Originally titled Animal Leader, Cubivore
is one of several Nintendo 64 games that was dropped in
favor of a Gamecube release (along with Eternal
Darkness, Starfox Adventures,
and Animal Crossing [released on N64
in Japan]). Other than being in higher resolution, the
game would still be quite at home on the older Nintendo
console.
What the game lacks in visual finesse, it makes up with
style. The game world is heavily geometric and squared
off whenever possible. Game play is very Darwinian in
nature—Survival of the Fittest IS the games byline—with
quite a bit of whimsy.
The game is literally "eat or be eaten". You
attack other creatures, eventually tearing off and eating
geometric limbs to evolve and mutate into different Cubivores,
in your quest to obtain "Wilderness" and become
"The King of Cuibvores". There are several factors
in mutation, including your number of limbs, and the different
colors (or meat) of your limbs. There are 100 mutations
overall and there are hidden, "rare" mutations
to find, but the game ramps up nicely and never becomes
too complex.
You attack animals your own size and run from the bigger
ones until you are stronger. Fighting can be a little
awkward, but is fun overall. You eventually attack boss
Cubivores, mate, die, learn a few things in the afterlife,
and reincarnate several times along your way.
While the different animals are abstract (basically Cubes
with different square limbs), they are animate differently
and will remind you of birds, dogs, snakes and other creatures.
Sound is minimal but well done. The game dialogue is well
written and adds to the charm.
Overall Cubivore is a stylish and unique
game with enough game play to back it up. If you like
unusual games, by all means track down a copy.
2008 ben langberg, all rights reserved.