You, Me, and the Cubes
{{Short description|2009 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = You, Me, and the Cubes
| developer = From Yellow to Orange{{efn|Co-developed with T&E Soft.}}
| publisher = Nintendo
| platforms = Wii
| released = {{vgrelease|JP|March 26, 2009|NA|September 21, 2009|EU|September 25, 2009}}
| genre = Puzzle
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| director = Kenji Eno
| producer = Hiroshi Sato
}}
{{Nihongo foot|You, Me, and the Cubes|きみとぼくと立体|Kimi to Boku to Rittai|group=lower-alpha|lead=yes}} is a 2009 puzzle video game developed by From Yellow to Orange and published by Nintendo for the Wii. First released in Japan on March 26, 2009 as a WiiWare title, it was the first game directed by Kenji Eno since the release of D2 (1999).
Gameplay
You, Me, and the Cubes is a puzzle game where the goal is to place humanoid figures named Fallos onto floating cubes, while maintaining their balance. Each level is split into six sub-levels – reflecting the six sides of a cube – in which the player is given a time limit and a required amount of Fallos to place on the stage, such that each cube is occupied with at least one Fallo. By shaking the Wii Remote, the player can create two Fallos, one male and one female, and then fling them onto the stage. Once they land, the Fallos may affect the stage's balance, making the cubes tilt in the process. If a Fallo loses their footing and falls off the stage, time is retracted from the time limit. After clearing each sub-level, the stage turns to a different side and a new cube is added to the scene, during which any Fallo that is not stabilized is dropped into the void. After clearing the final sub-level, the remaining Fallos are tallied and the player is graded by the number remaining on the stage.{{Cite web |last=Torres |first=Ricardo |date=2009-09-16 |title=You, Me, & the Cubes First Look |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/you-me-and-the-cubes-first-look/1100-6228585/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331120318/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/you-me-and-the-cubes-first-look/1100-6228585/ |archive-date=2025-03-31 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}
As the player progresses through levels, they are greeted with various environmental hazards, as well as other cube types with different effects. After a Fallo falls off the stage, enemies named Shades will appear and attempt to knock other Fallos off the cubes. They can be defeated by throwing a Fallo at them.
Development
Following the release of D2 for the Dreamcast, Kenji Eno and his company Warp left the video game industry, choosing to focus on implementing services and branding for different companies under the name From Yellow to Orange. However, after seeing the Tokyo Game Show 2005 reveal of the Wii Remote, Eno became interested in developing a game for the Wii, and got in touch with Nintendo.{{Cite news |last=Kohler |first=Chris |title=You, Me, the Cubes, Kenji Eno, and Tokyo Curry |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/09/kenji-eno/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222192507/https://www.wired.com/2009/09/kenji-eno/ |archive-date=2016-12-22 |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} The game was developed by a team of roughly ten people, with T&E Soft handling programming, design and sound implementation.{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0904/p2/index03.html |title=You, Me, and the Cubes Interview - N.O.M. April 2009 (Page 3 of 5) |publisher=Nintendo Online Magazine |access-date=21 April 2025 |archive-date=7 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090407100012/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0904/p2/index03.html |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.tandesoft.co.jp/development/index.html |title=T&E Soft Development Results |access-date=21 April 2025 |archive-date=29 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629030509/http://www.tandesoft.co.jp/development/index.html |url-status=dead}}
You, Me, and the Cubes was released by Nintendo on March 26, 2009 on the WiiWare service in Japan,{{Cite web |last=Tanaka |first=John |date=2009-03-26 |title=Kenji Eno Revived on WiiWare |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/26/kenji-eno-revived-on-wiiware |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250331140848/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/26/kenji-eno-revived-on-wiiware |archive-date=2025-03-31 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=IGN |language=en}} and later in September that same year in North America and Europe.{{Cite web |last=van Duyn |first=Marcel |date=2009-09-24 |title=Nintendo Download: R-Type, Cubes, Monkey Island, Poker and Cookery (EU) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/09/nintendo_download_r_type_cubes_monkey_island_poker_and_cookery_eu |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=van Duyn |first=Marcel |date=2009-09-21 |title=Nintendo Download: Cubes, Ninjas, Tennis, Strategy Games and Cameras (US) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2009/09/nintendo_download_cubes_ninjas_tennis_strategy_games_and_cameras_us |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 79/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/you-me-and-the-cubes/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=You, Me, and the Cubes Critic Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom Inc. |accessdate=April 21, 2025}}
}}
You, Me, and the Cubes received generally positive reviews from critics. Philip J. Reed of Nintendo Life gave the game a 8/10 score, praising its simplistic yet logical and thoughtful gameplay.{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Philip J. |date=2009-09-25 |title=Review: You, Me, and the Cubes (WiiWare) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/09/you_me_and_the_cubes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114072232/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/09/you_me_and_the_cubes |archive-date=2025-01-14 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB}} Lucas M. Thomas of IGN gave the game a 8.5/10 score, noting its strong gameplay and unique visual style.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=2009-09-21 |title=You, Me & The Cubes Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/21/you-me-the-cubes-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617165751/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/21/you-me-the-cubes-review |archive-date=2024-06-17 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=IGN |language=en}} In contrast, bitmob of VentureBeat was disappointed by the game's shallowness but still appreciative its quirky nature.{{Cite web |last=bitmob |date=2010-09-15 |title=Reviews of Old Games: You, Me, and the Cubes |url=https://venturebeat.com/gbunfiltered/reviews-of-old-games-you-me-and-the-cubes/ |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}
Notes
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/wkbj/index.html Official Japanese site]
Category:Video games directed by Kenji Eno