COGconnected
HomepageCOGconnected's Reviews
I’m always almost in love with Mana games. There’s just some minor thing that won’t click into place. Visions of Mana is no exception. I’m hooked by the story and the characters are gorgeous. I have a lot of fun exploring this world and meeting all these fascinating people. But the combat still feels a little stiff and sluggish. Battle customization is a mile wide and an inch deep. The plot dragged me by the collar, and the boss fights were a pleasant highlight. I wish the regular combat had some similar hooks to deploy, however. If you’ve been waiting for the next great Mana game, I honestly don’t know if this is the one. But Visions is pretty great for a Mana game.
Astro Bot is a delightful adventure that blends original ideas with a solid platforming foundation, delivering an experience that has long been missing from the PlayStation Studios catalog.
Puzzle-platformers are nothing new, but Squirrel with a Gun’s sandbox approach and jumping-shooting mechanics help it transcend the absurdist title. The game squirrels away a lot of fun and engaging gameplay that will surprise players not expecting the game’s variety and depth. All I know is, I’ll never look at our neighborhood squirrels quite the same way again.
Thirteen years is a long time in video game history and technology. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 obviously looks and plays much better than the 2011 original. Fans of the first game will appreciate the continuing saga of the main character and the seamless integration of Warhammer lore. Action gamers without a moment of prior Warhammer experience will enjoy it, too. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is operatic, visceral, violent and unrelenting. It can be repetitive, too, but that’s best balanced by the creativity and camaraderie of human players blasting bugs by your side.
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is an excellent remaster of two great visual novels. If you’re a fan of the Ace Attorney series, then these are must-play. If you’re new to the Ace Attorney series, then I recommend starting with the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. My only complaint about these games is that they’re really similar to other games in the series, gameplay-wise. And they don’t have the series’ best stories. There are also only two games in this collection, when other series collections have three. But the price is right at $54.99 CAD, and they’re great games, despite not being the series’ best. The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is a loving remaster of two fun visual novels, one of which hasn’t been available until now.
The Casting of Frank Stone takes a more measured approach to storytelling than The Dark Pictures Anthology, Until Dawn or The Quarry. It spends a long time getting to know its relatively small cast. When the scares and horror really kick in, they pack a punch because we’ve come to care about the characters. Excellent cinematic visual direction, an engaging mystery and top-notch voice acting are the stars of a game-slash-movie easily worth the price of a ticket.
All in all, Fate/stay night REMASTERED is a flawed masterpiece landmark title in gaming. If you’re a fan of visual novels, fantasy, or want to start the Fate franchise at the very beginning, this is your chance.
Gori: Cuddly Carnage is a manic action adventure that successfully combines multiple gameplay elements. Traversing the world is a thrill and is accentuated through platform-focused segments. Unfortunately, the basic combat gets tedious due to the lack of depth and repetitive missions. Although that portion is underwhelming, it’s still a chaotic crusade packed with style.
In its day, Age of Mythology introduced some compelling new ideas into the real time strategy genre. While I think it’s overdue for a complete remake, Age of Mythology: Retold is an excellent way to reacquaint players with a genuine classic, and a perfect introduction for gamers new to the title.
For fans of the franchise, Gundam Breaker 4 is a successful reward for the patient faithful. For casual Gundam players not deeply invested in the series, Gundam Breaker 4 is a surprisingly good introduction to the experience. After a few hours in its virtual battles, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll want to start building a collection of Gunpla. Clear your shelves and enjoy.
Dustborn tells a touching tale brimming with personality and political messages with each character offering a unique perspective that enriches the narrative. While these diverse viewpoints occasionally lead to inconsistencies in tone, the game succeeds in delivering a strong, but potentially divisive, story. The musical elements provide a refreshing twist to the gameplay, standing out against the uninspiring combat. Overall, Dustborn adds various elements to the interactive drama genre, and while not all are equally successful, the game offers a compelling experience that will resonate with those seeking an ambitious tale.
Outlaws is an excellent Star Wars game. It’s also aggressively not for me. I felt tangible disappointment whenever a new mission required quietly infiltrating an enemy base. But I also recognize that the systems at work here are well-crafted ones. The enemy AI is fun to learn the limits of. You have multiple ways of quietly taking out guards. Most bases have alternate routes for infiltration. The grenade system is awful, but combat is otherwise tense and engaging. There’s all sorts of little activities like speeder racing and gambling. If you’re looking to live that scoundrel lifestyle in a galaxy far, far away then this game is made for you.
Thanks to its art direction and genuinely creative use of Sims-like mechanics, Closer the Distance gets your attention. What keeps you enthralled, emotionally engaged, and frequently discomforted is its pitch-perfect exploration of some very difficult subject matter. It’s a heavy game but absolutely worth your time.
With College Football 25 being a ton of fun and Madden 25 taking a large step in the right direction, I can safely say that I’m excited for what’s to come. See you on the gridiron.
To be fair, the good parts of Ava are great. Having different songs for different species of monsters is terribly clever. The non-violent combat is an awesome twist, and the writing is spot-on. But I found myself worn down by the make-work in between these sections. Constantly scanning, scavenging, and crafting is a real drag. On the other hand, maybe you’ll find these activities more soothing than I did. You can also pet like, basically every creature you meet. If you’re looking for a gorgeous, well-written, and deeply connected tale of hubris versus nature, this is it. Creatures of Ava is exactly what you’ve been searching for. But bear in mind that some of the work involved in saving a planet is pretty mundane.
Before playing Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, I was intrigued by a new Capcom IP, but had no desire to play a tower defense game. I ended up being pleasantly surprised with the creative way Capcom fused tower defense with third person action. The combat itself wasn’t a highlight, but the unique way the gameplay was structured really pulled me in. If you’re at all curious about Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, definitely give it a try. It completely exceeded my expectations.
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a cozy delight, a joyful reminiscence of childhood. It’s easy to pick up and can be played day by day. All this with little pressure and many easy-going hours of play.
Cat Quest 3’s style is its calling card, but the surprise comes from its addictive and unexpectedly deep gameplay systems and mechanics. It’s a full-fledged ARPG with cat and pirate trappings. Fans of felines and suckers for swashbucklers of any age should enjoy the adventure. Cat Quest 3 releases on August 8–International Cat Day.
Pepper Grinder is an innovative platformer that doubles down on its unique gameplay mechanic. Rather than just sticking with the premise, it evolves and adds new ideas to make levels distinct. Although there’s a difficulty spike with bosses and the controls take a little to get used to, the short adventure is a thrill. For fans of platformers looking for something that pushes the genre in a novel direction, Pepper Grinder is a treasure worth unearthing.
All in all, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is a strong introduction to the world of Zemuria. And it may have the best pacing of any game in the series. If you’ve ever been curious about the Trails series, love the Trails series, or just want a new RPG, check this title out.