COGconnected's Scores

  • Games
For 5,008 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 62% higher than the average critic
  • 6% same as the average critic
  • 32% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 0.3 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 75
Highest review score: 100 Super Mario Odyssey
Lowest review score: 10 Wander (2013)
Score distribution:
5013 game reviews
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Hellblade’s rewarding combat system and its larger story that deals with mental health in a significant way make for a great cinematic journey that isn’t afraid to embrace its linearity. While I would have liked to see the same kind of ambition in the puzzle design, Senua’s Sacrifice is a worthy addition alongside the likes of the severely underrated Enslaved: Odyssey to the West.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Atari has done an excellent job with this upgrade of a classic game. If you like the original game and would like to play it with modern gameplay sensibilities, this is right up, or down, your alley.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Katamari Damacy Reroll is a fantastic remake of a piece of nostalgia. While some of its kinks still need to be worked out, it remains an experience that is nothing short of brilliant and is a lot of fun. Not to mention, it is easy to pick up and learn. With its exceptional soundtrack, Katamari Damacy Reroll should continue to thrive for years to come.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Whether or not Terraformers is the game for you depends a lot on what you are looking for. This isn’t a digital garden that you can plant and watch grow. This is a brutal series of tough choices. It’s about resource allocation, long-term planning, and a decent amount of luck. I was hoping Terraformers would help transport me off this dying Earth into a science-fiction fantasy. It did not. Instead, I found a challenging strategy game that distracted me in a whole different way. It made me into someone who needed to play for just one more turn. That is decidedly familiar territory! But a space I enjoy. Terraformers won’t transport you to another world, but it will help you puzzle your way through the hours on this one.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Overall, Young Souls feels like a more mature cartoon in video game form, in a good way. It features two strong gameplay loops with satisfying elements and feedback. While there were some gameplay decisions that I wish were different, Young Souls is a solid package. Also as a note, it ran smoothly via Stadia, which was actually my first experience with the platform. All in all, Young Souls is a video game experience that is more than it first appears, and should not be overlooked.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    There’s nothing I like more in video games than when a developer thinks outside of the box. Wonderful ideas and worlds can be bred from experimentation, much like the culinary world that Battle Chef Brigade champions. The contrasting gameplay styles, a beautifully designed world, and interesting characters combine into a delightful game that just doesn’t last long enough. Trinket Studios should be proud of their efforts, and I’m looking forward to whatever is next out of its kitchen.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Even if you haven’t played a Vertex Pop game before (you probably should, because they’re great!), Super Crush KO is the one you should start with. It plays like a dream thanks to responsive controls and smooth as silk gameplay. It’s an arcade brawler through and through, so combat takes the spotlight. Stringing combos is the name of the game and it feels awesome when you’ve conquered unbeatable odds without taking a single hit. It might be a bit on the short side, but man does it feel good to play. Don’t ignore Super Crush KO, it demands your attention.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    All around, Super Cloudbuilt took me from a baby just learning how to walk all the way to an angsty teenager yelling at the screen. A full blown adult who’s in full control of his movement? No way—I’m barely that in real life, but I reached a level of confidence that brought excitement and not apprehension when I leaped for a platform that might just be too far out of reach. Super Cloudbuilt isn’t a perfect experience, but a fun one without a doubt.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    I have and will continue to enjoy my time with WWE 2K23. It’s nowhere near the overall improvement 2K22 was when compared to 2K20. But it didn’t need to be. 2K23 is a fantastic follow-up to last year’s game. If Visual Concepts continues in this direction, it won’t be long before the WWE series stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the giants of the sports game genre.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    All-in-all, Duelyst is a high quality, collectible strategy card game.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    If you are nostalgic for the gaming scene of the 90s, The Big Con is a can’t-miss throwback. But even if you are maybe a little younger, or sick of wallowing in that most radical of eras, you may find a lot to like. It’s certainly a very cool con artist story, which is appealing to me. Funny and a little melancholy, The Big Con is exactly the sort of adventure game I’ve been wanting to play for decades.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Like a silent assassin, you won't see Mark of the Ninja coming, and by the time it hits you, you'll already be hooked.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Marvel Cosmic Invasion is one of the best beat ’em ups to date. The inclusion of a secondary character elevates the combat, letting you juggle enemies and rack up massive combos with ease. Each hero feels distinctive, with bespoke movement and attacks that make experimenting with different team combinations a thrill. While the campaign is short, it encourages replaying levels to complete challenges and unlock extra content. Paired with its stunning presentation, the game stands as one of the genre’s finest modern examples.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Current issues aside, the PC version of Spider-Man 2 is just as thrilling and engrossing as laid out in our PS5 review. The story and characters grab you emotionally. The production values are top-notch across the board. If you are looking to play the ultimate version of Spider-Man 2, this is the version to play.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    In sum, Telling Lies represents a niche genre that explores interactive storytelling in a very unique way. The game’s director, Sam Barlow, evolved the Her Story formula, but at a cost. After all, what makes the game so good also reveals its flaws. The ending, for example, can feel very anticlimactic depending on how you uncover specific videos. Still, as the saying goes, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” And Telling Lies is quite a journey — hopefully, one that will inspire many more story-driven games to come. Now go, awaken the sleuth inside you.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Obviously, no fan needs every faction and race. But if you love Total War: Warhammer III and the Chaos side of things, Forge of the Chaos Dwarfs is an excellent addition to the game. The Chaos Dwarfs bring a unique style of play and offer an engaging new way to experience the campaigns. The Chaos Dwarfs are also a ton of fun in skirmishes. It’s on the pricey side compared to prior DLC, but absolutely worth it for fans of the game.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    It might not be perfect but this is probably the most underrated “next-gen” feature I’ve seen on the new consoles. Xbox Fitness succeeds in “gamifying” its workouts like no fitness game before it.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Return to Monkey Island is fantastic. Brilliantly written and full of charm, the game manages to deliver a fresh experience in a nostalgic world. Even though the new art direction is divisive, the storytelling and humor are top-notch and make this a highlight of the franchise.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The remake of Until Dawn stays true to the essence of the original while delivering a much-needed modernization for today’s gaming standards. The stunning graphical overhaul significantly heightens the realism, making the story more immersive and the horror more palpable. Enhanced camera angles refine the gameplay, adding a smoother experience during key moments. While returning players might find the updates limited in terms of new content, those who are discovering this horror classic for the first time are in for an unforgettable experience.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR is probably the best action game available for the Meta Quest 3 system and I’d go so far as to call it a hardware-seller. It’s certainly an impressive proof-of-concept for the standalone headset. As an Assassin’s Creed game, it nails the series’ classic stealth and parkour moves, all the more impressive in virtual reality. It isn’t an open world game, but all the better for it. I’d say it’s a must-buy for new Quest 3 owners.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    It will inevitably leave you itching for your next race.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    It might be a bit pricey for the amount of content you get, but Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a well-crafted fighter combat experience with lots of high-flying fun. It pulls you in right away with a nice balance between arcade action and detailed realism, and the core dogfighting experience is consistently enjoyable. Plus, if you’ve got a PSVR this is a must-play, with a level of immersion that you’d need a real airplane – or maybe one of those military training simulators – to match. Strap yourself in, rookie, because Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is a wild ride.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    While it seems strange at first, Phantom: Covert Ops has been one of my best experiences with VR to date. Despite playing the entire game from within a kayak and a formulaic narrative, the meat of the game comes from its impeccable mechanics and immersion. Phantom: Covert Ops uses realistic water physics for its locomotion in a way that lets the player avoid any feeling of nausea or discomfort. The layout of your gear is convenient and easy, and the control scheme takes minutes to master. It’s an exciting experience that puts you in the shoes of a special agent and you feel empowered while playing. For fans of stealth games who are just getting into VR this is an essential experience, and one that sets the bar for stealth in VR.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Taken as a whole, Trek to Yomi is an impressive homage to classic Japanese action films. It looks and sounds incredible, with art direction and music that are impeccably authentic to both history and cinema. As an action game, Trek to Yomi is engaging but a bit lacking in variety and depth, with controls and animations less polished than its visuals. Trek to Yomi is a fascinating and altogether unique experience, worth playing if you're a fan of great samurai films or simply enjoy new variations on the action game formula.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Aside from the wonky camera, the battles are fast-paced and rewarding that makes the game stand out amongst other Final Fantasy titles giving a unique experience.
    • 61 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    A transcendent fusion of color, music and movement, We Are Doomed is as close as you will get to poetry in a twin-stick shooter.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    With the promise of DLC, on top of the essentially endless gameplay, Forager is easily something you’ll get bang for your buck with. The eShop price may seem a little high, but considering just how polished the experience comes off, it makes a strong case for your time. In what is already a surprisingly substantial offering, the promise of additional content may seem intimidating considering just how much there is to do already, but with no end in sight, I don’t really care to be honest. I eagerly look forward to returning again and again to Forager’s expanding isles for the foreseeable future.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Overall, I Am Dead is still the solid title it was when it was first released on the PC and Nintendo Switch. While it’s short and the gameplay loop does get repetitive, the overall narrative, aesthetics, and audio turn Shelmerston into a beautiful location. Whether it was the traditions of the island, the history of its residents, or simply the beautiful locations, Shelmerston was easily the highlight of my experience. While I Am Dead ultimately explores the afterlife, including memories of those who have passed, I could not help but place greater interest in the overall setting and its residents, both dead or alive.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    After completing ECHO, I can’t wait to see what ULTRA ULTRA does next, hopefully refining and then incorporating the system they’ve developed for this learning AI. Beating yourself at your own game feels satisfying, and losing yourself feels fair. Now, if they can just make the protagonist feel more powerful but throw in some enemy variety and more complications to deal with that power level, they’ll be set.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Humanity is weird and wonderful. Like all great puzzlers, its premise is simple and the challenge steadily grows. THA Limited continues to innovate throughout the entirety of the game and manages to couple each triumph with jubilation. The odd difficulty spike may leave you perplexed, and a hint system rather than a complete solution would have been beneficial, however, this puzzler is one of the best in recent times and is a must for fans of the genre.

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