Street Fighter 6 Year 2 has been announced, with a new Ultimate Pass to purchase. It includes 4 new fighters, their additional outfits and colors, 2 new stages, and 7700 drive tickets. With all these additions on the horizon, COGconnected thought it would be a good idea to look back on the triumph that has been Street Fighter 6 Year 1, and discuss the few ways Capcom can improve the game.

Maybe the important aspect of Street Fighter 6 is that it’s made Street Fighter really cool again. The Battle Hub is an online play space that has the feel of a high profile arcade. Player avatars can wader around and walk up to arcade machines to challenge opponents. It creates the feel of the Street Fighter II boom in the early 90s, where players would line up at arcade machines, to watch top players compete, or attempt to take a crack at them. Them whole game is dripping with a Japanese street style that’s very appealing in a post-Persona video game world.

The Pinnacle of 2D Fighting

The gameplay is still phenomenal. A new Modern combat system was introduced. It makes playing more accessible to newcomers, but the system is so effective that series veterans are enjoying using it. I still play with Classic Street Fighter controls in the Fighting Ground, which has the Arcade and Versus modes. But I use the new Modern style when playing in World Tour.

World Tour is my favorite new addition Street Fighter 6 has brought to the franchise. It’s basically like Street Fighter RPG, where players create an avatar, and play through a story that takes place in Metro City, and other smaller locations around the world. Every fighter in the game becomes a mentor in World Tour. The player gets experience points and levels up overall, but every mentor has their own set of levels for players to gain. As a player levels up with a mentor, they unlock that mentor’s move set. Every new character added to Street Fighter 6 is a mentor in World Tour, in addition to a playable fighter one would expect. New mentors also add additional quests and story content to World Tour, so every new fighter is a big deal.

4 DLC Fighters

The 4 fighters added over the course of Year 1 were Rashid, A.K.I., Ed, and Akuma. When Rashid dropped it was really interesting to play through World Tour and find out I had to play through some new quests in order to find him and begin his mentorship. All 4 fighters were thoughtful, quality additions. But story-wise, the only one fans were clamoring for was Akuma. Street Fighter 6’s core 18 fighters struck a great balance between classic fighters and new ones. The DLC fighters seem to be 3 deep cut past characters, mixed with one classic character.

The fighters coming to Street Fighter 6 in Year 2 are M. Bison, Terry Bogard, Mai Shiranui, and Elena. These are interesting choices. Bison was an inevitable addition, which would be obvious for anyone who’s played through the story in World Tour. I’m a little surprised he’s arriving so early, but very excited to play as him. He’s an essential franchise villain, and a classic charge fighter. He’s available right now, and his new design screams wanting to know what happened to create the change in appearance. When he was announced I was very curious to see how his presence affected Nayshall and JD. And after only a few days, Bison is already one of my favorite characters to use in the whole game.

Fatal Fury in Street Fighter?

Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui are both from the Fatal Fury franchise. It sounds like Street Fighter 6 will have a Fatal Fury/ King of Fighters crossover storyline, which is fun. But I don’t think it was the right choice this early in the game’s existence. Elena is a deeper cut character. She’s traditionally been very fun to play, with her capoeira fighting style. But she’s not super essential to the ongoing central storyline. All of these new characters could be implemented well, but 3 out of 4 are strange choices when there are so few classic fighters absent.

There are still some changes Capcom could implement to turn Street Fighter 6 from a great game, into a perfect game. The biggest problem is that its DLC is way too overpriced. The Year 2 Ultimate Pass is $50 USD. That’s almost the price of a full game! There are also Character Passes that are slightly cheaper than the Ultimate Pass. They just have the characters, and not the new levels. But right now there’s no way to upgrade from a Character Pass to an Ultimate Pass, without paying the full price of the Ultimate Pass. Hopefully this is a change Capcom makes soon.

Fight Money is Too Expensive

There are also lots of options peppered throughout the game to get players to buy Fight Money with real money, to get cosmetic avatar items. I don’t mind this in theory, but the cost of the items is outrageous. Earlier in the year, there were skins of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which I would have loved to have gotten. When I went to buy them it turned out that these avatar skins were close to $20 each, which is absolutely outrageous. $5 per turtle would have been begrudgingly acceptable, but at the $20 price point a lot of people won’t ever consider cosmetic Fight Money purchases.

Avatar creation could be much more robust. The tattoo options are especially slim. Over the course of World Tour, lots of clothing items are unlocked, but it’s still not enough to make a fighter conjured from your imagination. The WWE 2K games have a phenomenal character creation system that I wish the Street Fighter devs would look at. The game is flawless when it comes to creating move builds, but some obvious work needs to be done in the appearance department.

And finally, I’d like to add that by the end of this year there will still be only 26 fighters. The game launched with 18, and 4 fighters per year seems like Capcom’s releasing the bare minimum amount. 6 fighters a year would make a much bigger difference, and would make the $50 price tag hurt less. They do require more effort to implement than in past games, because of the way they’re incorporated into World Tour, but right now, the price still isn’t right.

In Conclusion

Street Fighter 6 is a phenomenal 2D fighting game. Maybe the best ever. But Capcom is taking an approach that makes it feel like a premium product that puts quality over quantity. Everything they’ve done is great, but if they could make the few changes outlined in this article, they’d maybe have something to top Street Fighter II as the greatest fighting game of all time. Year 2 is offering some great content, even if Capcom keeps things more of the same. Mortal Kombat 1 and Tekken 8 were also phenomenal fighting game releases in the past year, but Street Fighter 6 really is the best of the best. See you in the Battle Hub!

What were your favorite parts of Street Fighter 6 Year 1? What are you most looking forward to in Year 2? Let us know in the comments.

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June 2024 was a unique month for video game reviews. Almost all of the games covered in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024 are releases mentioned in the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in June 2024. All three of the games from The Good section of this article were hotly anticipated. And one of the games from The Bad section of this article might be remembered a little too fondly by franchise fans. Without further ado, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024:

The Good

Destiny 2: The Final Shape DLC

***click here for our review***

Bungie nailed it with Destiny 2: The Final Shape! It’s the narrative conclusion to all the events of all the expansions. The story is much more linear and focused than past expansions. But it’s a conclusion that ties up everything, and packs an epic emotional punch. With some of Destiny 2’s expansions being less than stellar, Destiny 2: The Final Shape greatly exceeded our reviewer’s expectations. They wrote “it’s perhaps the closest Destiny has come to feeling like vintage, Halo-era Bungie”, which is the highest praise an FPS can get.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC

***click here for our review***

There wasn’t any doubt in anyone’s mind that Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was going to be excellent, and an obvious entry on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024. It continues the quality of Elden Ring, but adds a new endgame area the size of two areas. The only critiques our reviewer had were that a few bosses were repeated, and to access the DLC, you basically have to have beaten the main game. They mentioned “to see everything plan in 60+ hours of playtime”. This is DLC the size of a full game, and a must play for all Souls fans.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

***click here for our review***

Shin Megami Tensei V is an excellent monster collecting JRPG. It brought open world exploration elements to the dark monster collecting franchise. On first glance, it seems almost perfect, but after beating the game, a lot of players found the story felt a little hollow. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance corrects this by adding a new plotline that adds fullness to the narrative that compliments the base game’s gameplay. Our reviewer wrote the new plotline protagonist “Yoko is a very engaging heroine in all her bitter glory”, so people who have beaten the original version for the Switch have a great reason to play this upgraded version. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance easily deserves to be on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from June 2024.

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July 2024 is such a cool month for video game releases. It seems like there’s something for everyone. There’s a few massive releases, several of which are new IPs. Similar to June 2024, our top spot is a major DLC drop. Our runner up this month is the long-awaited Earth Defense Force 6! For those who haven’t played an EDF game before, they’re dopey Japanese 3^rd person shooters that have more to do with spectacle than polish. Check out the trailer below. And without further ado, the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in July 2024 are:

5. Nintendo World Championships – July 18

The Nintendo World Championships took place in 1990. They were a series of events where players got a combined score in the NES games Super Mario Bros., Tetris, and Rad Racer. Finalists were given NES cartridges that had the games and scoring used in the competition. There are an estimated 350 of those cartridges in existence, and they are usually listed on eBay for around $25,000 USD. In honor of this most expensive and ridiculous NES game, Nintendo is releasing an official Nintendo World Championships game for the Switch! It will feature at least 13 different NES games, as opposed to the original 3. Expect lots of modern features, and an experience similar to the Wii U’s NES Remix games. Nintendo World Championships is kind of a goofy entry to the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in July 2024, but how could we not include it!?

4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak – July 5

The Trails series is almost caught up in North America! We’re only one game behind Japan now! The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is the first game in the new Daybreak series. It’s the start of a new story arc that takes place in the Calvard Republic. This JRPG has been out in Japan for 3 years! Trails fans have been waiting for its release in North America for a long time, which makes it an obvious entry in the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in July 2024. The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak will be available for everything expect Xbox.

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May 2024 looked like it was going to be a slower month for great game releases, but it ended up being phenomenal! Don’t sleep on Madison VR or Homeworld 3. The two games scored 90, and 95, respectively, but still didn’t make The Good section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from May 2024. And without further ado, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from May 2024:

The Good

Braid: Anniversary Edition

***click here for our review***

Braid is one of the most important video games of the indie boom during the PS3/ Xbox 360 generation. It’s a 2D puzzle platformer with rewind mechanics, visuals that emulate acrylic paintings, written poems, and some crazy plot revelations. Braid: Anniversary Edition is everything you’d expect from a modern remaster, but adds 40 new levels, and extensive developer commentaries. Our reviewer concluded “Newcomers will be astounded at the quality of what is often considered one of the greatest games of all time”. Even though it released a few weeks late, don’t sleep on this indie classic.

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

***click here for our review***

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is a very beloved Nintendo JRPG, that has been trapped on the GameCube until now. This new version doesn’t change much, but is actually a complete remake, with painstaking attention to detail. Our reviewer concluded “Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is an essential addition to the Nintendo Switch library”. A perfect remake of a classic game makes for easy inclusion to The Good section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from May 2024.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

***click here for our review***

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is the sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, which was the most gorgeous indie game, maybe ever. It’s a story driven third person action game with puzzle elements. Our reviewer found this sequel to be incredibly immersive. They wrote “Senua’s new journey is epic and harrowing, told through cinematic visuals. jaw-dropping graphics and gameplay mechanics that feel at one with the story”. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is the highest reviewed new title on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from May 2024.

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June 2024 is full of high profile remasters, ports, and DLC. The DLC releases this month are so important that they actually makes up our top two entries. Our runner-up this month is the PS5 port of V Rising, which has been a PC exclusive until now. It’s a vampire-themed open world CRPG. Now without further ado, here are The Top 5 Video Games Arriving in June 2024.

5. Monster Hunter Stories/ Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin – June 14

The Monster Hunter Stories games are turn-based JRPG spin-offs of the action-oriented mainline Monster Hunter games. The first game was a Nintendo 3DS exclusive, while the second has only been available for Switch and PC. On June 14 both games will be available on Switch, PC, and PS4! Most things Monster Hunter-related will find themselves on lists like The Top 5 Video Games Arriving in June 2024.

4. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – June 14

Shin Megami Tensei is the long-running JRPG series that Pokemon ripped off, and Persona spun-off of. Its fifth (or tenth depending which games you want to count) main series entry has been a Switch exclusive since its release in 2021. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a massive upgrade to Shin Megami Tensei V, including a new story path, and most former DLC included in the base game. Best of all, this upgraded version will be available for all consoles and PC!

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April 2024 ended up being another great month for video game releases. There were barely any games to choose as eligible for the Bad section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from April 2024. One of those games even scored a 72/100, which isn’t a bad score at all! There was also one surprise in our Good section, along with two of the highest profile releases of the month. Here are the Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from April 2024:

The Good

MLB The Show 24

***click here for our review***

MLB The Show 24 is an excellent baseball game. The visuals and gameplay continue to be a gold standard for all sports games. The only real critique our reviewer had was that there aren’t many changes from last year’s game. Despite this, our reviewer found “as a baseball nerd, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the fresh, little details peppered throughout MLB The Show 24”. It’s high score makes it an easy Good entry in COGconnected’s Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from April 2024.

Planet Zoo: Console Edition

***click here for our review***

Planet Zoo: Console Edition is the biggest surprise success on the Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from April 2024. It’s a zoo building simulation game that’s a spin-off of Planet Coaster. What makes Planet Zoo really unique is that it features heavy elements of environmental education. Assuming Planet Zoo follows Planet Coaster’s model, there will be lots more content on the way. Even in the game’s barest form, our reviewer concluded “There are quite a few zoo sims out there… Planet Zoo… is definitely the ultimate game in the genre”.

Stellar Blade

***click here for our review***

Stellar Blade delivered! The most anticipated game of April 2024, is also the highest rated game on the Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from April 2024. It’s a stylish action game with light RPG elements. The breadth of its combat options is really impressive, with players being able to fight in different ways depending on their preferences. Our reviewer concluded “with its captivating narrative and cinematic presentation, Stellar Blade is an essential exclusive.”.

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May 2024 is definitely the start of a slower period for major video game releases in 2024. There are a lot of really awesome indie titles though, including a sequel to the most triple A indie game ever! Our runner-up this month is Rainbow Cotton, a brand new entry in the age old Cotton shoot ‘em up series. Note there could have been a lot of games in this runner-up position. Anyways, without further ado, the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in May 2024 are:

5. MultiVersus – May 28

MultiVersus is a platform fighting game, which is a genre I didn’t know officially existed until writing this article. “Platform fighting game” is a name given to Super Smash Brothers clones. What makes MultiVersus unique is that it’s free-to-play, and all the characters are based on Warner Brothers franchises. These include DC, Looney Tunes, Hanna Barbara, Adventure Time, Game of Thrones, Gremlins, The Iron Giant, Rick and Morty, Steven Universe, and Tom and Jerry. Madness. MultiVersus will be available for everything except the Switch.

4. System Shock – May 21

The System Shock remake is finally coming to consoles in May! System Shock is a classic PC adventure game. The original version has had a remastered port for a long time, but Nightdive Studios’ full remake has been in development since 2015. System Shock is the first of two remakes in the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in May 2024. It will also be available for everything except the Switch.

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March 2024 ended up being kind of a strange month for video game reviews. There were lots of high profile releases, but nothing scored especially high or low. Everything seemed to side in the 65-85 range. But with some major releases, a score in the 80s can seem like a disappointment. There were a few disappointments in that sense: games that were good, but not truly great. With all that being said, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from March 2024:

The Good

Balatro

***click here for our review***

Balatro is the biggest surprise in COGconnected’s Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from March 2024. It’s the only game from the entire month that score in the 90s. It’s a deck-building game, based on Poker. The gameplay is incredibly addictive. Our reviewer’s only complaint is they wished the graphics were sharper. They admitted “I’m not much of a poker or deck builder player, but I find the combination of the two irresistible.” Balatro is a must-play for people who normally aren’t fans of card games.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

***click here for our review***

Dragon’s Dogma 2 scored a lot better than the original game in the series. The original game didn’t score great because of its below average performance. But over time, players discovered how fun Dragon’s Dogma’s gameplay was. Dragon’s Dogma 2 is more of an update than a sequel, and still makes some odd choices. But its open exploration, epic boss battles, and pawn systems are really fantastic. Our reviewer concluded “the rewards are rich, singular, and utterly immersive in ways that have rarely been seen in the genre”. Just be ready to embrace Dragon’s Dogma 2’s unique choices.

WWE 2K24

***click here for our review***

WWE 2K24 is another major sequel that played it safe, and scored in the 80s. We could have picked from several games for this third position on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from March 2024, but WWE 2K24 has a lot of people excited. It sticks to WWE 2K23’s formula, but updates the roster and adds an excellent WrestleMania-themed campaign. Our reviewer concluded “Each thoughtful tweak and refinement improves the gameplay to faithfully replicate the television experience”. Overall, WWE 2K24 is the best game in the long-running WWE 2K series yet.

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Every month in 2024 has been fantastic for video game releases. April also looks like it’s going to be fantastic, but it’s a little niche. All the major releases are from Japan! And that’s totally fine. April actually features a couple developers making major comebacks in the West. Our runner-up this month is TopSpin 2K25, which has got the be the biggest tennis game of 2024. Without further ado, the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in April 2024 are:

5. Braid: Anniversary Edition – April 30

The first game on the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in April 2024 is a remaster of a PS3 era classic. Braid is a 2D platformer that heavily uses rewind mechanics. It has an unconventional twist narrative that left a massive impact on players at the time. Braid is remembered as one of the major titles that kickstarted the modern indie development boom. Braid: Anniversary Edition will be available on all consoles and PC.

4. Megaton Musashi: Wired – April 25

Level 5 is back! The Japanese developer that brought us classic series like Ni No Kuni, Professor Layton, and Yo-Kai Watch hasn’t released a game in North America since 2018. That’s changing this month with Megaton: Musashi: Wired. This is an enhanced version of a mech action JRPG, originally released in Japan in 2021. Hopefully this is the beginning of a major Level 5 comeback! It will be available for everything except Xbox.

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Hi-Fi Rush is the latest game from legendary Capcom developer Shinji Mikami’s studio, Tango Gameworks. So far, they haven’t strayed far from Mikami’s Resident Evil roots, making the Evil Within games, and Ghostwire: Tokyo. But their newest game is a bright splash of family friendly color! Hi-Fi Rush merges third person action and music rhythm gameplay, with Disney-like visuals. The game was originally released for Xbox Series X/S and PC in January 2023, but as of March 2024, PlayStation 5 owners will also have access.

The game is about a guy named Chai, who volunteers for a cybernetic enhancement program, so he can become a rock star. The owner of the company doing the enhancements flippantly tosses Chai’s iPod into the machine doing his procedure. When Chai comes out, he’s labelled as a defect, and robot workers try to destroy him. His new procedure has also given him the ability to fight, and he fights to the beat of music that plays throughout the game. The story is nothing special, but it services the gameplay and world well enough.

Chai Sucks

But Chai is a very unlikeable protagonist. From the very beginning of the game, he’s presented as someone who would literally give their right arm to be famous. He interrupts people, cuts in lines, and has all the unlikeable qualities of a young teenager addicted to Jake Paul. From the other characters’ reactions to him, it’s obvious he’s supposed to be annoying. But I don’t get how this could add to anyone’s enjoyment of the game. He isn’t a good kind of annoying.

The easiest comparison to make when explaining Hi-Fi Rush’s gameplay is 2022’s Metal: Hellsinger. That game was a first-person shooter that gave bonuses when players timed attacks to the songs that were playing throughout the game. Hi-Fi Rush has the same concept, but with a third person action game. But the combat is so basic! The player strings together simple combos using a light attack that lasts one beat, and heavy attack that lasts two beats. There’s also a dodge that can be used to string combos, and special attacks that can be released with a full gauge, by pressing both joysticks down.

So Simple

I can tell the developers of Hi-Fi Rush intended for combat to be simple, with getting higher scores being the real challenge. Every battle gives the player a rating, Devil May Cry-style. But I didn’t enjoy the base gameplay enough to play for higher scores. The boss fights are a gameplay highlight though, because they add some pattern memorization and QuickTime events to the otherwise repetitive combat. I would have enjoyed Hi-Fi Rush a lot more if it was just a boss rush.

A music-based game had better have some awesome music, and, to be honest, I didn’t like the soundtrack much. The rock songs Hi-Fi Rush uses are like the tracks in the beginning stages of Rock Band. They are mostly simple rock songs, with a few electronic tracks with rock beats sprinkled in. Those electronic tracks by Prodigy and Nine Inch Nails were my favorites. Anyone hoping for some complex jazz or heavy metal won’t find it here. They are all songs with simple timing, written to appeal to mass audiences. One very cool part about the soundtrack though, is that Hi-Fi Rush uses licensed songs, but there is actually an alternative playlist created for streamers, using non-licensed music. These songs are similar to the licensed tracks, but it’s such a cool feature to have an entire second set of songs to play through.

Off-Time

For a timing-based action game, I felt like the whole game’s timing and pacing was off. The levels are very boring to go through. They have very straightforward layouts, and involve basic platforming. I didn’t like Chai’s jump. It’s like the jump in Ghosts ‘N Goblins, where there’s a set arc to the jump, and no adjusting once the character leaves the ground. And the scoring system is based on keeping simple beats. Chai’s strikes auto time to the beat, so you don’t really know how your strike is going to hit sometimes. It’s easy to hit the attack button while Chai is landing an attack, but sometimes his animations messed me up. I actually enjoyed dodging the enemies’ attacks, knowing they would land on beats, more than I did attacking on beats.

There’s a hideout that can be explored between levels. It acts as a hub world, and gets added to as the story progresses, and as the player completes in-game challenges. The player can spend gathered gears for new combos, special attacks, stat upgrades, etc. There’s also a wardrobe section, where players can customize Chai’s appearance. This adds a lot of replayability to Hi-Fi Rush, as does its multiple difficulty options, and scoring systems.

Visually Delightful

The clear high point of experiencing Hi-Fi Rush is its outstanding visual presentation. From a distance, the game looked like a vibrant, neon-drenched vibe game like Jet Grind Radio. But it’s actually made up of really beautiful cell-shaded models that look like something from a modern Disney cartoon. The color palette really pops, and the interface looks like it was ripped right out of Persona 5. The cutscene animation also has the jerky movement style that’s been popularized by the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse movie. The entire game is always stunning to look at. I should also mention that the voice acting is excellent throughout.

I thought I was going to love Hi-Fi Rush, but I didn’t. There is the kernel of something interesting here. Maybe if they used house music and had the player blending tracks during attacks it might have been more musically engaging. It’s a game that would have worked much better for me in arcade-y, short bursts, because playing through the levels was a slog. The gameplay is so simple that it actually might work well as an intro action game for someone new to the genre. But there are way better rhythm games, and way better third person action games out there. I know a lot of people love Hi-Fi Rush, so if you’re curious I would still give it a chance, but my experience was underwhelming.

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

The post Hi-Fi Rush (PS5) Review – Just Another Pretty Face appeared first on COGconnected.

Grandia HD Collection is a set of the first two games in the Grandia JRPG series, originally released as a collection for the Switch in 2019. PC owners got access to Grandia HD Collection later that year, but PlayStation 4 and Xbox One owners are finally getting their hands on it in 2024! COGconnected reviewed the Grandia HD Collection for the Switch when it was first released. While that review does a great job of summarizing the games, I have a little more love for them than that reviewer did. I’d also like to elaborate a bit more on what makes the battle system special. If you have that Switch collection, then this new release is exactly what you already have. There’s no new content. If you’re new to the Grandia series, and curious about these classic JRPGs, then read on, and I’ll tell you all about them.

Grandia was originally released for the Sega Saturn in Japan in 1997. It was ported to the original PlayStation a couple years later, and that’s the version we got in North America. Grandia II was originally released for the Sega Dreamcast in 2000, and this time, North America got it only a few months after Japan. There was a port for the PS2 a couple years later. The Grandia series had one more mainline game, Grandia III for the PS2, and a few spin-offs. But the Grandia HD Collection only has the first two games. I would have really loved if Grandia III was included, because it was also very good, even though most would consider it a step down from Grandia and Grandia II.

Game Arts Pedigree

The series was developed by Game Arts, who are mainly famous for the Lunar series. Grandia is an interesting juxtaposition to Lunar, because both series excel at different important aspects of JRPGs. Lunar is most beloved for its plot, despite its simple battle system. Grandia has a very simple plot, but has a wonderfully complex and immersive turn-based combat system.

Without giving away many plot details, the stories found in the Grandia HD Collection are much more light-hearted than the typical JRPG plot. For example, in Grandia, there is a background story about an evil general excavating ancient ruins for unknown reasons. But the real emphasis of the story is on the characters, and their hilarious interactions. The protagonist is Justin, who dreams of a life of adventure. So he leaves his hometown with his “sister” Sue, to climb a giant wall at “The End of the World”. The emphasis is put on the character interactions, their fun dialogue, and the joy of their adventure. Grandia is absent of a lot of the doom and gloom found in its best JRPG contemporaries. I love the classic JRPG “punch out God” plotline, but Grandia’s lighthearted nature is a breath of fresh air to the genre.

Next-Level Combat

Both games in the Grandia HD Collection share a similar battle system. It’s turn-based, similar to Square’s ATB system. A gauge in the corner shows all the combatants, who approach their turn at varying speeds. Attacks can halt combatant’s turns, so victory can really depend on the player’s ability to postpone their opponent’s turns as much as possible. There’s also a bit of onscreen movement, and certain attacks affect specific areas. Enemies can be seen in dungeons (a rarity for the time), and players can get preemptive strikes by initiating combat.

Every character’s skills and magic spells can be levelled up. Each weapon has skills attached to it. Stronger spells take more time to cast. A lot of the joy of playing the Grandia HD Collection for me was experimenting with skills, levelling them up, and earning new skills in turn. The only downside to the combat system is that there’s never really a time the player can just blast through battles. Every battle takes time, and some of the spell animations can get repetitive. But the player is always experimenting, and never bored. Combat is a real treat, and the universally accepted aspect of the Grandia games that shines brightest.

Damn Dirty Camera Zoom

The world and environments of both games in the Grandia HD Collection are vibrant, and a real treat to explore. But there’s one mechanic about exploring I really didn’t like, and that’s the zoomed-in camera. A lot of the dungeons can get pretty maze-like. And the camera is so close to the characters that it’s very easy to get lost. The developers were obviously aware of this, and included checkpoints where the player could zoom the camera out, to get a better look at things. Imagine playing a Metroidvania where you could only look at the area map at save points, and you get the idea. A minimap would have been a much more elegant solution. It’s something that might be a large hurdle for a lot of modern players, and the sole blemish on these excellent games.

Grandia’s graphics are 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds, while Grandia II’s graphics are fully 3D. Both games look really good, but the sprite work in the original Grandia is exceptional. The character designs are full of life, and really convey emotion well during cutscenes. I’m a sucker for great pixel graphics, and the PS1/ Sega Saturn time of 2D sprites might be the most aesthetically pleasing graphics era for me. There has been some criticism towards the remastering of the graphics in the Grandia HD Collection. The sprites in the original game were remastered with a softening. Some would have preferred a really crisp pixel presentation. I actually really like the soft look, but a graphics option could have been a choice that would have pleased everyone.

Solid Remaster

The remaster quality of the Grandia HD Collection is very good, but is also very bare bones. The only options are to invert the camera controls, and choose between English and Japanese voices. The voiceacting is a real treat though, and is present for a large portion of the games. The pacing of these scenes is a little awkward and slow. Some might complain about the voiceacting as bad, but it has a retro charm, similar to the voiceacting in the early Resident Evil games. I really enjoyed it. The music is a wonderful blend of whimsical adventure/ fantasy melodies, and traditional heavy metal guitar. It makes for a fun Japanese retro flavor. Fans of 80s/ 90s JRPGs and anime will know the exact sound I’m referring to.

Both games are now presented in a widescreen aspect ratio, but there’s an effect on the anime cutscenes I didn’t like. Because the anime footage was filmed in a fullscreen format, and because the rest of the game was converted to widescreen, the decision was made to have blurred letterboxing on the edges of the picture, instead of just black bars. So instead of hiding the aspect ratio difference, the videos all draw attention to this weird effect. It’s ultimately not a big deal, but it’s a strange choice that it wasn’t an optional effect.

In Conclusion

All of my complaints about the Grandia HD Collection are nitpicks. These are two great, classic JRPGs, with a lighthearted tone, and unique combat system that makes them stand out amongst their contemporaries. They’re both long JRPGs, and almost cost half the price of a new release. The Grandia HD Collection is an excellent value for anyone who’s a fan of the genre. And it’s a great entry point for anyone curious about retro JRPGs.

***PS4 code provided by the publisher***

The post Grandia HD Collection Review – Retro JRPG Essentials appeared first on COGconnected.

Contra is one of those classic series that modern developers just can’t seem to get right. The only sequels worth playing since the 16-bit generation have been Contra: Shattered Soldier for the PlayStation 2, and Contra 4 for the Nintendo DS. Both of those titles followed the original Contra’s 2D run and gun formula without any major changes. WayForward, who developed Contra 4, just decided to not bother with any reinvention whatsoever and has remade the original Contra arcade game from 1987 in the form of Contra: Operation Galuga.

When I reviewed Contra: Rogue Corps a few years ago, I wrote that it didn’t feel like a Contra game. The player wasn’t dropped straight into the action with a friend right away. Unlike that game, Contra: Operation Galuga offers everything a Contra fan could hope for. For those who have never played a Contra game, you play as a soldier with an unlimited amount of ammo. You run from left to right, jumping, shooting everything, and eventually fighting some outlandish alien bosses. There are power-ups that float through the air, which change your ammo. I’m a big fan of spread bullets and homing missiles. If you get a power-up that matches the one you’re already using, your damage output increases. Pretty simple, pretty difficult, and pretty awesome.

Subtle Changes

Contra: Operation Galuga has quite a few subtle tweaks to the original’s classic gameplay. Bill and Lance both have a double jump and a forward dash. Two weapons can be equipped and switched between. There’s also an ability to hold L2 to overload a weapon for a power-up, such as temporary invincibility (great for getting rid of the weapons that aren’t your favorites). Maybe best of all, there are new characters with their own unique abilities, such as grappling and hovering. And there are some new levels, several of which replace the weird 3D shooting stages from the original game. Couch co-op remains as fun as ever, but there was a real missed opportunity to include online co-op in this modernization of a classic game.

There are lots of options to tweak your gameplay experience in Contra: Operation Galuga. There are the obvious difficulty choices, but within each, players can choose between a health meter or one-hit kills. They can also choose between 360-degree aiming and classic 8-directional aiming. Every playthrough gives the player credits, even in death. Those credits can be spent at the Perk Shop. Some perks are character-specific powers, such as Bill’s invulnerable dash, or Lance’s higher double jump. Some perks apply to everyone, such as the ability to keep your weapons after losing a life. Only two perks can be equipped at a time though. It was very fun to unlock them all and to try different loadouts.

Multiple Modes

If you want the classic Contra experience with no frills, then play Contra: Operation Galuga on Arcade Mode. But the game also has a story mode with fully voiced cutscenes and some in-level character interactions. The story wasn’t anything spectacular, but I appreciated its inclusion. And I really loved that the developers made it optional. There’s also a challenge mode, which adds specific goals to level playthroughs, such as speed run targets.

I’m not a big fan of Contra: Operation Galuga’s visuals. The graphics are 3D, but on a 2D plane. Contra: Operation Galuga looks like a PS3-era PSN game. It would have been cool to see a pixel graphics version of this newer title, similar to something like Contra III. But this is just my personal preference. The recent Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has similar visuals, and while they have gotten lots of hate, they’ve also gotten lots of love. The music is excellent though, and evokes feelings of 80s action movies.

In Conclusion

I loved Contra: Operation Galuga. The run-and-gun gameplay is perfect, and all the new levels, characters, modes, and gameplay additions add lots of depth. I just wish there were some options with the graphics. And I wish there was online co-op in addition to the classic couch co-op. But what’s here is great. I hope WayForward makes a Contra: Operation Galuga sequel, or maybe gives Super C similar treatment in the near future.

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

The post Contra: Operation Galuga Review – Just Call It Contra Remake appeared first on COGconnected.

Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties might be the worst video game I’ve ever played. It’s a cult classic often spoken of in contention for the worst video game of all time. And it’s so bad that it barely qualifies as a video game. The infamy of Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties rose drastically after it was covered by the Angry Video Game Nerd in 2009. The video is hilarious, and had many people wanting to play it just to see how bad it really was.

Unfortunately, it was released for the 3DO, an expensive video game console that wasn’t owned by many people. Even if someone could get their hands on a 3DO, physical copies of Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties cost hundreds of dollars due to its growing infamy. Limited Run has been teasing a remaster of Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties for several years. It turned out that remastering it was a larger task than they originally thought. But in 2024, Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties is available for every console, and PC.

“Full Motion Video”

Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties is an “FMV” game, but it only contains one full motion video. There’s an intro with actress Jeanne Basone (standing in front of a very lazily hung sheet) telling the player the basics of the gameplay. The game itself is a choose your own adventure story made up of still photographs and narration. There are maybe 10 choices the player has to make before the end of the story. It took me maybe 2 hours to see everything, and maybe 3 hours to get the platinum trophy.

The story is about a young guy, and young woman who are being nagged by their respective parents to get married. They meet in a parking lot one morning, while the guy is on his way to a plumbing job, and the woman is on her way to a job interview. She’s hit on by her potential future employer, and a chase ensues. That’s it. It’s incredibly mundane and awful, and they whole thing could’ve taken less than a day to photograph. I submitted video projects in middle school that were equally as technically proficient, and far more interesting.

Loving Remaster

Even though the game itself is terrible, the remaster is extremely lovingly put together. Limited Run painstakingly restored all the images. They added a new intro before the game, recreating the original with Jeanne Basone (including a lazily hung background sheet). Chapter fast forwards are included, so players can skip to the choices in the game, which makes it easy to see every path without having to repeat anything. There’s a short first person dungeon section called “Plumb the Depths” that can be explored to find the pieces of a comprehensive gallery. The gallery includes all the game’s images, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, trailers, a Good Bad Flicks video, and a making of documentary.

The making of documentary covers the challenges of remastering Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties. Jeanne Basone talks about making the original game. The Angry Video Game Nerd discusses covering the game, and its subsequent rise to infamy. It’s an awesome watch. My only complaint is that there’s no “play all” function when all the videos are unlocked. And after a video clip from the documentary is played, the game kicks the player back to the main menu, instead of staying in the gallery chapter menu. I really hope this gets patched; it was incredibly annoying.

Somehow Worth It

Plumber’s Don’t Wear Ties might actually be the worst video game ever. But it’s still worth checking out to laugh at. It’s also an important part of videogame history, and shows how North American developers were banging out garbage in hopes of blind purchases, and rental store purchases. This reason almost caused a market crash in the 1990s, just like the video game market crash of the 1980s, but Japanese consoles, and a handful of North American PC developers kept the market afloat. It’s hard to score Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties: Definitive Edition. But if you’re at all curious, I urge you to buy it to support Limited Run Games, and video game preservation in general. It’s a must play for any fans of media that’s “so bad it’s hilarious”. I loved experiencing this awful game so much that I bought a physical copy.

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

The post Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties: Definitive Edition Review – Worst Ever appeared first on COGconnected.

February was a great month for video game releases. There were several games that scored around the 90 mark that didn’t make The Good section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from February 2024. Our Bad section even has a game that scored 65, which isn’t bad at all. There were also a couple of surprise hits, which you can read about in our Good section. Without further ado, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from February 2024:

The Good

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

***click here for our review***

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a Western action RPG from the developers of Life Is Strange and Vampyr. It’s a story about ghost hunters in the late 1600s. The narrative is really strong, and features lots of difficult decisions for the player to make. Our reviewer criticized “The game starts off strong, but a bit of the allure wears off over time as you peek behind the curtains of the various systems”. But, ultimately, the narrative and aesthetics overpowered any immersion breaking the gameplay offered. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is one of the surprise hits on our The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from February 2024.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

***click here for our review***

Square-Enix nailed it with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. It’s an improvement over its predecessor in almost every way. The open world is a joy to explore, and is packed with odd sidequests. The combat is tweaked to make every character fun to use. And the narrative is as emotional and gripping as one could hope. Our reviewer concluded “The game is less than perfect, but not by much. If you’ve been hotly anticipating this release, you were right to do so.” Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is an action JRPG for the ages!

Helldivers 2

***click here for our review***

Helldivers 2 is the other surprise mega hit on our The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from February 2024. It’s a fantastic shooter that takes place 100 years after the original. It’s extremely difficult, and players will likely have the most fun playing with other experienced teammates. There have been lots of server issues, and it can be difficult getting in a game right now. But as our reviewer noted “when it works, it is tremendous”. The gameplay loop is near perfect.

The post The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from February 2024 appeared first on COGconnected.

February had some great video games, including a few early Game of the Year contenders. But March is the first month of 2024 that’s packed full of major releases. Our two runners-up this month would have likely made a COGconnected Top 5 Video Games Arriving in… list any other month. Our first runner-up is Unicorn Overlord, a tactical JRPG from Vanillaware. And our second is the baseball game MLB the Show 24. Without further ado, here are the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in March 2024:

5. Rise of the Ronin – March 22

Rise of the Ronin is the newest third person action game from Team Ninja. It features an open world and lots of RPG elements, including a player-created main character. The setting is Japan the end of the Edo period. Lots of prerelease footage shows glider and grappling hook traversal. Rise of the Ronin will also feature multiplayer co-op. This first entry on our Top 5 Video Games Arriving in March 2024 is a PS5 exclusive.

4. South Park: Snow Day! – March 26

South Park: Snow Day! is a third person action game, that looks like an arena shooter. It’s intended to be played as 4 person co-op, but does feature a single player campaign with AI controlled team members. Despite its 3D visuals, South Park: Snow Day! is actually a story sequel to Stick of Truth and The Fractured but Whole, continuing the saga of the new kid. South Park: Snow Day! will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.

The post Top 5 Video Games Arriving in March 2024 appeared first on COGconnected.

January was a great start to the year! The three biggest releases all delivered on their promise. It was actually struggle to find games that scored low enough to be in The Bad section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024. We ended up adding one game that will have a review published in January, but won’t actually come out until February 1. Here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024:

The Good

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

***click here for our review***

I always tell people who want to get into the Like a Dragon games that they should play them in release order. Don’t start with Yakuza 0, like so many people suggest. A large reason for that is the gameplay evolves, and gets better with every game. The developers often add new major mechanics, without perfecting the old ones. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the first game in the series where everything just feels perfect. It’s a continuation of the turn-based JRPG battles found in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and the new Hawaii setting is the series’ best yet. Our reviewer concluded “With its touching yet hilarious story and intricate, deep combat system, we already have a game of the year contender”. Yakuza fans rejoice!

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

***click here for our review***

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a contender for Metroidvania with the best combat ever. There’s a smooth flow to all the main character’s moves that feels wonderful to control. The game’s also a fantastic reinvention of a classic IP, which makes it an easy contender for placement in The Good section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024. Our reviewer noted that “it’s a game for both newcomers and Metroidvania veterans”, which will hopefully widen the Prince of Persia and Metroidvania fan bases.

Tekken 8

***click here for our review***

Tekken 8 totally delivered! Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1 nailed their current gen releases, and now Tekken has done the same. It’s the highest rated game on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024. Its combat is perfect, the roster is huge, and there’s a ton of content. The only real complaint is that Tekken 8’s continuing story makes it an odd single player entry point for new fans, but the cinematic story mode is a sight to behold! Our reviewer concluded that “Tekken 8’s focus on aggressive gameplay helps to make this the best entry in the franchise”. We can’t wait to see how this game develops with added content over the coming years.

The post The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from January 2024 appeared first on COGconnected.

January ended up smashing us in the face with the massive releases Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Tekken 8. February continues that momentum with lots of major games. Three of the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in February 2024 are coming out on February 2! And a different three are all contenders of biggest release of 2024. Our runner up this month is Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, which is a huge deal for retro players. Without further ado, here are the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in February 2024:

5. Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash – February 2

Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash is Bandai Namco’s latest 3D fighter based on a Shonen anime. This battle Shonen is incredibly popular so the game is going to have lots of excited fans. Bandai Namco’s track record with these games has been a bit hit and miss. Some, like the Naruto: Ninja Storm games, are excellent, whereas others, like the Demon Slayer game, need work. Hopefully Jujutsu Kaisen’s cast, and season 1 story, provide enough breadth for Cursed Clash to shine. Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash will be available for all consoles and PC.

4. Skull and Bones – February 16

Skull and Bones is a brand new pirate IP from Ubisoft. It’s a third person open world action game. The focus of combat is naval battles inspired by Assassin’s Creed IV. Skull and Bones actually began as an Assassin’s Creed IV MMO spin-off, before becoming its own game. Online multiplayer will be a core gameplay component. It’s rare that a new IP ends gets on lists like the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in February 2024, but Ubisoft is a major developer. Skull and Bones will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC

The post Top 5 Video Games Arriving in February 2024 appeared first on COGconnected.

Granblue Fantasy is a Japanese-only mobile JRPG from 2014. North America has seen an anime adaptation and a fighting game spin-off. Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an action JRPG sequel that has been in development since 2016. It was started by PlatinumGames, but they left the project in 2019. The game was completed by Cygames, who developed the original Granblue Fantasy.

The story is a full-on sequel to the events of the original Granblue Fantasy, which is a real shame because there’s no official North American version of that game. And even if there was an official release, it’s still a mobile game, which is a major turn-off for most. Granblue Fantasy: Relink starts with a lot of characters already on an adventure. Maybe there was a plot that wrapped up in Granblue Fantasy, but I hated starting Granblue Fantasy: Relink without being able to play the original. I always felt like I was missing important information about the characters and world. There is an in-game glossary of terms, but that wasn’t enough.

Basic JRPG Gameplay

The gameplay is pretty basic action JRPG stuff. The combat is heavily inspired by the Tales and Ys series. The player attacks with square and triangle. There are jump, block, and dodge buttons. Holding R1 opens a menu with special skills mapped to the face buttons. All of the other characters are AI-controlled. It often feels like there’s a lot going on, with the player only being a small piece of the action.

This makes a lot more sense knowing there is multiplayer combat that eventually unlocks. Granblue Fantasy: Relink keeps things pretty simple for a single player, but it all makes much more sense when every party member is controlled by someone different. The main story is single-player only though. There are over 100 online multiplayer co-op sidequests. While I applaud the developers for keeping a single-player campaign central to the game, the combat works best as multiplayer co-op.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink has the annoying quality of over-explaining basic actions that are pretty standard in most action games, but also under-explaining mechanics and lore unique to the game. I don’t need a game to tell me what a combo attack is, but I do need it to tell me why it says “Arts III” over my character’s head. There are little bits of the game that need polishing. For example, in the inventory menu, the player can see the effects of accessories they can equip, but those explanations aren’t viewable in the Gear menu where players actually equip the accessories. Another example is any time there’s a mid-battle tutorial or cutscene, the target lock-on disengages, which was insanely frustrating at first.

Nobuo Uematsu

The voice-acting sounds like it’s straight out of an anime. I’m not a fan of a lot of modern anime English language voice-acting/ direction. I find the actors often sound like they weren’t recorded together. Every line of dialogue sounds very isolated. There’s nothing super egregious in Granblue Fantasy: Relink, but if I wasn’t reviewing the game, I would have turned on Japanese audio pretty quickly. The score, on the other hand, is fantastic. One of Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s composers is Final Fantasy series legend Nobuo Uematsu. There’s no music in Granblue Fantasy: Relink as strong as his classic work, but the score breathes a majestic and whimsical JRPG life into the game.

The art direction by Final Fantasy series veteran Hideo Minaba is also excellent. The visuals captured me from the beginning with blue skies full of interesting cloud formations. Character designs have a generic modern anime design that turned me off at first glance, but ended up working well in the final game. The in-game character models have an anime cell-shaded aesthetic, which captures the anime designs perfectly. The colors throughout Granblue Fantasy: Relink are very bright and vibrant. Lots of backgrounds are textured to look like acrylic paintings. The visuals were definitely the aspect of Granblue Fantasy: Relink that set it above its contemporaries.

In Conclusion

Granblue Fantasy: Relink does a few things very well. Its art direction and music are gorgeous. The online multiplayer co-op combat gameplay works really well. But as a single-player action JRPG, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is mostly quite generic. It’s also the story sequel to a game not released in North America, which really soured my ability to get invested in the story or characters. Action JRPG fans looking for more games in the genre might enjoy Granblue Fantasy: Relink, but there are too many other better options for non-diehard JRPG fans to recommend the game.

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

The post Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review – Not as Much Fun for One appeared first on COGconnected.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a collection of games 4-6 in the Ace Attorney visual novels series. The games are Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice. All three were originally released for the Nintendo DS. Modern console owners have had access to the first three games in the form of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy for a few years. We’ve also had access to the two latest games in the series The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy finally collects the missing middle portion of the series, and is the best Ace Attorney collection Capcom has released because of its excellent collection of extras.

The story of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy takes place 7 years after the conclusion of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. The new Protagonist, Apollo Justice, is Phoenix Wright’s apprentice. Each game in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy somewhat stands on its own, and in the same sense each episode has a contained plot. But each game builds on the characters and events of the prior games. While they can technically be played in any order, the Ace Attorney games are best played in chronological order. Phoenix Wright has evolved a lot as a character, and Apollo is very similar to Phoenix at the start of the series (which is a great example of how these games play things too safely).

Episodic Visual Novels

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a visual novel. Each of the three games has 4-6 episodes, which contain an investigation and trial. Most chapters begin with a cutscene of a crime taking place. Then there’s an investigation section where Apollo or Phoenix goes to different locations. Some areas have point-and-click room searches, where the player is looking for bits of physical evidence. The player also spends time talking to people and gathering information about the crime.

After the player gathers all their evidence, they play through a trial. The courtroom sequences involve presenting correct evidence and finding errors in witness testimony. It’s a very fun gameplay loop that hasn’t changed much since the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney game. But that’s partially forgivable because the formula was so perfect from day one. My only major complaint about Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is that there’s a missed opportunity for some element of mystery in the narrative. It’s usually pretty obvious who’s good and evil based on character design alone. And trials often play out as our heroes defending the innocent when they look very guilty. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a much more charming courtroom comedy/ drama than procedural mystery. Some mystery would have been an easy way to shake up the formula.

A Complete Package

There are tons of upgrades and extras in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy, on top of the HD visuals. All preorder DLC from the original DS games is included. This includes some selectable character costumes, and bonus episodes for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice. Considering each game is only 4-5 episodes long, these extra episodes add a lot of value to the package.

In the original DS games, each chapter had to be completed to unlock the following chapter. All episodes are selectable from the beginning in Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy. Although they really should be played in order, this is a nice bonus for anyone who’s already beaten the original games. There’s also an autoplay story mode, where players can just watch the games unfold. All of the gameplay will succeed automatically. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney now has the backlog feature found in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice. There are English and Japanese voice language options (as well as 5 other languages).

Archival Extras

On top of that, there’s also a menu section called the Museum, which contains tons of archival extras. Orchestra Hall is like a jukebox. Full soundtracks from all three games and performances from Ace Attorney series orchestral concerts can be listened to. There are 175 tracks in total. Art Library is a gallery of production artwork for all three games. All the anime cutscenes are watchable and don’t need to be unlocked. There’s also a short prologue anime for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice. Animation Studio was a very unexpected and interesting addition. Players can take images, and dialogue from the games to create their own animated sequences. This reminded me a lot of early 90s PC animation programs. The options are limited, but it’s such a unique bonus for a collection of remastered games. There are also trophies or “Accolades” built into the Switch version.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a fantastic set of 3 Nintendo DS classics. This package contains all of the modernizations and features one could hope for in a collection of older games. But it goes above and beyond with an extensive Museum of archival extras, and an Animation Studio feature. My only complaint is that this second trilogy of Ace Attorney games follows the formula of the original trilogy exactly. If you’re already a fan of the Ace Attorney games this collection is a must-own.

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

The post Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy Review – If It Ain’t Broke… appeared first on COGconnected.

December 2023 was a pretty slow month for video game releases. But that was also expected. There was a shock GOTY contender in December though. And at the very end of November, there were games we had to include in the Good and Bad sections of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from December 2023. Be sure to check out all of the games from our Good section this month, as they scored very high. Without further ado, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from December 2023:

The Good

Asgard’s Wrath 2

***click here for our review***

Asgard’s Wrath 2 is that late GOTY entry I was writing about in the intro to The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from December 2023. It’s a VR RPG designed as a system seller for the Meta Quest 3. It really feels like a game built for VR, and combat is much better for it. Boss fights are an epic highlight. Our reviewer concluded “It’s hands down VR’s Game of the Year”. It’s also likely VR’s best game ever.

The Last Faith

***click here for our review***

The Last Faith is a gorgeous pixel graphics Metroidvania. It has a very dark tone and fantasy world. The monster designs are creative. The gameplay challenge is high, with The Last Faith taking lots of inspiration from Dark Souls. It’s one of the few indie games heavily nominated throughout COGconnected’s GOTY awards, and an easy contender for The Good section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from December 2023. Our reviewer even concluded “if you’ve never played a Soulslike before, this is a good place to start”. All Metroidvania fans should take notice too, especially those who lean towards the “vania” side of things.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R

***click here for our review***

Star Ocean: The Second Story was originally released for the PS1, and it’s easily considered the best game in the Star Ocean series. Every game in the franchise has been available on modern consoles, except Star Ocean: The Second Story. The tail end of 2023 finally got the remake of its dreams with Star Ocean: The Second Story R. There are tons of quality of life improvements that make Star Ocean: The Second Story R a contender for best action JRPG ever. Our reviewer found “this remake proves that old games can become new and better than ever”. Don’t write off the past, kids!

The post The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from December 2023 appeared first on COGconnected.

2023 was such a phenomenal year for video game releases. And 2024 seems like it’s going to continue all of the positive moves the industry has made. January isn’t typically the best month for game releases. Everyone’s broke from Christmas, and publishers often wait until February until they make any moves. But there are some great games getting released, including two monster titles at the end of the month. Our January runner-up is the Last of Us Part II Remake. The Last of Us is a major franchise, but this title is a runner-up because PS5 owners already have access to the PS4 version of The Last of Us Part II. The upgrades are likely going to be subtle, as was the case with the original Last of Us Remake. Without further ado, The Top 5 Video Games Arriving in January 2024 are:

5. Another Code: Recollection – January 19

The Top 5 Video Games Arriving in January 2024 is starting with a collection of cult point-and-click games. Another Code: Recollection consists of Another Code: Two Memories (originally for the DS) and Another Code: R – A Journey into Lost Memories (originally for the Wii). Both games have lots of puzzles and bizarre mystery narratives. This collection is a special treat for North American fans of Another Code: Two Memories, because Another Code: R hasn’t been released in North America before. Another Code Recollection is a Switch exclusive.

4. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy – January 25

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is the last major chunk of the Ace Attorney games missing on modern consoles. We have the original Phoenix Wright Trilogy, and the newer Great Ace Attorney Chronicles collection already. But in the middle of those two collections, is a trilogy of visual novels with a different protagonist, Apollo Justice. This collection will be a must play for all Ace Attorney fans. Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy will be available for PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC.

The post Top 5 Video Games Arriving in January 2024 appeared first on COGconnected.

Happy end of 2023 everyone! It’s time for the video game community to sum up our thoughts about what the best video games of the year were. All the COG staff got together, and had a massive discussion, and a massive vote. The following is a list of the top 10 nominees for Best Video Game Performance of 2023. There were some incredible triple-A games this year. With the advent of motion capture, acting in video games has become so much more than voice-over. Some of these nominees are seasoned voiceover veterans, some of them are newcomers you may have never heard of, and a few are even Hollywood names that have dipped their feet in the video game world. COGconnected’s nominees for, and winner of, Best Performance are:

10. Wes Lacy (Eryk – The Last Faith)

After that intro about motion capture, and transcending voice over, we begin our Best Performance list with a 2D indie title! The Last Faith is a dark, and richly imaginative Metroidvania. Eryk is the protagonist, seeking the cure for a disease that’s slowly turning him into a monster. Wes Lacy has a resume that includes lots of voiceover work, but nothing of note in the video game world. Hopefully his gritty delivery as Eryk will lead him to more excellent performances in video games.

9. Matt Mercer (Minsc – Baldur’s Gate 3)

The COG staff’s second most beloved companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 was the dopey warrior Minsc. Even though he has a vaguely Russian accent, you’ll probably hear the recognizable voice of Matt Mercer poking through. He’s voiced tons of anime characters, like Levi from Attack On Titan, and tons of video game characters, like Leon from Resident Evil. He’s also the Dungeon Master for the popular Dungeons & Dragons webseries critical role. The combination of great character and great acting makes for an easy nominee for Best Performance.

8. Ralph Ineson (Cid – Final Fantasy XVI)

Even if you don’t know Ralph Ineson by name, you’ll instantly recognize his deep, gravely voice if you hear it. He’s a rising Hollywood character actor, with major roles in films like The VVitch, and The Green Knight. Final Fantasy XVI had one of the best video game narratives this year, and its characters and performances were a huge part of that. Cid (in this game) is the leader of a resistance group that wants to shake up the balance of power in his world, and create a better quality of life for the less fortunate. It’s a memorable role, and a memorable performance.

7. David Harewood (Mr. Door – Alan Wake 2)

Alan Wake 2 is such a bizarre game, and Mr. Door was a fantastic part of that bizarreness. He’s an interdimensional being that can travel between alternate worlds. He leads the title character on his journey through talk show FMV sequences. David Harewood is a British TV and film actor that comic fans might recognize as Martian Manhunter in the Arrowverse TV series. He hasn’t done much video game work, but maybe this memorable role in Alan Wake 2 will lead to more.

6. Neil Newbon (Baldur’s Gate 3 – Final Fantasy XVI)

The Best Performance of Baldur’s Gate 3 is Asterion. He’s a flamboyant character, but takes on the classic thief role. Neil Newbon’s performance really brings Astarion to life. He’s a British actor who’s mostly known for television. Strangely, Newbon got his start in video games through motion capture, but he’s shining brightly now as a voice actor. Look out for more of his performances in the future, as his video game resume is rapidly growing.

5. Takaya Kuroda (Kazuma Kiryu – Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name)

Takeya Kuroda has been the Japanese voice of Yakuza series protagonist Kazuma Kiryu since its PS2 days. The Yakuza and Like a Dragon games (as they’re now known) have always had incredible narratives and performances. I’m going to cheat a bit. This was my vote for Best Performance of 2023. The video below shows a scene from late in Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, where Kiryu sees a video message from some kids at the orphanage he used to run. So minor spoilers, but this scene moved me to tears. It’s got a lot of built-up narrative behind it, but maybe this will convince someone to check out the Like a Dragon series for nothing other than its incredible storytelling and performances.

4. Matthew Porretta (Alan Wake – Alan Wake 2)

Alan Wake 2 exceeded expectations, because of its excellent, bizarre narrative. The aspect that held everything together was the performance of Matthew Porretta as the title character and protagonist. On top of the cinematic third person gameplay, there were also a lot of FMV sequences, where the acting can’t be polished by animation. Matthew Porretta has done some TV and film acting, most notably as Will Scarlet O’Hara in Robin Hood: Men In Tights, but his most notable career performance has been as Alan Wake. Hopefully the success of Alan Wake 2 leads Porretta to bigger roles.

3. Idris Elba (Solomon Reed – Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty)

Cyberpunk 2077 might still be full of too many bugs for many to enjoy, but CD Projekt RED has been hacking at it, and the game has turned into a modern triple A must-play. Idris Elba lent his performance to the Phantom Liberty DLC, which is essentially a narrative sequel to the base game. Solomon Reed, his character, is a sleeper agent that the player isn’t sure they can trust. Elba’s performance was excellent, but he also added some very needed high profile star power to the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, and our Best Performance nominations.

2. Yuri Lowenthal (Peter Parker – Spider-Man 2)

Insomniac’s Spider-Man games are better movies than any of the Spider-Man movies (although I have a soft spot for the Sam Raimi trilogy). The performances by all the actor’s involved with the cinematic narrative are excellent. But if we had to choose one from Spider-Man 2 to shine, it’s gotta be the OG himself, Peter Parker. Yuri Lowenthal is another veteran voice actor, who’s done tons of animation and video games. He played Sasuke in Naruto, and Luka in Bayonetta. Peter Parker is probably his greatest starring role in a video game, and that’s saying something considering his resume includes hundreds of projects.

1. Ben Starr (Clive Rosfield – Final Fantasy XVI)

The Best Performance of 2023 is Ben Starr as Clive Rosfield, the protagonist of Final Fantasy XVI. Final Fantasy XVI has a long narrative, with lots of memorable characters, and lots of fantastic performances. Clive is the glue at the center of the narrative, and has the most screen time of any character. It’s a testament to the quality of the game that it had multiple Best Performance nominees, and Ben Starr still got the award. Starr is a British actor, mostly known for his TV roles in Jamestown and Dickensian. Clive is his first videogame role, so hopefully we’ll see him blowing us away with acting in lots of game in the future.

Do you agree with our choices? What was your favorite video game performance of 2023? Let us know in the comments.

Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.

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November 2023 was a great month for video games, but there were some massive letdowns. The most anticipated game of the month scored poorly! Even though there were lots of games in the 80s, there was actually only one game that scored a 90/100. Nintendo had the majority of successes. It’s been a while since we had a majorly disappointing massive release, so let’s just get to The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from November 2023.

The Good

The Iron Oath

***click here for our review***

The Iron Oath is a bit of a sleeper hit on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from November 2023. It’s a tactical Western RPG that’s also a mercenary company management game. While combat is a major portion of The Iron Oath, so is choosing who to assign jobs to, and when they get their days off. The only issue with recommending The Iron Oath, is that it has a pretty steep learning curve for anyone not super familiar with its genres. Our reviewer proclaimed “it’s going to remain installed on my PC for a long while”. They got addicted, and so could you.

Super Mario RPG

***click here for our review***

Super Mario RPG is a remake of one of the best JRPGs of all time. It doesn’t change much from the original, but makes a few quality-of-life upgrades, adds some cutscenes to flesh out the narrative, and adds some post-game content. The only issues are that the already very easy game is made even easier by its new updates, and while its graphics are fine, they don’t capture the claymation quality of the original. Our reviewer concluded “whether this is your first time playing or your fifteenth, you’re gonna love Super Mario RPG for the Switch”. High praise for the highest scoring game on The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from November 2023.

WarioWare: Move It!

***click here for our review***

The WarioWare games bombard the player with mini games that only last a handful of seconds. The trick is that the player has to figure out what to do in that short period, with only a short command. WarioWare: Move It! follows this formula with an emphasis on motion controls. The WarioWare games are very Japanese and very wacky. Our reviewer was pretty surprised by the game’s humor, and concluded “WarioWare: Move It! is a hilarious good time and you’d be a fool to let it pass you by”. Don’t be a fool.

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December is a typically pretty slow month for video game releases. People have less money to spend on video games, because they put their game fund towards Christmas presents. Luckily there are still some great-looking releases towards the beginning of the month. Our honorable mention this month is Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, which is an isometric Western RPG that takes place in the Warhammer 40K universe. Without further ado, the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in December 2023 are:

5. Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties: Definitive Edition – December 8

We’re starting off the Top 5 Video Games Arriving in December 2023 with a bit of humor, because Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties is a serious contender for the worst video game of all time. It’s essentially a short “choose your own adventure” “FMV” movie, entirely made of still photos. It was originally released for Windows in 1993, and rose to infamy after the 3DO version was covered by The Angry Video Game Nerd. Limited Run has been promising a release for years, and, while preorders have closed on the physical version, Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties: Definitive Edition will be available digitally in December all consoles and PC.

4. SteamWorld Build – December 1

SteamWorld Build takes place in the same universe as the SteamWorld Dig games. Unlike those Metroidvania titles, SteamWorld Build will be a construction/ management sim. There are actually other SteamWorld games that make up different genres, such as tower defense, turn-based strategy, and deck building, so it’s very cool to see the devs experimenting with gameplay genres again. SteamWorld Build will be available for all consoles and PC.

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All the massive releases in October 2023 delivered as expected. Assassin’s Creed was its usual 80/100. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty was incredible, but had tons of technical issues. And the three Good games in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2023 needed to be incredible to meet expectations. Luckily they were. Several games that scored 90/100 won’t make The Good section this month. Our Bad section is all fun surprises, and nothing major was unexpectedly awful. The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2023 are:

The Good

Alan Wake 2

***click here for our review***

Remedy has been killing it, and Alan Wake 2 packed a major punch. There were lots of typical post-Resident Evil 4 survival horror trappings. But FMV sections, musical numbers, and fourth wall breaking are just a small example of the creativity packed into this bizarre narrative. Our reviewer concluded “Alan Wake 2 rewards fans of the first game for their patience, and invites new players along for a wild, sometimes terrifying and mind-bending ride”. Alan Wake 2 is probably the game in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2023 that exceeded expectations the most.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

***click here for our review***

But the highest scoring game in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2023 is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. It nearly perfected every aspect of the past two games in the series. And it’s a much larger game. The narrative is incredible. There’s almost no load times. Our reviewer concluded “Spider-Man 2 is the greatest superhero game ever made. Period.” And gave a rare perfect 100/100. But, to be honest, some of us already felt that way about Spider-Man 1.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

***click here for our review***

Super Mario Bros. Wonder feels like the true sequel to Super Mario World for the Super Nintendo. The New Super Mario Bros. games were good 2D Mario games, but they felt a little phoned in, compared to the event releases of past 2D Mario games. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is packed with care and surprises. It’s a phenomenal evolution of Super Mario Bros.’ perfect gameplay. Our reviewer found that “the new mechanics blow the formula wide open”. This isn’t another Super Mario game playing it safe. All the risks paid off and easily earned Super Mario Bros. Wonder a spot in the Good section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from October 2023.

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