Developer: Toxic Games
Publisher: Trapped Nerve Games
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Tested On: PC
Q.U.B.E. 2 Lost Orbit DLC – Review
After the successful release of Q.U.B.E. 2, players wanted more content and difficulty. Toxic Games came to the rescue and gave them what they asked for. They released the Q.U.B.E. 2 – Season Pass which includes two puzzle packs, the classic glove skin of the first game and the original soundtrack, composed by David Housden. One of the most returning criticisms of Q.U.B.E. 2 was the game not being challenging enough. Well, the developers have listened. The first puzzle pack ‘Lost Orbit’ is noticeably harder than Q.U.B.E. 2 and requires you to think outside the box!
Story
Opposite to Q.U.B.E. 2, this Lost Orbit DLC doesn’t have a story. The game features an open world system where the player has to finish puzzle rooms in order to get to the master puzzle room, making this the goal of the game.
It is honestly okay that this DLC doesn’t include a story. The main game had a nice one, and this additional package is for the hardcore players looking to solve extra and more difficult puzzles.
Graphics
As with the main game, the 3D graphics are nicely done. You’re still aboard a space station, which becomes clear when you stare at the moon from where you’re standing and the moon looks rather big. The rooms don’t look all that different, white is still the main colour used in the structures and the environment reminds of Q.U.B.E. 2 in every way. The only exception is that there are more challenges, objects and blocks available since this is a harder version. This means the rooms are usually more packed and appear smaller, even though they aren’t.
Sound
The music is, again, similar to the main game, meaning there is barely any playing. This makes it easier to focus on the puzzles. Only very small pieces of the elaborate soundtrack are present in the game. This is a bit of a shame since there is a full soundtrack. However, if you buy the Season Pass, the soundtrack is included.
More important is the in-game sound that helps build this game. Since you’re in what seems like an abandoned space station, you’ll hear the wind and rumbling all around you. If you listen closely, you can even intercept some lost voice echoes. Again, the developers did a great job here.
Gameplay
Lost Orbit is a first-person puzzle game. It is the DLC of Q.U.B.E. 2 and is included in the Season Pass. It is the first of two puzzle packs available in this Pass, with the second yet to be announced.
Lost Orbit grants access to no less than ten new puzzle rooms and an additional master puzzle to finish it off. As with the main game, you’ll get blocks around the room from which you can activate different colors; blue, red and green. For those of you who don’t know this yet, blue blocks create bouncy cubes, red blocks can be extracted and retracted, and green blocks can generate green cubes which can then be further manipulated. Further manipulation can include using magnets, windblowers, and so on.
An open game structure is applied here. This means you’ll start in the main room and you can go into any room you please. There is no specific order in which you have to complete all rooms. This comes in handy when you can’t get a puzzle right away. If you’re sick of trying to solve a specific puzzle for a little, you can just leave the room and try another one first.
The Puzzle Pack adds a new element as well, proving the developers are still capable of bringing the players new experiences. Discover thirty-two hidden areas in order to find collectibles. These will change the flow of the gameplay and will also allow you to try out new challenges.
The best part of the Lost Orbit Puzzle Pack is the increased difficulty. It seems Toxic Games has listened to the fans, who often complained about the low difficulty of the game. Compared to Q.U.B.E. 2, you’ll need some more time in order to solve a puzzle. More elements are introduced. More blocks, objects, and challenges. The rooms clearly look more packed than the original sequel game. It feels like the developers have returned a bit more to the difficulty of the original Q.U.B.E. game, which only works in their favor.
Also included in the Season Pass is the original glove skin from Q.U.B.E. Loved by many players, but not available in the sequel, the iconic gloves are now introduced here. If you do prefer the new gloves, you can still play with those but purchasing the Season Pass will grant you access to the original gloves. But there is more! Not only the original gloves make a return, so does the old style of the game! You also have the possibility to switch between the old and new style during the gameplay.
Conclusion
It seems like Toxic Games is giving its best. Q.U.B.E. 2 was already loved by many. Their biggest letdown seemed to be the difficulty, so that’s what they focused on. They tackled this problem and came up with the Lost Orbit Puzzle Pack. It’s obvious that a lot of thought and time was put into creating these puzzles. Not only did the developers introduce more challenging puzzles in this DLC, they also added hidden areas with collectibles. For those players looking to follow a story on their journey, the Season Pass shouldn’t be recommended, but if you’re looking for some more puzzling fun, you’ll surely enjoy these extra puzzles! With no release date, nor a name available for the second Puzzle Pack, we can only hope it’ll be as enjoyable and challenging as the first one!
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