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    Q.U.B.E.

    Game » consists of 8 releases. Released Dec 16, 2011

    Quick Understanding of Block Extrusion (aka, Q.U.B.E.) is a first-person indie puzzler developed by Toxic Games; players are tasked with completing challenges revolving around manipulating different types of colored blocks using a pair of special gloves.

    themixxer's Q.U.B.E. (PC) review

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    Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

    Q.U.B.E. is an interesting and novel take on the first-person action puzzler that brings its unique gameplay to the table to challenge Valve's successful Portal series. A great soundtrack and accessible gameplay round out the package.

    In order to properly review Q.U.B.E. (Quick Understanding of Block Extrusion), one must address the elephant in the room: Valve’s Portal series. The comparisons appear fast and loose between these games, and not without good reason: Valve’s original Portal game legitimized the first-person action puzzle game. Naturally, others followed suit once they realized how large the potential audience was for this type of game. To differentiate from the portals of Portal, these games have to have a unique hook to their gameplay. This is where Q.U.B.E. comes in.

    After a brief cutscene introducing you to your glove, you are immediately dropped into gameplay. The gameplay revolves around the manipulation of colored blocks in order to solve puzzles. Each different colored block has a unique set of properties that can be used to get the player (and sometimes an object along the way as a “key” to open the route forward) to the next room. Red, for example, can be pulled along an axis three spaces (think 3D Tetris pieces) to create a bar; blue blocks can be pressed to make you (or an object) jump higher. Other colors are quickly introduced to further add complexity to puzzles: yellow can be used to make a 3D “staircase” along three spaces, and fuchsia-colored blocks rotate room planes, etc. Your character can manipulate one of these blocks at a time and later-game puzzles combine these in quick succession to augment the difficulty.

    The game begins with basic block manipulation to get your mind in gear for the puzzles ahead. Here, you are introduced to one of my favorite aspects of Q.U.B.E.’s design philosophy: the pre-puzzle tutorial. Most games of this ilk do similar things, but Q.U.B.E. does it better than most. Before every major puzzle (or set of similar puzzles), you enter a room that prepares you for most or all of the puzzle, platforming, and timing that will be put to the test in the preceding rooms. With one exception, I felt all these tutorials adequately prepared me for the puzzles in the game. The other nice addition is that in most puzzles which require moving objects about, the game adds “reset” or “play” blocks that put the object and/or blocks back into their initial positions in case you feel like you’ve messed up. The game is divided into “sectors” that are very quickly introduced to you and signify the major shifts in gameplay. You move very quickly from simple platforming to using block manipulation to guide an object (or objects) to different areas to help you advance. Along the way, you begin to get hints that there is a world outside your sectors.

    After a rather eerie elevator ride, you are placed into darkness. It becomes clear that not only has something gone awry, but that you must now advance through the next puzzles in complete darkness (with light being gradually restored the further you progress). In these puzzles, colored blocks can be “lit” using corresponding switches. Magnet blocks are introduced that drag boxes, blocks, and objects in certain directions. After a harrowing elevator crash, you are plunged into a completely wrecked area where you must make wires connect and guide a few spherical robots to a particular destination. Then, you must to some light-bending puzzles. All of these must be completed with various amounts of ambient room light, adding to the challenge.

    Once you reach a room with a generator that proceeds to blow up, you are given your first real change to the gameplay: your gloves can turn any blank block space to whatever colored block you want (provided the color is available somewhere in the room). The change is short-lived, though, as after a few puzzles you reach the end of the game. However, the ending couple of cutscenes and setpieces are among the best in the game (with as few as there are). My only real complaint is how sudden and short the endgame is as it is just as engaging as the ending sequence of the original Portal (though certainly not anywhere near as involved). The music here as well as throughout the the game are a definite highlight.

    There are some areas that detract from Q.U.B.E.’s overall package. For one, the minimalist design of the various areas begin to blend together and only really change cosmetically with lighting and later, actual destruction that alters rooms. The other, of course, is that what little story exists is only teased towards the latter half of the game; it neither fulfills from minimalism nor does it expand enough to pay off by the end. In theme with the minimalism, the visual style and fidelity are nothing to write home about. I imagine the benefit of this is that you don’t need monster hardware to run the game. Also, with the relatively few timing based puzzles, the controls sometimes do not react fast enough and are less forgiving (it is similar to the Portal games in this regard) than other action games. The game, overall, is also not very difficult (save for the so-called “hardest puzzle” of the game which did have me stumped for a bit). Q.U.B.E. is a game that is short, clocking in at anywhere from 3-4 hours depending on your puzzle-solving ability. Though not one of these individually breaks the experience, together they are indicative of the indie nature of the game’s development.

    Q.U.B.E., however stands apart from many indie games in its style, accessibility, and its gameplay hook. The visuals are crisp if a bit plain, and the soundtrack (a personal highlight for me) pulses and broods where appropriate. Though the game is short-lived, it nonetheless impressed with what little time it lasts. Certainly, it proves that it can take on Valve’s Portal series with its modest development and unique take on the first-person puzzle game. The game is currently available on Steam and is worth checking out if you want to satisfy your puzzle itch.

    Other reviews for Q.U.B.E. (PC)

      Not Portal 0

      Q.U.B.E is a first person puzzle game that will look quite familiar to most PC gamers.It is very clear that this game is heavily inspired by Portal, to the point that it may feel like a budget knock-off of that game to some people. Imagine the first Portal game, but with no GLaDOS. Now imagine that the whole facility is not made out of panels, but cubes. Now, imagine that instead of having the portal gun, you have gloves that allow you to 'interact' with certain cubes, causing them to raise, low...

      1 out of 3 found this review helpful.

      Comparisons can be made, but it's mostly in appearance. 0

      (Please Note: Puzzle types used this game will be described/spoiled in this review.)I have seen many people compare Q.U.B.E. to the Portal franchise. While I can see why they are made, I feel that this is merely in how the game it looks. Its motives for Portal style trappings are there, but the game only travels shortly down that path. Instead I feel we were left with something more straightforward and lacking in narrative.To Put It Bluntly: Q.U.B.E. starts strong with its easy to manage puzzle ...

      0 out of 0 found this review helpful.

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