COGconnected's Scores

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For 4,966 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:
  1. Positive: 3,073 out of 4966
  2. Mixed: 1,709 out of 4966
  3. Negative: 184 out of 4966
4972 game reviews
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    • 80 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Arise: A Simple Story
    Arise is an incredibly powerful story despite it being so simple. It invokes emotions that I would rarely bring with me when playing a video game, and it is refreshing to know that there is a game out there focused on bringing us a heartwarming experience. There are so many elements in the game that work well together, from the color palette, lighting, music, gameplay, and ease of controls. Even without much dialogue or long, extensive cutscenes, Arise is able to tell us a simple story that is vibrant and rich, bringing us an unforgettable and emotional experience.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Monster Jam Steel Titans
    Monster Jam Steel Titans lacks the depth of a sim and the fun of an arcade racer. What we’re left with is a good concept, marred by a lack of fun. Realistic monster truck physics are unique to be sure. But what’s here is just so bland, and unfun that the end result will provide about as much playtime as a demo would.
    • 67 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Shenmue III
    Shenmue 3 is a game that I wished I loved or at least liked. It’s a game that I could only enjoy in spurts since so much of my experience was marred by mediocre, repetitive gameplay, terrible characters, and a disappointing, meandering plot. I didn’t head into Shenmue 3 with high expectations due to its budget but the game still failed to meet even those lowered expectations.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Grindstone
    Grindstone is a simple, effective, and addictive mobile game that does just about everything right. I’ve been playing it for over a month, and there are no sign of it getting old. If you’re someone who rides a bus to work or otherwise has regular downtime, Grindstone should grab a place on your home screen.
    • 52 Metascore
    • 57 Critic Score
    Doctor Who: The Edge Of Time
    I wanted to love Doctor Who: The Edge of Time, but I was left feeling let down. The periodic injection of obligatory “cheeky quips” from the disembodied voice of Whittaker’s Doctor just felt like another superficial distraction from the fact that, at its core, this is just an ok VR puzzler that wastes its legendary source material. If you’ve always wanted to take the TARDIS for a spin, by all means check it out — but beyond that, temper your expectations.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Pokemon Sword
    While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Pokemon Sword / Shield Dual Pack
    While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Pokemon Shield
    While the game is just as fun and addicting as ever, the awkward dialogue feels shoe-horned in and the stark difficulty drop off in the mid-game is unfortunate to say the least, making the latter half of the experience a breeze. It’s still an enjoyable experience and a treat to explore the Galar region. It may not be perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction to giving us the ultimate Pokemon experience.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
    This remaster not only revamps the visuals and playability, but it also adds a whole expansion pack to the game. Priced like a large DLC, there is no reason not to get this game if you are already an Age of Empires fan. I can only hope that all remasters in the future will be as good as this.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 76 Critic Score
    Bee Simulator
    The game wasn’t very long, yet I imagine there will be times I’ll come back to it, just to buzz around Honey Park. There’s a sort of calmness to it all. In some ways, it reminds me of the old PlayStation 3 game, Flower. Bee Simulator is by no means perfect, but I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for a simple yet unique, family-friendly distraction.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 63 Critic Score
    Narcos: Rise of the Cartels
    Licensed games still get a bad rap these days and Narcos: Rise of the Cartels probably won’t convince the naysayers. But buried beneath the murky graphics and presentation is a pretty decent and entertaining turn-by-turn tactical game. It plays well and there’s a reasonable amount of strategizing to be had to win each combat scenario. Within the genre, however, it doesn’t do enough to make it a must-play but for fans of the show, it’s a fun but safe time killer.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 92 Critic Score
    Sid Meier's Civilization VI
    Basically, if you enjoy 4X games or are a Civilization fan, you have to pick this up. But you didn’t need me to tell you that. It’s already on your list and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is already in the download queue. If it’s not, you’ve got time right now to remedy that.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 88 Critic Score
    Black Future '88
    I loved my time with Black Future ’88. It’s hard, it’s fun, it’s memorable. In a genre that I have felt has been stagnating a bit over the past year or so, SUPERSCARYSNAKES is here to slap us back into reality. While it doesn’t wholly redefine roguelikes, it does enough to make it stand in a class of its own. I’m going to be craving “one more run” for a long time, and I’m going to have that soundtrack stuck in my head for even longer. This is a great game. Don’t miss it.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Planet Zoo
    It is undeniably a beautiful achievement that seamlessly ties together wildlife education and environmental consciousness, and the emotional attachment you will create with your animals makes for an engaging simulation unlike any other.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 83 Critic Score
    Romancing SaGa 3
    With all of these upgrades and extra content on top of an already rock-solid game, picking up Romancing SaGa 3 for many is a no brainer. Granted, the combat and leveling up might not be for everyone, but if you are a fan of Western and Japanese RPGs I highly recommend jumping into this classic that took way too long to make its way out west.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 87 Critic Score
    Superliminal
    An original gameplay mechanic is hard to come by, and these shapeshifting puzzles feel like nothing else. The parts of the game that are derivative aren’t bad, just second best. The parts of the game that are original are extraordinary. And which aspect is more important? Though it may be cliché to say it, Superliminal is more than the sum of its parts. It’s a clever game and the more I play it, the more I think about it, and the more I love it. That’s worth a whole lot.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    Children of Morta
    Between the dungeon size, the bite-size story chunks, and the clear objectives, this is a game meant for picking up at a moment’s notice. Ultimately, players torn between this version and a home console one are choosing either function or form. Dedicated Switch gamers, on the other hand, would be fools to pass this one up.
    • 93 Metascore
    • 93 Critic Score
    Red Dead Redemption 2
    These are early days for the PC release and hopefully, the technical issues are addressed in the coming days. As things stand now, unless you have a top-notch PC, chances are you’re running a rig like mine and will have to make graphical compromises that leave you experiencing the game in a presentation fairly similar to that on the consoles. Regardless, this is unquestionably a brilliant experience. Everything about this version is bigger and better than the console version providing you have the rig to run it on.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Wanderlust Travel Stories
    I wouldn’t recommend Wanderlust to anyone who dislikes reading. Wanderlust Travel Stories is a very text-heavy experience. But if you enjoy reading and learning from gaming experiences and also enjoy traveling, I definitely recommend this gaming experience. Wanderlust Travel Stories is an evolution of non-fiction, blending the sights and sounds of cities, mountains, shores, etc. with interactive storytelling.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Just Dance 2020
    If you’re looking for a fun party game or just want to improve your dance skills – Just Dance 2020 is a must-own. My kids and I had a ton of fun with Just Dance 2020. If you’re a parent like me looking for a video game solution that gets your kids off their butts and moving, I highly recommend Just Dance 2020.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sparklite
    Sure, there are far worse games than Sparklite, but there also far better games with similar structures and rogue-like trappings that are worth your time. Sparklite happens to live in the middle. It’s okay. It’s fine. Its art is beautiful and its music wondrous, but somehow it’s missing its own magic. So if you have nothing going on, and it seems your jam, give it a go. It’s totally fine. Personally, I need something a bit more than okay these days.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 74 Critic Score
    Need for Speed Heat
    The aesthetic is beautiful, the new drifting mechanic feels solid, and the game even offers daily challenges to earn a little extra bank. If you enjoy arcade racing this is definitely a title for you, and I am happy to see Need for Speed find some traction again and hopefully it will take off once more.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
    I love Star Wars, I love video games, and Fallen Order is a glorious amalgamation of the two. Though I’ve experienced everything the game has to offer, I genuinely can’t wait to play through it again on the hardest difficulty. At this point, I can only hope Respawn follows it up with a sequel because the force is remarkably strong with this one.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Conception Plus: Maidens of the Twelve Stars
    Conception is a unique game that makes me appreciate the wild ideas that JRPGs can come up with. Definitely targeted to a niche audience who enjoys the idea of courting twelve beautiful maidens with the prospect of saving the world. Conception is not a revolutionary JRPG, nor is it a stimulating dating SIM. It is a strange concept but for the purpose of the game, it works. While the storyline could use a little more excitement to keep players hooked, it is definitely worth trying if you have an interest in harem RPGs.
    • 62 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Let's Sing Country
    Let’s Sing Country is a decent karaoke experience that’s well-produced and slick. And you don’t have to be a Country fan to have silly fun, crooning into your iPhone like a dorky George Strait. But the tiny number of tracks is a real downer, and put it this way, you’ll get through them long before the beer runs out (a much better measure of karaoke time, honestly). If this was a discount-priced game that would be fine, but for the price Let’s Sing Country should offer a lot more content … y’all.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Journey For Elysium
    Journey For Elysium is a competently designed VR title with the right ideas, if just slightly underbaked. Considering the entire experience clocks in at a brisk hour and a half, I can only wonder how much better it could’ve been if it slowed down and took the time to flesh things out. For a first-time effort from developers Mantis Games, though, Journey For Elysium is a great start.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 72 Critic Score
    Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition / Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
    Planescape: Torment and Icewind Dale are isometric western RPGs with pre-rendered backgrounds. If this style of game is your cup of tea, then these are both classics, especially the creative, dialogue-heavy Planescape: Torment. If you are new to the genre, these might be tough to try by modern standards. But the way the menus have been mapped to controllers make these RPG classics very playable on consoles. Whether or not they’re playable by modern standards is up to your taste.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 81 Critic Score
    New Super Lucky's Tale
    Cute and charming are perfect words to describe this game. The sign of a good platforming game is one where players want to explore and collect all the items that are found around each level. I found myself wanting to do this and more. New Super Lucky’s Tale delivers a platformer for the whole family to enjoy by being easy to play, visually appealing and introducing a new and clever mascot to the Nintendo faithful. I sure hope we get to see more of Lucky in the future.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 79 Critic Score
    Doraemon: Story of Seasons
    Any fans of the Doraemon manga and anime should almost certainly purchase this farming simulator for the Nintendo Switch if only for the story. I enjoyed the farming mechanics but got frustrated with my eternally sick chicken, especially as the clinic wasn’t always open for business (like other locations in town). Though this isn’t Harvest Moon or Animal Crossing, it’s a good void filler until New Horizons.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 77 Critic Score
    Afterparty
    Some weird technical mishaps aside, Afterparty is a helluva ride. Night School Studio’s depiction of Hell is wonderfully inventive, quirky, and surprisingly enticing. While it’s certainly up for debate whether it dethrones Oxenfree, Afterparty is a quality followup that will bring a smile to your face. The story is solid with great relatable characters but the constantly hilarious script and dialogue make Afterparty worth sticking with until the very end, even after everybody’s gone home.
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