Josh Di Falco
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Cubed3
Game reviewer @Cubed3. Eats pizza & kebabs. Listens to power metal. Watches Star Wars. Reads high fantasy novels. Sometimes I play video games.
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Articles by Josh Di Falco
Tesla Force (PlayStation 5) Review
By Josh Di Falco 20.01.2022 When Tesla vs Lovecraft was first released a few years ago, it offered the zaniness of Nikola Tesla and his gadgets, combined with the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft. Now, developer and publisher 10tons are back with the spiritual sequel, Tesla Force for PS5, which integrates on the original theme of the first title. While it still retains the top-down, twin-stick shooter style, it also bridges into the rogue-lite genre.
Nightmare Boy (PlayStation 4) Review
It's hard to play a 2D metroidvania title nowadays without making unfair comparisons to other recent titles, such as Hollow Knight, but developer The Vanir Project has done enough here with Nightmare Boy to help it stand on its own feet. It's a short adventure title that stars Billy, as he gets magically teleported to the Kingdom of Noctum by an evil pillowcase called Balder, where he gets mistaken for Prince Rolok.
MotoGP 21 (PlayStation 4) Review
For newcomers jumping into MotoGP 21 for the first time, know that motorbike riding on the digital format can be a tricky learning experience. In previous years, Milestone seemed to have had a difficult time with creating an engaging way to teach new riders the ropes. Either a rider was willing to apply themselves for plenty of hours just to get to that point of being able to compete, or they probably just moved on to another game.
Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 (PlayStation 4) Review
Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 kicks off with a simple tutorial that is precise and straight-to-the-point. One of the biggest pros here is accessibility - the simplicity of the basic controls allows for people to pick this up and play, from learning how to race a monster truck around the track, to learning how to perform burnouts, flips, among other stunts, all while playing around with the combo-meter, and learning how to maintain the high scores.
WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship (PlayStation 5) Review
As soon as the opening credits have concluded, WRC 10 thrusts the player into choosing a difficulty, ranging from Novice for new players through to Expert for those who fancy themselves a pro. From there, there is a quick tutorial followed by a test race, which also gives the game a chance to recommend some options to toggle on or off prior to jumping into the rest of the game.
MXGP 2020 - The Official Motocross Videogame (PlayStation 5) Review
Kicking off the new year, MXGP 2020 throws riders straight into the mix with the first race of the Career mode. While this is supposed to serve as a tutorial, it does do a poor job at actually teaching newcomers how to ride a bike. Chances are, the majority who buy this title are already going to be quite familiar with motocross racing, and how these vehicles should handle, but it still doesn't do a whole lot to teach newbies the ways of motocross.
Black Skylands (PC) Preview
The demo itself opened up with the main hero getting a quest, with a small town to walk around. Though there was only one NPC to talk to initially, with another at the end of the short questline, there is already the possibility that Black Skylands could have a deeper world with plenty of NPCs to chat to, and possibly receive side-quests, as well as main quests from. A few weapons were available, such as the assault rifle, the shotgun, a sniper rifle, sub machine gun and a grenade launcher.
Lost Sea (PlayStation 4) Review
By Josh Di Falco 26.08.2016 1 As a swashbuckling pirate adventure crossed with the movie Groundhog Day, Lost Sea takes a very non-traditional approach to video games. After getting washed ashore on a mysterious island, a hero must recruit a ragtag group of survivors to help traverse the perilous islands in an attempt to escape the Bermuda Triangle.
Replica (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 29.06.2021 Replica is an interesting title that, on the surface, feels predatory. The main premise revolves around snooping through the mobile phone of Dickie, and deep-diving into his text messages, call history, social media posts, photos and anything else that could be found on his mobile phone.
Pure Pool (Nintendo Switch) Review
It's weird how homey Pure Pool feels, considering the current climate of the world dealing with various stages of lockdown. Not being able to go out to the pubs or bars has elevated the importance of titles such as Pure Pool, which attempts to simulate the real life experience of playing pool or snooker.
MotoGP 20 (Nintendo Switch) Review
Unfortunately, the same old issues that have plagued previous titles are back to once again prove troublesome for MotoGP 20. Fans of the franchise with vast experience and a pool of knowledge with MotoGP will feel right at home here, whereas newcomers trying to discover whether they'll be able to slot right in will have a bit of a steep learning curve to compete against.
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 (PlayStation 4) Review
By Josh Di Falco 25.02.2021 After a couple of years since the initial title launched, TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2 is here and Kylotonn has made vast improvements in some areas. While it's still in its infancy compared to the other racing series, WRC 9, that Kylotonn has really fleshed out across many years, TT2 is a worthy successor to this two-wheeled series.
Yet Another Zombie Defense HD (Xbox One) Review
The main mode here is 'Defense,' and is split into two parts: day and night. Starting off with night, the hero has to fight an onslaught of meagre zombies with a pistol. These drop various tokens, from cash or bullets to temporary buffs such as increasing the movement speed. Once the onslaught of zombies has been defeated, it becomes day, and here is where the base-building elements come into play.
Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition (PlayStation 5) Review
Slayer Edition features six different characters to choose from: Konrad Vollen the Empire Soldier, Elontir the High-Elf Mage, Bragi Axebiter the Slayer, Elessa the Wood Elf Scout, Keela Gunnarsdottir the Dwarf Engineer, and a brand new character, Jurgen Haider, the Witch Hunter. Each of these characters play differently, varying with their base attacks, as well as having their own unique abilities, skill trees, and equipment drops.
Pacer (PC) Review
Pacer kicks off the campaign by featuring a handful of different vehicles to choose from - though these are purely cosmetics that have no unique stats or any other bearings on how each aircraft will control. After dressing up from minimal options, the campaign's tutorial does a great job of slowly easing new racers into what to expect from this title.
Ride 4 (PlayStation 4) Review
Milestone are back with their latest iteration of their two-wheeled franchise, with Ride 4 providing a very demanding crash course for newcomers to the series. Proficient riders from previous titles will feel right at home here with the motorbike handling a and maneuvering around the tracks - for beginners, Ride 4 can be extremely unforgiving in the early stages.
Townsmen - A Kingdom Rebuilt (Xbox One) Review
Opening up with a six-part campaign, this serves as a tutorial for understanding the mechanics and the flow of rebuilding a kingdom. With a subpar quality of storytelling and stereotypical characters, similar to those seen in mobile games like Homescapes, the narrative thread isn't necessary to understanding the basic fundamentals of rebuilding a kingdom.
Children of Morta (PlayStation 4) Review
By Josh Di Falco 09.11.2020 Every so often, a special title comes along that ends up delivering so much joy and wholesomeness - like Children of Morta, the top-down rogue-like developed by Dead Mage that bears a lot of similarities to Diablo, were despite the grim darkness that this world is set in, there are a lot of unexpected moments that makes this title such a pleasurable experience.
EA Sports UFC 4 (Xbox One) Review
The major difference with UFC 4 and the previous titles is the new 'assist' control scheme that's designed to make it easier for newcomers to jump in and learn the controls. However, for those who have mastered the previous control scheme, 'legacy' controls do exist in the settings to revert back to a more comfortable control scheme, while a 'hybrid' scheme also exists for those who want to blend both schemes into the one.
Lancelot's Hangover: The Quest for the Holy Booze (PC) Review
By Josh Di Falco 26.10.2020 The PC games library is filled with many weird and wacky titles, and Lancelot's Hangover: The Quest for the Holy Booze is the latest addition. With a single developer behind this entire title, Jean-Baptiste de Clerfayt has brought this Kickstarter-backed experience to life.
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship (PlayStation 4) Review
Another year, another season of some dirt-rally action, with Kylotonn (also known as KT Racing) bringing the 2020 season to the digital world. While most of last year's tracks return, there are three new rally events to add to the season, while the visuals look more polished and detailed, especially on the dirt tracks. Last year's career mode has returned as well, and for the most part it is largely the same, with very minimal changes to the formula.
Tiny Racer (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 20.09.2020 The Nintendo Switch has a vast library of racing titles. From the iconic Kart racing series featuring the company's own mascot, to the raw and grounded racing simulators, whether searching for the highly realistic to the downright cartoony and whimsical, there are plenty of games to choose from. Now, IceTorch Interactive has blessed the console with yet another challenger: Tiny Racer.
F1 2020 (PlayStation 4) Review
Before jumping into the races, F1 2020 sets the stage with the driver creation process. While there's not a huge lot to customise about the driver, there are enough options to allow for plenty of variations, despite the fact that they'll only be seen on the podium finishes with their celebratory poses. After creating the driver by choosing a bunch of different pre-set options, it's then time to jump into the single-best mode of this year's title.
Tour de France 2020 (PlayStation 4) Review
From the opening moments, it's clear that Tour de France 2020 seems like a roster update, and nothing more. The main menu screen is all-too familiar with the previous year's title; the riders look exactly the same; and, finally, the graphics don't seem to have been given an upgrade. Simply put, Tour de France 2020 is clearly running off the same engine - an engine that, on the surface at least, doesn't look like it's had any tinkering at all.
Frostpunk (PlayStation 4) Review
At its core, Frostpunk is a harrowing survival game where every decision can have dire consequences. The aim is to sprawl outwards and build a thriving society around a huge steampunk-esque generator. This device is the heart and soul of any town that can be built in Frostpunk - and this is due to the wintry weather that grows even colder by the day.
Retimed (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 12.04.2020 Originally released on PC and Mac, Team Maniax has brought its unique bullet-time shooter to the Nintendo Switch. Featuring fast-paced action on a 2D-scale, up to four players can partake in a bullet-frenzy shooter with an exciting slow-motion mechanic that comes straight out of The Matrix's playbook.
Bow to Blood: Last Captain Standing (Xbox One) Review
The concept of Bow to Blood works extremely well. The premise of this universe is set in a future that is reminiscent of The Hunger Games, where crews enter their ships into a survival game that is broadcasted to the rest of the world. The tournament is presented by a charismatic host who acts as a cheery face of the competition that's perfectly juxtaposed against the sinister underside of the competition.
Paradox Soul (PlayStation 4) Review
By Josh Di Falco 11.04.2020 When it comes to 2D action-adventure platformers, it's hard not to draw constant comparisons to metroidvania titles - and Paradox Soul is the latest title to enter the "genre." With an enticing setting that centres around exploring an abandoned test facility as the protagonist Dr. Rose. Developed by Ritual Games, this is a haunting experience that leaves all the story-telling to the exploration of this facility.
Bouncy Bullets (PlayStation 4) Review
By Josh Di Falco 07.04.2020 Bouncy Bullets is a first-person shooter that acts more like a puzzler than a full-blown shooter. Developed by Petite Games, the aim is to make it through various stages without getting hit, by platforming across an obstacle course while taking out various colour-coded enemies. Bouncy Bullets is a light experience that doesn't require deep thought or concentration to get a positive output from it.
Mechstermination Force (Nintendo Switch) Review
All is well with Earth, until one day, when the MegaMechs appeared, and tore down the governments across the planet. Beaten and oppressed, a human group of rebel survivors vows to fight back, retake its home planet, and destroy all of these MegaMechs, while also uncovering where they came from. This is the simple premise that grants the context to allow this title to exist - and the story isn't that important.
Surgeon Simulator CPR (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 30.01.2020 2 The last decade has seen a huge rise in video games simulating real-world jobs. On the Nintendo Switch, Bossa Studios has delivered Surgeon Simulator CPR. Despite the name, this is a loose simulation of the job, as it raises the "cartoon" meter to an exaggerated, and humorous level. This is the lighter side to being a surgeon, all the while trying to save the lives of patients by performing heart or double kidney transplants.
Sparklite (Nintendo Switch) Review
The main thing that sticks out with Sparklite is that this is one of the easier rogue-likes available out there. For those who have never jumped into this genre, before and are looking to try it out, Sparklite serves as the perfect introduction, as the difficulty is at a minimum. However, the double-edged sword to this is that long-time fans of the genre may not find much of a challenge here. The world of Geodia is made up of four distinct areas, and each area is home to its own unique enemies.
Heave Ho (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 30.12.2019 While Microsoft and Sony's consoles seem to be at the forefront for the latest and greatest AAA blockbuster titles, Nintendo's Switch is continuing to be the home of the weird and wackiest games developed. Le Cartel Studio has added Heave Ho to the mix, one of the better local multiplayer games added to the console's library. While Heave Ho does have a single-player mode, the couch co-op is where the fun and insanity really begin.
Weakless (Xbox One) Review
By Josh Di Falco 29.12.2019 While triple-A titles dominate the market with the tried-and-true formulas that work, it's up to the smaller studios to drive innovations. Punk Notion have developed an artistic and richly-stylised adventure with Weakless. Controlling two different root-looking characters, this is a puzzle-adventure title that centres around the themes of traversing through a world without two of the five senses.
Super Street: Racer (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 29.12.2019 With the large abundance of racing titles available in today's climate, finding a point of difference between different games becomes quite difficult. While some titles go the rally route, others focus on track-racing. Super Street: Racer takes the vehicular racing to the streets - and the point of difference here requires the abundance of customisation options available to build a dump of a car into the ultimate racing machine.
Muddledash (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 29.12.2019 The Nintendo Switch is rife with the weird and wacky titles that make up the bulk of the online store. The latest in the queue is the Slampunks title Muddledash. This is a no-frills party experience for up to four players, as the party-hat wearing octopus' race to deliver the gift to the party first. This is a fun title filled with plenty of colour, life, and the absolute weird.
WRC 8 FIA World Rally Championship (PlayStation 4) Review
WRC 8 is back for 2019, and developer Kylotonn has delivered their best dirt-rallying edition yet. With an improvement over the car physics and the driving, the developer has also crafted one of the more expansive season modes, with a full-crew management system, and skill-trees to improve car performance, as well as the crew members themselves.
The Eyes of Ara (Nintendo Switch) Review
Originally released in 2016 by an Australian developer, The Eyes of Ara is now making its way to the Nintendo Switch. Created by one person over a few years, this is a first-person point-and-click adventure title that seems to be built from the same ingredients as Myst. When a mysterious castle on an island suffers signal interference, a technician is sent to investigate the matter.
Need for Speed: Heat (PlayStation 4) Review
While an open-world racing title is nothing new in this age of gaming, the latest Need for Speed packs a world filled with racing events and activities to complete, along with a range of collectibles. In Heat, Palm City acts as the hub world that houses all the various events, and this hub can be traversed in solo mode offline, or online. The world features race events that can be started upon driving to the icon's location on the map, akin to Forza Horizon 4.
Torn (iOS) Review
By Josh Di Falco 30.10.2019 While the mobile app stores are filled with countless "match-three" puzzlers or "gacha" styled adventures, Torn is a terrific offering for those who are after a text-based MMORPG. Set in the dark and brooding underbelly setting of Torn City, this tale is a "choose your own adventure" style experience.
MXGP 2019: The Official Motocross Videogame (PlayStation 4) Review
The biggest mechanical difference between MXGP 2019 and the MotoGP series is that the bikes in this dirt-track racer are much more easier to learn and get accustomed to. While MotoGP has long been about the realism and digital simulation of controlling the real bikes, this motocross iteration instead handles the control of the bikes better for newcomers.
Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians (iOS) Review
The main thing that sets this apart from the bevy of the other similar titles is that Elemental Guardians is packed with terrific art design and sound quality not commonly found in indie-based games. It is clear when booting up this game that there is a lot of care and detail that has gone into the presentation, the art design and even the sound quality. This doesn't look like a game that was crafted by a small team trying to make their break into the industry.
Vambrace: Cold Soul (Xbox One) Review
The main character of the piece is a mysterious, young woman named Evelia Lyric, who has sought out the frosty world of Icenair in search for answers in relation to her recently deceased father. Wielding the family keepsake 'Vambrace,' Lyric is bestowed with the power of destroying the fatal Frostfences that enclose the town. Prior to her arrival, the denizens of Icenair had been hunkered into the land below Dalearch, due to the Shade King and the spell that he has cast over the world.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne (Xbox One) Review
By Josh Di Falco 14.10.2019 Hunters worldwide rejoice, as Capcom delivers an expansive new locale, and fresh new monsters to carve upon. The first story DLC Iceborne takes place after the events of Monster Hunter World, where the Research Commission has traced the mysterious habits of the Legiana to the frost-filled island of Hoarfrost Reach.
Tour de France 2019 (PlayStation 4) Review
By Josh Di Falco 03.10.2019 Based on the real-life sport, Tour de France 2019 is the annual digital-cyclist experience, centred around taking a team of riders through to the Champs-Élysées on the final day of the Tour. Developed by Cyanide SA, this latest instalment features improved graphics, as well as a bunch of features that is sure to keep cycling fans entertained. Unfortunately, beyond the love of the sport, there is barely enough reason to recommend this title.
The Council - Episode 5: Checkmate (Xbox One) Review
When it was revealed in episode three that Lord Mortimer was a Daemon, the trajectory of Louis' story was still quite clear. However, in the previous episode, Burning Bridges, the huge revelations that followed changed the entire narrative of The Council up to this point, as well as how the game will end in Checkmate. Simply put, Louis is Lord Mortimer's son, and is in fact a Daemon himself. From the beginning, Louis just felt like a pawn in his game of chess.
V-Rally 4 (Nintendo Switch) Review
By Josh Di Falco 19.08.2019 Known for their fair share of racing simulators, Kylotonn is has followed up their officially licensed dirt-rally title, with the more arcade-centred V-Rally 4. Unlike the WRC series that the developer is more known for, V-Rally 4 focuses less on being a real-life simulator, putting a greater emphasis on the arcade-style of rallying. Despite the large load of customisation options, this experience is a bit lacking on game modes.
The Council - Episode 4: Burning Bridges (Xbox One) Review
If The Council has managed to do one thing well across the first three episodes, it is its ability to pace the narrative and the challenges appropriately. From the moment Louis made his way into the dark and morbid manor of the mysterious Lord Mortimer, his life has begun to change in many different ways. As each of the previous episodes introduced new cliff-hangers and dark revelations, it is only fitting for Burning Bridges to save the ultimate plot twists for the penultimate episode.
The Sinking City (Xbox One) Review
From the moment P.I Reed steps foot onto Oakmont, there is the unsettling sense of nothing being quite as it may seem. Reed represents naivety, as he is thrust into a whole new world of mystics and the paranormal. For those with an affinity to the Lovecraftian world The Sinking City will feel right at home. For those jumping in without any background knowledge of the inspiration material, then, prepare to be exposed to the weird, the wonderful and the downright terrifying.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2 (PlayStation 4) Review
From the opening scene, The Division 2 gets straight to the point in teaching the ropes of the mechanisations of the game, and it doesn't take long to learn and get comfortable with the controls. The controlled Agent can wield two main weapons, and a sidearm, as well as a grenade type, and up to two skills can also be equipped for further aid in battle. In addition to these offensive weapons, the Agent can also equip up to six pieces of gear or armour.
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