Tag Archives: CyberBoxTV

CyberBoxTV, Gaming, Review

Review: Mario Kart World – A New Era for the Franchise

Nintendo returns to the racetrack with Mario Kart World, launching it alongside its latest console in a bold move to reinvent the franchise. This time around, the game takes a major leap by introducing an open-world experience that players can explore freely, marking a significant shift from past titles.

The game features 30 tracks—some brand-new, others reimagined classics—all seamlessly connected through a large open world. One of the standout features is a mode that allows players to use any character to roam this world and discover secrets, encouraging exploration beyond just racing.

The traditional Grand Prix mode is back, now offering 7 cups. However, a key change is that lap-based circuit racing has been replaced with point-to-point track design. Each cup still contains 4 races, but only the first follows the traditional loop format. The remaining tracks take players from one location to another, reducing repetition and showcasing a broader range of environments.

Popular modes like Balloon Battle, Coin Collection, and Time Trials make their return. One of the most exciting additions is the new Knockout mode, a high-stakes competition across six tracks with 24 racers. After each race, a few competitors are eliminated. This keeps the adrenaline high and forces players to consistently place in the top three to survive.

Despite these innovations, Mario Kart World feels like it’s launching with less content than expected. One major omission is vehicle customization, a fan-favorite feature that allowed players to tweak performance to fit their play style. Additionally, track diversity takes a hit—there are no underwater courses or gravity-defying segments like in Mario Kart 8. These have been replaced by new tricks, rail grinding, and wall-riding mechanics. While fun, they don’t quite make up for what was lost.

Nintendo’s ambition to innovate is clear, but in doing so, they’ve also scaled back several beloved features. Still, Mario Kart World gives off the vibe of a platform designed to grow, hinting at future updates or expansions down the line.

The game absolutely shines in terms of presentation. The soundtrack is outstanding, and the visuals take full advantage of the new hardware with smooth animations and intricate details in this expansive new world.

Final Verdict

Mario Kart World is an ambitious step forward that introduces bold ideas and a fresh structure for the series. While it stumbles by removing key features that longtime fans will miss, it still offers a solid and enjoyable experience with room to grow. A promising new direction, even if not fully realized at launch.

Final Score: 4/5

CyberBoxTV, Gaming, Review

Review: FBC: Firebreak – A universe wasted in a frustrating experience

FBC: Firebreak is the latest entry in the Control and Alan Wake universe, but with a multiplayer focus. Here, you’ll revisit several areas from the first Control to complete assigned missions in a cooperative format with up to three players. Each player can choose one of three classes, each offering different weapons and mechanics. The mission structure is tied to three distinct levels of complexity, and you can also choose the danger level. The higher the difficulty, the more tasks and puzzles you’ll need to complete—but you’ll also be rewarded with more experience points.

Now for the bad part: the progression system. It’s designed similarly to a Battle Pass, where leveling up unlocks assets you can use to get new cosmetics, weapons, or upgrades for your gear and abilities. However, the rewards you unlock often aren’t even useful for the class you’re currently playing, causing a lot of frustration after dedicating multiple hours without being properly rewarded. Another issue is that when you finally do get upgrades for your weapons, they don’t make any meaningful difference in gameplay, leaving you just as discouraged.

The game doesn’t offer a meaningful story to give the experience any real purpose beyond being a disposable group of generic characters. The gameplay is decent, as the mechanics of each class can help you solve puzzles faster or survive longer. Playing cooperatively is the key here—sticking together at all times is the best way to guarantee victory. The enemies are quite repetitive, with only their appearances offering any variety. In each match, enemies spawn randomly and range from zombies, ghosts, brutes, and witches, among others.

FBC: Firebreak can be fun if you’re playing with friends or a team that communicates well, but as a solo experience, it quickly becomes frustrating and boring—just like its progression system, which leaves much to be desired. The overall experience feels similar to games like Left 4 Dead, a genre that was widely loved almost two decades ago, but nowadays tends to burn out quickly as players expect constant new content.

Final Score: 2/5

CyberBoxTV, Gaming, Review

Review – The Alters: Facing Yourself Is the Real Challenge

If you ever thought working with random people was hard, The Alters challenges you with something even worse: collaborating with different versions of yourself. This new title from 11 bit studios blends unconventional gameplay elements into a strange yet fascinating experience. Its mechanics feel like a mix of Death Stranding’s exploration, Fallout Shelter’s base management, and Mass Effect’s choice-driven conversations. Despite how odd that sounds, this combination successfully breaks traditional genre boundaries.

The story centers on Jan Doski, the sole survivor of a space crash on an uninhabitable planet. Lacking the skills or physical capacity to survive or escape, Jan turns to a quantum machine that allows him to create multiple versions of himself—each from alternate timelines shaped by different life choices. These “Alters” aren’t simple clones; they have their own personalities, skills, and emotional baggage, making every interaction feel rich and unpredictable.

Gameplay revolves around managing resources like food, maintenance, and engineering while directing the Alters and maintaining their emotional stability. If morale drops, they might refuse to cooperate or even sabotage your progress. The real-time progression adds constant pressure, as the player must make key decisions quickly. Meanwhile, exploration is vital to gather materials needed to expand the base and build new labs.

Visually, the game is stunning—especially the outdoor environments, which evoke a melancholic and introspective atmosphere. The base interiors may feel generic, but they serve their purpose. A standout element is the voice work by Alex Jordan, who brings each Alter to life with unique accents and vocal nuances. While the lack of combat and slow pace might not appeal to everyone, The Alters delivers a bold, emotionally resonant narrative experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to explore its many branching paths.

Final Score: 4/5

CyberBoxTV, Gaming, Review

Review: Death Stranding 2 — Kojima’s Legacy Taken to the Max

Following his split with Konami, Hideo Kojima attempted to distance himself from the Metal Gear Solid legacy with the release of Death Stranding. However, he failed to completely disassociate himself, and Death Stranding 2 is the definitive proof of that. This sequel takes the best of Metal Gear Solid V and fuses it with the foundations of the first game to deliver an ambitious, intense experience brimming with the director’s signature style.

This time, we once again accompany Sam Bridges on his mission to reconnect Australia with the rest of the world. But, unlike the first game, the threat isn’t just isolation: an enemy from the past returns, accompanied by new allies that will force the player to take a more aggressive stance. While package transport is still present, the focus is now on infiltration, combat, and tactical raids.

The arsenal is varied, with lethal and non-lethal weapons that transform the game into an open-world espionage title. All of this is complemented by extensive cinematics and fights against extravagant bosses: cybernetic ninjas, mechanical octopuses, and giant dinosaur-like robots, among many other surprises that will delight fans of the Japanese creator.

In addition, RPG mechanics are integrated that allow Sam to improve his skills, whether in combat, stealth, or even as a delivery driver. Death Stranding 2 is a discarded homage to Metal Gear, but also an evolution of his own ideas.

The result is a colossal, ambitious, and, above all, satisfying game for those of us who have closely followed Kojima’s career. Death Stranding 2 is the perfect closing to a period and the beginning of a new era for the creator.

CyberBoxTV, Gaming, Review

Rematch Review — Soccer Never Felt So Realistic

The creators of Sifu decided to move away from martial arts and embark on a completely different project: Rematch, a soccer simulator with a competitive multiplayer focus. This offering features realistic gameplay in a third-person perspective, where every action—from kicking to passing the ball—must be executed entirely manually. There’s no automation here; everything depends on your precision, reflexes, and strategy.

The learning curve is demanding. Mastering the controls can be frustrating at first, but with dedication and practice, it becomes an addictive experience. When you manage to score a goal on your own, the adrenaline rush is comparable to what Rocket League offered in its day.

However, the content is sparse. The game only features 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5 modes, which severely limits its gameplay. Furthermore, relying on your teammates can be a double-edged sword: if one decides not to cooperate, you’re likely to lose the match. Each match ends after four goals or five minutes of play, offering quick but repetitive encounters.

The most questionable aspect is its business model. Despite costing $30, Rematch includes an additional $10 Battle Pass if you want to unlock cosmetics, digital currency, or logos. Real-player skins are also available, but their prices are excessive.

Rematch has an excellent gameplay base and an interesting proposition, but the limited content and unnecessary trading mechanics mar the experience. With more modes, a better structure, and without aggressive monetization policies, it could have been a true gem.

3/5