COGconnected's Scores

  • Games
For 4,978 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 Final Fantasy XVI
Lowest review score: 10 Wander (2013)
Score distribution:
4983 game reviews
    • 73 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    While all the components are very familiar, the game is well-designed to be what it is. If a certain feature is derivative, that’s because it works for the story and gameplay experience. You can tell that this game is a labor of love, and it is maintained by a team that not only loves the source material, but loves fun games as well. And since my Switch is portable, I can grind for levels wherever I go, and take the Amazing Flamefist to the levelcap and beyond.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    As a whole package, ONINAKI is a decent title. While there is somewhat of a lack of additional activities to do, it fits in extremely well with the game’s narrative. Furthermore, the narrative of ONINAKI reeled me in from start to finish. It could be described as intriguing or mysterious, though at times predictable. ONINAKI is by no means the best in the genre but offers a strong foundation for Tokyo RPG Factory to build off of in the future.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    My time with Remnant was a total roller-coaster. There were moments of pure, unfiltered rage, peaks of elation, ah-ha moments, and quiet zen grinds. For the most part though, it's just a steady climb. The developers are not shy about how hard this game is. If that's your cup of tea, perfect! Every victory will be hard-fought, bloody, and beautiful once behind you. I just couldn't shake the small, nagging sense that my few successes weren't earned. I just got lucky, squeaking through the cracks. More than this minor unease, my playtime was marked by anger, by exasperated breaths and whitened knuckles. I ended up having more fun than I expected to, but that shiny nugget of suffering remains. Heed my wary words and proceed at your peril. If a tough time is your aim, then Remnant: From the Ashes is absolutely your game.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    A stunning game capable of bringing joy to those who play it, Gravity Ghost provides a phenomenal experience where our eyes and ears beg for more. With a heartfelt narrative and a beautiful soundtrack, it not only provides a visual experience but also incredible gravity physics and movement. It is a great addition to any library as it is easy to pick up, is surprisingly relaxing, and helps you wind down after a long day.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Sadly, there’s no way to know what life in a computer is actually like. Exception does a damn fine job of imagining it, though. If nothing else, I hope that any sufficiently-advanced AI civilization would naturally gravitate towards neon and synth. I never got enough mileage out of the special moves, but I did love zipping around this weird little world. The soundtrack alone is almost worth the price of admission, which should lay bare my artistic priorities. If your dreams of entering the net remain withered, perhaps a little time with Exception will soothe your soul.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Wreckin’ Ball Adventure is a decent platformer that combines some existing gameplay elements and tries to do something relatively unique. While we generally don’t discuss price in reviews – it’s worth noting that Wreckin’ Ball Adventure is very cheap. Even if you have the slightest interest in it, I’d encourage you to give it a go. It’s hard to have buyers remorse if the game is cheaper than a meal at a fast food restaurant.
    • 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.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Rad
    RAD is a fun, weird, rogue-like game that is incredibly approachable for all players. Whether you love the challenge of sudden death or you just want to branch out, Double Fine has made a game that caters to both sides and has fun doing it. The heavily 80’s inspired content is refreshing and quite enjoyable from the soundtrack and over-saturated colors to cassette tapes and floppy disks as currency. Every death is met with joy and curiosity as to what horrible cartoonish monstrous limbs I’ll mutate in my next run and I could easily play for hours on end.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    If you have played Mutant Year Zero on a console before and are thinking of picking this up for on the go, you may be advised to skip as the compromises are a bit jarring, given this was once a very atmospheric game. The downgrade, combined with text and menus not being scaled for Switch, can start to make you feel like a person with poor eyesight.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Friday the 13th: Ultimate Slasher Edition is not perfect by any means, but it is a perfect representation of the movie series as a whole. By providing players thrills and tense moments any Nintendo Switch owning horror fan should enjoy it, even with some of its deficiencies. The additional DLC extras, offline mode and various goodies all add to the package, and developer Black Tower Studios’s effort is one that would make even Mrs. Voorhees proud.
    • 54 Metascore
    • 74 Critic Score
    The Great Perhaps does not offer anything that we haven’t seen before in its gameplay, but there is an understated beauty in its presentation that I found haunting (literally … you’ll see). The trial-and-error nature of some of its puzzles may cause you to reach for a bottle of Vodka in frustration, but its world has a certain sad and subdued charm that will, in both past and present, motivate you to keep trudging along in order to save it.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    With each tear shed, the story of Rei searching for her little sister all the while defeating enemies and being burdened with their last words is much deeper and darker than I expected. The use of the crying mechanics and turning her tears and sad thoughts into strength is a really unique and interesting idea. That paired with the beautiful art style, character designs and interesting story, we almost have a perfect game. Unfortunately, with the less than stellar combat mechanics, the lack of enemy variety and the lack of differentiating dungeons, it may not entice players who also want fluid gameplay. However for fans who do like narrative-driven and linear games along with dark themes and gorgeous designs, then this is definitely a title that should be added to your library.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    So while the new wrinkles of Alignment present some fun twists on gameplay, and being able to become the Emperor yourself is another cool twist, it’s not going to be enough to bring you over if Total War isn’t your jam already. It’s more of the same with some changes throughout to keep it pretty fresh. If you enjoyed the main game and have an itch to come back, I recommend picking up Eight Princes if you were aiming to do another playthrough. If you are waiting for something different and novel to come along and really shake up Three Kingdoms, then I would say hold on to your dynasty hat for the time being.
    • 50 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    While there’s definitely promise in the concept of Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot, the shiny visuals don’t make up for the lack of content and subpar execution. It’s a decent showpiece for the PSVR, but at this point in the platform’s lifecycle something with more meat is the expectation.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble is a great improvement on its predecessor Tiny Metal. If you like Tiny Metal or Advance Wars you will likely enjoy Full Metal. The price of $18.89 CAD for this game is a good deal if you are a fan of the genre. There was plenty of content both in the campaign and through the skirmish mode. The character models were well done with an overall pleasant art style. All things considered, this is a solid turn-based strategy game that builds well on the previous game.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    In sum, The Church in the Darkness is a highly replayable game with shifting gameplay goals for each playthrough. The dynamic narrative that changes the motives of the cult leaders leads encourages players to give it another go, make new choices and achieve new endings. You’ll have to endure its technical mishaps, but if you get past those, you’ll have fun investigating the diverse versions of this mysterious cult.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Moonlighter: Between Dimensions is a hearty post-game DLC that lets its devoted fan base keep playing more and more of the solid adventurer/merchant amalgamation mechanics. It offers new challenges in the dimensional dungeon, new gear to craft, and countless hours to sink into getting that perfect gear. While on paper it doesn’t seem like much is being added, it’s going to take a lot of work for even the hardiest of player to get through this new threat. While the gameplay and narrative is as solid as you would expect from 11 Bit Studios, the cost to upgrade is really it’s only downside.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Metal Wolf Chaos XD is a priceless artifact, a flawed gem the size of your fist that must be seen to be believed. Especially if you’ve got a history with From Software’s other mech titles. This is a critical link in the chain with no equal in the genre’s history. On the other hand, if none of that applies to you, hot damn this game has issues. The premise and the execution are wildly disparate elements. The pacing is stuttered and archaic. The mechanics at play are padded yet flat. I can’t fault that timeless voice acting either way, though. My thoughts on the game aside, hearing president Wilson and co. deliver their lines is absolute delight. Metal Wolf Chaos XD is a weird, wonky game you should almost definitely, probably, see for yourself.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Super Mutant Alien Assault has a long name and a lot of heart. The challenging gameplay mixed with sharp looking graphics and fairly good sound, all work to create an entertaining but short-lasting game. In the end it is an enjoyable little distraction when you just want to jump into a game and have only a small amount of time to do so.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    The content you get from this is incredibly worthwhile, and the challenge the bosses’ present feel achievable without being frustrating. If you already own Darksiders 3 you should buy this DLC and get the full experience, but the fact you NEED the DLC to feel like you have the full game is unfortunate to say the least. Had this been included in the game at launch and the much-needed QOL upgrades been implemented, Darksiders 3 would have truly been the successor of the franchise.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    As a big fan of Stranger Things, I found some decent fun to be had with ST3TG. It’s genuinely exciting to take control of these characters we’ve gotten to know over the past three seasons, even as 16-bit renditions of themselves. I also really loved discovering the locations we’ve seen on the show. The fan service on display here might be enough to sell enthusiasts of the show, however, it’s tough to recommend this for anyone who hasn’t seen it.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Every component of GORN, from the huge assortment of weaponry to the strange physics, comes together to deliver exactly what is promised: bloody, melee carnage. It’s a no-frills experience that doesn’t concern itself with anything extraneous, like moral questions or a narrative. For some, that’s more than enough. For others, GORN is at least worth checking out, if just to see first-hand how gross dislocated eyeballs are. It’s pretty gross.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Horace is a charming homage to an era of gaming and culture that’s rapidly fading into the sunset, yet it never rests on the nostalgia factor to keep the player engaged. The sound design is messy and the cutscenes can run on too long, but its affecting story and sharp, fun platforming are bound to satisfy anyone keen on the genre. Nostalgia may be a common crutch, but with a sturdy foundation beneath it, Horace shows that feeling a little sentimentality isn’t a bad thing at all.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Professor Lupo and His Horrible Pets is anything but horrible. It is astoundingly creative with an interesting array of monsters and a touch of dark humor. The random, meaningless deaths and the sense of apathy when “running” away from monsters creates a whole new mood for the player. Some controls are questionable but you are not stuck with them as the game presents many options for movement and saving your intern’s skin. With the difficult puzzles and impressive details put into its planning, the game succeeds in providing a fun challenge suitable for anybody who is willing to die a few times to get it right.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    The Madden faithful can purchase Madden NFL 20 with confidence as they do every year. On its own, it’s the best and only NFL experience in town but I would not blame you at all for skipping out this year. Madden NFL 20 remains only marginally better than Madden 19.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    With a few small hiccups along the road that can probably be easily ironed out, and as long as you have patience in abundance, The Blackout Club is a good time. With never ending levels and missions to complete, and the interesting Stalker mode, the replay potential is sky high. If you have a small group of friends to play it with, it makes things that much better. Overall The Blackout Club offers a genuinely scary experience that is not only intense, but equally fun. Honestly, this is cooperative gameplay, with a dash of horror, at its absolute finest.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    If you've had a Fire Emblem-shaped hole in your heart till now, Fire Emblem: Three Houses will leave you breathless, sleepless, and eager for more. I know I'll be lost in this new world for months to come.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 69 Critic Score
    Wolfenstein Youngblood looks great and has solid shooting mechanics, but misses the mark when it comes to the things that have become Wolfenstein’s greatest strengths. Without the wacky hijinx and startlingly engaging story of The New Colossus, Youngblood is a good co-op shooter that will struggle to stand out from the crowd. Strange design choices and repetitive quests try to bring it down further, but delicious good looks and flexible progression systems could make it attractive to the right suitor. And hey, killing Nazis never goes out of style.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    While 198X did not quite live up to expectations set by its undeniably awesome trailer, the game has displayed a dedication to what it set out to do. Though its narrative at times felt more like a method to which to introduce the various levels, it definitely left me wanting to learn more about the world. Similarly, the game’s relatively shallow stages made we wish that they had been more fleshed out. Sitting at a playtime of somewhere between one and two hours, 198X gives players a glimpse of the retro-inspired world that the developers have crafted, leaving players wanting more of what they got.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Fighting games come with their own language, one assembled out of controls, concepts, and character types. We’re so well-versed in this dialect that it can be jarring to try and pick up a new one. Fantasy Strike lays this daunting task at your feet with comfort and ease. Before long, you’re wholly absorbed in the game’s unique rhythms. At the same time, you’re learning the basics common to all fighting games. When to block, when to counter, what moves work best, and when. With a little patience, you can pretty good at this game. Yet if you spend enough time in these trenches, you’ll end up better at all of them. While it’s not perfect, Fantasy Strike is a rock-solid entry in the larger fighting pantheon.

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