It’s been just over twenty years since the adventure game Beyond Good & Evil first graced our screens. It originally launched in 2003, so technically, they could have called this the 21st Anniversary Edition – but for marketing purposes, 20th just sounds better.

I first played Beyond Good & Evil not long after it was released on Nintendo GameCube. While some of my memories of that experience have been lost to time, the feeling I had when playing it has never left. Beyond Good & Evil was, and still is, a brilliant game, and well deserving of it’s cult classic status.

An evil group called the DomZ are threatening the world of Hillys. You play as Jade, a photojournalist who has been caring for children orphaned by the DomZ with your uncle Pey’j. The world is protected by the Alpha Sections, but this doesn’t stop the DomZ from launching attacks. During one of these attacks, Jade is thrust into the fight. Along her adventure, she is recruited by Iris, an underground group who believe there is something more sinister happening. You’ll need to uncover the dark secrets, photograph key conspiracies, and shine a light on the truth.

Combat and More

Beyond Good & Evil has a nice variety of gameplay styles spread throughout the game. When you first start of the game, you’ll be introduced to combat, with Jade utilizing her Daï-Jo – a staff-like weapon. Soon after, other elements come into play, such as photography and platforming. You’ll be able to pilot a vehicle in the game, giving you access to the various levels spread throughout the open-world. Of course, you won’t be able to access every area immediately – you’ll need to follow the mission structure pretty closely, but there are a few opportunities to explore.

Within missions, you’ll spend a good chunk of time utilizing stealth to complete objectives. You can attack enemies head-on, but, even with a companion, you’ll find they’re just too overpowered – so navigating by means of stealth is usually the best option. Stealth works quite well – crouching from point-to-point, staying out of the line-of-sight of the Alpha Section guards. Each section feels a bit like a puzzle to be completed, which makes completing each section so satisfying.

While the game does an okay job at providing players with in-game instructions, there were a few tidbits that weren’t immediately obvious to me until far later into my adventure. For example, pressing down on the D-Pad brings up the character screen. Within that screen, I had no idea I could actually select each characters in-game “backpack”, allowing me to share items between them. Turns out, I was hogging the power-ups that increase character health.

Treats for Returning Fans

The 20th Anniversary Edition brings a wealth of improvements that should make most fans happy. Visually, the game is relatively unchanged, just higher resolutions and everything looks smooth & sharp. The soundtrack received a huge upgrade, with over 15 pieces of music re-recorded with a live orchestra. Another huge improvement is the inclusion of autosaves. No longer will you need to use an in-game MDisk to save at specific points – the game will autosave quite frequently.

But wait, there’s more! For those looking for a challenge, a new Speedrun Mode has been included that will keep track of just how long it takes for you to complete the game in one sitting. This mode does not allow for saves, so you better have snacks readily available.

And another addition worth mentioning is the incredible collection of images and videos from the Ubisoft vault showing the development of Beyond Good & Evil. This includes everything from conceptual work to cut content. It’s an absolute treasure trove of information.

Please Wait

Despite how amazing Beyond Good & Evil is – both the original, and this 20th Anniversary Edition – it’s not without it’s issues. The first thing you’ll notice when loading the game for the first time is the excessively long load time between the health & safety warning and the game’s title screen. It’s damn near close to a minute wait! Fortunately, with Quick Resume, you might not experience this too often. This new edition still has load times between areas – but they’re pretty quick and barely impact flow too much.

Like most games of the era, you’ll often have to fight with unruly camera angles – and these don’t seem to have been improved much with this edition. And probably the most bizarre issue was when the game would completely freeze for anywhere between 5 and 10 seconds. This happened a few times and caused me to wonder if I would need to quit to the dashboard and restart the game – only for the game to start chugging along again.

Stupid AI

In terms of the actual game, there were only a handful of moments that made me shake my head in disbelieve, particularly during the last hour of the game. The companion AI is often quite dumb and will block your path or get in the way of your attacks. During one sequence, my companions and I had to run past an active cannon firing lasers. One companion just stopped and stood in one place. I had to run back past the shooting lasers, bump into him, just to trigger his running sequence again.

The final boss of the game is also as frustrating as ever – I must have blocked out memories of it from my previous playthrough 20 years ago. Once you figure out how to beat the final boss, you should be good, but there is zero indication on how to actually do this correctly. It just makes the final bit of the game more of an annoyance than a satisfying conclusion.

Could We See A Sequel Finally?

It’s been 20 years since Beyond Good & Evil was originally released. Of course, that means that it’s been 20 very long years without the much anticipated sequel. Despite a number of announcements over the past decade or so, we’re still in the dark as to when Beyond Good & Evil 2 will even be released. Fortunately, it does appear that Ubisoft is still plugging away at the sequel and it will see the light of day at some point. Included in Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition is a brand new quest that ties this game to the eventual sequel, which will actually be a prequel. The new quest isn’t much more than another fetch quest – but it’s still a worthwhile scavenger hunt just to get a taste of what to expect in the new game, and I’m grateful Ubisoft took the effort to include it.

Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition is the absolute best way to replay a cult classic of a game. It still retains the look and feel of the original, while providing some much needed improvements like resolution, frame rate, controls and more. Hopefully this edition will create a new generation of fans. It truly is a must-play game.

Finish that sequel, Ubisoft!

***Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition Xbox Series X key provided by the publisher.***

The post Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition Review – Required Gaming for All appeared first on COGconnected.

The annual Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) wrapped up about a month ago, but we’re still reeling from some of the incredible cosplay that was showcased at the event. From Marvel superheroes like Iron Man and the Fantastic Four to cinematic icons like Mrs. Doubtfire. Attendees at C2E2 pulled out all the stops to present the very best in creative cosplaying.

Now, let’s take a deeper dive into the amazing cosplay from Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2024 courtesy of this amazing video by Patrick Goelz!

That’s a wrap on Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2024. If you missed out on all the excitement, be sure to check out their website for all the details on next year’s event.

If you’re still in the mood for some more cosplay, be sure to check out some of our more recent cosplay articles featuring Anhyra, Snytchery, and this compilation of Fallout inspired TikToks. Tune in next week for another cosplay feature that is sure to blow your mind.

The post Cosplay from Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo 2024 appeared first on COGconnected.

Call of Duty is no stranger to mobile platforms. The aptly named Call of Duty: Mobile was released back in 2019 for mobile platforms and is quite highly regarded with a 4.6 out of 5 rating with over 90,000 reviews on the Apple App Store. That’s an impressive feat and speaks to the quality of the game. Now, a new era in Call of Duty mobile gaming has arrived with the recently released Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile.

This mobile version of Call of Duty Warzone has been designed to unify the Call of Duty experience with that of the console and PC versions. Included are 120 player battle royales, incredible mobile gaming visuals, and iconic Call of Duty maps, all while improving upon what made Call of Duty Mobile so great. Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile has been designed to give gamers the best Call of Duty experience on mobile devices.

So, let’s dive into the good, the bad and the ugly about Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile.

1) Cross-Progression with Call of Duty

While there isn’t any crossplay with either console or PC Call of Duty games, the developers have unified some aspects of Call of Duty with cross-progression. This means that Operators and Weapons are shared among both Warzone and Modern Warfare III, allowing you to take your valuable purchases and unlocks with you wherever you choose to play. Even better, you’ll be able to grind your Battle Pass on either platform.

2) Battle Royale

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile’s biggest emphasis is on the franchise’s battle royale mode. At launch, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile arrived with two battle royale maps; Rebirth Island and Verdansk, both of which have appeared in the console/PC version of Call of Duty: Warzone. Both of these maps have been rebuilt from the ground-up specifically for the mobile version, but designed to be as close to the originals as possible. The battle royale modes feature 120 real players. While the developers haven’t denied the game features bots, they’ve emphasized the focus is to get players into matches as soon as possible – so it stands to reason that there could be some bots appearing in matches.

3) Visually appealing

For a mobile game, Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is easily one of the best looking I’ve ever seen. As someone who often enjoys Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III on my big screen, I was shocked at just how impressive the scaled down iPhone version looked. The included maps are near identical to their PC/console counterparts, in both layout and visuals. While there are a couple minor differences, only the most hardcore Call of Duty fans will really notice.

The most noticeable difference I came across was an alleyway in Verdansk. A van was parked in the alleyway and there was just no way to walk around it. Like an invisible wall blocking movement. It was sheer luck coming across it during my playthrough – and I imagine minor issues like this will be patched in time. Overall, there is an impressive amount of detail in both the multiplayer and battle royale maps, especially on the games High visual settings. Of course, all this graphical horsepower leads to the next point.

4) Hot and Beefy

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile clocks in at a ridiculous 11.94 gigs of space on my iPhone. It is far and away the largest app I have on there. While the game features a pretty substantial amount of content, and it’s only a fraction of the size the console versions are, it still leaves a pretty big footprint for a mobile app. It’s also incredible taxing on the phone. While battery life will vary from device to device, it will absolutely drain your battery at a faster clip than most other mobile games. What’s worse is just how much it heats up my iPhone 12 Pro. Just one match on the game’s “high” visual settings and my phone is hot to the touch. After two matches, I have no choice but to shut the app off and give the game a rest.

5) Weak Multiplayer

I’m the type of Call of Duty player that prefers multiplayer over battle royale. I just find the battle royale matches are such a long and boring slog with too many periods of inaction. Multiplayer gets us to the good bits fast. Unfortunately, multiplayer feels like an afterthought in Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile. Featuring a pithy four multiplayer maps (Shipment, Rust, Scrapyard, and Shoot House) spread between two multiplayer options; Mosh Pit or Deathmatch. No Kill Confirmed. No Hardcore. With that said, I imagine they’ll increase both the map count and the amount of modes as time goes on.

6) Free to Play

Obviously one of the biggest draws to Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is that it is free to play on iOS and Android devices. You won’t need to spend any money to be playing Call of Duty on your mobile device. So, regardless of what I tell you, you could (and should) take the time to try the game yourself. Mind you, the initial install takes a ridiculously long time to finish – so make sure you have something to do while you wait, like a few Modern Warfare III matches on your console.

7) The Keep

Like most free to play mobile games, there is always a way for the developers/publishers to make some money. I know, I’m shocked too. In Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, this comes in a variety of ways, such as the Battle Pass, Black Cell, and purchasable Operator bundles. To make these purchases, you’ll need to convert real money into COD Points, Call of Duty’s in-game currency. This is all par for the Call of Duty course. However, exclusive to Warzone Mobile is The Keep. The Keep allows you to spend COD Points to purchase exclusive Mobile Original content that you can’t earn, or use, on any other platform.

8) You Are In Control

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile provides a wealth of control options that should satisfy any gamer. You can connect a wireless controller via Bluetooth or just use the built-in touch screen controls. I’ve tried, but touch screen controls are just too much of an adjustment for me. So, I’ve generally opted to connect my Xbox Series X controller. Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile comes pre-loaded with 9 different HUD Presets, each of which is fully customizable. You can adjust the size and placement of the various on-screen controls, or remove them completely – particularly useful if you’re using a controller.

Conclusion

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is an ambitious mobile game that has a lot of positive things going for it. It will take time for Warzone Mobile to blossom into the amazing content-rich package that Call of Duty: Mobile has become. However, I fully anticipate in time, Warzone Mobile will get there. The extensive control options are a huge positive and I love the cross-progression. Unfortunately, even on it’s lowest visual settings, Warzone Mobile heats up my iPhone 12 Pro a little too much, so I really don’t anticipate playing it much. And with such a huge space-taking footprint, it’s not exactly a game I will want to keep installed for the occasional play session. Hopefully, in time, the developers will better optimize the game to not be such a strain on mobile hardware – or maybe it’s just time for me to upgrade my phone.

***Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is free to download for iOS devices (App Store) and Android devices (Google Play Store). The publisher provided us some COD Points to test some of the game’s features.***

The post 8 Things to Know About Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile appeared first on COGconnected.

Unless you’ve been hiding in a vault, you’re probably aware of the absolutely cultural phenomenon that is Fallout, all thanks to the amazing new Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime. To celebrate, we waded through the blast zone that is TikTok to find some of the best in Fallout cosplays. Here, you’ll find Kayla Erin, Sarah Spectre, Vanessa Vault, Kristen Lanae, and more! These are the absolutely best TikTok cosplays to watch on your Pip-Boy while wondering the wasteland looking for caps.

Enjoy these incredible TikTok videos!

@itskaylaerin

Do you have any games on your pip-boy? #fyp #fallout #fo #fallout4 #fo4 #cosplay #bethesda #gaming

♬ original sound – Sailor⦻

@pinuppixie

Reply to @likeyacutg69692 what ya think??

♬ a new kind of love by frou frou – ⋆｡˚

@sarahspectre

GREETINGS VAULT DWEELERS Hoping this transmission reaches fellow Fallout fans Excited to share this new cosplay wirh you all! #fallout #falloutshow #fallout3 #fallout4 #bethesda #fypシ #falloutcosplay #cosplaygirl

♬ You’re Special! – Fallout 4 Song – Dan Bull

@vanessavault111

Whats your favorite flavor of Nuka Cola? #nukagirl #nukagir176 #nukagirlcosplay #fallout4nukaworld #falloutnukaworld #falloutnukagirl #fyp #fyp #falloutcollector #nukaworldontour #nukacola #pipboy #falloutcosplay #nuka #girl #mrhandy #fallout4 #fallout76 #falloutnewvegas #zap

♬ original sound – Vanessa Vault111

@wezrez

IB: @mads A little obsessed? You could say that #falloutonprime #fallout #falloutcosplay

♬ Civilization (Bongo Bongo Bongo) – Zonin

Check out page 2 for more radioactive Fallout cosplays!

The post Set the World on Fire with These Fallout Cosplays appeared first on COGconnected.

This week, we’re thrilled to showcase a cosplayer that we’ve never featured on COGconnected before; Chisai. This Canadian cosplayer has amassed over 80,000 followers on her TikTok account and over 100,000 followers on her Instagram account. She’s dabbled in a variety of different cosplays, from Harley Quinn to Faye Valentine, from Princess Zelda to the Great Fairy. She’s definitely one cosplayer you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Enjoy her TikTok’s!

@chisai_cosplay

Do y’all remember fantasy tiktok a couple years ago? #tinkerbell #tinkerbellcosplay #cosplay #fairy #fairycosplay #fairywings

♬ original sound – Chisai – Chisai

@chisai_cosplay

Otak Day 3!! Eviltia Avelukia #cosplay #cosplayer #eviltia #eviltiacosplay #eviltiaavelukia #otakuthon #otakuthon2023 #egirl #fakebody

♬ original sound – Chisai – Chisai

@chisai_cosplay

I wanna at least post one Great Fairy video here too owo #greatfairy #greatfairycosplay #cosplay #zelda #tloz #tlozcosplay

♬ original sound – Chisai – Chisai

@chisai_cosplay

Shhh i didnt almost fall for this one #zelda #zeldacosplay #cosplay #totk #totkcosplay

♬ original sound – Chisai – Chisai

@chisai_cosplay

*spins desperately trying not to fall in pool* #harleyquinn #harleyquinncosplay #cosplay

♬ original sound – Chisai – Chisai

Check out page 2 for more Chisai cosplay.

The post Incredible Chisai Cosplays That’ll Leave You Speechless appeared first on COGconnected.

This past weekend, I had the privilege of being invited to an exclusive hands-on preview event for the upcoming WWE 2K24. I flew well over 5000 kilometers to attend, but hey, that’s the kind of sacrifice we gaming journalists enjoy to make! The WWE has been enjoying a massive resurgence in popularity, thanks to a roster full of amazing Superstars and incredible business deals like their recent one with Netflix. This will likely translate to even more attention on the upcoming annual wrestling game, WWE 2K24. And deservedly so! Last year’s WWE 2K23 was met with very strong reviews – showcasing one of the best WWE games in recent years. With WWE 2K24, the developers looked to expand on what made 2K23 great, by including some fun new additions and an overall theme inspired by the upcoming 40th anniversary of the greatest event in sport’s entertainment; WrestleMania.

A Brief Disclaimer

Before we dive into the preview, it’s worth mentioning that the fine folks at Visual Concepts have requested we don’t discuss a handful of things in this preview. For example, we can’t discuss all the different 2K Showcases that’ll be available in game. We can’t reveal any WWE Superstars that may appear in WWE 2K24 unless they’ve already been featured in official marketing material thus far. So, that means we can confirm you’ll see Cody Rhodes, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley – the three coverstars. 2K games have also shared on X that both Solo Sikoa and Becky Lynch will be included in the roster. And we can’t share any of the Superstars’ ratings. We will absolutely respect these requests. There will be many reveals leading up to the game’s launch, and it’ll be absolutely worth the wait. With that said, there is still plenty of content we can share. So let’s dive right in.

2K Showcase

As we noted in the disclaimer, the 2K Showcases are making a return. These are iconic matches ripped from the WWE history books and recreated in stunning detail on screen. Utilizing 2K’s impressive Slingshot Tech, the live-action footage of these historic matches will morph seamlessly into gameplay, and back again. You won’t be recreating every moment in the match, move for move, just like in previous years, you’ll have plenty of freedom to play out the match as you wish. However, there will be specific prompts encouraging players to accomplish certain feats. While I’m not able to share all the different 2K Showcases that’ll be featured in WWE 2K24, I can reveal three. First up is Ultimate Warrior vs Rick Rude from WrestleMania 5. Next up is Rhea Ripley vs Charlotte Flair from WrestleMania 39. Finally, there is Roman Reigns vs Cody Rhodes, also from WrestleMania 39. All three did an amazing job of really capturing the look and feel of the era.

Someone Call 9-1-1!

Of course, there are plenty of new and returning Play Now options for players that just want to create their own custom matches. The Backstage Brawl match has returned and is even better than ever, with a larger area to fight in, including a working elevator to move the fight to higher ground. Heck, there’s even a vending machine that dispenses sodas that you can throw at your opponents. Have you ever been hit by a can of pop? I can’t imagine that would feel very refreshing. However, the coolest new addition is the Ambulance Match. Wrestlers will square off in the ring, with an ambulance parked not too far away. Wear your opponent down as much as you can and throw them into the back of the ambulance. At that point, you’ll engage in a little button-mashing mini-game to close both the ambulance doors. Close the doors, win the match.

And yes, in that previous paragraph, you read that right; you can throw sodas at your opponents. In fact, you can now throw any weapon at your opponents. This includes all the classic weapons like chairs, but also includes new weapons like trash cans, guitars and microphones. Throwing weapons is an easy way to do a little damage from a distance.

New Ways To Inflict Pain

There are some additional gameplay improvements that’ll have you dealing more damage to your opponents. One such feature is the Super Finishers. These are finishers that take pain to a new level, beyond the traditional finishers we’ve all grown to love. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see any of the Super Finishers in action. However, there was another addition that makes for some fun moments during matches; the Trading Blows mini-game. The Trading Blows mini-game pits both wrestlers against each other in a punch for punch battle. When it’s your turn, you’ll have to time the punch meter just right to lay a hit. Then it’s your opponents turn. This goes back and forth until someone messes up, which will leave them stunned and open to further attacks. These Trading Blows mini-games will pop up at random, or can be activated, but only once per match. It took me a bit of time to get the timing down, much like getting out of a pin or a grapple hold.

A Worthy Celebration of WrestleMania

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines for a good wrestling game, WWE 2K24 might be just what you’re looking for. The visuals have received a nice boost from WWE 2K23 – especially the Superstars, they’re so beautifully detailed! The controls, while not exactly “pick-up-and-play”, shouldn’t take fans too long to master. In my 3+ hours with WWE 2K24, I was feeling pretty confident in my ability to handle the vast assortment of moves. The new additions, such as the expanded Backstage Brawl and Ambulance matches are very welcome. And I always got a kick out of throwing a weapon at my opponents. The overall theme, celebrating 40 years of WrestleMania will make fans new and old quite happy. WWE 2K24 is shaping up to be a worthy entry in the series. WWE 2K24 launches March 8, 2024 on Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.

The post WWE 2K24 Hands-On Preview – Prepare to Finish Your Story appeared first on COGconnected.

Shocking absolutely no one, Call of Duty is back for yet another yearly installment. As a huge Call of Duty fan since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, I always feel that twinge of excitement when a new one rolls around. More often than not, the latest Call of Duty entry brings me hours upon hours of enjoyment. Sure, along the way, there have been some disappointing entries… but I still put the time in to finish the campaign, grind away at the multiplayer, and at least attempt to enjoy the zombies’ modes. Where does Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (MWIII) stack up compared to previous entries? Well… It’s complicated.

If the rumours are true – and it sure seems like they are – Modern Warfare III was initially going to be an expansion to last year’s Modern Warfare II. With a considerably shorter campaign, a multiplayer package consisting of only remastered levels, and gameplay that remains mostly unchanged – it definitely feels like it’s an extension of last year’s Call of Duty. Is there enough in this package to warrant it being released as a full-fledged game? Let’s find out.

Task Force 141 Reporting for Duty

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III campaign is not the worst Call of Duty campaign ever made. That honour still belongs to the horrendous Call of Duty: Black Ops III. With that said, Modern Warfare III will likely be nothing more than a footnote in Call of Duty history. The campaign’s story is a direct follow-up to last year’s decent Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and essentially a retelling of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009). The same cast of characters, good and bad, make a return – with a story centering around the villainous Makarov.

Unfortunately, MWIII does a poor job of conveying Makarov as a big baddie. I want to avoid spoilers, for those who still want to experience the story first hand. But I will say that about one-third of the way through the campaign, there is a playable mission where you experience his terrorism first-hand – but it was so poorly executed and confusing, it’s almost laughable. It comes nowhere close to the iconic No Russian level from Modern Warfare 2 (2009). In fact, there are a few moments throughout the game – including the final mission – where the goal was to elicit a strong emotional reaction from the player, but the execution continually misses the mark.

Mixed Missions

If we remove the story from the game and focus solely on the gameplay, yet again, Modern Warfare III is largely a disappointment. The game is approximately 5 hours in length, spread over 14 different missions. However, some of those missions are only a handful of minutes long. The levels are mostly comprised of the classic Call of Duty-style levels and the new Open Combat Missions. The classic Call of Duty style levels are designed to just funnel players along from one point to another, with a goal of trying to kill all the surrounding enemies to proceed. It’s not the most exciting style of gameplay, but usually there is enough decent gunplay, big set pieces, and flashy moments to keep things enjoyable. Obviously, the developers knew these classic Call of Duty style levels were growing stale, so they injected new-to-franchise Open Combat Missions, six in total, to help spice things up.

Open Combat Missions

In these Open Combat Missions, you’ll be presented with a relatively large sandbox featuring multiple objectives to complete – ie: diffuse a certain number of bombs. Throughout the levels, you’ll find plenty of different weapons and equipment to assist with the mission. While these missions were a welcome change of pace, they weren’t without their issues.

In each of these missions, you’ll begin undetected and be able to proceed in stealth-like fashion. If an enemy thinks they’ve spotted you, they’ll appear yellow on your HUD’s map. If they actually see you and start engaging, they’ll appear red, and often alarms will sound and you’ll be swarmed by enemies. This is where the primary issues lie. For one, you won’t just have to deal with enemies that were previously located around the map. New enemies will often spawn out of thin air to join the ranks pursuing you. Sometimes, you’ll clear an entire area, only for enemies to spawn behind you. It’s extremely annoying. Of course, this wouldn’t be an issue if the stealth system actually worked. Ideally, if you’re in cover, such as crouched in tall grass, you can’t be seen. Unfortunately, the detection system is heavily flawed and you will be seen at some point.

Immortal Lightbulbs 

Further to the issues of stealth is the inability to damage the environment. If there is an area lit by a single, dangling lightbulb – one would think “I’ll just shoot the lightbulb” to increase stealth coverage, but that is not the case – none of the environment is destructible.  Same goes for wooden doors. You’ll come across doors that allow you to attempt opening, but they’ll be “stuck”. Does using a block of C4 blow the door away? Of course not. Those doors are invincible, you’ll need to find another way around and clear whatever is causing it to be stuck – like a wooden chair leaning up against it.

There is just one more moment, essentially a mini-game, from the campaign that I need to share – because it just sums up the campaign perfectly. You are viewing an object. The object has a serial number on it. Your teammate asks you to tell them what the third number is. A prompt appears on screen with four numerical options to choose from, but the prompt is actually blocking the object you’re viewing. If you didn’t have the foresight to memorize the full serial number, you were essentially stuck with guessing, as you could hardly see the required number. Even worse, this moment precedes such a critical plot point. I couldn’t help but just shake my head in disbelief. Did they even playtest this?

I’m sure by now you’re getting the idea that the MWIII campaign was, for the most part, lazily thrown together. There are moments I enjoyed, but for the most part, I was largely disappointed. MWIII will not go down in history as having a Call of Duty worthy campaign. Fortunately, the campaign is only a part of the package.

Squad Up

Modern Warfare III is shockingly similar to last year’s Modern Warfare II. It’s essentially a copy & paste job. Now, I know most Call of Duty games share a similar DNA that makes them feel very similar. But this time around, there is no denying that a very minimal effort went into making the multiplayer mode. That’s not to say there haven’t been any changes. There have been a handful of subtle changes that actually improve the overall multiplayer experience. For example, the Perks Loadout system has been revamped. And while many of the perks are the same as previous years, the way they’re equipped is quite clever. Each loadout includes things like gloves – and the different gloves have different attributes, such as Fast Hands – which allows you to swap weapons faster. There are also different boots to wear, each with different Perk attributes.

Another welcome change this time around is the ability to choose between Killstreaks and Scorestreaks. Killstreaks reward players who can get numerous kills, whereas Scorestreaks reward players who are more inclined to help in a supporting role, such as shooting down enemy UAVs. It should give more players the ability to utilize the various Killstreak rewards. Unfortunately, MWIII only adds 3 new Killstreaks to the Killstreak menu this year, and – if I’m being honest – they all suck.

Modern Warfare 2 Revisted

MWIII launched with 16 maps, all of which are remakes of the 16 original Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps. Now, some of these maps are iconic; Terminal, Highrise, Rust, and my personal favourite, Subpen. But most of them, such as Quarry and Afghan, should have been left in 2009. Fortunately, all these maps have been updated to accommodate the improved movement systems. There are more nooks and crannies for players to navigate through, but the basic layouts of the levels all remain the same. What is shocking though is how the 2009 counterparts, in most cases, feature a superior art direction over these modern 2023 remakes. Where in 2009, looked like true war zones, in 2023, everything looks so… bland.

Forced Crossplay Returns

Ready for more disappointment? Xbox players STILL do not have the ability to turn crossplay off. This was first introduced in Modern Warfare II, much to the disdain of Xbox players. And for whatever obnoxious reason, the crossplay toggle has not returned. So, prepare for another year of even more unbalanced gameplay against PC players with improved frame rates, keyboard & mouse, hacks and mods. What are they thinking?

The issues don’t stop there. Just like in Modern Warfare II, split-screen multiplayer continues to be a broken mess. Players are unable to change loadouts after a match begins. Access to hardcore modes is not permitted. And this time around, the visuals have taken a substantial hit with some bizarre film-grain issue plaguing split-screen. Sure, these issues will only affect a handful of players – and I’m grateful split-screen is at least an option – but still, none of these issues need to be present and should be fixed.

The devs have made the bizarre decision to increase the health of players in Core modes to 150 health. So, while snipers and close-range shotguns will still kill players instantly – other weapons like LMGs, SMGs, and Assault rifles are now useless. Honestly, it feels like I’m back to playing Halo – requiring a near full clip of ammo to down an enemy. Yet another example of the extremely poor design choices.

Oh, and that stupid “no headphones” icon in the top-left hand corner of your HUD if you opt to not use headphones while playing makes a return from last year as well. Some of us do not want to be subjected to the ridicule of racist, homophobic chatter on a regular basis – so please, just let us enjoy the game with muted chat, without the silly reminder icon.

Zombies Rise Again

Normally, I’m not a big fan of the Zombies’ modes in Call of Duty games. I found them just too challenging, which is disappointing, because often the aesthetic, story and delivery was always so cool – but my skills just weren’t there to last more than a dozen or so rounds. Fortunately, Zombies has been revamped with a brand-new, open-world concept. Think Warzone, but with zombies. And I’m here to tell you, it’s the best part of the Modern Warfare III package. There are no longer rounds to contend with, but instead, the closer to the centre of the map you travel, the more difficult zombies become. This makes it easier for players to pick and choose the zombie experience they want. Very well done and I can’t wait to see what future seasons bring this mode.

Fans Deserve Better

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is largely a disappointing, lazy effort borne out of desire to sell copies as opposed to pleasing a Call of Duty fanbase. This is the year that we should be celebrating 20 years of Call of Duty, but our loyalty is rewarded with a half-baked expansion pack sold at a premium price. Not a single new multiplayer map, all remakes that – in many cases – pale in comparison to their original versions. A shortened campaign that was poorly executed. Xbox players are yet again punished with forced crossplay against PC players. Poor multiplayer design choices such as increased player health. Broken split-screen modes. The list goes on and on.

In past years, I would have happily grinded seasonal Battle Passes. Last year, my patience was tested as many of these issues in MWIII started showing up in MWII – but I held out hope that the devs would fix the issues and deliver a return-to-form Call of Duty. I was mistaken. Sure, credit where credit is due, MWIII’s gameplay is solid with industry best gunplay and the Zombies mode is one of the franchises best ever. But it’s the half dozen or so poor design choices that continue to drag these games down. Call of Duty has risen to a level where they’re just too big to listen to fan feedback, and MWIII is a testament to this. Call of Duty fans deserve better.

***Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III code for Xbox Series X was provided by the publisher.***

The post Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Review – Call of Duty at its Worst appeared first on COGconnected.

After 6 years, the Forza Motorsport series has finally returned to the hands of aspiring racers everywhere. The 8th entry in the franchise, simply named Forza Motorsport, looks to reinvigorate the franchise with more detailed visuals, enhanced & expanded physics, and even more accessibility features than ever before. Does this simulation racer have what it takes to stay ahead of the competition?

For the uninitiated, it’s worth noting that Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon, while sharing the same publisher, are two separate franchises with two significantly different focuses on racing. The Forza Horizon franchise is focused more on over-the-top, arcade style racing with an emphasis on exploration in a light-hearted, party environment. On the other hand, Forza Motorsport is the more serious sibling in the Forza universe, with a deeper focus on realism and recapturing authentic racing by utilizing real tracks from around the world. While both games can be customized to cater to a wide audience, Forza Horizon would likely appeal more to a casual gaming audience, while Forza Motorsport is geared more to the hardcore racing fan. Over the years, I’ve personally been fond of the Forza Horizon series, but still have enjoyed much of what Forza Motorsport has to offer.

Tours of Motorsport

The meat of Forza Motorsport is the career “Tours of Motorsport” mode. In Tours of Motorsport, you’ll be introduced to a new-to-Forza gameplay loop; practice, starting grid, race. While I appreciate what it’s attempting to do, the execution feels like an attempt to get more mileage from the tracks & tours. And this makes it feel artificially bloated. In every tour, before each race, you are required to complete three practice laps on the track first. While I appreciate what the goal was here; track familiarization and leveling-up your car (more on that later), unfortunately, it creates a dull experience.

Following the practice, you’ll be required to pick where on the starting grid you want to start the race from. The closer to the front of the pack, the lower the payout is if you win – but it also increases your chances of winning. It’s a gamble, and one that I don’t mind having included. After picking your starting position, you’ll finally race.

There is a new element to tracks called Segments which have been included to help spice things up, particularly during those dull practices. Each track has a variety of Segments, usually three or four. These Segments are short portions of a track that encourage racers to master. Complete the Segments in the shortest window of time while maintaining control of the vehicle. These mini-challenges are a welcome addition, and help make practices feel a bit less monotonous. However, I would still prefer the ability to opt out of practices completely.

She Drives Me Crazy

Forza Motorsport offers a large variety of cars for aspiring racers to drive. As a fan of the James Bond franchise, having access to a bunch of different Aston Martin vehicles was a huge treat. I was also fond of racing with vehicles from the year I was born – and in many cases, I’m happy to report that I have aged better than some of those 80’s cars.

Each car must be either purchased or rewarded by completing certain tasks, save for a handful of cars you’ll receive initially. And once you choose a car, you’ll be limited to the type of enhancements & upgrades you can add until you level it up. That’s right, the devs have added a sort of RPG element to Forza Motorsport, or as they affectionally referred to it during our pre-release interviews; CarPG. Leveling up your car is achieved through racing and handling in-track Segments as best as possible. As you race, you’ll be prompted every time your car levels up. It’s nice to be provided with these momentary boasts mid-race as it adds a further sense of accomplishment.

As for the car upgrade process, well, I won’t dive too deep into that here. I am by no means a “car guy” and I couldn’t be less interested in the upgrading process. All I really cared about was increased stats to make my car better in all the meaningful ways (read: go faster!). Thankfully, a Quick Upgrade option is available and you’ll be provided a quick & simple process to upgrade without much thought. It’s also wedged in between races, so you won’t forget!

À La Mode

Aside from the game’s Career “Tours of Motorsport” mode, which most folks will spend the bulk of their time, there are a couple other modes of note. There is a Featured Multiplayer mode, which dumps you into a variety of different curated multiplayer tours. You’ll spend some time waiting here, as you’ll need to wait until a set time before the tour begins. I can’t really speak to the performance of multiplayer, as there wasn’t anyone playing while I was reviewing.

Unfortunately, there are no options to disable crossplay, so Xbox gamers will be forced to play alongside PC players – so I imagine it won’t be long before PC players ruin the experience with various mods & hacks. Another mode worth mentioning, and one that I imagine I’ll come back to at some point, is the Rivals mode. In Rivals, you’ll go one-on-one against a ghost of a real life player. You’ll compete for the best lap time in any of the different tracks and car classes. It’s a quick, to-the-point mode without any need for waiting or anything.

Visual Highlights… and Lowlights

Let’s get one thing straight, the vehicles in this game are absolutely stunning. I imagine anyone would be hard-pressed to find a video game with better looking vehicle models. In fact, the overall visual package of Forza Motorsport is top notch. One of the highlights for me was racing a late evening track, and as each lap was finished, the night sky became more and more dark and the stars became more and more bright. It was beautiful. Unfortunately, some of the background scenery can look a bit stale. The crowds and some of the greenery, such as trees, looked a bit… bland. It’s a minor issue, especially since you’ll spend most of the time zooming past, you’d hardly notice.

When you first play the game, you’ll be given the chance to pick between three different visual options. The most visually impressive version, capped at 30 frames-per-second, the middle of the road option, with solid visuals and a goal of 60 frames-per-second, or the performance option, which scales back visuals even more, but consistent 60 frames-per-second. I opted to utilize the middle option, and it annoys me that games like this even give me the choice. I feel like I’m missing out no matter which option I choose.

Well-Worth a Try

Forza Motorsport is an excellent simulation racer with plenty to offer fans for months and months to come. Turn 10 Studios has even shared their plans to support Forza Motorsport for the foreseeable future. The game has a solid selection of modes to choose from, including online multiplayer. The visuals are some of the best in gaming. And the game does an amazing job of offering plenty of difficulty and accessibility options to cater to most gamers’ needs.

With that said, there were a few sore spots. Some of the visuals, particularly the background visuals, were a bit underwhelming. The inability to disable crossplay makes me nervous to play online with such a prevelance of mods & hacks in other crossplay games. And the forced practice mode in Tours of Motorsport is frustrating and will likely limit the amount of tours I actually end up completing. It’s just too time consuming and, well, boring, to keep practicing the same track over and over. With that said, there is still plenty to enjoy here, and well-worth a try if you’re already subscribing to Xbox Game Pass.

***Forza Motorsport key for Xbox Series X provided by the publisher.***

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Forza Motorsport is arriving in just under one month and over the past week I’ve had the opportunity to go hands-on with the latest Xbox Series X build. If you’ve been longing for a new racing game on your Xbox that fully embraces what the Series X is capable of, then this might just be the game you’ve been waiting for!

The Forza franchise has been taking laps around our living rooms for almost 20 years now. While the Forza Horizon franchise has been about adventure with a more arcade-like feel, the Forza Motorsport franchise has been more about the core racing experience with a stricter, more simulated feel. Forza Motorsport is designed to be as authentic to motorsport racing as possible. If you grew up with a PlayStation in the house, think Gran Turismo. This iteration is the franchise’s 8th entry. However, the developers didn’t want folks to be intimidated by which entry it was, so they opted to simplify the naming convention and just calling it Forza Motorsport. If you’re new to the franchise, or Forza veteran, Forza Motorsport can be tailored to your experience.

CarPG

Forza Motorsport is all about creating a unique relationship between you (the driver), the car, and the race track. Each track is divided into various segments, and you are constantly challenged to improve the way you navigate through each of these segments. When to brake, when to accelerate, what angle you’ll approach a turn, when it’s ideal to overtake an opponent. It’s all there. And as you complete these segments and improve your skills, your car will level-up. Internally, the developers have affectionately labelled this aspect as a CarPG (get it… RPG with a car), and it’s an accurate assessment.

Leveling up your car, as well as earning credits from winning races, will give you the ability to upgrade your cars. While previous Forza games were heavily focused on expanding your car collection, Forza Motorsport is more about taking the cars you have and bringing out the best in them. That’s not to say there aren’t a vast assortment of cars to add to your collection, because there really is. There is just a slight shift in focus.

One of the ways Forza Motorsport has stood out is the sheer amount of driving assists a gamer can employ. These assists range from driving lines, brake assists, steering assists and more. Many of these features have been in Forza games before. However, what is new is the ability to essentially control the game with only one input if needed. If you simply want to steer – so be it. If you just want to control the gas pedal – that’s fine too. This system is designed to ensure there are as few barriers between Forza Motorsport and the gamer.

Let’s Get Physic(al)

Forza Motorsport has received some substantial improvements in the physics department since previous iterations. One example that the developers mentioned is the way the cars’ tires adhere to the surface. In previous games, the tires had one point of contact between the car and the track. In Forza Motorsport, that number has grown to eight. This creates a more refined level of realism that has never been experienced in a Forza game before. Of course, that’s only one example and there are many more.

Of course, what would a racing game be without a plethora of tracks to race? And Forza Motorsport has no shortage in that department. In total, there are 20 tracks to learn. 15 of the tracks are returning from previous Forza Motorsport games, however they have been completely rebuilt. And there are 5 brand new tracks that have never appeared in a Forza Motorsport game before. Every track includes day/night cycles and various weather conditions. I’m thrilled that they will have the Indianapolis Motor Speedway return, as that’s a personal favourite of mine. What’s more, in Spring 2024, the devs intend to expand the track list to include the massive 12.9-mile (20.83 km) Nordschleife track.

She Handles Like a Beaut

So, with all this said, how does it feel actually playing it? Well… in a word; challenging. But not in a bad way! Even some of the most experienced Forza Motorsport veterans will need to endure a bit of a learning curve, as they get a feel for the rebuilt tracks, updated physics, and new cars. You’ll be racing the same track over-and-over, attempting to improve your times on every twist and turn. You’ll want to master each segment while you level up your car. Tuning your car will become a sort of game on its own – but fear not, if you’re not very mechanically inclined, like myself, you can let the game upgrade your car automatically. Forza Motorsport isn’t easy, but you’ll be rewarded for sticking with it and putting in the time.

Forza Motorsport is shaping up to be one heck of a simulation racing game. With beautiful visuals, improved physics, and a heavy focus on making each car your own, there is a ton to offer. If you’re looking for even more coverage, we previously shared our impressions of this upcoming racer back when we had a hands-off demonstration at the Xbox Games Showcase, so be sure to check that out too. Forza Motorsport launches on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC on October 10, 2023.

***Forza Motorsport preview key was provided by the publisher. ***

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Pikmin fans have so much to celebrate these days. We’ve got Pikmin Bloom on our mobile phones, encouraging us to get out into nature. Pikmin 4 is arriving on the Nintendo Switch in a few short weeks – and it looks absolutely amazing. And Nintendo dropped a tiny bomb with a massive explosion during their recent Nintendo Direct with the re-release of Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2, available for the first time on Nintendo Switch. If you never had the chance to experience Pikmin 1 and 2 back when they were originally released on the Nintendo GameCube, or their motion-controlled re-release on Nintendo Wii, then now is your opportunity.

This re-release provides fans with two options; purchasing each game individually, or buying the two in a bundle for a discounted price. For this review, we’re going to focus on the bundle as a whole package – as it is the smarter option since it provides the most bang for your buck.

The Story So Far

In Pikmin 1, you take on the role of Captain Olimar, the captain of a spaceship that crash-lands on Earth. He soon discovers helpful little creatures, Pikmin (lovingly named after his favourite brand of carrot, the Pikpik). He’ll utilize the various Pikmin types to search for the missing parts of his spaceship. He only has 30 days to achieve this task, so the pressure is on! In Pikmin 2, the company that Captain Olimar works for has gone bankrupt. So, he returns to Earth in search for treasure. This time, he brings fellow employee Louie along for the adventure. They yet again enlist the help of the tiny Pikmin to help find treasures.

Pikmin is a unique take on the real-time strategy genre. In Pikmin 1, you’re solely in control of Captain Olimar. In Pikmin 2, you’ll be able to switch controls between Captain Olimar and Louie, allowing for some added multi-tasking options. Throughout either game, you’ll come across a variety of different types of Pikmin that you will command to do your bidding. In Pikmin 1, you’ll have access to Red Pikmin, who are capable of withstanding fire, Yellow Pikmin, who are capable of withstanding electricity, and Blue Pikmin who are capable of exploring underwater. In Pikmin 2, the roster of Pikmin expands to include the immensely strong Purple Pikmin and the poisonous White Pikmin. As you explore the world, you’ll need to direct specific Pikmin to tackle certain tasks, whether that be attacking enemies, opening new areas, or hauling back ship parts/treasures.

Tick Tock

Time is of the essence. You’ll be up against the clock as you have from morning until night to complete as many tasks as possible. Once night time arrives, you’ll need to ensure all your Pikmin have safely returned to their homes – the Onions. At any one time, you’re allowed a maximum of 100 Pikmin on the field. This restriction will force you to decide which Pikmin you need and which will stay in their Onion – however, you’ll be able to swap out Pikmin quite easily throughout the day. In Pikmin 1, you have 30 in-game days to complete all the tasks.

In Pikmin 2, there is no longer a day restriction. One added element in Pikmin 2 is the inclusion of caves, which are essentially a series of sublevels where time has no effect. You can take as long as you need, but you also won’t gain access to any new Pikmin until you reach the final level and escape.

Re-Mastered Improvements

Both games have received a much-needed resolution boost, thanks to the added power of the Nintendo Switch. And both games definitely look crisper than they did back on the GameCube and Wii, but that’s about it. While the games have both aged pretty well – there are still some aspects that look a bit ugly. Ground textures appear blurry and stretched. A visual upgrade to meet Pikmin 3, or even Pikmin 4, levels would have been glorious – but this re-release was more about giving folks an opportunity to play the classics as they originally were designed. Both games also have motion control options available – moving the controller will move the in-game cursor when you’re directing Pikmin. However, this is optional and not something I bothered utilizing. The classic way of playing is still the best and the Switch Pro controller handles everything just fine.

Re-Mastered Misses

Unfortunately, because these games are essentially presented as is, some of the flaws that were originally present still persist. In Pikmin 1, it was incredibly difficult to move large swarms of Pikmin across distances without having some Pikmin get stuck against various objects, falling into water, or other hazards. This would mean a lot of annoying backtracking to pick up stragglers, or worse, losing some much-needed Pikmin. There were some minor improvements to this in Pikmin 2, namely due to the improved level designs, but it was still not without its challenges. For example, in Pikmin 2, Purple and White Pikmin were difficult to come by and the sublevel caves often presented a huge difficulty spike.

Both games have had some content stripped from them – likely due to licensing issues. In Pikmin 1, the songs “Ai No Uta” and “Tane No Uta” are not included. In Pikmin 2, some treasures have been modified to lose some of their branding. Neither of these omissions will impact the games in any way.

Pikmin is Must Play Gaming

The Pikmin franchise is a great example of Nintendo stretching its legs beyond Mario, Zelda & Kirby. It’s a unique style of game that has rarely been duplicated – though the recently released Tinykin game is a bold attempt. Pikmin 1 is a brilliantly designed game. A relatively simple concept which forces gamers to truly flex their mental muscles at times. Pikmin 2 expands on what makes Pikmin 1 so brilliant with some added elements, but the addition of the sublevel caves is a bit of a point of contention for some. Both games are worth a playthrough.

My only real disappointment was that more effort wasn’t put into sprucing up the visuals and tweaking the gameplay to iron out some of the minor frustrations from the original releases. Once you’ve experienced Pikmin 1 + 2, I highly recommend giving Pikmin 3 Deluxe a playthrough, which is also available on the Nintendo Switch. And thankfully, we’re not far off from Pikmin 4, which judging by the demo will exceed all expectations.

***Pikmin 1 + 2 key provided by the publisher***

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During the Xbox Games Showcase weekend, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the development team at Turn 10 Studios for a hands-off demonstration and discussion about the upcoming Forza Motorsport. The gameplay shown was all in-game, on an Xbox Series X development kit, at 4K 60 frames-per-second. Needless to say, it was a very good indication of what lies ahead for gamers when it launches this Fall.

The Forza franchise has always been about falling in love with cars. And this premise still holds true in the upcoming Forza Motorsport. This time around, the formula for falling in love with a car has been designed to be clearer. First, you’ll pick the car, get to know the car, build a relationship with the car, eventually culminating into car mastery. The second phase is taking that car mastery and becoming a track dominator – learning every corner of every track. And finally, you’ll take it to the competition with the goal of winning. This all might sound like an odd take on a dating sim – but in reality, this passion is what the devs at Turn 10 Studios want gamers to feel to truly get the most out of Forza Motorsport.

Another way of looking at this is what the devs call their new gameplay loop; level, build, dominate. You’ll level up your car, build your car, then dominate the competition. It’s a process you’ll repeat over and over with each and every car and the core of what will make Forza Motorsport so addicting. How will this be achieved? Through the new car progression and building systems.

Car-P-G

The new car progression system acts remarkably similar to how your favourite RPG games work – or as the devs so affectionately called it, “Car-P-G”. Every time you get behind the wheel of a car, you’ll start earning car experience points, or Car Points, for driving. Not just racing, not just winning, not even just completing tracks. Every single corner of a track is now recorded and scored. The better you take a corner, the more Car Points you can earn. And when you re-take a corner, you’ll be competing directly with your previous attempts.

As your car levels up, you’ll unlock new car parts. These car parts can be assigned to your car by utilizing Car Points. Unlike previous games where you would spend credits to purchase upgrades and parts, in Forza Motorsport, you’ll only be spending Car Points. And upgrades are never forever. You can remove a part and those spent Car Points will return to you, allowing gamers to re-spec their car at any point. This will allow gamers to constantly adjust and re-adjust their cars to find the right combination.

During the car building process, you’ll be given a variety of graphs showing just how various parts will impact a car’s performance. This will help builders focus their designs on what their end goal is, helping to take any guess work out of the process. Car Points and leveling up cars are specific to each car. So, you’ll be starting from scratch with every car.

Gameplay Loop

For Forza Motorsport, the devs have implemented a gameplay loop that they feel will be the most beneficial for gamers. For each track, you’ll start off by practicing – this will be an opportunity for you to level up your car. Once your car is ready for the competition, you’ll move on to the racing element. One of the improvements to racing is the new grid positioning element. You’ll be able to choose any position, from 1st to 24th, where you’ll start a race on the grid. The further back from 1st, the higher the potential reward, such as more credits. You’ll still need to place in the top 3 to earn the rewards.

(Almost) Everything Has Been Redesigned and Improved

In addition to the improved car progression and design systems, there are plenty of improvements to the meat of Forza Motorsport, specifically the driving. The physics for everything, from weight modelling to suspension, has been improved upon. Even the tire physics have been retooled. The overall driving experience will feel more authentic than ever before.

The Drivatar AI code has been rewritten as well and fully utilizes machine learning. There will be no rubber-banding. No cheats. No hacks. The AI driving will be based on the driving of actual gamers, and it will continually evolve. While you’ll still be able to adjust the Drivatar’s skill levels, they’ll still be based on actual gamers driving abilities.

All the in-game audio has been remastered and sounds better than ever. Visually, the game is a masterpiece running at 60 frames per second at 4K. I asked the devs about raytracing and while they shared that the game does feature raytracing, they weren’t ready to fully discuss it at this time, other than to point out a few of the reflection elements while in the game’s showroom. It’s unknown at this time if the Xbox Series X will feature any raytracing effects during races. Every track features a full 24-hour day/night cycle and weather systems. These will not only impact the game at a visual level, but also from a gameplay perspective as well. Driving on wet roads will be a vastly different experience from dry roads. The sun’s position in the sky might make certain corners more difficult simply due to the sun’s brightness making it difficult to see.

Accessible to Everyone

The Forza franchise has continually made improvements to accessibility over the years. Forza Motorsport is taking accessibility to unprecedented new levels. One example of this is the new one-button mode. In this mode, you can choose the one function you want to perform, and the game will do everything else. Do you just want to steer? Fine, the game will handle the braking and acceleration. Do you just want to brake? Or accelerate? That’s fine too. This will allow gamers of all skill levels to jump in. In addition, there is a slew of new audio assists as well. You can pick what audio cues are provided throughout the game, such as corners, distances, etc. The devs believe the audio cues are so well designed that you could literally play Forza Motorsport blindfolded and still be successful.

Going Forward

Forza Motorsport is shaping up to be one of the best simulation racers of all time. It will feature a robust collection of cars and tracks. In addition, cars and tracks will be released directly into the career mode on an on-going basis. This will allow Forza Motorsport to stay fresh for years to come.

There is still much more about Forza Motorsport that we have yet to learn. The devs noted that they’ll be discussing everything from new modes, cars, multiplayer, tracks and visuals/raytracing over the upcoming summer. Gamers will be able to get their hands on Forza Motorsport on October 10th, 2023.

The post Forza Motorsport – Xbox Games Showcase Preview appeared first on COGconnected.

During the Xbox Games Showcase weekend, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the team at Microbird for a hands-off demonstration on their upcoming game, Dungeons of Hinterberg. During the 20-minute session, I got to watch a variety of different moments from the game being played in real-time while the devs shared some insights into this upcoming action RPG. Dungeons of Hinterberg features a unique setting mixed with a blend of gameplay elements that will appeal to fans of the Legend of Zelda franchise.

Dungeons of Hinterberg takes place in a small village in the Austrian Alps. The village’s claim to fame is a mysterious magical presence that has overtaken the surrounding area. Twenty-five portals, each leading to a unique dungeon, have popped up. Explorers from around the world have come to Hinterberg to complete these dungeons, including our hero. To complete each dungeon, you’ll need to either fight your way through a variety of enemies, solve puzzles, or defeat menacing bosses – each dungeon is different. Fortunately, you’ll have an assortment of magical abilities at your disposal to help you in your quest.

Hinterberg acts as a central hub in Dungeons of Hinterberg. There you’ll find over ten separate locations, such as shops and bars, to purchase items and interact with locals. Dungeons of Hinterberg includes a significant social component. Conversing and helping certain locals will provide you with added items and abilities to aid you in your quest. The more you interact with someone, the higher your friendship status will go. I’m not sure if Dungeons of Hinterberg will go as far as “dating sim”, but during one of the interactions I watched, our main character had a pretty lengthy chat with a fellow at a local bar.

Dungeon Dweller

Surrounding Hinterberg are four different areas, each containing 5-7 portals. Each portal will lead you to a uniquely different dungeon. The ultimate goal, as far as the devs would tell us, is to complete all 25 dungeons. However, they did hint that there could be some twists along the way. Dungeons each feature different biomes, enemies, puzzles and more. No two dungeons are the same. And according to the devs, each dungeon should take gamers approximately 30 minutes to complete. In the menu, you’ll have a handy map showing you how many dungeons there are in each area, and which of them you have completed already.

Dungeons of Hinterberg provides players with a nice selection of abilities to navigate the world and fight enemies. Each area will provide the player with different abilities, and this is key to the dungeons contained within the area. For example, one ability we got to see was the mini tornado ability. With this, our hero creates a controllable tornado. This ability has a few different effects. For example, it can pick our hero up and allow them to hover over low, non-solid structures – such a spiky vines. Another ability was a meteor shower, which bombards an area with deadly meteors – easily killing off low-level enemies. Using these abilities is critical to defeating enemies and solving puzzles. Speaking of the enemies, the developers utilized actual Alpine myths to create these creatures.

Dungeons of Hinterberg is a combination of hack & slash action adventure, with a good mix of RPG elements. I love the idea of utilizing Alpine myths as inspiration for some of the creature designs. And having the Austrian Alps as the backdrop for this game helps it stand out among other action RPG adventures. Dungeons of Hinterberg arrives on PC and Xbox Series X/S in 2024.

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PowerA has become synonymous with 3rd party accessories for your favourite game consoles. This time around, we’ve got a brand-new wired controller for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC. The Fusion Pro 3 Wired Controller is designed to give gamers a pro-style controller at an affordable price. I’m quite familiar with the Fusion Pro line as I’ve previously reviewed the Fusion Pro and the Fusion Pro 2. Does the Fusion Pro 3 offer enough new innovations to warrant a purchase? Let’s find out.

Stunning Controller

First of all, let’s get the obvious out of the way, the Fusion Pro 3 is absolutely stunning. The version I reviewed was the special edition Midnight Shadow. This version features a slick black-on-black design with only the face buttons offering a pop of colour. However, the trade off is the lack of rubberized grips available in the standard Fusion Pro 3 version. The Midnight Shadow version provides a finish not unlike the standard Xbox Series X controller, which I personally prefer over the rubberized grips – so I was happy with this particular version. But if you’re in need of some rubberized grips, you’ll want to opt for the standard Fusion Pro 3.

The Fusion Pro 3 offers many of the same features we received with the Fusion Pro 2, such as a detachable faceplate, 4 different thumbsticks, trigger locks, and four “advanced gaming buttons” at the rear of the controller. The four different thumbsticks include two standard sized thumbsticks, a tall convex thumbstick and a tall concave thumbstick. The tall concave thumbstick is ideal for first-person shooters as it provides a bit better precision when used on the right thumbstick. To be honest, I’m not sure what the tall concave thumbstick would be good for – maybe it just feels better on the thumbs for some gamers.

Useful Trigger Locks

The trigger locks are incredibly easy to engage, offering three different lock levels. The idea behind the trigger locks is to reduce the distance for depressing the button down – offering faster trigger execution in games like first person shooters. The difference isn’t significant, but it is there. The biggest change in the Fusion Pro 3 is the four “advanced gaming buttons” at the rear of the controller. The Fusion Pro 2 offered 4 detachable buttons, whereas the Fusion Pro 3 has embedded the buttons into the controller – they are not removable. For me, I love the top two rear buttons, as they’re perfectly placed for my middle fingers to engage. But the bottom two buttons aren’t something I would have a use for. So, instead of allowing my fingers to rest on the back of the controller, they hover over the buttons, and I never really feel comfortable.

Like the Fusion Pro 2, the Fusion Pro 3 features both the Share button and the Xbox button – both of which function as the standard Xbox Series X controllers would require. The volume dial also returns for folks who still use wired 3.55mm headsets – since I don’t, it was a feature I didn’t test out.

Swappable Thumbsticks

Since the Fusion Pro 3 has a detachable faceplate – which is awesome and makes swapping thumbsticks a breeze – I was hoping for an extra faceplate to offer some aesthetic variety. The Fusion Pro 2 had two faceplates in the box – so I’m not sure why PowerA decided to cheap out this time around. I do love the Midnight Shadow design, but a couple options would have been better!

So, how does the controller perform? Well, it’s pretty good – but not perfect, and likely won’t replace my standard Xbox Series X controller. The main issue I had was when playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Pressing the Left Thumbstick down causes the player to run. Double-tapping/holding the left thumbstick down causes the player to sprint – however, the Fusion Pro 3 had a difficult time registering the double-tap. It worked sometimes, other times, not so much. The inconsistency was a bummer. Aside from that, the rest of the controller functions as needed and I was pretty happy with it.

The only other criticism I could offer was the included USB-C cable. It continues the wired controller trend of being 10 feet long. For many gamers, this won’t be an issue. For those of us with large living rooms and very big TVs, we could have used an extra couple feet. My finger’s are crossed that the Fusion Pro 4 has a slightly longer cable.

Admirable Attempt

The Fusion Pro 3 is an admirable attempt at bridging the gap between pro-controller features and consumer-friendly pricing. As a wired controller, there is no worry about replacing batteries. I really wish they would extend that 10′ cord by an extra couple feet for those of us with larger gaming rooms. The four pro-buttons on the back are easy enough to program, but I’m still not sure what I would use them all for. In addition, the bottom 2 pro-buttons make it difficult to really feel comfortable. On the Fusion Pro 2, at least I could just remove the bottom 2 buttons – not so with the Fusion Pro 3. Also, the issue with double-tapping the thumbstick and it not always registering is disappointing. PowerA has a good controller here, but it’s just a few tweaks from absolutely greatness. Hopefully the eventual Fusion Pro 4 will really take these PowerA controllers to the next level.

***Fusion Pro 3 controller provided by the manufacturer.***

The post Fusion Pro 3 Wired Controller Review – Admirable Attempt appeared first on COGconnected.

Two years following the release of Minecraft Dungeons, the Minecraft universe is expanding once again with Minecraft Legends. Minecraft Legends features some common traits with the original Minecraft and Minecraft Dungeons, while still carving out a unique experience of its own. You’ll explore, create, and survive in this open-world action-strategy adventure. Will Minecraft Legends take Minecraft to new heights, or was this a poorly conceived experiment?

In Minecraft Legends, the piglin army has broken free from the Nether and has begun to invade the Overworld. Three God-like caretakers called The Hosts, have recruited you, the Hero, to command an army of mobs and save the Overworld from the piglin invasion.

A New Way to Minecraft

Minecraft Legends is a sort of action/strategy blend where you control your Hero in real time, collecting resources, building structures, and commanding various mobs. Throughout the campaign, you’ll explore a vast, proceedurely generated open-world featuring all the biomes you’ve come to expect from Minecraft games. Unfortunately, the campaign really only features two different scenarios; protecting villages or attacking piglin bases. While you’ll eventually expand the types of mobs you can spawn and buildings you can build, the whole experience is quite repetitive.

What makes matters worse is just how convoluted the various systems are. Creating buildings requires resources, but resources are incredibly difficult to find. Because the map is procedurally generated, you’ll sometimes have to search far too long to find the needed resources. There are also bizarre limitations on where you can build structures. Some structures can only be built within range of specific areas, creating an almost trial & error process. At no point did I really feel like I was creating my own experience. The mobs are also quite useless fodder.

Invading piglin bases was a tedious game of spawning a limited amount of mobs, leading them into a base, trying to target a specific structure, watching them all die, then repeating the process again until the piglin base is destroyed. Add this all to the fact that the game runs on a day/night cycle, and every night it seems like the piglins were either attacking a village or building a new base, it never felt like I was getting ahead. During the preview event, we were told the game could take 18-25 hours, I didn’t imagine it would be 18-25 hours of banging my head against a wall trying to get ahead of the piglin invasion.

Why’d You Have to Be So Complicated?

Sure, as you carry on, you’ll gain access to more structures and more mobs, etc. But the inventory management system is so overwhelming, I can’t imagine too many people will maintain any desire to even try and decipher what it all means. I have three young Minecraft enthusiasts living here, and neither of them were interested beyond the first couple hours. Too complicated, too boring. Eventually, you’ll gain access to so many different structures that you’ll need to pick and choose which structures appear in your on-screen item bar. There must be a better inventory management system than this.

Minecraft Legends does feature multiplayer components. The campaign can be played co-operatively. And there is a player-vs-player mode, which pits two teams of four against each other with the goal of destroying the others’ base. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any matches to experience either of these, so I really can’t comment too much on this aspect. It’s disappointing that the developers didn’t have the forethought to include some AI controlled Heroes.

Beautifully Minecraft

Credit where credit is due, the game features some very pretty visuals while still maintaining a very distinctly Minecraft look. The cutscenes are beautifully animated, I would love to see the Minecraft universe expand into a full-length animated series or movie at some point. The game is also extensively voice-acted, and while the Hosts excessive pleasantness was a bit off-putting, it was nice to have something driving the narrative instead of the silly grunts and groans of the villagers.

The game features four different difficulty settings. I played exclusively on the second difficulty setting – it was challenging, but I progressed at a decent rate. One thing worth noting is you can’t pause the game at all. This is a huge oversight in a game of this nature and caused a few hassles for me during my time with it.

Minecraft Legends can be commended for its impressive visuals and unique-to-Minecraft gameplay style. Unfortunately, it’s just too convoluted and too tedious. I simply did not enjoy my time with it. I don’t know how many times I would want to build a structure or mob, and I’d have to spend far too long trying to find resources. Controlling mobs is almost impossible. Gameplay just moves too fast to really utilize any sort of precision. Ultimately it comes down less to strategy and more to attrition; just keep spamming piglin bases with mobs and hope you don’t die too often. Minecraft Legends is a difficult game to recommend, even for the most hardcore of Minecraft fans.

***Minecraft Legends for Xbox Series X was provided by the publisher. ***

The post Minecraft Legends Review – Minecraft Misstep appeared first on COGconnected.

The Minecraft universe is set to expand once again with a brand new, non-canon spin-off Minecraft Legends. Minecraft Legends is a narrative driven, action strategy game that takes place in a procedurally generated Minecraft overworld. From a third-person perspective, you’ll command forces, attack foes, build structures, collect resources, and much, much more throughout a lengthy campaign. If you’ve been itching to dive back into the world of Minecraft, Minecraft Legends is just your ticket.

As noted, Minecraft Legends is a narrative based game, so while the adventure might be uniquely your own, you’ll have quests to complete in order to save the Overworld. The menacing Piglins have invaded the Minecraft Overworld. God-like creatures called the Hosts have called on you, our Hero, to save the Overworld by recruiting a world of mobs to fight back against the Piglin army. The campaign should take folks anywhere between 18 to 25 hours to complete, depending on how much exploring players do.

Being Resourceful 

Minecraft Legends is an action strategy game that takes place solely on the Minecraft Overworld. You won’t be digging underground or exploring the Nether here. Many Minecraft aspects are included but refined to create a more streamlined and focused approach. For example, you’ll be required to gather resources, but you won’t be hacking away at tree after tree for seemingly ages. Throughout the Overworld, you’ll come across villages with friendly folk that you’ll need to protect against Piglin invasions. While you can attack, the brunt of your offense will come from using Spawners to recruit golems and other mobs.

Once you save a village, you’ll be tasked with rebuilding it – but rather than laying brick after brick, you’ll have some pre-made structures to create, assuming you have the resources. Of course, the Piglins will return, so you’ll also want to build some defenses so you can continue on your journey without worrying about your new-found villager friends.

Get Creative

Another aspect of the game will be finding and destroying Piglin bases, some of which will include bosses. Because the game is procedurally generated, the locations of these Piglin bases, and the surrounding terrain, will always be unique. For example, you might come across a Piglin base that is surrounded by a lava moat. To breach the base, you’ll need to build a bridge to cross the moat. For each Piglin base, your resources, available structures, and strategies will change and evolve over time.

To help our Hero out, you’ll have access to a variety of different means to get around in the form of mounts. These mounts could range from horses to Brilliant Beetles, each of which will have different abilities to get you from point A to point B. You’ll also get access to various items that temporarily buff your character, such as increased speed. Upgrades are available too, and these will give you the ability to mine new resources, which also unlock new structures to build. If you die, you’ll respawn at the nearest Well House, a structure you’ll need to build in liberated villages.

Distinctly Minecraft

Minecraft Legends is built on the Bedrock game engine, so the overall look is distinctly Minecraft. The environments, mobs, and various effects will all bring back memories of your time in Minecraft, while also introducing a variety of new mobs such as the badger and new Golems. The story is driven by gorgeously animated cutscenes.

Minecraft Legends also features a player vs player mode. This multiplayer mode takes some of the campaign elements and puts them into a PvP experience. In PvP, two teams will collect resources, build structures, fight Piglins and more. The end goal is to destroy the opposing teams base. The online, public PvP experience will be 4v4. But for folks who want to play 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3, they’ll be able to set up private matches. The battles will take place in procedurally generated maps, but these maps will be smaller than the base game. To avoid any griefing, communication will be limited to a Ping system. There will be no voice chat among players, with the exception of platform specific chats such as Xbox’s party chat. Matches will range from 20-40 minutes each.

The Future of Legends

At launch, Minecraft Legends will feature a marketplace where players can purchase new outfits for their Hero, among other things. While there won’t be any “seasons” per se, there will be monthly challenges, Lost Legends, for players to participate in. There will also be future title updates that provide players with all new content including new mobs.

Minecraft Legends is shaping up to be an excellent action strategy game with a robust single-player campaign and a fun & casual PvP multiplayer experience. This will be a unique Minecraft experience, but should still appeal to fans, probably even more so than the previously released Minecraft Dungeons. Minecraft Legends will be available in 2023 on Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Minecraft Legends will also launch, day one, with Xbox Game Pass.

***Minecraft Legends preview event was provided by the publisher***

The post Minecraft Legends Preview – A Legend in the Making appeared first on COGconnected.

Our time in Mexico is almost finished as the final Forza Horizon 5 expansion has finally arrived. Rally Adventure takes the Forza Horizon franchise to the wild world of rally racing, providing an experience that feels new, yet still very much a part of Forza Horizon. Rally Adventure doesn’t provide the awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping experience that the Forza Horizon 5 Hot Wheels Expansion previously provided. However, Rally Adventure still provides a challenging albeit more grounded jaunt through a new area of Mexico. If Forza Horizon 5 has felt a bit stale as of late, this new expansion might be just what you need to feel that rush one more time.

Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure brings a whole slew of new content to Forza Horizon 5. For starters, you’ll experience a brand-new area of Mexico called Sierra Nueva – affectionately nicknamed the Badlands. This new area, like the Hot Wheels area before, is detached from the main Forza Horizon 5 hub. You’ll travel to a specific area on the map and be teleported to the new location. The new area is pretty large with some very diverse areas to drive around in. There’s a new town to explore, a deep-pit quarry, lush forests, mountainy areas and more. A straight shot from one side of the new map to the other would probably take you a good 3-4 minutes of straight driving.

New (to Forza Horizon) Style of Racing

The focus of Rally Adventure is the new rally gameplay element. Rally racing is a legitimate racing sport, but isn’t exactly uncharted territory in gaming. The Dirt and WRC gaming franchises have been showcasing rally racing for over 20 years. However, it’s still a nice addition to the Forza Horizon arena. For the uninitiated, rally racing is all about beating your competitors times. You won’t be racing others head-to-head, but rather competing against their times. This can be very challenging as you won’t have that immediate visual cue of whether you’re winning or not. Rather, you’ll have to wait for periodic updates, provided a specific checkpoints, letting you know how your time ranks compared to others.

In addition, the tracks are designed to be far more difficult to navigate too, which is why drivers are provided a spotter that flies above in a helicopter calling out upcoming obstacles. Your spotter will tell you what type of terrain and turns are ahead, but you’ll also get a handy visual cue too. Forza fans are familiar with the driving line assist that provides a guide for you to follow – before your first race, you’re encouraged to turn the driving line assist off, and I highly encourage folks to do just that. It provides a more authentic, and challenging rally experience.

Choose Your Team

The core of this expansion is the new Rally Adventure campaign. To begin, you’ll first be tasked with picking one of three different teams to compete in. Each team offers their own take on rally racing. For example, the Apex Predators focus is on roads, with minimal off-road aspects, while the Grit Reapers feature rally races at night time. Each team offers 10 different ranks to progress through by participating in team specific events and challenges.

Another key distinction between the three teams is the person who will act as your spotter, whether it be Alex, Alejandra or Ramiro – all of which you’ve encountered in the main game. Once you rank high enough on a specific team, you’ll compete in a special event. Completing this special event will allow you to select a different team to join. Ultimately, completing Rally Adventure will require you to earn a max rank for all three teams.

Shiny New Vehicles

In addition to the huge new area, new campaign, and new style of racing, there is even more content for racers to enjoy. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Forza expansion if it didn’t include new vehicles. Rally Adventure is adding 10 off-road vehicles to the mix. This includes a new 1973 Volkswagen Baja Beetle, a 2001 Ford Focus RS, and the all-electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum. As an added bonus, a new punk-rock soundtrack will be available for all Forza Horizon 5 players on the Epitaph Radio station.

The Rally Adventure expansion is not a bad way to close the chapter on Forza Horizon 5. It’s definitely not as epic as the Hot Wheels expansion was. However, it brings with it a pretty significant new area, new vehicles, and a new variation on racing that the Forza Horizon 5 hasn’t fully explored before. The price of admission isn’t too pricey, so if you’re still engaged in Forza Horizon 5, or looking for a reason to jump back in, the Rally Adventure expansion isn’t a bad investment.

***Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure expansion Xbox Series X code was provided by the publisher. ***

The post Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure Expansion Review – Challenging New Twist appeared first on COGconnected.

Nintendo dropped a nostalgia-sized Megaton bomb on Switch owners when they shadow-dropped a remaster of the iconic Metroid Prime. For those not familiar with the Metroid Prime franchise, it is a prequel trilogy starring famed bounty hunter Samus Aran. The Prime trilogy takes place before the original Metroid game that debuted on the NES in 1986. While the Metroid-style gameplay remains similar to the classics, the Prime games moved the action to a first-person perspective. No longer were you controlling Samus in a 2D side-scroller, now you were experiencing her adventure from her perspective. When Metroid Prime first arrived on GameCube, the idea of a first-person Metroid was quite a wild departure – and many die-hard fans were worried it wouldn’t be as good. They were wrong. The end result was a brilliant first-person adventure that took the Metroid franchise to new heights.

Where Are Metroid Prime 2 & 3?

Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. This release features only the first Metroid Prime game. Many fans, me included, were hoping we’d eventually get the full Metroid Prime trilogy on the Switch – in anticipation of Metroid Prime 4. Of course, just because we’re only getting the first game now, doesn’t mean Nintendo has ruled out releasing the other two Metroid Prime games. I imagine it’ll depend on how well Metroid Prime Remastered sells… So go buy it, for all our sakes!

With all that said, Metroid Prime Remastered, even if it is just the first game of the trilogy, is still a masterpiece game, worthy of the price of admission.

Metroid Prime begins when Samus Aran, bounty hunter, responds to a distress signal from a Space Pirate research facility orbiting Tallon IV. The research facility is beyond repair and its inhabitants, along with Samus Aran, disembark and make their way to the surface of Tallon IV. From there, Samus uncovers the sinister Space Pirate plans, led by the notorious Meta Ridley. Samus, alone, must stop the Space Pirate threat and save Tallon IV, while uncovering some mysterious truths about her own past.

Plenty of Control Options

Controls were my biggest concern when coming into Metroid Prime Remastered. While I loved this game back on the GameCube, the controls haven’t aged well as many of us gamers have become accustomed to modern shooter controls. Fortunately, Metroid Prime Remastered features not one, but four, different control schemes. Perfect for fans new and old. You’ll get the classic control scheme, which mirrors the GameCube style. It worked back then… but hasn’t exactly aged well. You’ll get a motion control scheme similar to the Wii release of the Metroid Prime Trilogy. But I opted for the brand new dual-stick control scheme. This allows a control style that is similar to many modern shooters, while still retaining key features such as using different visor functions. Nintendo did us good with this approach and I couldn’t be happier.

While the original Metroid Prime was always visually stunning paired with brilliant sound design, Remastered has added revamped visuals and sound to create an even better experience. And while it’s a shame we’re not yet getting these iconic Nintendo games in 4K, for folks – like myself – with a decent TV that upscales Switch content to 4K… Metroid Prime Remastered looks incredible. I would argue that this is the best-looking game on the Nintendo Switch. A lot of this can be chalked up to the overall design of the game, but every aspect of the game, from the enemies to the environments, looks amazing. As for our heroine Samus Aran, well, absolute perfection. And yes, that soundtrack that was so good back when it was first released still sounds as good as ever.

Putting the Metroid in Metroidvania

For the uninitiated, Metroid Prime follows the classic Metroid gameplay loop. You’ll have access to a limited number of areas, but as you earn new items and powers, you’ll gradually gain access to more and more locations. The power-ups pop-up quite frequently, so there always seems to be a nice, steady level of progression. Along your journey, you’ll earn upgrades for your arm cannon, visors, suit, and the morph ball. There is plenty of variety, keeping the game feeling fresh throughout your time with it.

I’m having an incredibly hard time finding any fault with Metroid Prime Remastered. It’s a damn near perfect game. It closely follows that classic Metroid formula, so be prepared to do a significant amount of backtracking and exploring. But if you wonder around aimlessly for too long, you’ll get some useful guidance to steer you in the right direction. It’s the perfect blend of “figure it out yourself” with “here’s a little nudge in the right direction”. The initial loading times can be a bit long… but honestly, I’m nitpicking when I say that. The visuals, gameplay, controls, music, sound design… everything was so brilliantly designed before and it has been remastered to perfection.

Metroid At It’s Prime

Metroid Prime Remastered is an example of how a remaster should be done. There were no real changes to gameplay, visuals or anything like that. Just some minor improvements, such as added control schemes, to help modernize it a bit. Aside from some lengthy load times when you’re initially getting into the game or loading a save, the game really has no faults. It’s designed to encourage exploration and experimentation, but if you get lost, you’ll be nudged in the direction you need to go eventually. There are ample amounts of lore in the game, giving plenty of nods to past Metroid games. While it would have been better if the entire Metroid Prime trilogy was included here, I won’t complain too much as long as the next two games arrive remastered prior to Metroid Prime 4.

***Metroid Prime Remastered for Switch was provided by the publisher***

The post Metroid Prime Remastered Review – A Prime Example of Perfection appeared first on COGconnected.

Let me talk to you. It took me three flights – all of which were delayed – to get to San Antonio, Texas this past weekend. But the opportunity to go hands-on with the latest build of WWE 2K23 was too good an opportunity to pass up and well worth the travel hassles.

I’ve been a fan of the WWE, to varying degrees, for the past 20+ years. My interest has waned a bit over the past decade, but I still catch the occasional episode from time to time. I also love catching classic matches on my TikTok feed. Wrestling games, however, haven’t been a huge draw for me for quite some time. Like most gamers my age, it seems the highlight for wrestling games peaked during the Nintendo 64 era. However, I also enjoyed the Day of Reckoning titles from the GameCube era. That’s not to say I haven’t played wrestling games over the past 10 years, I sure have. But there just seems to be a level of complexity to them these days that feels too cumbersome.

Fortunately, that seemed to change with WWE 2K22, last years iteration. And I’m thrilled to report that WWE 2K23 takes what made WWE 2K22 so good and expands on it.

If Ya Smell What 2K Is Cookin’

It’s worth noting exactly what I had access to when I went hands-on with WWE 2K23. There was essentially two modes we had access to; 2K Showcase and standard events. Within the events, we had access to standard matches, the Royal Rumble, and the brand-new Wargames.

Unfortunately, I did not have access to the MyGM mode, any of the creation modes, MyFaction, WWE Universe or access to any online features. The roster we had access to was also quite limited to about a dozen wrestlers. And no, I can’t tell you what their Superstar ratings are, those will be revealed at a later date.

The various events modes are pretty consistent with what we’ve seen before in WWE 2K22. However, new this year is Wargames. I honestly wasn’t familiar with Wargames, as I had never seen a Wargames match before. But based on my experience, there were two teams of three wrestlers and the ring was actually a combination of two rings, side by side, surrounded by a large steel cage. One wrestler from either team begins the match, and at regular intervals, their teammates are allowed to enter. Winning seems to be decided via pinfall or submission. It’s pretty chaotic but I anticipate some pretty wild and creative matches coming from this event.

The Champ Is Here

The highlight for me during my time with WWE 2K23 was the 2K Showcase. This year, 2K Showcase features the 20+ year career of WWE Superstar John Cena. The 2K Showcase is hosted by a dapper looking John Cena as he narrates the iconic matches he has competed in. During the preview event, we were allowed to compete in three different 2K Showcase matches. In this mode, we actually don’t play as John Cena, but rather his opponents. On screen, you will receive prompts about specific moves you’ll need to perform to carry the match along. You can win the match and move on to the next by beating John Cena, however if you complete all the specific objectives, you’ll receive a variety of unlockables – including WWE Superstars! This is a great mode for beginners looking to get some much-needed training without it feeling like a tutorial.

Visually, WWE 2K23 takes WWE 2K22 and gives it a welcome upgrade. WWE Superstars look even more authentic. Last year, the Superstars looked a bit too shiny. This year, that’s not the case, and the Superstars have never looked better. Arenas look great and the audience members look as realistic as they’ve ever been. Wrestler intros are on-point and provide the same epic vibe you get when you’re watching the televised programming. Unfortunately, the one visual blemish from my time with it was long hair. Long hair just looks janky and awkward. Hopefully, a couple more months of polish will help.

It’s True. It’s Damn True.

Without a doubt, if you were a fan of WWE 2K22, you’ll likely feel the same about this year’s brawler when it launches on March 17th, 2023. They’ve opted for the tagline “Even Stronger”, and it is 100% apt for WWE 2K23, as it truly seems to take everything that made WWE 2K22 good and ramped it up to be even better.

***Access to the WWE 2K23 preview was provided by the publisher***

The post WWE 2K23 Preview – The Champ Is Here appeared first on COGconnected.

Lil Gator Game is a fun new adventure inspired to various degrees by brilliant games like A Short Hike and The Legend of Zelda. It features a story of sibling love and the realities of getting older. The message of helping others is strong here. If you’ve got an up-and-coming gamer in the house or you’re looking for a chill Legend of Zelda adventure to enjoy, Lil Gator Game might just be what you’re looking for.

Sibling Love

Lil Gator Game is a story about the relationship between two siblings. The protagonist would enjoy elaborate adventures with his big sister, inspired by their favourite video game. As time went on, his big sister went off to school and our hero was left alone. When big sis comes back home for a brief break from school, our hero devises a plan to get her involved in one more epic adventure. Unfortunately, with a big project due, big sis can’t be bothered and her focus stays on her schooling. Undeterred, our hero and his friends go forward with the plan with the hope to draw his big sis in. And so begins our heroes biggest adventure yet.

The primary goal of the game is to set up an epic adventure with the hopes of getting your big sister to participate while she’s on her school break. You’ll come across a variety of anthropomorphic characters, think Animal Crossing, that you’ll need to recruit as friends to help with the big adventure. There aren’t really any obstacles in your way, aside from the terrain itself. Cardboard cutouts of enemies are littered throughout the island, but often take a whack or two from your sword to destroy. Upon destroying them, you’ll get some scraps – the in-game currency – which you’ll eventually use to craft or buy new items.

At no point can you die, or get injured, or even really fail. You might lose the occasional minigame, but a simple retry is all that’s needed to proceed. For most gamers, Lil Gator Game will be a walk in the park. The most challenging aspect will simply be trying to find everything you need in the game, as there are no waypoints.

Inspired by the Greats

Lil Gator Game clearly draws inspiration from two sources: A Short Hike and The Legend of Zelda – more specifically, Breath of the Wild. From the beginning, the gator siblings are pretty clearly referring to the Legend of Zelda games when they set out on their own adventures. There are a few fun callbacks to Zelda games from items to iconic imagery. It’s not a Legend of Zelda rip-off by any means. But there are some elements directly lifted from Breath of the Wild. In order to climb mountains, you’ll need a special bracelet – and as you’re climbing, a stamina gauge appears on screen. You’ll eventually get access to a special shirt that allows you to glide off high peaks. Even Lil Gator’s first hat is a clear homage to Link’s hat. Some of the cardboard cutouts have some very Legend of Zelda-esque visuals, such as the skeletons.

As for A Short Hike, in all honesty, when I first saw the Lil Gator Game trailer, I was convinced this was developed by the same team. It isn’t. The game takes so many visual cues from A Short Hike, from character design, island design, cel-shading techniques, and more. It’s not necessarily a bad thing – A Short Hike is brilliant in its own right, so if it inspired the team at MegaWobble in some way, great. Even the gameplay is very A Short Hike. The simplified, no fail approach geared towards younger audiences. Even the messaging in-game about helping those in need is very similar. Ultimately, this isn’t a bad thing, and the gaming world could use more of these lighter adventures for more casual gamers.

Soundtrack Woes

There were few sore spots for me in Lil Gator Game. The first was the music – I had hoped the music would either be a chill hop style to embrace the relaxing nature of the island or more epic Legend of Zelda-inspired music. The result was neither, but rather an odd mix of almost jazz-like music. It just seemed out of place. Mind you, the music isn’t bad! It just doesn’t seem to fit the style of the game. Another sore spot, and this is quite minor, but there were some big frame rate drops at times. Nothing that would negatively impact game play – considering how relaxing the game is. But still noticeable.

And finally, the last issue was the lack of voice acting. While I can appreciate voice acting would add a significant added cost to the games budget, it would have allowed a younger group of gamers to enjoy the game without the need for parents reading every text bubble. This is a shame, because a game like Lil Gator Game could really bridge a gap for young gamers who want to play Breath of the Wild but aren’t quite at that skill level yet.

A Lovely Adventure

Lil Gator Game is a lovely little adventure. The storyline is something many can relate to and really did tug on my heart strings. While the gameplay is simple, I still enjoyed exploring the island and helping out the residents during my time with it. There isn’t much challenge and it’s not a game I can see myself coming back to, but it might be a game I’ll sit down with my younger sons and help them enjoy – particularly with reading the text bubbles.

Lil Gator Game suffers from some minor frame rate drops and the music was a bit out of place. But, the overall package was pretty good. I’d recommend Lil Gator Game to young gamers – assuming they have willing parents who can help them read the objectives. I’d also recommend this to gamers looking for a chill, relaxing Legend of Zelda style game to tide them over until Tears of the Kingdom launches next year.

***Lil Gator Game Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Lil Gator Game Review – A Homage to Zelda appeared first on COGconnected.

There is a niche gaming market that likes to take their simulation gaming to extremes. Turtle Beach is taking advantage of that opportunity with their VelocityOne Flight System for Xbox Series X and PC. The VelocityOne Flight System includes two components, with a third optional accessory. First there is the VelocityOne Flight System Universal Control System, which includes a yoke a throttle. Then there is the VelocityOne Rudder. And finally, the optional component is the upcoming VelocityOne Stand that allows you to install the various components into one handy, portable cockpit. The combined set up is designed to give aspiring pilots the most realistic experience for Microsoft’s Flight Simulator.

Compatibility Issues

Turtle Beach was generous enough to send us a VelocityOne Rudder for review purposes. Unfortunately, we were unable to give it a proper test. In order to use the VelocityOne Rudder on the Xbox Series X, you need the VelocityOne Flight Universal Control System. The rudder on its own is completely useless with the Xbox Series X – so keep this in mind if your intention is to game on your Xbox.

The VelocityOne Rudder is compatible, on it’s own, on PC, by simply plugging it into the PC USB port. Unfortunately, in order to play Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC, you’ll need to use the PC Xbox app – and for many folks, myself included, that app just won’t work. Despite my efforts to reach out to Xbox support to get the PC Xbox app/PC Game Pass working on my PC, my requests were ignored.

With this all said, the extent of my impressions is limited to what I was able to unbox and observe.

The first thing of note is just how hefty the VelocityOne Rudder is. It weighs over ten pounds and feels extremely sturdy. Despite its heft, I noticed it would shift quite a bit when I would put my feet on the pedals. It’s clear to me that for optimal performance, folks will want to buy the VelocityOne Stand, which should add enough weight to prevent it from shifting around too much.

Choose Your Aircraft Style

The VelocityOne Rudder offers the ability to adjust the pedals in two distinct ways. The first is adjusting it for larger aircraft or light aircraft – defined by either using the full pedal or removing the heel portion of the pedal. The second way is adjusting the pedal width, which from what I can tell is likely more for comfort purposes.

So, why would you need a VelocityOne Rudder? I’m glad you asked. The rudder, in this case, provides gamers with three different movement options. The first, and most significant, is adjusting the planes yaw – in flight – by sliding the pedals. The second and third options involve the braking while the plane is taxiing. Toe brakes to slow the plane and differential braking for tight turns while taxiing.

Huge Potential

The VelocityOne Rudder is an impressive piece of hardware. It feels well-designed and sturdy. It probably would have benefited from a bit more weight to prevent accidental sliding, but I imagine the most ambitious aspiring pilots will buy the VelocityOne Stand to combine all the different VelocityOne components together. I was bummed out that I couldn’t use the rudder on its own with my Xbox Series X, and even more bummed out that I couldn’t get Microsoft Flight Simulator to work on my PC due to issues with the Xbox App – I wish Xbox Support would have returned my requests for help.

It would have been awesome to give the whole VelocityOne Flight System a test drive on my Xbox Series X. For those willing to invest in the whole package, I imagine it will provide such a fun and unique experience for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

***Turtle Beach VelocityOne Rudder was provided by the manufacturer***

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I really didn’t think I would be a fan of the PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless Headset. Spoiler alert: in the end, I was. When I first opened the box, I was greeted by the headset, a dongle, a ridiculously short USB cable, and a Getting Started guide that simply had a QR code. At first, I figured I could set up the headset without a guide – this isn’t my first headset rodeo. But after charging the headset with the ridiculously short USB cable – I plugged in the dongle on my PC and… nothing happened. I pushed buttons on the headset to no avail – now I needed help.

I scanned the QR code and was disappointed to find out that it just took me to the PDP website. So, I searched for this specific headset… and nothing. No instructions or guide. Growing frustrated, I decided to try it on my Xbox Series X. Fortunately, plugging the dongle in and holding the headset power button was all it took, and soon enough, I was getting sound from the AIRLITE Pro Wireless Headset. Sheesh. Not a fun start.

It’s worth noting that since starting my review, PDP has since added a brief yet incomplete User Guide on their website. It still doesn’t provide all the answers, but it’s at least something.

Best-in-Class Stereo Sound

The PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless headset features stereo sound pumping through its 50mm drivers. You’re not going to get true 3D audio or the clarity of a headset with Dolby Atmos, but hot damn, the sound was absolutely fantastic. I would suggest this is probably the best-sounding stereo sound you’ll get from a wireless headset. During my time with the headset, I was playing Call of Duty: Vanguard, Fortnite, and reviewing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. It gave me an opportunity to hear a wide range of sounds from subtle conversations and footsteps to loud gunshots and explosions. The headset performed exceedingly well to the point that I didn’t even bother trying my Dolby Atmos-supported headset during my review time with Modern Warfare II. The PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless headset was growing on me.

Multiplayer gaming included having chats with my teammates. The PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless headset has two different volume dials; one for in-game volume and one that adjusts the chat/in-game mix. The chat/in-game mix dial is in a bit of an awkward spot and took some adjusting, but eventually, I had a decent balance between my teammates and the game. Additionally, my teammates had no issue hearing me. My voice came across clear – which is ideal since I have a lot to say.

Modest Comfort

This headset is not the most comfortable headset I’ve ever worn, but it’s not the worst either. The cups enclose my ears almost perfectly – just a little snug. But I have large ears, so for folks that have normal-sized ears, this should fit them just fine. And as a result, you get an added level of noise cancellation. I can still hear sounds around me when I have them on, but the sounds are quite muffled. The headband also has quite a bit of room to expand, allowing for larger heads. For me, I didn’t need to expand it too much. Though a word of warning – the band is quite tight. I once pulled the headset off, at a sort of awkward angle, and it snapped into my eye. It’s probably a scenario that most folks won’t achieve themselves – just dumb luck on my part. But damn, it hurt!

The AIRLITE Pro Wireless headset has a mic boom that flips up when not needed – which also doubles as a mute function. I wish all headsets had this flip-to-mute feature. In addition to the power/sync button and two volume dials, there’s a second button that says Mode. Unfortunately, with no included instructions, guides, or otherwise – and since the website still doesn’t have a proper User Guide on it – I have zero idea what the Mode button does.

The Energizer Bunny of Headsets

The battery life for this headset is incredible. I’ve been gaming for a week on the same original charge. The box states 16+ hours of battery life and it absolutely hits that range. I honestly can’t recall another wireless headset that offered this sort of battery life. Eventually, I’ll be recharging it, with the ridiculously short USB cable they included in the box. Can you tell how annoyed I am by the ridiculously short USB cable?

A Worthy Headset?

The PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless headset and I didn’t have a good start to our working relationship. It was a bit confusing and I still don’t know all the features it offers, such as the mysterious Mode button. However, when I finally figured out how to pair it on my Xbox Series X, the end result was a very capable wireless headset. And yes, after I paired it with my Xbox Series X, the pairing continued to work on my PC as well. The stereo sound is excellent quality. While it lacks true 3D audio or heavy features like Dolby Atmos support, it still provides an audio experience that should satisfy many gamers. The headset is modestly comfortable with relatively big ear cups, comfortable padding, and an expandable headband.

As an added bonus, it comes with a 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription – however, it’ll only work if you are currently not subscribed. I really wish they would have included a proper quick start and feature guide in the box, I imagine other gamers will have similar challenges when they first unbox this headset. The PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless headset is a worthy pick-up for folks that need a decent mid-tier gaming headset with good sound that won’t break the bank.

***PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless headset provided by the manufacturer.***

The post PDP AIRLITE Pro Wireless Headset Review – Quality, Mid-Tier Headset appeared first on COGconnected.

For better or worse, it’s that time of year when we dive into the latest Call of Duty offering. Modern Warfare II is an indirect sequel to 2019’s Modern Warfare, and just like its predecessor, this is a reboot of the original Modern Warfare games from just over a decade ago.

While some of the characters, themes, and plot points are the same, or at least really similar, these are ultimately brand-new games. If you’re hoping for a remake of Modern Warfare 2 (2009), you’ll be disappointed. Packaged with the campaign are the iconic multiplayer modes and a new co-op mode. Thankfully, you won’t find any crappy zombie modes here.

Not The One

Before we move any further, it’s time to set some expectations. First, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II isn’t the best or worst in the franchise. It does a lot of things right, but still has a number of disappointing issues. Second, it doesn’t rewrite what it is to be a Call of Duty game. It tweaks just enough to be fresh, while still maintaining most of the conventions that make the Call of Duty franchise what it is today.

If you’ve never been a fan of Call of Duty, Modern Warfare II won’t change your mind. If your fandom of Call of Duty has relapsed due to recent entries such as Call of Duty: Vanguard, you’ll likely be swayed back into the fray with this entry. And if you’re a diehard Call of Duty fan like me, you’ll enjoy it – as I did – but you’ll also be left wondering why some improvements still haven’t been made.

Smash

Modern Warfare II kicks off with a bang. Well, it’s more of an epic explosive assassination featuring fan-favourite character Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley. After these events, we learn that Quds Force Major Hassan Zyani is in possession of a trio of American-made missiles. His intention is clear; attack key Western targets. A joint task force of soldiers from a variety of different outfits unite on a globe-trotting adventure to track Hassan down and stop the missiles. Along the way, players will encounter espionage, betrayal, a good ol’ fashion jailbreak, and a damsel in distress. Modern Warfare II has it all.

The campaign is jam-packed with 17 missions spanning a variety of different environments. And rather than spending the whole time running and gunning, the game does an excellent job of mixing things up with some unique gameplay elements. In one mission, you’ll be required to utilize stealth while you’re swimming in a marina. In another mission, you’ll guide your companion through his mission by letting him know when to move and who to attack. And in yet another mission, you’ll provide devastating firepower from a massive military aircraft.

This doesn’t mean you won’t be running and gunning – you’ll still spend the bulk of your time taking cover, shooting, reloading, and advancing from point to point. One thing that really stood out for me was just how concise they made the levels – very rarely did it feel like a level was taking too long to finish. There was a solid amount of effort put into Modern Warfare II to make it feel like you’re getting the best action bits spliced together.

Bad Habit

Despite my praise for the campaign – and ultimately, it really was a good campaign – there were some issues. The AI in this game – in typical Call of Duty fashion – is still generally quite stupid and ineffective. Sure, they’ll snag the occasional kill, but you can’t rely on them to cover your back. You’ll be doing all the heavy lifting. And I suppose, that’s the way it should be in a video game, but it does take a bit of the realism away.

The enemy AI can be quite frustrating too. Often there is a very minimal reaction time between seeing a bad guy and getting shot at. Often I’d open a door and BAM, I’d be shot. Other times, the enemy would see me in very dark situations where you wouldn’t normally think a person could see so clearly. This made stealth sections particularly frustrating. And this is despite the inclusion of a new hud element that alerts players when an enemy can see you. It’s clear the devs wanted the stealth sections to be better… the execution wasn’t quite there.

Genocide

Multiplayer is probably the area that most folks will flock to when it comes to Modern Warfare II, and while I’d love to sit here and sing its praises, the reality – as has been the case for the last few years – Modern Warfare II has been released with a vast amount of glitches and issues that severely hinder the overall experience. I’m the type of Call of Duty player that prefers Hardcore – and while it’s coming, renamed Tier 1 – it won’t be available for a couple of weeks, so I can’t comment on it. Unfortunately, it sounds like they’ll still include team killing in Hardcore/Tier 1, but no word on how many teamkills you get until a teamkill causes you to die. Needless to say, the whole teamkilling system is just stupid and needs to go.

What Happened To You?

The multiplayer maps are quite a lot more complex than the previous Call of Duty games, adding far more areas to slink around. If you thought camping was an issue before… well, it’s going to get a whole lot worse. With that said, the added complexity also offers more options to be creative and navigate maps. Ultimately, it is for the best. The Perks are back, and most are the same as we’ve had before, however now a number of Perks are locked behind a new system that requires you to earn points in the match to unlock them. So players won’t be rocking Ghost or Hardline from the start of a match, they’ll need to be earned.

Spawn issues are a huge issue, but I think it’s safe to assume they’ll be tweaked in the future. Another feature that is bizarrely missing is the ability to Ping – but apparently, this is yet another glitch and will be re-added at a future time. Finally, I’m happy to report that two-player split-screen is back and works quite well, perfect for some quality father/son time when mom isn’t around.

Come Out and Play (Keep ‘Em Separated)

Crossplay is back and it still sucks. For starters, at launch, PC and Xbox users can’t even disable crossplay. Even worse, for some bizarre reason – and despite gamers begging developers – we’re still stuck with two options; crossplay on or off. What console players want is crossplay with other console players. Period. We don’t want to play with PC players for two obvious reasons; keyboard/mouse give PC players a distinct advantage and PC players are more likely to use a variety of cheats/hacks/etc to gain an unfair advantage. Just look at the hundreds of thousands of folks who have been banned from the previous Call of Duty games for hacking – most of which were PC players.

The single-player campaign is a visually stunning work of art. The locations, character models, lighting – it’s all the best we’ve ever seen in a Call of Duty game. The cinematics are even prettier, however, they’ve got this odd grain filter added that really takes away from the overall presentation. I really hope the devs update the game with an option to turn off film grain during cutscenes, as they do in-game.

Gotta Get Away

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there is much in the way of ray tracing utilized – probably a result of being cross-generational. Reflections are almost non-existent. In fact, some reflective surfaces such as windows cause a bizarre visual glitch that is quite noticeable. In multiplayer, the maps are beautiful, yet the character models could use some work. The character models are also kind of bland, with a few notable exceptions. With that said, I’m sure we’ll get dozens upon dozens of new customization options for the characters over the coming seasons. Though hopefully, the devs dial back their obsession with marijuana/pot cosmetics – it’s a bit much.

The audio in-game maintains the high level of standard that Call of Duty games has previously set. Explosions, weapons, vehicles, voice work… all top-notch. The music, however, takes a severe hit. From the bland radio-chatter title screen to the in-level music to the awful end-credits song, the entire soundtrack was a huge letdown when you consider some of Call of Duty’s iconic scores in the past.

It’ll Be A Long Time

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will not convince non-believers to jump into Call of Duty. If you’re a fan, you’ll be buying it. If you’re a relapsed fan, you’ll likely come back. And if you hate Call of Duty, you’ll still hate it. It’s a solid effort with a well-designed campaign that feels like you’re playing a summer blockbuster movie. The multiplayer, although severely lacking some key ingredients such as hardcore, the ability to ping, and crossplay issues, is still quite enjoyable. It’s still Call of Duty multiplayer, but it brings enough fresh tweaks to keep us fans happy.

Call of Duty is taking a well-deserved break next year, with the next entry not expected until 2024. Whether it’ll be a direct sequel to Modern Warfare II or a different entry altogether, the Call of Duty franchise needs to take a year off to regroup. It needs time to develop a game that leaves the past generations behind and is geared toward current-generation hardware. Until then, hopefully, the development team will give us some quality post-launch support with many new maps, weapons, and operators to keep us gaming for the next 24 months.

*** Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Xbox Series X code provided by the publisher***

The post Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Review – Something To Believe In appeared first on COGconnected.

Gamers have plenty to spend their money on. New consoles, new games, subscriptions, accessories – the list goes on. If there’s an opportunity to get a decent product at a budget price, then you can be sure for some, they’ll take that opportunity. Having a quality 3D audio headset with features such as Dolby Atmos is a huge deal for gamers. Enter the RIG 300 Pro HC universal headset by Nacon. This budget headset promises 3D audio at a wallet-friendly price. Does it deliver? Let’s have a look.

This is the first headset I’ve reviewed that requires you to attach the earcups to the frame. It’s easy enough to do, providing you with three different slots to accommodate three different head sizes. However, it’s nowhere near as effective as the sliding mechanism that most headsets provide. If your head doesn’t exactly fit within these three different size options, then the headset will feel a bit loose or a bit tight. For me, fortunately, the large size seemed to be fine enough.

To my surprise, the earcups are surprisingly big and almost completely encompass my large ears. This definitely helps maximize the sound quality while drowning out outside noises. They’re not the most comfortable fabric, but not as bad as I’ve felt before. The frame is very light, making the overall headset feel pretty lightweight – perfect for longer game sessions. Being wired, you never have to worry about charging either, which is a huge plus.

The headset features a flip microphone that provides crystal clear sound to those you’re talking with online. The microphone is unidirectional, so your friends will likely hear your dog barking, your kid complaining and your spouse nagging. Fortunately, you probably won’t hear what they hear – the benefit of noise-cancelling headsets. You’ll find a mute and volume toggle on the 1.2-meter cord.

Dolby Atmos Greatness

The RIG 300 Pro HC headset has nice, balanced audio. I’m actually surprised at the quality considering the price. I played a variety of games; Call of Duty: Vanguard, Far Cry 5, Fortnite – they all sounded good and the 3D audio seemed quite accurate. The headset is Dolby Atmos compatible, so you’ll get the best possible audio experience on a PC or Xbox. You’ll also get a 1-year subscription to Dolby Atmos in the headset box. To me, that is a huge bonus for a budget headset.

Compatibility Issues?

Despite my praise for this headset, I did run into one issue. Unfortunately, I’m not 100% convinced it was an issue with the headset – so I mention this as an added note, and not something that will impact the overall score. Whenever I used this headset while playing Call of Duty: Vanguard, my controller would frequently disconnect. I did everything to resolve the issue; hard reset, new batteries in the controller, plug my controller in and re-install Vanguard completely. Hell, I even bought a brand-new controller. Nothing fixed it. I then realized it was only when this headset was plugged in. However, it did not do this with any other game. So, is it the headset or is it just something to do with Vanguard? Let’s be honest, Vanguard has a ton of issues with it – so having some sort of compatibility issue with certain headsets, although odd, isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Consider this a tale of caution rather than a slight against this headset.

The RIG 300 Pro HC headset by Nacon comes with a favourable price tag, but with high-end features. While it doesn’t technically feature noise-cancellation tech, the earcups are big enough that they should encompass most gamers’ ears, essentially creating a mock noise-cancel tech that works. 3D audio with Dolby Atmos support is a huge must for any gamer, and the fact that even budget-conscious consumers can get this now is awesome to see. The headset isn’t the most comfortable I’ve used. I would have preferred they offer a sliding frame as opposed to three earcup slots for sizing. I’m also a bit concerned after my issues with Call of Duty: Vanguard – I sure hope other games have the same controller disconnect issue when using this headset. However, all-in-all, this is a brilliant headset for gamers on a budget looking for quality sound.

***Rig 300 Pro HC provided by the manufacturer***

The post Nacon RIG 300 Pro HC Universal Headset Review – Big Sound, Budget Price appeared first on COGconnected.

During the ID@Xbox Sumer Game Fest, I did my best to download as many upcoming game demos as possible. I tried to play them all, but some were simply forgotten. A few days later, my oldest son asked me to come see this game he discovered on our Xbox Series X. It was the SpiderHeck demo. What happened next turned into one of the most memorable gaming sessions I’ve had with my kids in recent memory. The sheer insanity and chaos that is SpiderHeck hooked our family completely. We played the heck out of that demo. Needless to say, I was thrilled to dive into the full game. Let’s put it this way; SpiderHeck is probably the best local multiplayer game you’ll play all year.

What the Heck is SpiderHeck?

SpiderHeck doesn’t feature a story. This game is all about the fun, over-the-top gameplay. Each player controls a spider in one of many different single-screen arenas. Your objective depends on which game mode you’re in, but you’ll be either fighting against other player-controlled spiders or uniquely designed AI enemies. Your spider doesn’t have any attacks; it can crawl on any surface, jump, and swing Spider-Man style. Around the arena, weapons will randomly spawn. Once you pick up a weapon, you’ll be able to go on the offensive and slay your enemy. There are a ton of different weapons in the game, ranging from Star Wars-inspired light swords, explosives, shotguns, rocket launchers and more. The randomness of the weapon spawns is one of many factors that makes this game so wild.

Way of the Spider

There are a handful of modes to play through. There is Versus mode, where you’ll square off against up to 3 other players. In this mode, you can also adjust a bunch of game-changing modifiers for some extra wild fun, like bigger explosions or higher jumps.

There is a Wave mode, where you’ll team up with up to 3 other players. In this mode, you’ll fight against wave after wave of AI-controlled enemies with varying abilities and attacks. You’ll need to work well together – team killing is a very real possibility. Surviving a wave brings back any dead players.

And finally, there is the single-player mode, Tiers of Heck. In this, you’ll be given a variety of different challenges to complete. I didn’t spend a lot of time in this mode. I found it a bit too challenging and not as fun as multiplayer is. With that said, it’s a good opportunity to practice your skills.

We spent the most amount of time in the Wave mode. Working together to kill the enemies while trying to avoid accidentally killing each other was just a wild and exciting time. We’d just keep trying to get further than previous runs. Every few levels, you’ll get the opportunity to pick a modifier that helps improve your odds of surviving.

This helps spice up the mode to avoid any sort of monotony. Despite how much fun this Wave mode is, I do wish developers would make two changes. First, it would be nice to have the option to turn team-killing off. While I appreciate that team-killing adds to the challenge, sometimes it would be nice to play together and not have to worry about that. Second, some different difficulty settings would be beneficial. If I’m playing with my oldest son, I imagine we’d keep team-killing on and jack the difficulty up to add more enemies to the mix. If I’m playing with my youngest son, turning team-killing off and toning the difficulty down would be ideal.

Visuals with Old-School Vibes

The game utilizes an aesthetic that reminds me of the indie classic N+ but with a very neon palette. The designs are simple, yet still distinct. As you progress through the game, you’ll unlock a variety of different hats to spice up your character – this helps in multiplayer modes too, because sometimes the action gets so hectic, it’s easier to distinguish your spider based on their hat and not just their colour. The enemies and arenas are also quite simply designed, but that’s okay. The soundtrack features some brilliant, electronic-style tracks that really amp up the adrenaline.

All the game modes, aside from single-player, have the ability to be played online. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test online multiplayer out – I just couldn’t find a match. But I imagine local multiplayer is probably substantially more enjoyable. My one frustration about local multiplayer is that the game doesn’t allow for multiple Xbox accounts to sign in at the same time. Only the first player is signed in, each subsequent player is just “Gamertag 2”, “Gamertag 3”, etc. This also means they won’t get any unlocks or Achievements. It seems like a poor oversight. It also creates a bit of a hassle during gameplay when you first spawn in and can’t recall which numbered spider you are.

SpiderHeck is one of the most enjoyable local multiplayer games I’ve played in a very long time. This game takes elements from beloved games such as Smash Bros., Worms, and N+ to combine into a wild experience that was both exciting and humourous. There were times when we would burst out laughing at the insanity on screen. SpiderHeck would make a perfect addition to any game night, especially when playing locally. There are a couple of issues that I’d love to see addressed. I should be able to sign all local players into their own accounts, but this isn’t the case. I wish there were a few more customization options for difficulty and accessibility. And I’d love the ability to create my own arenas. Despite these minor issues, SpiderHeck is absolutely brilliant. Grab some friends and play it as soon as possible.

***SpiderHeck key provided by the publisher***

The post SpiderHeck Review – Year of the Spider appeared first on COGconnected.

The second Back 4 Blood expansion has arrived. The first expansion was… well, awful. It added a new, way-too-challenging, optional section in existing levels. It was both frustrating and boring with very little reward. Fortunately, the folks at Turtle Rock Studios have given fans a much more enjoyable second expansion, which features a true expansion to the existing campaign. Children of the Worm is absolutely what this game needed and helped reinvigorate my excitement for Back 4 Blood.

Children of the Worm features a new faction in the battle between humans and the Ridden. Taking cues from The Walking Dead and its Whisperers storyline, this new faction consists of humans that appear to have been able to utilize the Ridden infection to enhance themselves, creating a sort of Ridden/Human hybrid. Throughout the campaign, you’ll encounter 4 of these new Children of the Worm, mixed in with all the Ridden you’ve encountered before. It’s up to the Cleaners to shut this new threat down.

Full-Sized Expansion

Children of the Worm adds a brand new Act split into 6 chapters. Each chapter takes the Cleaners through 6 different levels as they work to stop a new threat. I was impressed with the diversity in the included areas, from the gorgeous-looking boat marina to the not-so-abandoned prison. However, there were issues holding this expansion back. First, most of the levels are littered with bear traps that will ensnare your player. They’re annoying and worse, never affect NPC or enemies. I understand traps add a level of intensity to the overall run, but if I’m being snagged by a bear trap for the second or third time in a level, I’m going to be annoyed. Second, despite all the content in this expansion, I never really felt like I was doing anything fresh. It’s still good, but I would have liked a couple of new, unique objectives.

The four new enemies you’ll tackle throughout the campaign will force players to modify their plan of attack. The Crone is a medium-range fighter that uses a bow and arrow. The Sniper is a deadly long-range fighter with a rifle. The Pusflinger throws vials of infected goo on the Cleaners, attracting hordes of Ridden. While the Slasher is an up-close-and-personal heavy fighter that uses his claws to inflict damage.

The Prophet

In addition to new levels and enemies, we’re also introduced to “Prophet” Dan, a priest-like figure who provided protection for his followers against the Ridden. When the Children of the Worm kidnapped his flock, he joined the Cleaners to help track them down. He brings some unique abilities to the mix. If other Cleaners are incapacitated, he’ll be briefly enhanced. When he revives a fellow Cleaner, strange things happen, such as piles of money appearing out of nowhere. If you can get past his obnoxious mustache, he’s a great addition to any Cleaner crew.

Children of the Worm has a few issues. First, and I’ve criticized Turtle Rock Studios for this before, they need to stop plastering “Press A To Skip” on every damn cutscene. Show some respect for your hard work. If folks want to skip a cutscene, they’ll press a button – and at that point, you can prompt them to hold a specific button. It’s an unnecessary distraction on otherwise beautifully crafted cutscenes. I also felt that the expansion ending was a bit abrupt and left me wanting more. If this was a cliffhanger to the third expansion, perfect. If not, then I’ll be pretty disappointed.

Solid Addition To Back 4 Blood

Children of the Worm is absolutely the type of expansion that Back 4 Blood deserves. It is substantially better than the awful first expansion. This expansion brings a new Cleaner, four new enemies, and six new levels to play through. The levels feel like they’ve been carefully constructed to showcase both the new enemies, especially the snipers, and the hordes of Ridden. There are some minor annoyances, such as a ridiculous overabundance of bear traps strewn about. However, all in all, this is a worthy addition to Back 4 Blood. If the third and final Back 4 Blood expansion follows this formula, we’re in for a treat.

***Back 4 Blood key provided by the publisher***

The post Back 4 Blood: Children of the Worm Review – Back 4 Blood’s Savior appeared first on COGconnected.