Qube Directors Cut

Q.U.B.E.

Let me just get this out of the way since the comparison is inevitable: The first person puzzle game Q.U.B.E  will immediately remind you of Portal. They’re both set in stark environments with ambient sounds and a severe sense of isolation, all while you’re making your way through a facility with a series of tests to challenge your sense of problem solving. While Q.U.B.E. might not be the classic that Portal turned out to be, it still holds its own.
Q.U.B.E. stands for “Quick Understanding of Block Extrusion.” All the surfaces are made up of mostly white blocks but a few appear as bright colors to indicate that you can interact with them using your hands. Your left hand will pull a block out while the right pushes it back in. Different color blocks have different properties, naturally. Red blocks are the most basic, and can be pulled straight out up to three spaces. Yellow blocks come in threes and expand in an ascending or descending stair or pyramid pattern depending on which of the three you activate. Other blocks act as magnets, spring boards or have ability to turn sections of the room 90 degrees one way or the other. In each room you have to figure out how to manipulate the blocks to allow you to reach the exit.

The stark setting and moody soundscape immediately pull you in. Very little attention paid to setting up any kind of story, though a threadbare plot very slowly reveals itself it’s real just window dressing to the real star of the show here: the puzzles. Q.U.B.E. does a great job of letting you figure out the rules of its world on your own without any real guidance. The first couple levels don’t provide much challenge, but they do make you pause to think about the solution. The lack of guidance makes figuring out the solution all the more satisfying.
When Q.U.B.E. decides to ramp up the difficulty, it gets real hard, real quick. The solutions take a good amount of experimenting and some fighting with your own ability to juggle many elements at once. Of course, if you’re someone who doesn’t find much challenge with puzzle games you’ll probably still be fine here. Me? They have the tendency to confound me for great stretches of time but usually the answer comes to me when I’m doing other things.

Q.U.B.E. makes the most of its simple elements. Despite how stark the color palette is the game looks fantastic. Nice lighting effects come into play throughout the game and it runs as smooth as you’d want any game to run. While Q.U.B.E. doesn’t necessarily come close to being as memorable as Portal in the story department, that I can confidently compare the two games at all in a positive light is a pretty big compliment.

      

Funk Of Titans (ID@XBOX)

Microsoft are working hard to promote there ID @ XBOX service. Where smaller companies can get a chance at bringing games out.
And one of them is A Crowd Of Monsters with there newest title Funk Of Titans. Funk you say? That sounds funky, but in what way?

In the world of Funk Of Titans , There is funk music the music of the Gods. Zeus has made this music and shared it with the other Gods and the first humans. But now bad Titans made other styles and thereby change the people in empty-headed dancing minions. Therefore Zeus enlists the help of his son Perseus to defeat the Pop, Rap and Rock Titans and so save the Funk.

Funk of Titans is a platform game that you can actually compare the best with similar games like Rayman Jungle Run or Sonic Jump . The main character runs by itself through the levels and it's your job to guide him through the level, by jumping, smashing and more at the right time. That sounds easy, but later in the game the levels are asking alot more precision from you. Thats a good thing, because otherwise youll finish this game very quickly. Nevertheless, I have finished the game in about 9hours.

Each world has thirteen levels plus a mini boss in between and a boss at the end. These bosses have a different level layout, namely because they are quick time events. With a bit of perfect button timing you can finish them real quick.



Each level has a hidden secret item. If you find that you can play a bonus stage where you fly with a flying horse, called Pegasus. Just like the normal levels Pegasus moves by itself through the level, but now you must hold down the jump button to not plunge down. Keep the button pressed to long and you will fly against the ceiling! These bonus stages are very tough, because Pegasus starts to fly faster and there are more and more obstacles to avoid.

In each level, you can also complete challenges and completing them all in a level you can unlock Zeus Heroic Missions. If you have completed three of them your level goes up and your able to buy more items in the store. There are some really nice items to buy. Things like  a Batfunk mask, A toy Darth Vader Mask etc.  There are also quite a lot of fun weapons for sale,Witch youll need to finish certain challenges and open  or unlock certain levels or doors so there not only there for the fun factor.

I really enjoyed Funk or Titans. The game is perfect to take a break of other games and enjoy the music and art style

Im crossing my fingers to see some DLC in the future with some other music style's in them perhaps

Sunset Overdive (Xbox One)

Sunset Overdive (Xbox One)

 

Sunset Overdrive is Insomniac first games for the Xbox One. The Developers also made Spyro The Dragon, Resistance and Ratchet & Clank, came up with a new and open world game filled with humor. Especially when you keep in last series in mind , Your going to notice that Sunset Overdrive setting isnt a stranger in Insomniac Games' portfolio is. The game shines and exudes the cocky American development studio and for this reason this ads the chance to make a killer game.

The year 2027 in Sunset City, a fictional city with an even more fictional protagonist. The unnamed man or woman - Character design is entirely in your hands - Your working as a garbage collector in a festival organized by the company FizzCo. FizzCo is also the distributor of the energy drink Overdrive and let this happen to be the party where there just now introducing their new kind of drink. A drink that turns partying crowd into a bunch of mutants. Mutants who think differently the more Overdrive they consume. Nothing better for our character to escape and outwitted themselves for a few days in his apartment. To make matters worse his beer stock dwindles rapidly until the refrigerator is empty. Forced to get out , our hero in the making finds out that he is not the only survivor. Other survivors are busy in the back finding a way out of Sunset City

All the characters in Sunset Overdrive are as a bit crazy . To give a small example - and the rest of the game is not spoilen - is Walter. This headstrong gentleman is the first person who offers us protagonist help and also a pro in making badass-introductions. The game paused for a short time in a cartoonish way to introduce Walter  in Sunset Overdrive. During this break his name and brief physical description on the screen came on again after that the game went to its essence: mutants knocked popping and grinding.

The atmosphere is set from the first minute. Who wants to survive can best keep moving, otherwise you not only get a whole battalion mutants on your roof, move also provides bonus points. As a player, you have to remember only three basic movements: grinds, bounces and wall runs. Grinds and bounces you do are most often the fastest way to propel themselves through the game world. Insomniac Games obliged you actually partly to grind as much as possible and to bounce, because the main character itself is very slow when walking. Slow when he or she wants to wander into the world, but giganticly quickly when he or she knows to grind. Cars, umbrellas or air vents you use to air catapult. The functionality of these objects have been limited to glorified trampolines and that's not so bad. Each object gives you a huge boost and let happen that boost is what you just now needed to get to the desired elevated pipes, electricity cables or fences to reach some of them.

With your character grinding you get that typical Tony Hawk gameplay is coming to float above water. Although you can not perform tricks - all you can do is grind on top or bottom of a tube - this is the coolest way to move through Sunset Overdive. Then we have wall runs , we can already conclude that a combination of these three possibilities of movement Sunset Overdrive great fun.
fill meter
 
Using the motion capabilities may be fun, they are also rewarding. If you swappen enough between grinds, bounces and wall runs, they fill a special style meter. The higher the style meter, the more options you unlock. Your also able to unlock different upgrades in Sunset Overdive. Not only your hero, but also your weapon here will be better off upgraded . Upgrades have the name Amps. Each Amp has a certain characteristic while obtaining a higher style level in your style meter a corresponding Amp activates. Level two-Amps are there for less powerful, then their level three Amps.

Amps can be earned in various ways. You can find all sorts of collectibles in Sunset Overdive  ranging from balloons, smelly shoes, toilet paper or even security cameras.

Crazy weapons have always been the trademark of Ratchet & Clank, but Sunset Overdrive should definitely not be any diffrent . In addition to an ordinary Crowbar High Fidelity creates lethal grooves. This weapon fires vinyl plates off while the Flaming Compensator, Dirty Harry, Freeze Bomb, Acid Sprinkler and Captain Ahab have a turn offensive characteristics. In order not to spoil the fun, I am not going to discuss them in detail. Each weapon has its strengths against specific enemies. A clear weapon wheel  will ensures that you can pick quickly between weapons. New weapons can be gotten at Two Hat Jack - a fellow character - in exchange for cans of Overcharge withc can be obtained by chopping mutants in pieces.

Mutants come in different types and weights. Latest you mighty take literally, because you have to know the more Overdrive the mutants drink, the larger and more powerful they become. Sometimes we see grotesque specimens who might remind you of the Resistance Series. Although they are quite easy to get small - with or without appropriate weaponry - battles can still be quite spicy. Sunset City is not the easiest game I  played, ie can hardly call it anything easy.
Stand-up comedian

Sunset Overdrive is a humorous and very nice looking game. The funky soundtrack made me smile a few times. Both strengths work like a well-oiled machine, the comic-style graphics and typical Insomniac Games humor lets you feel like you were sitting in a Pixar movie . Jokes flying around your ears and the interaction with the player is unseen. Many times you will be addressed and noticed by the main character. He or she knows that you are there, you control him or her. The way your character looks like, is all up to you. Insomniac Games gives you plenty of freedom to put together your own hero. Select a gender, the size of the nose, the color of the eyes, the thickness of his or her feet until even the clothes. Everything is possible at all times and adaptable.

You will not get the most powerfull story while playing to the ten-hour single player story. Although stretched by different secondary tasks - like  there are forty smart phones to collect and as many as 54 small challenges - Sunset Overdrive also features a multiplayer. The gameplay design of the single player was largely reflected in the multiplayer. Here again we see the Amps pass by.. With up to seven other players you enter a series of small missions ranging from fights, go from point A to point B as quickly as possible or getting objects within a certain time. The tower-defense game is again present under the name Night Defense. After a few laps in the multiplayer i called it a day, because it soon became clear to me that most off the focus went to the single player.

Dust An Elysian Tail (XBLA)

                         

 

Dust: An Elysian Tail is a game that many things well, but nothing really shines. This provides a very entertaining blend of action, platforming and puzzles but not one of the kind that long in our collective memory will remain seated.

Dust wakes up in a forest and does not know who he is or what he's doing there. Then suddenly a sword comes floating around called Aharah, followed by the guard of the sword, Fidget. The rest of the game you'll especially have many conversations with both characters, while trying to figure out who you are and how to save the world. The story is not very strong and therefore it is a pity that so much emphasis is put on. All calls are recorded and youroften talking for a long time. The voice acting is well done but an abundance of calls gets the momentum out off the game.


Outside the lengthy conversations, there is a great pace in Dust. The game is a series of action platforming and puzzles. The controls are simple and accurate, making navigation very fast going. The fight goes very smoothly. With the X and Y button you get easily some impressive combos on the screen. Dust has access to a number of normal attacks which he swings his sword. With the Y button, he can run the sword and then Fidget look. It may take a few lousy shooting projectiles, but with Bladestorm of Dust projectiles that can grow into an amazing big attack. This is necessary to maximize combos to create. It works great and the chaos that you place on your screen release is delicious.

 The big problem lies, However the combos are  proving their usefulness on the highest difficulty . Dust on the normal difficulty only in the beginning is difficult. Later you will only have little difficulty enemies Bob to explain. Most opponents after two strokes of the sword often the dupe and because of the smooth control you myself but little damage. Some opponents however, you will need to repel their attacks. You do that by about the same time to attack and then the X button and hold. In this way, shoot the enemy, which then open to a huge amount of damage. The immune system is a bit too easily and certainly in later moments you usually such an enemy with a blow off. It is entertaining, but you will very easily through the levels. Re visiting locations is therefore somewhat less interesting, because they are even easier. That is something the entire Metroid-Vania concept a little undermining.


The RPG element Dust is reflected in the progress of your character and the amount of loot you can find. The leveling is fast and delivers some really short time an enormous increase of skills. Something gradual leveling was no luxury before. The stuff you find are largely divided into different categories. You will find a lot of healing items, you will find crafting materials and find blueprints. To blueprints to use crafting materials you need. If you find that once, you can also sell it to a shop. Then you do not actually have to go grind, because if you wait, the shop she is back in stock. Easy does it, but it's a nice way to eliminate redundant operations.

conclusion

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------




Dust is a visually stunning and gameplay wise very entertaining game, but just too many shortcomings to be truly a classic to grow.



Pros:

- Beautiful environments
- Amusing gameplay
- Great value for money with between ten and fifteen hours of gameplay



Cons:

- Too little challenge
 

Deadlight Review (XBLA)

                            

 

 

 

Zombie Plagues are a grateful background to tormented characters on a long journey to make. In films, comics, television series and video games. Dead Light also does its part and puts you in the shoes of Randall. It is up to you to Randall along a lot of zombies to pilots so that he can save his friends and passer and can get behind what happened to his wife and child happened. Was the popular series The Walking Dead might be a source of inspiration?



Dead Light shines in this regard is not original. However, this is offset by the belief that the world is designed. A gloomy picture drawn of Seattle where the zombie invasion has hit plenty. Buildings were destroyed or completely ransacked, vehicles are scattered on the road. It is nothing that can be seen in The Walking Dead, but it is very convincing on the screen. The combination of 2D platforming and 3D backgrounds are a feast for the eyes.


Your following Randall, who in the beginning of the game one of his fellow survivors put a bullet through the head while hunting. She was bitten by a zombie, so that was the only option. On the shot, however, are zombies and they must flee. At that moment he becomes separated from his group and he stands alone. He sets off to find his friends again, yet he wants his wife and child to find. Along the way he is also against people, but that kind of interaction makes Randall not really "likeable". Randall is quite bluntly a blunt farmer.
 

 

 

 

 

I Get Around


Dead Light is a 2D platformer with some light puzzle elements. The majority of the game are you devastated by a Seattle to navigate. The jumping and climbing works for the most part fine. If there is some pace in it works fine, but it can sometimes be a hassle to the right place to stand for a ledge or ladder to intervene. There's also a stamina bar into the game. During the climb you will be there very little problems with it, until the fighting brand you something. Initially you have no weapons and you'll just have to avoid zombies. Only later you get an axe and a gun to kill them. It is certainly not the intention to crush hordes of zombies, it is just the intention if surviving the huge amount of them everywhere . Dodging is often the best option. It is also possible to the area to be used in order to deal with them. The Y button allows you to lure zombies then push from the cliff or even shock them .


Although there are zombies in the game is not really horror component present. There is a tension because of the constant threat but the game is not the title which gives you scary moments. This may also be due to the generous offer of checkpoints, so if you were jumped by zombies it is never a big deal. It keeps the momentum well. The game has a huge forward drive anyway, although there are some secrets to find if you take the time to look around.


 

Absurd accuracy required


So far there is little going on for Dead Light. However, there are drawbacks to mention. Thus there is the interaction with objects in the world.That often requires too much precision on the side of the player. You should look in a certain direction and the place you should stand is quite narrow. A millimeter too much to the left or right and the interaction is no longer possible. Fool around with the left analog stick is more a rule than a exception. If you are in peace to solve a puzzle that are not yet a problem. If a zombie or eight rushing behind you, it's not fine if you must then go to Peeling the right place to stand to raise a barricade.


Dead Light also has quite a load of trial and error gameplay. Especially in the documents which you must make haste because otherwise you will certainly die if you skipped them. It sometimes feels as if the intention is that you often die. In itself it is not a problem for certain documents to learn, but if you as a player always die at the same bit. The balance in DeadLight by sometimes possitive .But Sometimes you go into that kind of documents is dead for no apparent reason, which of course does not help.


Eventually you'll of course go through the documents. Then you come back to the standard climb and jump. It provides a mixed feeling. Dead Light works as it is indeed a great game. Then the gameplay, stunning graphics and atmosphere together. Unfortunately there are always those pieces where the pace is increased even further. Dan works DeadLight suddenly a lot less. Fortunately, Dead Light more pieces than pieces that do work do not. The balance has therefore been generally positive, but those drawbacks are too great to ignore them.




.
Conclusion
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------



DeadLight is a beautiful title and is definitely worth to be played. However, it is not entirely error-free and it is therefore unfortunate that Dead Light high level doesn't always hold up .


Pros:
- Addictive
- Very Entertaining


Cons:
- Frustrating amount of errors
- More accuracy is required