I missed Q.U.B.E when it originally released, despite it being exactly the kind of game I love to play. Now I get to rectify this with the Q.U.B.E 10th Anniversary Edition – an up-spuffed remake that adds some visual bells and whistles to the puzzling action. It looks great, but more importantly, it also plays great too. I’ve very much enjoyed my time with it these past few nights, and would encourage other puzzle fans to check it out too.
If like me, you’re not familiar with Q.U.B.E, let me give you the gist; played in first person, we move through various areas of an elaborate and large alien cube, solving puzzles by interacting with various coloured blocks in order to escape each room. Red blocks slide back and forth, while blue give us a spring jump. Yellow creates a stair case (or podium depending on where we interact with it), and green creates blocks that can be moved about either with the other coloured blocks, or with the environment (purple switches for rotating areas for example).
Obviously it’s rarely as simple as using each colours properties, with some clever and inventive use of the mechanics that can really test our mettle. Some areas really had me stumped for a while, the solution obvious but the method to get there not so much. Others introduce a moving element such as a ball that we need to manipulate to complete the area. These can be tricky thanks to the requirement for specific, quick actions, though even on a controller there’s enough wiggle room to not be too accurate.
Broken up into seven sets of stages, each one introduces a new mechanic that is put to use really well. I’m strangely drawn into puzzlers that make me walk into a room and initially think “how the hell?” before it all falls into place and I exit the room feeling that bit better about myself. Q.U.B.E has this in spades, with some of the latter levels looking complex from the off – and don’t get me wrong, they are – but a little stand back and look tends to work wonders. There are also hidden collectibles that will really test players drive to figure out how to get them.
If you have played before, know this is a much better looking game than 10 years ago. The trailer above shoes the extra detail Toxic Games have crammed in here. Granted, it’s all purely aesthetic, but I found it added to the experience in a great way, the creepy alien construct feeling real as I played.
Upon beginning, we can choose from either Standard or Director’s Cut version of the experience. The former is just straight puzzling, while the latter adds a narrative to proceedings. I played with the story and while it’s decently acted and written, it’s also not anything to really get excited about. This new release also adds a whole new chapter to the end of the game as well, something returning fans should be happy about!
Conclusion
First person puzzlers are my jam, and I’m glad I finally got to check out Q.U.B.E via this 10th Anniversary Edition release. The puzzles are well crafted, with enough new mechanics added at just the right time to prevent things getting stale. Add in a passable tale and some lovely new visuals, and we have a game that comes easily recommended to all but the most puzzle adverse players. And look at that, not a single Portal comparison!
This game was reviewed based on Xbox S|X review code, using an Xbox S|X console. All of the opinions and insights here are subject to that version. Game provided by publisher.
