QUBE badly wants to be portal but comes across as a cheap imitation.

The gameplay is sluggish; like you're trying to run underwater. It takes several seconds just to extend a single red block. If you make a mistake, you have to wait for the animation to finish before you can reverse it. This makes the act of playing a frustrating chore.
The puzzles are less puzzling than frustrating, I never had a moment of eureka during my time with QUBE, but many times I found the solution and thought "finally". Nothing feels clever or unexpected. It's basic.
The story drags this game along, kicking and screaming. The central mystery is mildly compelling, and the setting has some intrigue. It imitates Portal's Rat Man hideaways, where certain stages will have a hidden entrance that gives you a glimpse into the dark secrets of your surroundings. Except, in QUBE, these secrets are mostly more of the same. Your first find may feel mysterious, but as you progress you realise they're not really hinting at anything. Games have secrets, so QUBE has secrets; that's all there is to it.

By the time I'd finished Stage 5 the will to see the conclusion of the story reached equilibrium with my frustration with the mechanics. The unreliable physics, halfhearted attempts at mystery, and laborious gameplay brought me to a halt.
I didn't finish QUBE. I recommend you never start it.

QUBE badly wants to be portal but comes across as a cheap imitation. The gameplay is sluggish; like you're trying to run underwater. It takes several seconds just to extend a single red block. If you make a mistake, you have to wait for the animation to finish before you can reverse it. This makes the act of playing a frustrating chore. The puzzles are less puzzling than frustrating, I never had a moment of eureka during my time with QUBE, but many times I found the solution and thought "finally". Nothing feels clever or unexpected. It's basic. The story drags this game along, kicking and screaming. The central mystery is mildly compelling, and the setting has some intrigue. It imitates Portal's Rat Man hideaways, where certain stages will have a hidden entrance that gives you a glimpse into the dark secrets of your surroundings. Except, in QUBE, these secrets are mostly more of the same. Your first find may feel mysterious, but as you progress you realise they're not really hinting at anything. Games have secrets, so QUBE has secrets; that's all there is to it. By the time I'd finished Stage 5 the will to see the conclusion of the story reached equilibrium with my frustration with the mechanics. The unreliable physics, halfhearted attempts at mystery, and laborious gameplay brought me to a halt. I didn't finish QUBE. I recommend you never start it.