The trouble with farming simulators is they can get repetitive. You wake up in the morning, water some crops, feed some animals, and then half the day is gone. Maybe you go fishing or catch some bugs in the afternoon. Or, if you’re into dating, find someone to go out with. But by the end of the day, you’ll have accomplished the same thing as yesterday. There’s nothing wrong with this tried and true formula – I’m still a sucker for these types of games. In fact, that’s what I was hoping for when I picked up Fae Farm. Little did I know, Fae Farm had a lot more to offer than just chopping down trees and dating the locals. So much more!

Fae Farm, like many cozy farming simulator games, begins with you randomly joining a small community. Our new home, Azoria, is already quite established but it can be better. The mayor greets you on your first day and shows you your house, which is predictably a fixer-upper that you can customize. Part of your new role is to establish a place in the village and run a successful farm. Of course, if you’d like, you could make friends and flirt with villagers too. The world is colorful, the soundtrack is whimsical, and the characters are cute. There’s always something going on in the world of Fae Farm, and you’re welcome to spend as long as you like here. 

Always a Magical Day

One of Fae Farm’s greatest strengths is the environment and content. It is a cozy farming game where you never run out of things to do. Every day can be a different day if you want it to be. One day you could be focused on foraging and taking care of your farm, and the next day you could be building furniture and decorating your home. If you’re up for it, you can find a romantic partner to go on dates with. There are plenty of fish in the sea (literally and figuratively), animals to take care of, and recipes to discover. 

As implied in the name, there’s magic in Fae Farm. Your ability to use a magical staff is critical to the plot and to make your life easier in Azoria. You, with a limited store of mana, are able to cut thorns that are blocking paths and cast magic to disperse the shadows. There’s also a potions shop, battles in the dungeons, and shortcuts you learn to increase your farming efficiency. It’s also important to the plot, which is surprisingly coherent and logical to the gaming environment. 

Although most of the cozy elements of the game are spot on, the controls weren’t always perfect. When performing an action, the object you’re interacting with will light up. Sometimes even when it’s lit up, you could end up interacting with something else nearby instead. For instance, I was going to water a plot of land but ended up petting a nearby animal. Another time, I was going to mine for copper and ended up hitting the stone next to it. However, these are just minor issues that don’t affect your progress too much. Yes, it’s noticeable, but it’s also easy to forgive. 

Tried and True, but Better

Although the formula is familiar, the gameplay was refreshing and it was nice to do more than farming for a change. Newcomers to farming simulators could struggle at the beginning. I relied on my previous knowledge of games like Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and Animal Crossing, so I knew roughly what to expect, Without this experience, it could be hard to succeed early on in the game. Fortunately, there’s no strict timeline and you can move the plot along whenever you’re comfortable. Fae Farm was also very intuitive and forgiving, so it never felt like a wasted day even if all I did was collect snails.

This might sound strange, but I really enjoyed the tedious foraging in Fae Farm. Usually, I get tired quickly and have to switch tasks to not get bored. However, with Fae Farm, gathering materials and doing “boring” farming stuff was actually pretty enjoyable. A huge aspect of it for me was the audio. I loved the little popping sounds when I picked blueberries, the intense music that played when I was in the mines, and the swishing of my scythe when I was gathering sugarcane. These sound effects added to the gaming atmosphere and I really enjoyed these special touches. 

Players also have the option to play online and local multiplayer with friends. At the time of writing, my friends did not have the game so I was unable to share this experience with them. There’s plenty to accomplish on your own, so I wouldn’t worry about finding someone to play with if that is a concern. Think of it as an added bonus – I had a lot of fun by myself and I know you will too. Of course, I plan to make my friend play Fae Farm with me once she’s able to because this game is so much fun.

All in all, I found Fae Farm to be full of fun content and it was incredibly entertaining. There was so much to do and nothing felt repetitive (even though you’re technically farming and gathering every day). I was able to play for hours without realizing it, and slowly I was able to improve my home while making a fortune. Of course, it took a while for me to get there, and there’s no rush at all. There aren’t any quick wins in Fae Farm, so just relax and enjoy the experience in your own way. 

***A Nintendo Switch Code was provided by the publisher***

The post Fae Farm Review – A Farming Dream Come True appeared first on COGconnected.

STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life brings back a classic farming simulator with modern upgrades. Officially launching this month, the upgraded A Wonderful Life comes with updates that create a better experience for audiences today. Remaining faithful to the source material, STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life continues to deliver quality farming (and dating) for the new generation.

As the story goes, you are new to the Forgotten Valley and are settling down with the help of your father’s friend, Takakura. You move into a farm and start growing crops and raising animals with his help. While farming is your full-time job, you always have time for fishing, digging for artifacts, and building friendships with your fellow neighbours. In true STORY OF SEASONS fashion, there is also a good-sized dating pool for you to meet your future spouse. Sure, you want to save your best crops and sell them for money, but remember to set some aside for gifts. You’ve found your true calling in the Forgotten Valley, so don’t forget to find your true love, too!

Farming for Today’s Generation

With the upgraded visuals and inclusive options to choose from, A Wonderful Life speaks to today’s preferences in gaming. It doesn’t have mind blowing graphics or music, but it offers nostalgia that’s easier on the eyes with better performance. It isn’t perfect and NPCs can get in your way, but this is a relatively minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things. 

The timeline in A Wonderful Life moves quickly too, encouraging players to marry within one year and making it easier to purchase and breed animals. Some of the STORY OF SEASONS entries require more work to make money, however it’s pretty easy to afford things in A Wonderful Life.

You can also design your own character and select their gender. The designs are limited but should be enough to create a satisfactory icon for yourself. Whatever face and gender you select, you cannot switch this partway through the game. I wish there was this option too, but that’s probably how the game was programmed. It doesn’t really affect your future partner though, because the entire dating pool – men and women – are open for you. 

The story develops quickly in A Wonderful Life meaning there’s something to do every day. You could dedicate an entire morning to the farm and spend the afternoon at the dig site. You have a stamina bar, so back-breaking work can deplete this fast. Consuming food and beverages can help boost your energy though. Keep an eye out for recipes or go to the local cafe and grab a slice of cake – there’s even a cute girl behind the counter if you’re interested. 

The year is split into four seasons with each season being 10 days long. It’s perfect for gamers who want to farm and enjoy this classic agricultural simulation with minimal grind. One of the upsides (or downsides?) is the small map, making it easy to walk around without wasting much time. However, this also means there aren’t many places to visit. It could feel boring when staying in one area, but as long as you focus on the farm and your love life, there’s enough to do.

Cozy Farming (and Dating) Simulation 

Dating is a must and luckily there are many eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in the town. You are free to woo both men and women but remember to really impress someone. Eventually, you will have to marry so don’t only focus on making money (even though that is also important!). If you’ve played A Wonderful Life before, you’ll see some familiar faces with some new additions to the dating pool. In my opinion, the bachelorette options were still superior to the bachelors, but I’ll leave that to your judgment. 

While the game is mostly about farming and love, it also encourages relationship-building with the townsfolk. Always make time to talk to people in town and not just your potential soulmate. There are seasonal events to attend as well to improve your relationships with the townsfolk. Once you start leveling up in your relationships, you can get frequent cutscenes which give your silent protagonist a little more personality. There is a meter for how much someone likes you platonically, so don’t neglect your neighbours!

A Wonderful Life extends beyond your farming and dating prowess – it also allows you to experience parenthood. One of the highlights is being able to start a family in the Forgotten Valley. You can watch your child grow up and experience the changes in town. It still brings a happy tear to my eye when I watch some cutscenes and see my virtual, fictional self making progress in life. If only inheriting land and building a family were that easy in real life, am I right? 

Being my favourite entry in the STORY OF SEASONS series, A Wonderful Life is a wonderful game. If you are new to the STORY OF SEASONS series, A Wonderful Life is an excellent place to start. Having previous knowledge of how the game works can be an advantage but there isn’t anything you can’t learn. All you need to do is work hard and make the most out of every day – but most importantly, have fun while doing so. And if you’re like me, you’ll fall in love with everything the game has to offer and find the Forgotten Valley is truly an unforgettable place. 

*** A PS5 review code was provided by the publisher ***

The post STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life Review – Back to the Unforgettable Forgotten Valley appeared first on COGconnected.

Developed by Kitfox Games and released this year on Playstation, Boyfriend Dungeon is like chicken soup for the (troubled) otome soul. Being that person who proudly dates dreamy daddies and birds, we cannot go any lower my friends. Boyfriend Dungeon is the next best thing I’ve encountered, and let me tell you why: I’ve never dated weapons before. Yes, you heard me correctly – we’re dating weapons, everybody! And no, it’s not as weird as it sounds. You’re technically dating people who can turn into weapons and not the other way around. Does that make it better? 

A quick note: While the game looks colorful and silly, Boyfriend Dungeon tackles pretty dark and mature themes. There’s a content warning at the beginning regarding instances of stalking and unwanted affection. However, there is no way to avoid or skip these confrontations because this is actually part of the main plot. If this is something you’re uncomfortable with, Boyfriend Dungeon may not be suitable for you.

Taking a Stab at Dating

Set in the fictional town of Verona Beach, you, the good-looking and very single protagonist arrive for the summer. Your cousin Jesse lives there and he is lending you his place to stay for free! Also, he’s super pumped to set you up on dates with the eligible bachelors in town. Apparently, you’ve never dated before and it’s extra mission-critical that he succeeds. 

Not only is your goal to meet people, but you also have to fight in a dungeon. The dungeon is where you can battle monsters, face your fears, and earn a couple of dollars here and there. The characters affectionately call this the “dunj”, and to defend yourself, you’re going to need weapons. Cue, all the hot single people in Verona Beach who happen to be weapons! While you don’t share this same ability, you can wield them once you get to know them. Do you see where this game is going? 

As the protagonist, you can create your own character as you see fit. Your name, gender, and look can be changed in your bedroom at any time during the game. There aren’t a lot of customization options available as your character is a sprite, but according to everyone else you’re eye candy. 

Increasing a potential lover’s rank, dating them, and fighting with them in the dunj go hand-in-hand, creating a gameplay loop. The more you use a weapon, the quicker your affections increase. Afterward, you can date them outside of the dungeon to rank up your relationship. Then, you go back to the dungeons to fight with them. Once you clear one floor, you have the option to swap weapons and level another one up. And repeat. 

In the dunj, you can pick up recipes and trinkets that you can use to craft items. Depending on what you find, you can make clothes for yourself and gifts for your many biases. Gifting helps with ranking up your chosen favorites, so pay attention to their personality and give appropriately. 

Poly-armour-y is OK

Despite being called Boyfriend Dungeon, you don’t actually have to date boys. You have the choice of building relationships with females, non-binary characters, and a cute cat too! Love isn’t for you? No worries, you can stay friends if you like. It’s a fun and inclusive environment and nobody is forcing you to fall in love – but charming a character is really easy to accomplish. 

As you are new to the dating scene, you’d think your character would be more awkward. However, our protagonist is freakishly good at picking up on cues, flirting back, and making out with multiple people. In short, continuity and believability are out the window. For the purpose of being a dating sim though, it makes complete sense that you are the center of attention. As a result, it is very easy to accidentally court everyone you talk to. Luckily, Boyfriend Dungeon supports polyamory so we don’t have to pick only one happy end. Unluckily for you, you also catch the attention of our game’s antagonist, who is the person the content warning is for. 

Once you entice someone with your charm, it can be unclear if you’re dating or just friends. In Boyfriend Dungeon, the dialogue alters depending on the choices you made prior, but it doesn’t change very much. Sometimes I opt for the flirty options and my weapon will call me “friend”. Other times, I pick the most standard, polite answer and my weapon will blush and tell me they love me. It feels like the actions you choose don’t carry much weight, and even if you’re officially dating someone it doesn’t seem obvious. As a dating sim, it would be nice to see the fruits of my labor. Towards the end, I thought I’d messed up only to realize I was actually in a romantic relationship. 

Overall Boyfriend Dungeon gets a big thumbs up from an entertainment standpoint, but the romance and relationships could be stronger. There were a lot of weapons (er, people) to choose from but not all the side stories were interesting. It was nice that every player’s romantic preference was included though. I came into this fully prepared to date one hot guy, and I ended up with several including a girl! It’s unfortunate the triggering content was unavoidable but as long as you’re comfortable with going through this experience, the story is well-written for such a short game. At the end of the day, Boyfriend Dungeon is a dating sim targeted towards the open-minded and adventurous spirit, and I felt it was executed well in that regard. Now I can add dating blades to my repertoire!

***A PS5 code was provided by the publisher***

The post Boyfriend Dungeon (PS5) Review – Having Fun with Bae-Blades appeared first on COGconnected.

Blanc is a comforting tale of two unlikely friends, featuring a wolf cub and a fawn who are trying to find their way home. Lost in a heavy snowstorm with unknown challenges ahead, two players must work together to reunite the young animals with their families. 

There is something romantic and serene about a snowy landscape. The simplicity of the designs and the choice of a monochrome palette captured the essence of calm perfectly. Although being stranded in a snowstorm in actuality is devastating, the feeling I got from Blanc was warmth. Despite the two animals being complete opposites, they used their differences as strengths to help each other. This was a cozy co-op game perfect for two. With a Valentine’s release date, there is nothing better than spending a cold winter night indoors with your favorite person. 

A Journey For Two

Blanc is available for local and online play, which gives players the flexibility to enjoy with someone they’re not physically with. Partnership is key when it comes to succeeding in Blanc. The fawn is too large to fit into small openings, but the wolf cub can crawl through holes. On the other hand, the fawn can jump high while the cub relies on the fawn to boost him up. There are other mechanisms available in the game later on, such as the ability to push and pull objects and block the wind for other animals. Each new level brings a slightly different challenge and the need for cooperation only gets stronger.

If you are playing locally, it is easy to tell your partner, “Hey, let me up here”. There is also a button you can use for your character to call for help. This allows the other player to know you’re stuck without having to vocalize your need. This function can be useful if you’re playing with someone online but aren’t on a call with them. 

Blanc was very easy to learn and suitable for all ages. Even my partner, who rarely touches the Nintendo Switch, was able to figure out the controls immediately. The puzzles were also logical and difficult enough to keep both of us engaged. It could have been more challenging, but that would defeat the purpose of being both accessible and entertaining.

There weren’t a lot of instructions provided, but luckily newly introduced tasks helped set the expectations for the next level. Most of the time, we had to rely on our problem-solving and intuition to figure things out. There’s also some observation required, so take note of your surroundings and current circumstances. It helps to talk it out (if you can), but it’s also fun to try to succeed without thinking too hard. 

Overcoming Challenges Together

It was a comforting experience and even frustrating moments did not cause much grief. We never got punished for failing to perform a task, but it can be annoying to keep failing all the time. There were times we circled around trying to find our path, but nothing bad happens if you take too long to do the right thing. Sometimes you may have to perform the same action over and over again until you get it. There will be levels where it feels repetitive and tedious, but once you clear the obstacle there’s a sense of accomplishment that you can share with your loved one.

One of the biggest challenges I found with Blanc was the camera angle. Due to its layout and navigation, the camera perspective could feel awkward sometimes. There were moments when I couldn’t gauge the height or distance of an object, or even find the aperture to crawl into. After looking around for more clues, I then realize I could have jumped to the other side of the ravine. Fortunately, most of the time it will display how you can interact with the object. This quickly eliminated whether the object could be moved or if it was only there for aesthetics. However, it isn’t always obvious so a little exploration is still required. 

The Calm After the Storm

In a world where so many co-op games are funny and chaotic, Blanc stood out in a quiet and impressive way. Within minutes of starting the game, my partner and I already felt relaxed. Although some moments made me question my eyesight, nothing was stopping me from doing more exploring instead. Blanc presented a perfect balance between storytelling and play, telling a heartwarming tale while offering the right amount of challenge in its puzzles. 

I played this with my partner and we both enjoyed the experience. The artwork, the ease of controls, and the pleasant scenery made game night feel relaxing. Most of Blanc required teamwork and nothing was difficult enough to cause any arguments. It was a welcome change of pace from the co-op games we were used to. Plus, the cute protagonists resembling our little puppy certainly added to the “aww” factor. 

With every new landscape and puzzle, you can feel the love that went into the development of this game. Available for both local and online play, you can enjoy this with your loved ones in the same room or from far away. Blanc is here for you to take this journey together.

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Blanc Review: The Calm After the Storm appeared first on COGconnected.

Broken Pieces was released at the spookiest time of the year, but don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it tooks. Developed by the small team Elseware Experience, Broken Pieces brings us a thrilling plot and clever storytelling about cults, supernatural threats, and more. Although it was not as psychological as expected, the lonely environment presented in the game could drive someone mad.

Piecing it All Together

Elise is our protagonist in Broken Pieces, and she is the only character in this game. After settling into Saint Exil with her fiance Pierre, a strange occurrence leaves her stranded alone in town. The mystery we are trying to solve requires lots of puzzle-solving, exploring, and playing with weather. There is always a need to stay alert, because anything could be dangerous yet anything could be a clue. To add to the creepiness, the game can be played in complete silence.

Broken Pieces has a fairly memorable plot, and I was invested from the beginning. Personally, I thought the conclusion was not the strongest, but only because the details were so interesting. However, that didn’t mean the journey was unenjoyable. Every location presented something new and held meaning. Elise had to find hidden messages, solve puzzles, and find cassette tapes that held clues. The game was worthwhile and didn’t take too long to complete.

Elise’s tape player had a key role in this game. The story was mainly told through audio, and key information was captured in Elise’s journal. Some tapes helped with the investigation while others contained Pierre’s music. Although Elise was alone in this journey, she could fill in the silence by listening to clues or her lover’s songs.

You’re Not Alone

We learn how to fire Elise’s gun early on. Afterwards, she mentioned she needed to be home by 8pm. But wait, wasn’t she alone? In fact, Elise has unwelcome company. The moment she left her house, a ghostly being approached her, initiating a quick fight. She then makes her way to another location, fights another ghost, and solves numerous puzzles to complete her task. It was easy to see Broken Pieces as an adventure game with a variety of puzzles, but it wasn’t naturally a psychological thriller as claimed. Also, Elise was a terrible shot and that made me nervous. Was the panic the psychological part?

Players had to choose their next move carefully because Elise needed to complete her objectives in a timely manner. This is because after 8pm, an abundance of ghosts will appear. Different actions took different amounts of time; for example, resting on a bench to regain HP fast-forwarded two hours. It’s important to think about Elise’s next step and weigh the benefits and risks. For instance, I would rather avoid the ghosts at 8pm, whereas another player might want to risk the timing.

A Puzzling Experience

The storytelling utilized cassette tapes as a source of information, which was a smart way to move the plot along. On the other hand, listening to the tapes could be a frustrating task. When the tape plays, Elise isn’t able to do anything productive. She is free to move around and interact with objects, but this will pause the tape. Because of this, it didn’t feel like the smoothest experience. However, Elise records a summary of her findings which we can listen to later. She also keeps information in her notebook if we want to read about it, too. And this worked fine for the game.

Unfortunately, what didn’t work was the combat. It didn’t add value to the overall impact of the story nor did it make the game more exciting. The appearances of ghosts also happened so infrequently that the combat wasn’t memorable. The puzzles and exploration in Broken Pieces were more than enough to keep me on my toes. Though the idea of combat could have worked, for this purpose it felt unnecessary.

Weird Angles

Awkward camera angles also often disrupted the flow of solving puzzles. Finding the right perspective was a challenge and I missed clues because I was looking at the wrong side. A clue could be slightly above Elise’s perspective as well, but adjusting the view wasn’t easy. Fortunately, most of the objects Elise interacted with were highlighted, so it’s not difficult to determine what to check next. If you want to torture yourself, you can turn this option off. It really sucks without it, though.

Broken Pieces is a creative game with a plot containing a variety of puzzles, decent exploration, and questionable combat. Being the only character in the entire game, it can get rather lonely. However, that adds to the overall experience of being, well, all alone. Although this was under the psychological thriller genre, it was neither psychological nor thrilling – but it was unique. It may not be as mind-provoking as expected, but it had an intriguing story and a fairly smart protagonist, even if she was a terrible shot.

**A PS5 code was provided by the publisher**

The post Broken Pieces Review – A Puzzling Experience appeared first on COGconnected.

SD Gundam Battle Alliance is an RPG made for everyone who wants to try a Gundam video game. If you’re new to the franchise, this isn’t going to teach you everything you need to know. On the other hand, you don’t need to know everything to play this game. I won’t lie – you’re going to be confused with the story but if you’re a fan, you’re going to have a great time. Thankfully (or not?), the plot is quite bland so if you are new to Gundam and mecha excites you, you will be fine. 

Is it for everyone?

As implied by the title of the game, SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a mish-mash of Gundam series ranging from the oldest Mobile Suit Gundam to the latest and greatest. With relatively intuitive gameplay and a decent roster of mobile suits to unlock, you can spend hours and hours on grinding the missions – as long as you don’t burn out from the repetitive play.

Fortunately, you don’t need too much background information to understand the next mission. You only need to have minimal knowledge to enjoy the action, and somewhere along the way you’ll figure out your style. In terms of franchise knowledge though, it is advantageous to know at least one Gundam series well. The story isn’t very exciting, so the appearance of known characters will make the game more interesting. It also hits you in the feels when a familiar song plays, motivating you to fight and keep going. 

Taking place in the “G. Universe”, SD Gundam Battle Alliance is about recreating Gundam battles to fix the world’s non-canon mess. In this world, characters were appearing in incorrect stories and timelines, causing distortions in the Gundam universe. You play as a Commander, tasked to make things normal again with your programmer Juno. With help from two other Gundam pilots of your choice, your goal is to lead battles in familiar stories and ensure history repeats itself. 

The Grind is Real 

The plot of SD Gundam Battle Alliance may sound neat, but in actuality, it is quite bland. Luckily the quality of story-telling isn’t correlated to the actual gameplay, which was fun and filled with nostalgia. There were two difficulty settings and players could always change the mission to “Easy” if the battle was too challenging. Easy mode does mean you’ll earn fewer parts, but it allows you to collect experience and capital – the in-game currency – at a good rate. 

Missions were timed and repetitive, but relatively short with fair rewards granted upon completion. Every mission followed a similar format, which included hordes of weak enemies attacking you prior to a boss fight. Once you fulfill the requirements, your task is complete and you and your partners will earn experience and friendship points. Your Gundam stats can then be upgraded with capital and parts. As you progress, you can unlock more mobile suits and characters to partner with, making all your mecha dreams come true. 

However, dreams are often hard to achieve, and SD Gundam Battle Alliance makes sure you work hard for it. As with all RPGs, there is a grinding element and this game is no different. In order to advance and complete new missions, you’ll need to upgrade your Gundams. To upgrade your Gundams, you’ll need to replay missions over and over again to collect parts, capital, and blueprints. The different missions themselves already feel repetitive, so this isn’t something you can continuously do in one sitting.

Another observation is once you begin a mission, you cannot stop. There’s no pause button available and the lack of this feature can be frustrating. If you need to leave for a few minutes, you risk having your time run out. The alternative is not better: you can abandon the mission, losing whatever progress you had made. Sure, the missions themselves don’t take a long time to beat, but there’s no good reason why I can’t pause my game at any time.

Great Options for Solo and Co-op Play

SD Gundam Battle Alliance delivers a solid action RPG with solo and multiplayer options. On one hand, you can enjoy the RPG on your own with two AI partners of your choice. On the other hand, you can enjoy missions with your friends without having to rely on a computer to collaborate with you. 

When you are playing solo, you are partnered up with two AI pilots. You can command them to perform their special attack and heal them when they are down. Likewise, if your HP has fallen to 0, they can come to your aid and restore your health. Healing is not always performed immediately, but one could argue an actual friend may take just as long. 

Online multiplayer is an excellent option to work with real people as opposed to AI. Players can open a room or join one, and this is a great way to make progress in the game. It can be intimidating at first if you look at the available rooms and see players that are Level 70 and beyond. When I first joined online, I was Level 15 and my incompetence was evident. That actually motivated me to grind more, which ironically I did alone. I always preferred to tackle and grind RPGs by myself, so SD Gundam Battle Alliance hit that balance perfectly for me.

SD Gundam Battle Alliance is not perfect, but there’s no denying the enjoyment one can get from it. Whether you enjoy playing solo or joining online with friends, there’s something suitable for everyone. Sure, it’s more fun if you know some main characters and villains, but it’s still entertaining if you’re new to the franchise. For myself, it was a pleasure to experience the modern nostalgia, and I’m positive other Gundam fans will feel the same.

** A PS5 code was provided by the publisher **

The post SD Gundam Battle Alliance Review – We Are Gundam appeared first on COGconnected.

I really enjoyed playing otome games growing up, so I do have some standards when it comes to fictional relationships. The difference now is my standards have become too realistic – like, there’s no way a guy could ever say that! Nevertheless, with zero hesitation I picked up Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei. It was the visuals that drew me in, with the colorful designs and plethora of beautiful men. It also helped that I missed the cheesy, cringey things that handsome 2D men say in otome games. My fingers were crossed for a good experience and Birushana delivered.

A historical fantasy story about war and finding your own way, we become Shanao Minamoto, heir to the Genji name. Pretending to be a male, Shanao was trained in combat in hopes that she could overthrow the enemy, the Heike. While she has accepted her fate, she also yearns to be a normal girl.

What is great about Shanao is she’s a strong female lead. While there are some characters that try to dim her light, Shanao perseveres – with your help, of course! With the exciting romance involving five attentive men, you must make decisions with high stakes that can lead to both happy and bad ends. Though the plot itself is pretty simple, I’m actually here for the 2D men. If you’re looking for a riveting story, Birushana isn’t a bad choice but the story is not the main reason we play otome games. Shanao’s character, growth, and her selected love interest is really the reason we’re here to begin with. 

Fully voiced for the most part, the delivery of the game felt like watching a movie and the localization was relatively well done. Shanao doesn’t have a voice actor, and I wish she did. However, all the men were voiced and let’s just say they chose the voice actors well. I can see apps being developed with the male leads talking to you in bed (yes, those exist. No, don’t ask me how I know this).

Lots of Love to Go Around

There are five main men in Shanao’s love story – the enemy to lover Noritsune, the childhood friend Shungen, the teddy bear Benkei, the aniue Yorotomi, and the hot but creepy Tomomori. The order of males listed is the order that players are recommended to play for the optimal experience. Fortunately, if you fail to seduce Noritsune first, you can still piece Shanao’s story together. Fret not if you fall in love with a side character – there’s a chance you can romance him in an “IF” scenario. As a bonus, there are four additional side stories featuring other males mentioned! Some men also have better stories than others, and the guy I didn’t find attractive ended up being my favorite plot line. So moral of the story: make sure you date all five male leads, and then try dating the other four afterwards!

The common route is very short so what you choose to say really matters early on. You will notice the choices you make will open different colored flowers. Each color corresponds to a male lead, and a handy chart grants visibility to the progress you’re making with the characters. Some of your answers will also affect Shanao’s personal traits, which in turn can affect the route’s outcome. There are happy endings and bad endings, so you could kill someone or cause your own death if you’re not careful. We are in a war, after all. 

Lots of Content to Uncover

Birushana unpacks a lot of information for us as we delve into each male lead’s route. There is a tendency for the characters to ramble on, but it isn’t so bad if you’re really into learning about the story. Each character brings a different perspective to the war and allows players to uncover more information. If you’re really impatient, you can fast-forward the text and read the dialogue later. There is also a skip button that allows players to move to the end of the chapter, the next unread section, or to where Shanao has to make a choice. The ability to skip ahead is very handy if you’re trying to change Shanao’s choices or find all the endings possible. Birushana’s user-friendly interface can be overwhelming at first, but every selection has a purpose. Once you get the hang of the controls, you’ll find the flow is well thought out. 

With such a large story and crisp visuals, unfortunately, this means performance can be laggy. For instance, during fight scenes where flashes of light indicate swords clashing, the dialogue takes its time to reveal itself. The game also reacts slowly if you’re fast-forwarding through a section and decide to stop from skipping too much. These are not deal breakers and the game hasn’t crashed on me, but the minor annoyances are something to be aware of.

On the surface, Birushana is your typical otome game and in most aspects, it is. However, it is refreshing to have a character who isn’t desperate for love and attention. Even though some routes will put her in a damsel-in-distress position, there are others that showcase her resolve. The conversations are often on the longer side and the men surrounding Shanao are all simps…the ideal type for an otome game. Though the game isn’t perfect, there is so much content to unpack that you’ll likely end up taking days to play. A word of advice – don’t be afraid to romance the man you’re not interested in. Some routes will really surprise you!

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei Review – A Romantic Historic Fiction appeared first on COGconnected.

A sequel to a beloved classic, The Game of Life 2 is coming for newer consoles with upgraded visuals and more modern affairs. Much like its predecessor, players make choices in their lives to hopefully be better than their friends. With newer job titles, gender choices, and options to choose between kid and pet, the game simulates real life from the moment you start work to your retirement. 

The Game of Life 2 is a very simple and quick game to play. There are no suggestive themes or anything inappropriate for children, making this an easy choice for a weeknight with the kids. The best part is that you don’t have to keep track of how everyone is doing because the game takes care of it. You’ve basically purchased a board game with its own game master. It lays out exactly what you have to do, where you need to go, and even moves your pieces for you. Gone are the days when you had to count money and have someone play the banker. It’s a very convenient way to play an old classic, headache-free.

Family-Friendly Fun for Everyone

You can enjoy this game with up to four people without purchasing any additional equipment at all. It’s playable in local or online multiplayer, meaning you can choose to play with those in the same room or friends in another house. If you choose to play locally, one of the biggest benefits is being able to use one controller for everyone. This means you don’t need to provide a controller for each person who decides to join. It’s convenient if you only have one controller–just make sure you remember to pass it to the next person. Helpful prompts will remind you to do so, and each player is color-coded to ensure as little confusion as possible.

While it’s nice to play the game with only one controller, it would also be great if players could have the option to utilize multiple controllers. This isn’t a complaint though, because being able to play using one controller is a huge cost-saver. I do think that if someone has enough equipment per player, it would be a nice option to have!

You can also play by yourself and compete against AI. If you’re bored and feel like playing a board game by yourself, there’s no need to wait for someone to join you. However, I have experienced instances of glitches where the AI freezes on its turn. This forced multiple restarts of the game. It has happened three times already, all with the AI not completing its move, so there may be a bug fix in the works.  

Life is Short, Enjoy It

One of the upsides of The Game of Life 2 is having multiple worlds, but the board is pretty much the same. It is more interesting when you can choose to be a Mage instead of a Chef. Unfortunately, the only differences are the world you live in, the jobs you get, and the houses you purchase. Otherwise, it’s all the same. 

In a way, it’s just like a new edition of the same board game. You could get novelty versions of one game but play the same rules and traverse an identical number of spaces. It would be nice if there was a world where the board was slightly different, such as adding length to the game or having more opportunities to perform special actions.

It can be a great way to unlock bonus content, though, because each goal you fulfill can grant you a puzzle piece. Once you’ve completed a puzzle, you can find yourself the owner of a new vehicle, outfit, or game avatar. Although the game gets repetitive quickly, this small reward is effective at giving players an incentive to keep playing. 

A classic and nostalgic board game, The Game of Life 2 is just like real life–it is short, sweet, and you might get paid decently but your taxes are insanely high. It’s a fun game to play with family and friends without having to purchase additional equipment. Plus, bonus points for being easy to understand. Sadly, I found it hard to buy a house. But as I said, this is just like real life. 

***A PS4 code was provided by the publisher***

The post The Game of Life 2 Review – Life is Short and Sweet appeared first on COGconnected.

When I first booted up Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars, I was immediately hit with the guilty pleasure feeling. It was an immediate “Oh no, I hope no one catches me playing this” plus a bit of excitement. After previewing the first couple of chapters, I can say that this was a guilty pleasure turned pleasure. It wasn’t as risque or PG as I was expecting, nor was the amount of moe unbearable. The first few chapters were a little more fanservice-y than the rest of the game, which made sense since the plot thickens later on. Overall, the level of fanservice was mild but welcome. Of course, two minutes into my partner watching me play, the screen just had to pan to Asuka’s boobs. 

As if the name wasn’t obvious enough, Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars is a combination of two beloved franchises. Whether you’re a fan of one or both, you will appreciate the crossover and the characters available. It may be simple in terms of plot and overall character development, but the dialogue is amusing. With a roster of 10 playable ninjas, having a side story for everyone would be too much to handle. If anything, the characters’ personalities are already established in previous entries. In my opinion, the whole point of Ninja Wars is to dive into an alternate universe with your biases. 

Though it is not the most inspiring narrative, this JRPG still provides entertaining gameplay, silly dialogue, and a hint of fanservice. With delightful characters going on a mediocre journey to save the world, it is easy to mindlessly play this for hours. 

When Two Become One

The game takes place in Gamninjustri, where two ninja clans are at odds with one another. Heartland – our Neptunia ninjas – are seen fighting against Marveland – our Senran Kagura ninjas. Although personally on friendly terms, their alliances with their respective daimyos are the reason why they fight. This “war” is cut short with the entrance of the Steeme Legion, a mechanical ninja army from a different dimension. After a declaration of the new Super Ninja War from their leader, the Heartland and Marveland ninjas form an alliance to stop this new threat to their world. 

There are 10 playable characters in this hack ‘n slash JRPG, which can be a lot or not enough depending on who you ask. In terms of what the game is about, 10 can be more than enough – but only if your bias is there. Though your party is “large”, you mainly control one character and have the option to swap out with another one. Unless you have a lot of favourites that you want to play as, you wouldn’t need a large roster. However, this is why it can be disappointing to fans. I was lucky in a sense that Homura was available (my bias), but the representation from both franchises could have been better. 

Neptunia Featuring Senran Kagura

On one hand, it was nice to see some familiar characters, but on the other hand, there wasn’t much involvement between them. Although this game is a crossover, it felt more like it was Neptunia featuring Senran Kagura. With Neptune being the self-aware protagonist, it was already evident where the game was leaning towards. It would have been nice if it was more balanced, and even better if there was some chemistry between the characters. 

Despite having a boring plot and a short campaign, Ninja Wars was still very fun. The graphics were excellent for the Nintendo Switch and the controls were intuitive. It’s easy to switch from kunai to shuriken, and button mashing will form a series of attacks. Dungeons aren’t dragged on and the maps are very easy to navigate. It’s great because you’ll never get lost or question where to go next. There was no lag and everything worked as intended. Honestly, nothing to complain about.

Just Enough Fan Service

The combination of the two beloved franchises is a crossover that anyone can appreciate. There were a lot of PG jokes, but in some situations you either get it or you don’t…and if you don’t catch their drift, it’s harmless commentary. There are mini-games like the Peaches and Cream Meditation that can excite a fan, but nothing is close to being offensive. I wish there were fun items to unlock, like new outfits or something. I know I’m being picky, and the nature of the game doesn’t really allow for accessorizing. 

Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA was a pleasant experience and nothing too crazy happens. It can be a delight to fans but can also disappoint those looking forward to more. Unfortunately, the story was pretty uninspiring and the crossover was more mindblowing than the actual game. It was entertaining and easy to learn though, but if you aren’t a fan of either franchise it can be hard to understand. While the game was an absolute delight, there isn’t enough content to make this the best crossover ever. Hopefully, with Ninja Wars being the start, there will be something more in the future.

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars Review – A Cheeky Crossover appeared first on COGconnected.

Cat Cafe Manager is a simulation game that allows you to run your grandma’s old business in Caterwaul Way. It is a simple storyline that brings together the residents of a small town, and you are at the center of it all. Developed by Roost Games, it is an incredibly cute and heartwarming experience. You get to adopt cats, run a cafe, and decorate your space. The concept is pleasant and the strategies are clever, but it doesn’t perform very well. There were noticeable glitches and slowdowns as the cafe got bigger and busier, making it harder to expand in terms of size. On the plus side, once Cat Cafe Manager is running up to speed (literally), the experience will be much more enjoyable.

Like most simulation games, you start from almost nothing and build from the ground up. New to town with nothing except a cafe your grandmother left behind, it is up to you to run the place by yourself. Through serving a variety of customers and bringing stray cats into your cafe, your actions begin to improve the lives of the townsfolk. Of course, you’re never really alone to fend for yourself. Certain side characters are always around to help out, too. They become your Regular customers whom you can call once a day. If you reach certain relationship levels with them, they give you actual decorations and cat lures. In return, you listen to their struggles and build their stories. 

A Paw-sitively Delightful Design 

As you are running a cat cafe, you begin by bringing strays home and serving patrons basic food and drinks. The in-game currency is unique as different groups of people will bring you different benefits. For example, fishermen pay you with fish, which is required for purchasing cat-related food and toys. Other groups will pay you in materials that you can trade for cafe furniture, ingredients for your dishes, and supplies to expand your cafe. If you are short on certain materials, you can advertise your cafe to specific groups of people and they will come the next day. Just remember to tailor your menu items to food and drinks that they love!

Not only are you tasked with running a cafe, but also to fix up the shrine and adopt stray cats. Helping with the shrine is a way for you to unlock things to improve your cafe. By working on these side quests, you can increase the number of staff to hire, unlock new furniture and recipes, and improve your cats’ lives. These tasks can only be unlocked if your relationship with your Regular customers reaches a minimum level, so it is important to maintain your friendships. 

You can also upgrade your own attributes and those of your staff. Some recipes require a minimum level of cooking to receive full customer satisfaction. Likewise, some customers may require your staff to have a higher service level to hold a satisfactory conversation. It isn’t hard to learn how to run your shop and there is always something new to do! Cats can gain levels as well, bringing other benefits to the cafe.

Glitches Make It Hard to Manage

Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that require improvement before Cat Cafe Manager can be thoroughly enjoyed. For one thing, there are so many glitches that prevent you from performing the actions you want. Taking your customers’ orders is hard because the action doesn’t pop up all the time. Sometimes you need to approach them at a certain angle before the action lights up. If you load a save and go back to where you left off, no customers will come into your cafe that day. Even if you decide to call a Regular customer to come visit, they will not show up. Their heart meter also stopped displaying halfway through the game, making it difficult to strategize who should come in. 

Once your cafe becomes a busy spot for the locals, the game starts to really slow down. Walking around is no longer smooth – probably because everyone around you is walking around too. The act of completing a task gets increasingly more difficult as it stops halfway. Cat bowls become impossible to refill because the actions simply stop popping up. The worst part is, it’s not because you’re bad at managing your cafe. Frustratingly, it’s the game not letting you do what you want to do. 

The decorating aspect of the game can be therapeutic but also frustrating. You can select a limited number of floor and wall details, laying each tile down one by one or opting to do this section by section. However, the game has frozen many times when I tried to update my restaurant by replacing a large section of my floor. I don’t think Cat Cafe Manager anticipated someone to update their restaurant this way, but if the option is available then it should be possible. 

Cat Cafe Manager is a work in progress that still manages to capture your heart. It was unfortunately riddled with small problems that ultimately led to an unplayable experience. Even though the cats were adorable and the characters were endearing, the poor performance made it difficult to see past completion.  The first few hours of gameplay are relatively stress-free, but as it progresses there are some complications that followed. Glitches, difficulty to perform actions, and laggy movements ultimately led to a frustrating gaming experience. Despite the fluffy cats and creative strategies, an update is needed to improve the game’s performance. After some improvements, it will definitely be a hit, but right now it’s not quite ready yet. 

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Cat Cafe Manager Review – Not Quite Paw-fect appeared first on COGconnected.

Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars is an absolute joy to play. As a disclaimer, playing as cute anime girls is not something that I’m actively seeking to do. With this declaration out of the way, I previewed the JRPG with a fairly neutral mindset. However, being a huge anime and JRPG fan, I did come in with some expectations. As a game on its own, it’s fun. On the other hand, it’s nothing crazy special. Honestly, if you like either Neptunia or Senran Kagura, I know you will pick the title up anyway. These two franchises are popular for a reason (besides the obvious), so why wouldn’t you? Luckily, I have mostly positive experiences to share, so breathe a sigh of relief and read on.

While Ninja Wars doesn’t serve a deeper purpose other than entertainment, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a game that makes you happy. Its relatively risque dialogue and accompanying bath scenes help fuel the fanservice. Even though half-naked girls don’t do much for me, the purpose of it was adorable. I am all for girls bonding with one another, and this collaboration showcased sisterhood and acceptance very well. 

A pretty decent JRPG with an average plot, the game does a great job bringing every girl’s personality into the mix. A huge selling point is definitely playing as your favorite character because the storyline is pretty meh. While it doesn’t bring anything new to the JRPG genre, the humorous dialogue and the girls’ charming personalities make it difficult to skip. This is especially true if you’re already familiar with Neptunia or Senran Kagura. 

A Fun Ninja Collaboration

As a single-player game featuring a large selection of characters to choose from, Ninja Wars does an excellent job catering to fans of Neptunia and Senran Kagura. Taking place in Gamninjustri (not quite Gamindustri), there is a ninja war. On one side we have our Neptunia characters who are Heartland ninjas. On the other side are the Senran Kagura girls who are Marveland ninjas. Their battles are short-lived as they get interrupted in the first few minutes of the game. A legion of mechanical ninjas arrive and wreak havoc in the world of Gamninjustri. With a declaration from their leader Yoh Gamer, a new war begins, forcing our two teams to work together for the sake of bringing peace and harmony back to their nations.

It isn’t exactly the greatest storyline to follow and the villains’ motives aren’t the most interesting. However, that doesn’t mean the game is a bore. It’s actually easy to pick up and though fans will enjoy this piece, newcomers to both franchises may find it hard to follow. There is a brief introduction to the characters, but the appeal won’t be there unless you are familiar with the characters. And as with most RPGs, dungeon crawling and grinding are expected. Luckily with Ninja Wars, dungeons don’t take forever to complete and the rewards are tremendous. Of course, if you decide to challenge yourself with the highest difficulty available, you will sing a different tune. 

Although Neptune’s self-awareness tells everyone she’s the protagonist of the game, we can use any member of our party. You have a large roster to choose from, but you can only select two characters to control. These two characters then become the leader and the partner. The leader is who you will mainly control, and the partner is someone who can tag in and out whenever necessary. It’s handy if you want to reserve someone’s HP or stamina, or if you just have two favorite characters you want to be. If the leader dies, the partner comes into play automatically to keep the battle going, and vice versa.

Your New Guilty Pleasure

I will admit, Neptunia and Senran Kagura are not the first games I turn to for immediate gratification. I am actually a fan of otome games and enjoy a good reverse harem. Truthfully though, it’s hard to discriminate against a game just because the fanservice isn’t directed at me. Balancing on bouncy peaches while wearing only a towel doesn’t necessarily excite me, but if a character is charming, no amount of suggestive bath scenes will make me think otherwise. 

Even though there are conversations not suitable for children, Ninja Wars has pretty decent gameplay. Movements are smooth and characters are easy to control. Slashing enemies is immensely gratifying and the animation is pretty good. Considering this could be played on the handheld is also a major plus. That’s not to say the game was mind-blowing and I will remember it for the rest of my life, but it was fun. There’s nothing wrong with learning zero lessons and having a good time. 

If you are a fan of either Neptunia or Senran Kagura, I would give this one a go. It can be hard to enjoy if you’re a newcomer, because there isn’t much character development as it’s assumed you know everyone already. Though it doesn’t have the best storyline, it’s definitely not the worst I’ve played. Nonetheless, the usual fourth wall-breaking comments and our beloved isekai’d characters make this one hard to skip. Whether you are here for the characters, the fanservice, or looking for a new JRPG to play, Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars is one delightful crossover.

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Neptunia x SENRAN KAGURA: Ninja Wars is a Delightful Crossover appeared first on COGconnected.

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes takes place in a world where humans have been infected with the zombie plague. A kooky digital pinball game with little demand for skills, it is a roguelike game with elements of tower defense. Button-mashing is certainly a way you could attempt this, but strategizing will undoubtedly take you further in your adventure. Completely stress-free with colorful visuals, anyone can pick this up and learn the rules in no time. Unless you’re a parent against children blasting zombies to smithereens, kids will enjoy this too. Zombies and pinball may be hard to visualize, but trust me, it works.

At the beginning of each game, players can choose a hero and difficulty level. When you’re playing for the first few times, there is only one hero and one difficulty setting to choose from. What do I mean by “the first few times”? In Zombie Rollerz, death is unavoidable. And no, it’s not as stressful as it sounds. Once you meet the requirements and have proved your worth playing the normal level, then you will unlock more choices. There is a good variety of protagonists and each one has a different attribute. As you level up, you get to improve the hero’s skills or attain a new ability. There are also lots of collectibles that you will randomly receive and these will aid your hero on their journey.

No Two Playthroughs are the Same

Each time you start a new game of Zombie Rollerz, the paths taken and battles fought will be different. This is because maps are randomly generated and no two games are the same. However, the main objective of killing zombies remains unchanged. The zombie plague advances behind your footsteps with each day that passes. Your HP depletes with each infested step you take. Potions can heal you, but these are randomly scattered and there’s a chance you won’t see one right away.

Multiple forks in the road are blocked by piles of wood, zombies, and puzzles that need to be cleared. Some obstacles require special items to get past, while others may allow you to pay with your HP. There is a good variety of collectibles and sometimes you are given a choice between multiple options. It is fun to decide what you want to pick because you never know what is coming next. 

Some strategy is required when making decisions for your hero. Since the zombie plague advances with each passing day, you will have to find a balance between shopping and fighting battles. For instance, praying doesn’t take an entire day, so it would be wise to visit the shrine before attempting a battle. It’s always a good idea to visit certain pop-up shops and camps where you can upgrade powers, enhance your skills, and purchase items. If you skip over them and decide to go back later, there’s a chance the plague has caught up. If you choose to attempt a zombie fight or play pinball to earn loot, this could take up to an entire “day” of your adventure. Be wise with your decision, and hope the randomized maps work in your favour. 

Zombies vs. Pinball

Zombie battles are where you can put your pinball skills to the test. The game isn’t called Zombie Rollerz for nothing. You can shoot your ball directly at them or even slap some with your flippers. Some zombies will be sent flying backwards but others may explode upon touch. As much as I wanted to rely on button-mashing, it’s a much better idea to aim and think about your next move. Once you progress in the map and level up, you will pick up random special abilities that allow you to kill zombies in more creative ways.

Battles aren’t just about smashing zombies but also about finding hidden treasure as well. There are secret treasure troves in the playing field that contain lots of extra goodies. To gain access to this mystery location, you will need to send your ball directly into a shiny box. This will then bring you to a different field filled with coins, hearts, and other miscellaneous loot. Sometimes an unlocking mechanism is required to gain access to this wonderful place, so it’s not always straightforward. There is a time limit on how long you can stay in this area, so don’t dilly-dally and think you have all day. Fill your inventory with whatever you can until the time is up (or your ball falls in between the flippers), as you will be sent back to the battlefield swiftly afterwards.

Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. And Die Anyways.

You will die once your HP hits zero. To add salt to your wounds, when you die you lose everything. You can say goodbye to all your hard-earned collectibles and paid-off upgrades. It is a sad feeling knowing that everything you worked for has disappeared, but earning the upgrades back is fairly quick. In fact, it can be exciting because you might learn a move you’ve never seen in previous playthroughs. Zombie Rollerz has excellent replayability like that, so restarting the entire game isn’t a complete loss. However, this does require players to adapt to new situations because every game is randomly generated. It may take a while to reach the finish line if you’re relying solely on lady luck. 

The game becomes more challenging as each battle goes on, and health doesn’t regenerate automatically. Potions are hard to come by and the zombies only get stronger. As terrifying as this may sound, death is sometimes the only outcome in an unlucky game. Luckily, once you gain experience and understand how the world works, you will find that Zombie Rollerz provides a fair challenge. If you are halfheartedly playing the game, you won’t get very far. Yes, the gameplay is intuitive and the physics are convincing, but you still have to put in the effort to do well.

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes is a stress-free experience with enough challenge to give you an adrenaline rush. It is super easy to shoot pinballs, target meteors, and throw axes at zombies. You can choose to scrape by and advance to the next battle, but it is a delightful feeling when you receive a good ranking. Most people are familiar with pinball, so understanding how the flippers work almost comes naturally. Zombie Rollerz doesn’t require brain power to enjoy and some of the choices you make will lead to random outcomes anyway. It isn’t as easy as it looks, but it doesn’t take long to get into the rhythm of things and send zombies flying. 

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes Review – We Keep Rolling and Rolling appeared first on COGconnected.

When you want to be a cute character but you also want to murder someone, Death end re;Quest 2 will fulfill all your desires. In 2020, the Playstation 4 and PC versions of the game were released in the west, and now it has been ported to the Nintendo Switch. A sequel to the original Death end re;Quest released in 2018, the horror RPG visual novel hybrid is back again with an intriguing storyline and charming characters. Although some topics turn uncomfortably heavy without much warning, the storyline is very interesting – if you can get over the potential psychological damage our fictional protagonists can face.

Death end re;Quest 2 stars Mai Toyama, a girl who murdered her abusive father. Her parents separated when she was younger, with her mother taking her sister Sanae and her father taking Mai. Upon learning that her mother was also dead, she reaches out to her social worker to locate Sanae’s whereabouts. This brings Mai to Le Choara, a mysterious town with a strange religion and no technology. There, Mai enrolls into Woodsworth to be in the same school and dorm as her sister, only to learn that nobody knew who Sanae was. 

Horror RPG Stands Up to its Genre

The entire game of Death end re;Quest 2 revolves around Mai and her friends uncovering the secrets of Le Choara. Girls are mysteriously disappearing, randomly being adopted overnight, or have a fascination with the El Strain religion. Mai’s roommate Rottie has never seen a laptop before, there is no reception anywhere in town, and nobody is allowed to wander or leave the building past midnight. Sanae is also nowhere to be found, and Mai is certain the town is hiding something.

All of these mysteries surrounding Sanae’s disappearance are cleverly introduced in an engaging visual novel and RPG. The visual novel portion tends to take place in the mornings and afternoons, though the crux of the narrative happens at night. During the daytime, Mai and Rottie investigate by chatting with other characters in town. At night, they explore town again but there’s a twist – monsters known as Shadow Matter come out every evening. This is where our characters are required to fight and the turn-based battles take place. 

There is always a convenient reason to be outside in the middle of the night, so expect a lot of battles and wandering around. For those new to Death end re;Quest, instructions will pop-up each time a new action is introduced. This is handy as a quick overview of what your characters are capable of, however not much is explained and it’s implied you already know what to do. 

Trigger Warnings and Deaths Galore

Death end re;Quest 2 does not shy away from heavy and dark themes. Topics of child abuse, manipulation, and demonic cults are littered throughout the 20-hour game. As a horror RPG with young anime girls killing monsters and witnessing murders, nothing about how the story unfolds is for the faint of heart. Although a disclaimer at the beginning warns players of what they may experience, a more detailed trigger warning may be appreciated by the wider gaming community.  

Character development is there but it is light. As an example, your typical stoic protagonist softens up, the childish friend matures, and the gentle friend becomes braver. These characters could have been explored more as they each experience something horrific in the game. Sadly, their trauma is either forgotten or pushed under a rug. I know this is a work of fiction but it doesn’t feel relatable when someone commits their first murder and wakes up the next day as if nothing happened. 

Switch Port Does Not Encourage Portability

While a Nintendo Switch port means you can bring the game on your travels, there is no guarantee you will enjoy it. This is because the graphics are questionable. The movements are already clumsy when docked, so you can imagine what the handheld experience is like. It’s unfortunate because I really enjoyed the turned-based battles and looking for loot, but the visuals made the adventure less enticing. The audio quality also wasn’t the greatest – sound effects were randomly loud and some voices were too shrill. 

Nevertheless, once we get to the visual novel portion of the game, the graphics are crisp and the story is easy to follow. The dialogue is fully voiced and the beautifully drawn characters aren’t afraid to give us fanservice. One minute two girls are all over each other and the next minute they are killing each other. Death end re;Quest 2 combines magical schoolgirls with violence and gore, making for a surprisingly delightful game.

Death end re;Quest 2 was an excellent visual novel with an addicting RPG portion as well. While the sequel does a good job at telling a new story, there are some things newcomers might miss. At the same time, you don’t need to know what happens in the first game in order to excel. Death end re;Quest 2 is perfectly fine as a standalone game and would be even better if they explained the background more. I really liked the game and I appreciate the Nintendo Switch’s portability, but the visuals fell short of spectacular so it only just barely satisfied my RPG cravings. 

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Death end re;Quest 2 Review – Uncomfortably Addicting appeared first on COGconnected.

When you pick up a game with the words “trigger” and “witch” in it, you’re likely wondering what guns have to do with magic. Well, nothing much, really. In fact, Trigger Witch does not shy away from addressing the odd ways witches have evolved. With characters following the religion of Ballisticism, you already know it’s going to be weird. As a result of a mysterious portal appearing and gifting witches firearms, magic slowly started to die as people began to rely on weapons. There are still elements of magic in the world, but sometimes a machine gun is more effective than casting a spell.

It is an absurd concept but also pretty intriguing at the same time. This is what happens when Rainbite decides cute characters should wield deadly weapons – and we are all here for it. Honestly, what’s not to not like? Though the background and storyline could have been explored more, rest assured the non-stop shooting action is enough to keep you busy for hours.

A Not-So-Magical Adventure

Trigger Witch is set in an open world riddled with dangerous creatures. We play as Colette, a young witch from the school of Witchcraft and Triggery. While visiting the Ordinance Rift to receive her firearm, a mysterious man emerges from said portal. Colette is then tasked to investigate the man, as his unwelcome appearance was causing confusion and concern in Evertonia. During her preparations, we learn of the life and culture of Evertonia and witness a generation that has forgotten its roots. With witches that rely on weapons and have poor relationships with the neighbouring goblins, it appears there is more to what we know. 

Colette starts her journey with one handgun and throughout the game she finds new weapons to use. There is a good range of firearms which gives players new ways to kill monsters. A magical stone from Colette’s mother allows her to quick-travel back home – a handy tool as home base provides for most of her needs. There, she can upgrade her weapons and purchase items to help her along her journey. Besides Colette’s teleportation rock, she doesn’t really perform magic and is more proud of her sniping abilities. 

Trigger Witch isn’t an easy game, and if you are unprepared you can even die in the tutorial. Once you get the hang of the controls and your enemy’s patterns, death will become less frequent. It doesn’t get any easier though, but by that time you will have potions and a whole arsenal of firearms to choose from. You can also adjust Colette’s attack and defense levels if you wish. This changes the difficulty level and can be helpful if you need a slight advantage or challenge. There are several light puzzles to solve but most of them are easy to figure out. Although some did require brainpower and quick reflexes, it didn’t better the experience of having to walk back and forth to find things.

A Triggered Witch

The action is non-stop in Trigger Witch and monsters spawn and respawn constantly. There’s a good variety of enemy types and thankfully not impossible to kill. It can be hard at first, but once you figure out their movements you will be fine. Unfortunately, this can feel monotonous after repeatedly shooting at creatures with similar attacks. However, the sheer amount of monsters that come at you is a great way to farm for gems, which can be used to purchase upgrades and items. There’s nothing wrong with mindlessly killing either (in a fictional setting!!), but it may not be for everyone. 

While the plot was interesting, the narrative and pacing of the story left me wanting more. Understandably most people pick up shooting games to, well, shoot things. A part of me gets that and yet I was yearning for the story to develop faster. Really though, you can’t dislike a top-down, twin-stick shooter with 16-bit visuals and snarky character dialogue. It was nostalgia paired with a twist of modern-day slang and real people problems, which I enjoyed. I laughed out loud when there was a mention of workplaces causing trouble with the union. I had to remind myself this game was new, because I was so into its retro visuals that the relevant comments threw me off. It was refreshing and added some humor to the experience.

Trigger Witch has the potential to present a captivating adventure, especially with its interesting premise and fun dialogue. There isn’t much else to it besides slaughtering creatures, getting new weapons, and slaughtering the same creatures but in different ways. It’s good fun as long as you don’t expect the story to blow you away. I can see this having a cult following based on the gameplay, attainable trophies, and its cast of charming characters. If bloody, cutesy games with never-ending fights is your thing, you will enjoy Trigger Witch a lot. 

***PS5 code was provided by the publisher for review***

The post Trigger Witch Review – 16-Bit Cute But Deadly Twin-Stick Shooter appeared first on COGconnected.

Headland is a game based in an imaginary world with numerous different islands to visit and secret paths to discover. The gameplay and storyline isn’t overly ambitious and challenging for players, allowing one to truly enjoy the action adventure game without many obstacles. Though it seems to be marketed towards the younger crowd, Headland appeal is not limited to children. It can provide the same entertainment to teenagers and adults alike. It is a simple game that doesn’t demand a high level of skill or attention. Its many secrets and unexpected funny dialogue are enough for players to stay engaged with the hero’s journey for a good amount of time.

Headland is about a young hero named Nor and his quest to save Headland by rebuilding the Imagination Core. It is a colorful, top-down adventure with lots of cute characters. Some are pretty useless and stand around doing nothing, while others are relatively helpful with their hints. Earn resources, gain EXP, upgrade weapons and equipment, and explore to your heart’s content. 

You wield a sword in an imaginary land where anything can happen. There are moments of violence but think of it like a hack and slash with cartoonish monsters and sound effects. There are also creatures that Nor will have to fight, and dying in battle will result in a random amount of lost resources. Luckily, this means death is not the end and you are free to go wherever you wish at any time. 

Exploring an Imaginary World

The landscapes are cleverly designed so you rarely question where to go next. It’s almost impossible to get lost. Even if you do get lost, monsters do not respawn once you have defeated them, so you are free to walk around the area without being attacked. Unfortunately, there are some glitchy areas where Nor can get stuck. Adjusting the camera angle and having him dash his way out of the rut is a helpful tip. 

The deeper into the map you go, the more challenging the locations. This is also a good way to understand whether your character is at a level where he can succeed in the current quest. If he gets overpowered by enemies, it is a cue to go back and upgrade weapons or to gain more experience. There is a good balance of work and reward as one cannot keep moving on without working hard for it. Though monsters do not respawn once you leave the screen, they do reappear once you leave the island and come back to it. They also remain in the same area and abilities are unchanged, so it’s a great way to earn easy experience points. 

Repetitive Replay

What makes Headland stand out is the colorful and youthful energy in addition to the simple storyline it follows. Each location on the map doesn’t take long to complete, maybe roughly five to 10 minutes on average, so it never feels like you have to drag your feet to accomplish something. There are lots of different landscapes and types of beasts encountered in an attempt to keep the experience new. After several quests the monsters you fight will follow a similar attack pattern, only that they’re stronger the more difficult the levels are. 

Headland encourages exploration. Multiple areas contain secrets that can be difficult to find in the first (and second) playthrough. There are mystery boxes littered around all the islands, and Headland keeps track of whether or you’ve found them all. This adds to the replayable nature of every location, because you might find something you didn’t think to look for the first time. However, you might find this repetitive as every location requires you to do almost the exact same thing each time. 

A fast-paced and easy-to-navigate game, there is never a dull moment in Headland. Levels don’t take forever to clear. Rewards are not impossible to earn, and death and failure are forgivable. Headland has a simple plot with a fearless protagonist. It features quick battles without requiring players to think deeply about their actions and choices. Though it may not have a memorable story, Headland provides more than a momentary enjoyment for would-be adventurers.

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Headland Review – All Ages Adventuring appeared first on COGconnected.

One Hand Clapping is a marvelous idea expertly crafted into a small 2D platforming game. It requires not just good timing and platforming skills, but also utilizes our voice to light up paths, move obstacles out of the way, and assist your character in all the ways possible to bring them to where they need to be.

Don’t let having to sing turn you away though, because One Hand Clapping doesn’t care if you are the next American Idol or if you only sound good in the shower – the only thing they look for is whether or not you have a voice, and if you’re willing to use it. It is fun and can raise some eyebrows from family and friends who are nearby, but definitely worth trying if you have a microphone nearby. 

There isn’t much of a story to follow, rather the game is more focused on the experience and providing beautifully designed environments and platforms. Using your voice, you can lead your character to where they need to go. There are some simple puzzles to solve in order to find the right path, and they are mostly intuitive and cleverly laid out. On top of that, the visuals are crisp and clean with the colors appropriately setting the mood for each scene, making dark backgrounds super eerie but light backgrounds warm and hopeful.

Sing Your Song

Though the puzzles are not challenging to figure out, understanding what to do and timing it correctly is another thing. Sometimes it feels extremely easy and solving the current environment may be obvious, but it’s not just a puzzle game after all. Coupled with platforming and the requirement to time not just your movement but when to use your voice, this adds another level of welcome complexity. It doesn’t hurt to keep a glass of water nearby, because there’s no guarantee you time your movements and your voice perfectly on the first few tries. It’s very entertaining to try out your different pitches and test your abilities to hit the right note, and speaking as a non-singer it is generally easy to grasp. 

The concept is new and creative, requiring players to connect a microphone to the console as your voice is the tool you will be using most. This does mean it requires extra equipment to play, as I’ve tried to play without my headphones and it wouldn’t allow. This also means because your voice is an integral part of the game, you will need to speak or sing for prolonged periods of time. Some scenes may need you to keep singing something, and others may require you to hum and hold your current note. Thankfully no musical talent is required to successfully complete the game, however, this makes for awkward bus rides when you want to play this on your trip home.

Mic Check

Though additional equipment is required to play the game, the microphone you use doesn’t have to be very high quality. I just used my old headset that was lying around and I was able to clear obstacles easily with it. You are able to adjust the sensitivity of your microphone where the game can pick up even the quietest of sounds. It isn’t that good at picking up whispers, so ensure you aren’t playing this in the middle of the night while your family is asleep. 

While singing skills are not required, having the ability to differentiate what notes are higher and what notes are lower is helpful. There will be times that certain platforms move up and down depending on the pitch of your voice. You don’t need to know what note to hit, but you just need to know if you hit a high or low enough note to keep your character moving. It is actually very simple and the game is very forgiving of your mistakes. In fact, it encourages you to try things out before going ahead, since you can always move things back by adjusting your voice too. 

Of course, the whole point is to have a good time trying something new. One Hand Clapping is fun for singers and non-singers alike so I’m sure everyone will enjoy this creative experience. You can use it as an excuse to warm up your voice if you’re going out for Christmas caroling, or you can just sing to your heart’s content while actually making progress in a video game. And who knows, maybe you’ll find out you actually have a knack for singing.  

*** A Switch review code provided by the publisher ***

The post One Hand Clapping Review – I Can Make Your Hands Clap appeared first on COGconnected.

If Disney and Animal Crossing had a baby, Disney Magical World would be the product. As a sequel, Disney Magical World 2 can be played as its own game so you don’t have to play the first one to know what to do. Teaching you from the very basics to letting you find your own path, the game is not only easy to figure out but everything makes sense – if anything, sometimes it feels over-explained especially if it’s not your first time attempting a simulation adventure game. With a mix of decorating, making money, completing missions, fighting ghosts, and planting vegetables, Disney Magical World 2 is a mix of many genres that feature many familiar Disney characters in one game.

Set in Castleton, you are the newest member to join this small and happy town. Everyone is relaxed and friendly, and who wouldn’t be when your neighbour is Mickey Mouse and your everyday life consists of helping each other out and collecting medals and stickers? Ruled by the cutest-looking king and with the city bustling with activity and new people to meet, Disney Magical World 2 is a relaxing game where you get to buy clothes and rearrange Disney-themed furniture while you run around assisting your favorite Disney characters with their requests. It is quite slow-paced but more exciting than I had expected, and is a nice experience that I wholeheartedly welcome into my hectic life.

A Disneybounder’s Dream Come True 

The introduction is very long and can take a while to get through. There is a lot of material to cover and the game doesn’t skimp on instructions, which makes it very easy to learn but if you’ve played simulation games before, this would feel tedious. No worries though – after one hour of wandering around and doing the required quests, you will be introduced to many other characters and other worlds of Disney, including Atlantica, Hawaii, and Arendelle. Even unlocking new furniture and themed-clothing can be exciting to see, making all my virtual Disneybounding dreams come true as I don the outfit of Vanellope while running a Rapunzel-themed cafe. 

Adding to this slow and quiet lifestyle is your magical ability to battle ghosts. I know, it seems a little random, but this extra side story brings more excitement to your everyday life. You have magical powers that help you see and fight ghosts, and therefore you are given many quests to help villagers and other Disney characters. Certain items can only be found when you fight ghosts, so you are more than welcome to revisit the same dungeon twice. The time spent on each request shouldn’t take more than five minutes, and the rewards received are acceptable for the amount of effort spent.

Besides ghost-busting and helping people with random quests, you also run a side business as a cafe manager in Castleton. This is a great way to make passive income, and is also very fun to manage as you can decorate with whatever theme you please, uncover new recipes to serve the guests, and even host parties and invite your favorite Disney characters to dance on stage with you. If you ever run out of ingredients to make food and drinks, there is a helpful quick-travel option to Hundred Acre Wood, where Rabbit allows you to use his garden to grow and harvest flowers and vegetables for your cafe. 

As strange as this may sound, being a Disney fanatic I didn’t care for the fanservice moments which involved acid-trippy dream sequences you can have with the Disney characters; nor did I care about taking screenshots of myself and Winnie the Pooh and saving them onto my SD card. It was already enough to make me squeal when Olaf showed up on my beach, but I didn’t find it an absolute necessity to have lucid dreams with the rest of the cast. Maybe for children these are awesome moments and a lot of fun to dress up and dance with Rapunzel, but for me I didn’t find much value in this. 

There is a lot of content contained in this little game that makes it really hard to put down. You can have a quiet evening and gather items to make new outfits, fish at the lake to collect bubbles, or change your hairdo at Minnie’s salon. Or you can opt to have a productive evening by mining with the Seven Dwarves, warding off ghosts in Hawaii, or ensuring your cafe is fully stocked with food and beverages at all times. Regardless of your mood and what you want to achieve, Disney Magical World 2 was able to satiate my cravings for a good simulation game mixed with some ghost busting and a little bit of side hustling. It can take a while to get to the good and creative parts, but it is definitely worth the wait. 

*** A Switch review code provided by the publisher ***

The post Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition – Patience Payoff appeared first on COGconnected.

Kingdom Two Crowns is a side-scrolling strategy game where you can build a new kingdom from the ground up, recruit people from outlying camps to join you, and protect your land and citizens from harm by arming individuals to fight against the evil Greed monsters. There is minimal instruction, and most actions are figured out through trial and error, allowing players to immerse themselves in the experience as much as possible. As a real-time strategy where you can be attacked at any moment, Kingdom Two Crowns is an exciting game despite how simple and minimalistic it looks on the surface. It is easy to spend many hours playing one campaign, and finding new solutions makes it more interesting for the next time you attempt another life. 

Norse Lands is an expansion to the already addicting game where six new islands are available, with inspiration taken from Norse mythology and lore. If anything, Norse Lands feels like an improved version of the original with a fresh new take on a familiar experience. Whether it is your first time or your tenth time playing, there is still something to learn, and knowing what the icons mean will take some time. Everyone has and will go through the same confusion initially, as the game purposely avoids telling you everything. This allows players to feel for the game and predict what they need to do next, but investing in the wrong thing also brings tragic ends to an otherwise successful campaign. 

While the gameplay is similar to most other Kingdom games, Norse Lands also increased the replayability factor by introducing citizen houses that spawn new people and shields that can be wielded when defending and fighting against Greed. The strategies required and the creative new puzzles added to the game’s charm, ultimately introducing something that feels more balanced than the original. 

Build, Defend, Explore, and Conquer 

Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands isn’t just about building a city from random coins and jewels but also discovering new ruins and finding creative ways to get around the land. You are a ruler who recruits random people from their campsites, offering them a coin for their services. Starting with two shops that forge axes and bows, citizens can help build your town and defend it. Some villagers will help you chop down trees to help you claim more land, and others will join your army to prevent the evil Greed from entering and taking your coins. As much as possible, you want to protect yourself and your crown, as losing this indicates your reign is over, and your heir will have to pick up from where you left off. 

Exploration is another massive part of the game, and with your trusty steed, you can uncover new ruins and recruit more locals to expand your reign. As you explore further, there are places where other modes of transportation can be found, and new items and different powers can be unlocked with each discovery. Your other goal is to find new islands by rebuilding a broken-down ship with your citizens, which allows you to sail away to different places. This is also a great way to find items to help your previous islands, as not all islands are equipped with the same materials. 

Not as Simple as It Looks

Despite the lack of instruction leading to a high amount of trial and error on everyone’s part, it is effortless to learn if you pay enough attention to your surroundings. Norse Lands can be enjoyed either on your own or with another friend. Because of how the scenes are laid out, there is room for a split-screen without compromising the visual experience. Having that said, it is not always obvious what is required – not because the glyphs are obscure, but because the icons are pretty small and can look transparent. Having reviewed this on the Playstation, I found myself standing really close to my television screen just so I could see what was going on (and my screen is not small). This isn’t a dealbreaker, though, and is a good reason for a mid-game stretch, but keep in mind that you could miss something if you aren’t looking carefully enough.

What elevated the experience further, however, was the surreal soundtrack that accompanied the gameplay. All I can say is wow – it was majestic, frightening, and serene at the same time. Depending on the color scheme and mood of the current scene, the music can jump from whimsical to “oh crap; we might be in danger here.” It was awe-inspiring, and very rarely do I feel moved from just music alone. Add that to this strategy game which I already adore, and you’ve got me hooked. 

Though much of the gameplay of Norse Lands was similar to the base game, the challenges and strategies felt more balanced and less unforgiving. You do not have to be an experienced gamer to know what to do, and chances are fans of the Kingdom games are probably figuring it out too. Needless to say, if you think you may enjoy a strategy game with minimalistic visuals and a phenomenal soundtrack, give Kingdom Two Crowns a try, and for an enhanced experience, Norse Lands is a no-brainer DLC to add to your collection. 

**A PS4 code was provided by the publisher**

The post Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands Review – Greedy For More appeared first on COGconnected.

Have you ever been tasked to deliver the most important news in the world, but due to your magical inexperience you accidentally cast a spell on yourself and transform into a 2D square box? Same. Hoplegs has the most ridiculous premise that had me hooked in the first five minutes, and the hilarity that ensues especially during co-op play makes this a top party game (if you’re looking to laugh at your friends’ hopeless attempts at crossing a deadly pit).

It can be really, really frustrating but it’s amazing how bad you can be at it, to the point where I’m not sure if it’s even possible to do well. Whether you are looking to complete a solo adventure or to watch your friends suck at this game too, Hoplegs has a mode for everyone to enjoy (or not enjoy) that even the most annoying levels can be fun.

As the story goes, you are a magical apprentice that used to have operable arms and legs. With your mentor fainting and tasking you with the most important mission, you still somehow manage to fail at the very first scene despite your master foolishly having faith in your abilities. Due to your carelessness and your mind wandering mid-spell, you become a box with legs that push out of all four sides of your body at your command. Sadly, your journey became much longer and much more hectic than necessary, but with strong determination you decide to get the job done. This extremely stupid story had me in stitches as the most hopeless journey I have ever taken part of, because it’s actually really hard!

Like, Really Hard

Controls are super easy to learn but honestly, I’m not sure if I would call it intuitive or not. The directional buttons basically control the top, bottom, left, and right side of the box’s legs, and when you push the button your corresponding foot will stick out of the box. The movement of the joystick will be the direction the box spins, but the longer you hold the direction the more the box spins. Obstacles and random spikes will block your progress, with deadly pits that bring you back to a checkpoint and oddly-shaped ceilings that will push you backwards should you hit the wrong angle. It can become really frustratingly hilarious when you accidentally push the wrong leg because you over-or under-rotated, but even more hilarious if your friend messes up.

The game is suitable for multiplayers but there is also a story mode for solo adventurers (which is where the story is presented). The solo adventure is for those who want to have a purpose to the madness while unlocking goodies to use at any time. There is a short tutorial at the beginning, though there really isn’t much to learn because the controls are fairly basic and depends on your understanding of the game physics and reaction time. If you jump straight into the multiplayer mode, there won’t be a tutorial to teach your friends but everyone can definitely pick up the game in no time. 

Though there are co-op and versus modes for multiplayer, the co-op was definitely the more enjoyable out of the two. In versus mode, one of the challenges was to hop up and down platforms to reach a yellow box and stay within the box the longest. The tricky part is this yellow box moves, so you are encouraged to go around to different areas of the map to earn more time in the box. At least, that’s how it should be; if you are lucky, a yellow box will appear where you are, allowing you to collect this time without having to move an inch. The yellow boxes will appear at around several random places on the map, and I think it would be more fair and challenging if you had to collect your time by going to different boxes and areas of the playground. 

There isn’t too much to criticize about the game other than it makes me question my ability to play video games. If you and your friends don’t have the patience to play one level for 30 minutes when the “par” time is 3 minutes (yes, we were THAT bad at one point), then Hoplegs may not be for you. One of the charming aspects of the game is how you can tease each other for being extremely horrible at it, which in my opinion makes the multiplayer modes more enjoyable that suffering alone in the solo mode. Without a multiplayer mode and people to make fun of, the game can feel repetitive when you’re playing on your own. 

Hoplegs is really a masterpiece in its own genre of ridiculousness, though it may not be for everyone. The par time is hard to reach, to the point where I think the numbers are made up because there’s no way everyone can reach the checkpoint in under 3 minutes. Though the solo mode may be easier to reach the preferred time, playing with other people and completing levels together under the expected time is a near impossible task. Despite that, however, multiplayer is the way to go if you want to enjoy Hoplegs. This simple and creative game wasted two hours of my precious date night, I hate how long it took but I also love how it took us two hours to do the bare minimum. 

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Hoplegs Review – A Hopeless and Hilarious Endeavor appeared first on COGconnected.

Monster Crown is a monster battle RPG that brings back childhood memories, except this game was created recently with the intentional use of retro aesthetics. Like Pokemon from back in the day, the game involves exploring different worlds and finding and defeating new monsters you encounter. With a surprisingly decent background story that doesn’t only involve defeating gym leaders to become the best, Monster Crown goes a little deeper than that and puts more meaning to your actions. It can be challenging to learn, and the tutorials aren’t the most helpful. Still, there are many positive aspects to the game that one can already experience in the first ten minutes of playing – the frustrating points do present themselves later on, though.

At the very beginning, we already know an evil young woman scheming something behind the scenes, and their involvement in the plot is a lot more than your character defeating some bad guys and achieving your goals faster than your childhood rival. Our protagonist is the 14-year-old you, with wonderfully inclusive options and a couple of outfit changes available. Your journey begins with your dad teaching you how to recruit monsters and sending you off on a quest to deliver a pearl to the king, which pretty much starts the main storyline. In this game, you will face many monsters, battles, learning opportunities, and, unfortunately, some minor glitches along the way. The game isn’t too long, but it isn’t something you can complete in a few hours, and should the controls be smoother, the gameplay and story could be enjoyed much better.

A Modern Take on Retro Monster Taming Games

In Monster Crown, each monster you recruit has to join you via a pact. This is almost like a contract where the monster can agree to join you or not, depending on if they agree to your terms. If they are not satisfied with the pact, then they have the opportunity to attack you. It is a more ethical way of explaining why people use monsters to fight and why monsters choose to fight alongside humans, as the relationship is mutually beneficial and not simply a power struggle where humans are always on top and making creatures fight each other for their own sake.

When it comes to random encounters, the monster’s sprite is shown so you can strategically know who to battle and who to avoid. One of the disadvantages, though, is when you see a monster you want to befriend but getting to them requires you to leave your current screen, the monster will likely disappear. Monsters respawn almost automatically – basically, right when you leave the screen, new monsters will show up no matter what. This is a great way to build a team and increase the stats of your current monsters, and because you can see who they are, you can strategically walk back and forth until the one you wanted appears.

Every run-in can be delightful as battles tend to be short; however, that also means there isn’t a lot of joy from fights because of how fast it ends. For those who want to progress in the story quickly, these battles can be your best friend; for those who want to strategize in a battle, this may not be your cup of tea. There is an option to change your level of difficulty, and this feature allows players to either challenge themselves or to have a casual and memorable time. If you die, you lose your items, so you have to be careful – if this is something that worries you, you can toggle to easy mode and enjoy a more stress-free experience. 

Monsters and Glitches Galore

Besides wandering around as a monster tamer and going to places with your crew, there are other options to explore, such as finding all the monsters you can and even breeding them. With 200 different species and the occasional “???” creatures that you encounter (and can name), a lot is going on with the game and can be slightly overwhelming. I took a while to understand the different monster types as they were not the usual elements that I was used to, and with each monster I face, I wonder if I’ve recruited it before – there were so many! I was also a little perplexed with the number of actions I could take, such as placing monsters in one area while smashing pumpkins in a different place. The tutorial and controls lack finesse, and the instructions weren’t self-explanatory, but the basics of the game were easy enough to understand. 

At the time of writing, there has yet to be a patch for the technical glitches experienced. Though this update will be coming shortly, it was slightly frustrating not to be able to play the game through smoothly to give a review of all the functions without being a little upset with the lack of response. It was truthfully unclear whether the character was hard to control or if I was experiencing a technical glitch. However, I will have to say it was the latter because there’s no way simple actions such as running around and going over a fence could be that difficult. However, this update has been promised, so there is potential for Monster Crown to develop into a better, easier-to-enjoy video game. At the moment, though, it is hard to comment on its performance if the game is still lacking in this area. 

There were a lot of enjoyable, nostalgic moments with the familiar battle systems that were strengthened by the retro aesthetics. Monster Crown is more than just capturing and leveling up the monsters you tame. There is a story to be followed and monsters to breed. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to comprehend, and janky controls take away from the experience, but the general gameplay is familiar and straightforward to understand. With so much information and planning involved, though, Monster Crown feels like it can be a bigger game than it actually is, and perhaps one day, it can be released as something more ready and easier to learn. 

*** A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher ***

The post Monster Crown Review – Almost Ready to Take On the World appeared first on COGconnected.

Aragami 2 is a solid third-person stealth game that involves combat and making decisions on the fly. As a shadow spirit protagonist, we wield a number of different abilities as we try to get past guards, defeat enemies, and use a wide variety of tactics to get the job done. It isn’t always easy and sometimes the game can feel frustratingly repetitive, but the smooth sprinting and shadow leaping allows you to zoom past repeated environments relatively quickly. It may not have the most engaging story, but the gameplay is great and the smooth, intuitive controls feel incredibly satisfying.

Beginning with the prologue as an extremely helpful tutorial, players are introduced to the Aragami named Kurai, or if you’d prefer to change to your own name you can. As one of the last warriors of your kind, you are capable of controlling the shadows to stealthily move around undetected and to knock out your enemies with ease. With your abilities, your job is to complete missions to protect and free your people from invaders. Throughout the game you will be assigned quests that will help increase your experience points and expand your skill set, and completed missions are handsomely rewarded for a job well done.

Multiple Ways to Get the Job Done

There are also missions the player can choose to undertake, mostly these quests are essential for gaining experience and rewards. Ability points allow you to choose what skills you want to be good at or to rank up in, including upgrading your character’s passive abilities and your already existing moves. Plus, you can even learn new Shadow Powers to add a variety of different moves to your repertoire. There is no wrong decision, just make the one that suits your style the best. Gold is also a reward that you can earn, and talking to random people or looking for chests can help you find more of this in-game currency. Whatever you choose to do during your missions, be it kill all hostiles or let everyone live, you still win as long as you successfully complete the task. 

With a new stamina system, players can perform shadow leaps and sprints by depleting the stamina bar. Shadow leaps are marked with a clear, blue circle, indicating where your character can grab onto safely. The controls are quite intuitive to today’s play style, with double jumps and sprinting making it easier to reach higher ledges and destinations faster. Dodging attacks will also use up stamina, so learning to parry and effectively fight with your sword is crucial to winning at combat. 

Responsive but Repetitive 

Generally the game is forgiving of your mistakes and so is great for trying different ways to finish your missions. Responsive controls allow you to quickly hide from enemies when you are almost caught, and deaths are inevitable but easy to bounce back from. When one enemy catches sight of a fallen comrade, some will go on high alert but it seems not everyone in the enemy base gets the memo. Though the enemy is somewhat intelligent, as long as you lay low and stay undetected they will soon forget you exist. 

Of course it’s not always that easy, as when you are actually caught by the enemy you are immediately thrown into combat with whoever is surrounding you. Multiple people with swords versus just you can be difficult as your stamina runs out quickly, so it’s better to try and knock as many people out before engaging in battle (if you choose to). With the potential for co-op play, it may be easier to handle a small group, but by yourself it can be an impossible struggle. I haven’t had the chance to check out the online multiplayer mode, so I can only imagine how fun it can be to complete a mission with your friends. 

Though the stealthy ninjas and quick reactions are addicting to control, the repetitive environments can dull the experience. Not all locations look the same, however the gist of the missions are similar – steal something, or kill someone, or stay hidden. It also doesn’t help to have a weak plot, because there’s not much to look forward to in terms of the importance of some of your tasks. In fact, several required missions feel like it’s padding for time because of how long you’re doing the same thing to get to your goal. I found that to keep myself motivated before starting a new quest, I needed a quick break before getting the excitement back again. 

Aragami 2 is an adventure that can be enjoyed by stealth fans and anyone who wants to try infiltrating an enemy base with satisfying results. Even if you’re bad at stealth games, Aragami 2 encourages you to create your own path and explore different ways to tackle a challenge. Sometimes close combat is my jam, and other times I just want to avoid confrontation. The many ways to experience Aragami 2 made it feel less catered to one specific audience and more towards anyone who is interested in trying a stealth experience. While the plot isn’t all that engaging, it is satisfying in its own way.

***PS5 code was provided by the publisher***

The post Aragami 2 Review – Mostly Satisfying Stealth Experience appeared first on COGconnected.

TOEM is probably the most relaxing and stress-free game I’ve ever played, with no time restraints or anything rushing you to get your butt moving. It is simply a game where you are encouraged to stop and smell the flowers, and even better if you take a picture of them to commemorate your experience. Focusing on enjoying the moments and not rushing through life, TOEM is a reminder that a great gaming experience can be as simple as a black-and-white cartoon adventure too. 

Equipped with a camera and a backpack to hold the items and gifts you receive along the way, you set out on an adventure to capture the beauty of the outside world. Everyone in the game is generous, easy-going, and encouraging, and frequently funny-looking in the best kind of way. To travel to different locations on your map, you will have to collect stamps from the community to take the bus for free. These stamps are given by random NPCs who task you with mini-quests that involve using your camera and taking a photo of what they want to see. It isn’t as simple as ‘snap a picture of a tree’ (although that is one of the asks), but it often involves helping other characters before you can unlock a hidden area from which you may need a picture. 

Short and Sweet

A beautifully hand-drawn landscape filled with whimsy and wonder, TOEM fully captures the magic of adventure in its simplistic artwork. The majority of the game is focused on taking pictures and viewing the world through a camera lens, and sometimes the things you see may not be the same as what appears in your photographs. There are many characters to meet, animal photographs to collect, and achievements to unlock, and all of this can be done in one sitting, in five sittings, or however long you’d like to take. TOEM is about enjoying the moment, not about reaching the end quickly.

Moving your young protagonist is not hard at all, and you can zoom in and out and adjust your camera as you please. Your character walks relatively quickly, and if you ever want to slow down, you can wear a pair of clogs that you receive from your hometown. Taking photos is just as easy, with one button to pull out your camera and another button to snap your picture. Eventually, you will receive a tripod that you can set up in one spot, and you can move around the area to trigger certain events and handily snap your photo with ease. You can also zoom and flip your camera for a selfie if you’d like; though the angle may not be very flattering, it’s an enjoyable way to capture a moment with your character.

TOEM is a very casual experience, and you can travel back and forth as you please once you’ve unlocked that destination. This allows you to complete side quests at a later time, and also, some quests require you to take photos around the world in order to fulfill the requirements. You will meet a flurry of strange characters no matter where you go, like buff bears in sunglasses dancing to EDM and a random ice cream cone lounging by the water. As long as you don’t take the game seriously, you’re going to have an excellent time.

The worst part about TOEM is how great it is and how short it is. In a way, the game’s length makes it feel less strenuous as your primary goal can be quickly achieved. Of course, TOEM isn’t that short, as if you’re a completionist, it could take a good chunk of time. It is hard to replay since you would know where things are hidden, but I’m sure waiting a few months before picking it back up again would help with the replayability. 

We can’t compliment TOEM without mentioning its soundtrack, which fits the game perfectly. The sweet and simple melodies that you play along to brought my mood up, and I cannot say enough how much I needed to play this with the sound on. To be honest, this game would be enjoyable on mute, but the music elevates the experience so much further. 

TOEM is suitable for all audiences. Everything from its friendly nature, to the ease of control, to the cute characters and catchy tunes, TOEM hits the mark in many ways. Though I wish it were longer, a part of me thinks the short length adds to the simplicity and relaxation aspect of the experience. It was just so inviting, especially during days where you want to do something easy and not necessarily feel too challenged, making me wish there was more content and areas to explore. TOEM 2, perhaps?

*** A Nintendo Switch key provided by the publisher ***

The post TOEM Review: An Easy-Going Photo Adventure appeared first on COGconnected.

Inked: A Tale of Love is a short, casual game that presents a simple love story beautifully illustrated literally and figuratively. Featuring the life of a Nameless Hero and his dedication to Aiko, his lost love, we are brought to this imaginative world created by Adam, the comic book artist of the game. Through all trials and tribulations, we see the Nameless Hero’s love overcome all obstacles, eventually bringing together both protagonist and creator on an unforgettable journey that we get to actively take part in. Its puzzles are creative, the story message is clear, and although not necessarily life-changing, the narrative-driven game is a comforting experience that feels personal to one’s own life journey.

The Nameless Hero is a brave ronin who uses a brush as his weapon. As the name of the game suggests, Inked is set in a hand-drawn world with our hero wielding the ability to create shapes and move objects with the swish of his brush, and our narrator slash artist Adam is the one who creates obstacles and solutions in our warrior’s path. As it is narrative-driven, with Adam working with and against our hero, the game’s take on presenting an idea is very creative and meaningful, even if it may not seem like it at first. In the beginning, Inked presents a straightforward plot where the story feels like a throwaway for the game to have a reason to exist; however, towards the middle of the game, it seems more like the game exists because of the story.

Logical and Delightful Puzzles 

Armed with our brush and the ability to manipulate objects with it, our Nameless Hero is able to overcome the obstacles in front of him by figuring out how to utilize his abilities to create a path to move on. These obstacles come in many shapes and sizes, each with different rules where our hero may only be able to – to name a few of the actions – walk on them, pick up and rotate them, or push and pull them. The game will helpfully tell you what each shape is capable of doing, but it is up to you to know where to put them, how to time your placements efficiently, and how to utilize your knowledge to forge a path for your hero to cross on.

There is close to no hand-holding in this game, which one can argue Inked does not require too much instruction. Moving our Nameless Hero is not a hard task – there are only so many buttons to press, and the game introduces each unique puzzle slowly; as long as you don’t put the game down for too long, you won’t need a refresher at all. The real challenge is thinking about what objects to move and what to do next in order to move onto the next world. Though it starts off easy (which really boosts your confidence), your run starts to take longer, and the puzzles start becoming harder to figure out, but as with most games, you just have to press on and keep trying to find the right combination of moves.

Learning the controls is not a difficult task, but actually controlling our hero throughout the game has not been easy. There are moments when it is obvious what our protagonist needs to do and where to go; however, there are also moments where they aren’t able to cross a narrow walkway… only to realize you approached it from the wrong angle as our hero manages to run across with ease after you make that slight, unintentional adjustment. Even though the puzzles are an absolute delight to solve, for the most part, having that one mishap throwing off your timing can dampen your spirits a little.

With the artwork creating an incredible scene for us to enjoy in a limited amount of time, Inked really is an outstanding game just by visuals alone. Already impressive with the calm narration, swift animation, and simple backdrop not consisting of many different colors, the game is very calming and easy to navigate. The direction our hero has to take is obviously laid out for us, and the lack of loud colors helps create the ambiance of serenity that our protagonist displays. 

Uniquely hand-drawn and detailed, Inked is a love story set in a beautiful world that feels minimalistic and simple, yet full of life and stories to tell. A comforting tale that touches on deeper life meanings while introducing creative puzzles to solve, this short and sweet game demands just the right amount of attention from the player. Unpredictable movements and controls make the experience feel less smooth, but the linear paths make it easy to know where our hero needs to go. It is a rewarding couple of hours well spent for those looking for a soothing and wholesome adventure.

***Nintendo Switch code provided by the publisher***

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Shadowverse was initially a digital card game that was released on many platforms back in 2016, with its anime debut in 2020. Developed by Cygames and liked by many players when it first came out, Shadowverse utilizes beautiful anime artwork to illustrate its cards, with the gameplay not unlike the popular Hearthstone. In this newly released RPG, Shadowverse: Champions Battle takes the first released game and combines it with the anime, introducing a storyline to take us through the events of becoming the greatest Shadowverse player. By giving us a solid (albeit cheesy) plot and a handful of sidequest battles, Shadowverse is a sensational digital card game that is deserving of recognition with this new release. 

As with many anime protagonists, we play as a transfer student new to the world of Shadowverse. This means players aren’t expected to know the game inside out, and the introduction given is very welcoming to newcomers who have never heard of Shadowverse before. In the story you are introduced to Hiro, an energetic student with a strong passion for Shadowverse, and he and his friends willingly teach you the basics of the card game. After meeting more new friends and reviving the school’s Shadowverse club, you will quickly learn how to build decks, master different classes, and defeat your rivals to become the champion of Shadowverse. 

Shadowverse Showdown! 

There are three types of cards in the game – followers, amulets, and spells – and the goal is to bring your opponent’s defense down to zero. Followers attack the enemy, but most followers cannot act until the next turn unless they have a special ability. Amulets stay on the field and cannot be interacted with, but these amulets can summon cards or assist in other ways in the battle. Spells are relatively straightforward and can benefit yourself or damage your opponent in the same turn. 

At the start of each battle you draw three cards, and you are allowed to swap it once before the game begins. Each player starts out with a specific number of points, and all cards cost points to play. With each turn that passes, players will gain one extra point. On the top left corner of every card, there will be a number displayed which shows how many points it takes to put the card in the field. This means that higher-skilled cards, which require more points to play, cannot be used until the player has enough points to play them. 

With incredibly helpful tutorials and an intricate set of well-defined rules, Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle is surprisingly easy to learn. By no means is the game simple as there is a lot of material to cover, but the pacing and learning curve of the game is commendable. Starting as a blank slate and a basic set of cards, you are introduced to the different play styles in the game, granting you the opportunity to experience all the different classes and allow you to start building your own deck. Each win grants you some cards or even a deck code, and losing allows you to retry the battle with your current deck or to regroup and use a different class. The more you play with a certain class, the faster it will level up. 

Never-ending Challenges and Opponents to Defeat

There aren’t a lot of negative consequences in the game, it is pretty wholesome and an altogether relaxing experience. While it can feel slightly repetitive with the whole point of the game being playing Shadowverse, the variation and randomness in every battle makes it easier to enjoy and retry. Your opponents will never use the same moves in the same sequence ever again, and your cards will not always show up in the same order. There is no one way of winning, and it is always a fun challenge to be creative with your approach in how you want to defeat your opponent. All RPGs have an element of repetition and grinding involved, and Shadowverse is no different. The only downside is one card game may be longer than a random enemy encounter in other RPGs, so it feels more obvious. 

If you ever get tired of playing against NPCs and want a different sort of challenge, Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle supports online and local matches as long as your friends also have a copy of the game. This allows you to try rising to the top in real life with ranked matches, earning points for rewards (and personal clout). The rules of the game are the same, so while that may not help with the repetition, playing against real people can be more fun and unpredictable as NPCs tend to make the “perfect” call. If online and multiplayer matches are not your thing, there is enough content in the story mode to satisfy all your Shadowverse needs without requiring you to go online, ever. 

On the surface, Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle looks like a children’s card game with glorified animation, but it is actually more than that. With solid battles and structured rules, a large variety of cards, and a lot of NPCs specializing in different classes, every time you challenge someone it feels like a completely new experience. While following a cheesy and fun storyline in this RPG, the card game remains consistent and the characters predictable, making it easy to focus on strategizing and advancing to the top. Sure, there are moments where the repetition is evident, but there aren’t many RPGs that don’t require grinding. 

***A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

The post Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle Review – A Thrilling Showdown appeared first on COGconnected.

Volta-X is a strategy game with plenty of action and casual battles that involve cute animals, colorful robots, and lots of loadout combinations to try. It may not captivate players with a compelling storyline, but its eye-catching character design and simple-to-understand instructions make it a welcoming experience. Strangely, the game decided to make most of its playable content online, but if you stay connected then you’re going to have a good time. The real-time strategy of the game poses a good challenge, and players of all skill levels will feel engaged with the battle even if they may not be staying for the plot.

Our protagonist is you, a lucky individual with a hidden talent for piloting and battling Voltas, which is the name of the robots. The game starts off with you in a jail cell, for a reason I will keep a secret for now. In fact, if you’re curious to learn more about the events leading up to this opening scene, Volta-X is on the Webtoon app – a brilliant, quick-paced 14-chapter prologue that works well to set the stage. Of course today we are not reviewing the comic, but it is highly recommended to give it a read so you can fill in some gaps (or maybe find yourself enjoying the art style and wanting to play more). The premise is simple – battle it out in the Volta Grand Prix with the World Volta Association, become the champions of the league, and fight actual battles against kaiju and other odd calamities in the world. 

Without a doubt, the most commendable part of the game is undeniably the artwork and detail in the character and robot designs. It instantly drew me in, and works well as both a comic and a video game. A mix of chibi anthropomorphic protagonists and solid mechas with customizable shell colors, the art style makes Volta-X feel less intimidating and more welcoming to a broader audience. Design plays a huge part in whether someone picks up a game or not without knowing anything for the first time, and I think the team here hit it out of the park with its playful colours. 

Your Career as a Volta Pilot

The career mode begins with an easy tutorial that shows you the ins and outs of piloting a Volta. Very quickly you will realize that the controls aren’t hard, but thinking about what to do next is the challenge. Even though the first few battles are sure wins, it gets more difficult where you can lose again and again until you have the right weapons, upgrades, and strategy to fight back. Of course, it’s never that easy, but with a few upgrades and some strategizing, your team is bound to win eventually.

To pilot the Volta, you can have two other teammates inside the robot with you. Each character is placed in one part of the mecha, be it the arm, the head, or other weapons you’ve equipped. As the main player, you are in charge of assigning tasks to your teammates during battle, which include repairing damage, manning weapons and machinery, and ensuring everyone escapes to a safe place when an attack is being launched by the opponent. It is not a turn-based battle, so a lot of decisions need to be made on the fly while analyzing your enemy’s attacks and strategy. 

In between battles, you can customize your Volta and return to your home base to upgrade your parts and let your teammates rest. At base, you can build new rooms and assign your teammates to different stations by creating a schedule for them. For example, you can make someone upgrade weapons in one room during the daytime while someone else eats, and then assign them to take a nap in the afternoon while someone else continues upgrading parts for you. There are a variety of activities to do, and the main thing is ensuring everyone is involved as that increases your team’s happiness level. 

Keeping the Fun at Home

Although the game has many positive aspects to it, there are limitations as well – the most obvious being its online mode. A majority of the game is available only if you are connected online, and while there is an offline mode the actual storyline cannot be enjoyed there. This means if you choose to play this game while on the go, you won’t be able to advance in the story. The offline option isn’t bad though it can be quite repetitive, and maybe best suited for those who have already completed the game or are looking for a different challenge. But if you’re hoping to upgrade something or advance in the league while you’re on your bus ride home, you really can’t do that.

Despite this all, if you are able to play online or if you don’t mind a somewhat repetitive offline mode, Volta-X is a lot of fun. With real-time strategies challenging your every move and fairly interesting battles to keep you engaged, the level of thinking and fun involved is just enough to feel productive and entertaining. There isn’t much variety in terms of what you actually do, so it may not be the game to play for a prolonged period of time in one sitting. However, it is a nice strategy robot battle game, and with the capability to customize your bots with different loadouts, this helps with making each battle somewhat unique.

Volta-X has its enjoyable moments and provides a decent strategy experience with a fair level of difficulty. Since I like to take my Nintendo Switch with me when I head out, I do wish the offline mode had more content but nothing’s stopping me from playing this when I am home. Even though the story may not have been the wow factor, I can feel a lot of love was poured into the game, and this is evident in the smooth controls, colorful designs, and of course, the webcomic. Though battles can feel repetitive after a while, its intuitive controls make it easy to put down and pick back up the next day, and Volta-X is enjoyable enough for you to want to do so. 

*** A Nintendo Switch code was provided by the publisher***

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