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
    • 74 Metascore
    • 74 Critic Score
    Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars is an homage to its predecessors and loaded with fan fare of the original games. The controls are simple and easy to manage, the graphics pleasing, and once the ball starts rolling you truly feel like the leader of an entire civilization.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Ultimately, this was two hours in which nothing was accomplished. I feel no closer to the new members of the team and I don’t see any reason why this journey was worth telling. It was recycled, mundane, and lacking in every way. Episode 2 is a huge letdown compared to the solid beginnings of Episode 1. There’s still time to right the ship, and I’m really hoping they manage to do just that.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    There may be no battle royale mode in this bundle, but if you want a trip down memory lane that’s more than just a lazy port, then the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection is an excellent bit of history that mostly holds up. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some quarters to dig out of my PS4.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 58 Critic Score
    Silent Hope has an interesting and fun idea, playing into the silent protagonist trope. Overall, the concept is bogged by shallow gameplay execution and enemies that feel janky and unrefined. It does however thrive in it’s endearing design. Though it might be a little more enjoyable if you’re here solely here for quick dungeon runs, but even that aspect falls a bit short.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Harvestella isn’t trying to innovate anything. It’s a cozy throwback JRPG that stands apart by having a heavier emphasis on life sim elements. But it’s a story driven action JRG at its core, not a farming sim. Harvest Moon fans will probably be disappointed by its lack of farming mechanic depth, but fans of classic JRPGs who don’t normally love life sim games might really love it. Anyone who really enjoyed Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, or the multi-gameplay-style of the ActRaiser games should really take note.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Set in a wonderfully creative, surprisingly sensitive portrayal of a time period as human as any other, The Stone of Madness is a real gem in the mind of those who play it. At some point, I even stopped noticing Alfredo’s stupid hat.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    The single player campaign is a wild ride despite its underwhelming storyline and short play through while the multiplayer aspects of the game take the cake and raise the franchise to even higher heights. It's jam packed with all sorts of new content from an engaging squads mode, a hectic Extinction mode and a new slate of multiplayer features to keep the core Call of Duty gamers playing for hours on end.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 74 Critic Score
    It still boasts some great artwork and dramatic story beats while serving up a few interesting surprises, even if lacking in the action department.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Clunky controls, frequent and time consuming travels between areas and the ability to literally skip through all of the challenging sections are real setbacks to what could have otherwise been a very enjoyable game.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    One Piece Odyssey is first and foremost made for longtime followers of the manga and anime. That said, there is enough backstory and information to keep the casual gamer engaged. One Piece Odyssey is a robust, well-made JRPG that’s faithful to the core audience but fun for almost any turn-based action fan. Aside from the somewhat annoying, patchwork pacing and occasionally repetitive backtracking, One Piece Odyssey’s combat and oddball characters are fun to spend time with.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    I’m really glad that a game like Disc Jam has released and has as much polish as it does. I think they went a little overboard with the cosmetics and not enough on character variety, but those minor things that I can overlook since the core of the gameplay don’t rely on those things. It a great game that I could easily recommend on any platform as long as you use a controller.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The lack of interaction with the Wii U version is a huge disappointment and the removal of some assets (like Mystery Mushrooms) makes the 3DS version feel like a “lite” version. It’s also bizarre that Nintendo didn’t include any 3D effect. On the flip-side, the inclusion of 100 exclusive, Nintendo created levels was pretty cool. Without a doubt, if you haven’t played the Wii U version, this game is an absolute must.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 74 Critic Score
    Storyteller is a wonderful game that uses a simple mechanic in a clever way. Linking panels is addictive and due to this, you’ll want to peruse the pages and continue to the next chapter. Unfortunately, you’ll fly through and reach the end in no time at all. While there is no incentive to revisit the chapters, you’ll still thoroughly enjoy your first read-through of this charming telling tale.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    With an overall smooth gameplay and a fresh The One mode, NBA Live 19 does enough to distinguish itself from competitors, but it does not rise above as the best simulation basketball game of the year. For those who much prefer a casual playing experience, NBA Live 19 has got you covered.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    You might simply write off Coromon as a copy of other games. But think of it as more of a game inspired by previous works. While the inspiration is obvious, various design choices within the gameplay are clear upgrades, including difficulty modifiers and the Milestones feature. If you are a fan of monster collecting games, Coromon is differentiated enough to give it a try.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    As a whole you can’t go wrong by including Killzone: Shadow Fall as part of your next gen PS4 package. It might be lacking in true next generation gameplay mechanics but it really shines when it comes to the new generation of graphics.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    More arcade shooter than sim, Chorus fits into the long tradition of space dogfight games. Its combat can be furious and fun, but some missions suffer from repetition, some mechanical weirdness and poor pacing. Chorus takes itself and its story too seriously for its own good. In place of plain, old fashioned joy at blowing up stuff in space, we get angsty, mystical mumbo jumbo and a spacecraft with a guilt complex.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Letter Quest Remastered is definitely worth your time with an abundance of content and customization features, a sweet soundtrack and simple controls.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 54 Critic Score
    Umiro is creative but short, and lacks staying power in its number of stages, replayability, and narrative.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Despite these easily fixable flaws, I haven’t had this much fun in an arcade racer in a long time. It’s a beautiful and smooth experience with clever level design, cheeky humor, and the ability to make some truly spectacular vehicles. With split-screen and online multiplayer, LEGO 2K Drive is a great choice for some late-night gaming shenanigans.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    For any console player who already owns the Special Edition, some of the improvements of the Anniversary Edition are already available as free patches. Those folks will find the Anniversary Edition a reasonably priced add-on. It provides a significant new quest, some new mechanics, a new mode, and lots of cosmetic additions, plus access to the Creation Club and mods. Just don’t expect a graphical facelift. For console gamers without any experience of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim at all, the Anniversary Edition is definitely the version to pick up. With the Elder Scrolls VI in production, the Anniversary Edition is most likely (and hopefully) the final version of a seriously aging but still viable classic RPG.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 82 Critic Score
    Destiny 2: Shadowkeep is the first strong opportunity for Bungie to spread their wings and give us the experience it wanted to from the beginning. Returning to the Moon is a blast, and the narrative for Shadowkeep’s campaign is interesting and engaging, setting up for something truly epic in the future. The core gameplay isn’t exactly reinvented and it doesn’t need to be. Shadowkeep offers just enough new content to keep us satisfied until the next update and there are plenty of secrets to uncover. With cross-save, all new gear, revamped armor, and the finishing blows added to what was already a solid shooter, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep is a worthwhile successor to the Forsaken update and a genuine treat for anyone who loves shooters.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    I cannot lie, the world of Dune is one of my favorites, and any chance to visit Arrakis is a welcome one. Despite a its significance to gaming as a whole, there aren’t a lot of Dune games out there. Spice Wars is the kind of power struggle fantasy game that we’ve been seeing for decades, but its a winning formula. Sure Spice Wars might mostly be porting over a lot of the mechanics from Northgard and dressing them up with a new coat of paint, but it’s an incredible court of paint. If you were distraught to learn that the second Dune movie will be pushed back into next year, Spice Wars will probably hold you over until the big day for the big worms.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Tides of Tomorrow has a clever multiplayer mechanic that literally and metaphorically demonstrates how our actions, and those of others, send ripples into the world. It has a strong narrative hook and interesting characters, but it can't quite stick the landing when it comes to gameplay, controls, and polish. I'm looking forward to seeing the story link system further developed in a more refined experience.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 66 Critic Score
    While the game itself is easily completed within two hours, the ending feels satisfying and leaves you a bit warm and fuzzy inside.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    There are so many interesting elements to it, each of which could provide you with many hours of enjoyment. Ironically, its strengths are not PvE battling, dungeon crawling, and other things most MMORPGs are known for. But it makes up for those shortcomings with so much other deep content and a gorgeous, polished visual experience, that it is still a great game – provided you are willing to put in the time learning.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The creation experience is as simple or as deep as you make it, but strip away the LBP veneer and you have a rather basic karting game.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    If you are a Skyrim fan who has already invested countless number of hours into the main game, then Dawnguard is for you, but if you have moved on to other games, I am not so certain Dawnguard is reason alone to come back as frankly it is more of the same.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 78 Critic Score
    Arizona Sunshine 2 improves on every aspect of the original to make this one of the best zombie games on the PSVR 2. The weapons have never felt better and make mowing down enemies a thrill. Although the horde mode is a little basic and you’ll encounter the odd glitch, the fact you can play everything with a friend improves the entire experience. With its dark humor and well-designed world, you’ll have a sadistic time annihilating foes on your trek through a post-apocalyptic world.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Overall there is enough fun here to justify a purchase, and besides, its kind of fun to watch your avatar take to the air on a motorcycle pulling off some crazy stunts.

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