down to lesser degrees by a majority of flaws found everywhere else. This does not discount the fun I did have with it though, and I would still recommend it to anyone willing to explore the more forgotten parts of JRPG lineage.
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.