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Sword of the Necromancer is a neat, engaging, and surprising rogue-like with some great ideas and a curiously deep narrative. The mechanic of reviving enemies to fight for you is a great concept, and general features like diverse weapons and effective combat maneuvers feel superb, however, this strange inventory design feels like a huge setback. The inclusion of the latest update which allows for a more customized experience is an improvement, but it did sour my enjoyment of the game just a little to not have it from launch. As it stands, you can’t really let yourself get attached to anything other than the titular sword which directly contradicts the key point of the narrative; that Tama has grown attached to Koko. If you are looking for a nice, light rogue-like to jump into that doesn’t feel mindless, this is the game for you.

When I finished Call of the Sea, I couldn’t help but smile. It was such an incredible journey with an intriguing story and a well-thought-out ending. From start to finish, with the exception of a couple of frustrating puzzles, I truly enjoyed this game. Considering it’s is launching on Xbox Game Pass, there is absolutely no reason for Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One gamers to not give this gem a try. The sheer amount of love and care that went into crafting this world should be the new standard that all devs strive to achieve. I can’t wait to see what Out of the Blue have in store for us next, and I truly hope we’ll return to the world of Call of the Sea in a future title.

Moonlighter: Between Dimensions is a hearty post-game DLC that lets its devoted fan base keep playing more and more of the solid adventurer/merchant amalgamation mechanics. It offers new challenges in the dimensional dungeon, new gear to craft, and countless hours to sink into getting that perfect gear. While on paper it doesn’t seem like much is being added, it’s going to take a lot of work for even the hardiest of player to get through this new threat. While the gameplay and narrative is as solid as you would expect from 11 Bit Studios, the cost to upgrade is really it’s only downside.

Gigantosaurus: The Game is the type of game that is difficult to recommend for everyone. The platforming gets a bit tiresome, the graphics are quite dated, and the overall package is geared towards a younger audience. If you have young gamers in the house, especially those familiar with the TV series, then this might be perfect.

Arise is an incredibly powerful story despite it being so simple. It invokes emotions that I would rarely bring with me when playing a video game, and it is refreshing to know that there is a game out there focused on bringing us a heartwarming experience. There are so many elements in the game that work well together, from the color palette, lighting, music, gameplay, and ease of controls. Even without much dialogue or long, extensive cutscenes, Arise is able to tell us a simple story that is vibrant and rich, bringing us an unforgettable and emotional experience.

Despite being a quarter-century removed from the original movie, Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son was actually a great idea for a game. And it was neat to come back and check out Punxsutawney in 3D, from a first-person perspective. I also liked all the little references and call-backs to the movie sprinkled throughout (yes, you can drink “To World Peace”). But too often, the gameplay and production values took away from the joy. I’m not sure if the developers were pressed for time or under budgetary restraints, but it just felt rushed and unpolished overall. Like I said before, it’s not so much that Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son is a totally bad game — it isn’t. It’s just really disappointing that it wasn’t a lot better.

Overall, They Are Billions is an absolutely solid pick up and a real steal for its price point. It has a great aesthetic, solid gameplay, and a difficulty curve that is as impressive as it is aggravating. The only real drawback that I found was the PC ported controls that aren’t exactly designed to make PS4 gaming a breeze. If you want to test your steampunk mettle against an almost endless hoard of the undead, They Are Billions scratches that base building itch as well letting you live out your fantasies of fighting zombies. As long as you’re really, really, good at both, you’ll have no trouble with this one! Even if you’re not, this is one that is well worth the time and punishment.

Etherborn is a charming game with great level design and soundtrack. While the story and character were rather flat the gameplay more than made up for it. A simple puzzle game at heart the main premises of perspective and gravity control was used to great effect. Etherborn is a rather short game and the levels don’t offer much replayability. I certainly enjoyed my time with Etherborn, but I would have liked to have a reason to return. Overall, Etherborn is a game I would recommend for anyone looking for a mellow puzzle game that will teach you how to approach problems from new perspectives.

Horror games need a little inconvenience to survive. If you’re not stressed out and pushed into a corner, you’re not able to get quite scared or tense enough for the full experience. To that end, this game’s more egregious mechanics are an acceptable sacrifice. The only downer for me was when that extra tension regressed into something more like annoyance. I don’t mind being sacred, I’m less into being frustrated. Don’t get me wrong, my times with this game were a spooky delight overall. The occasional dip in my enjoyment was a fair trade for the unsettling atmosphere, the fascinating narrative, and the clever premise. If you’re in the market for an unconventional horror game, I can easily recommend Yuppie Psycho.

The Red Strings Club is a masterpiece that introduces a creative plot with resourceful protagonists and a marvelous narrative. It presents a conspiracy with many layers that you may not get to see if you do not ask certain questions, and being able to reveal different scenarios out of a vast number of possibilities is an incredible feat. While there are points of improvement that can make the game run a little smoother, the game is undeniably charming with its memorable characters and remarkable story. The Red Strings Club is a meaningful journey for mature audiences that can teach us a thing or two about morals. It is a game with lessons to be learned and stories to be shared, as we too have important decisions to make in our own lives.

I loved looking at GRIS. I loved playing GRIS. I loved watching GRIS in motion. Is this the next industry breaking game? No, it’s a standard puzzle platformer at its core. It is, however, an emotional and beautiful journey, an adventure where every event is up to the player’s own interpretation. It’s maybe a half-hour longer than it needs to be, but that 30 minutes cannot damper the total package of GRIS. Put this game on your radar immediately and take the time to experience it.

Moonlighter is a very solid product overall, but there are parts that feel like they could have done a lot more with. It’s got great graphics, a simple, yet rewarding premise, and combat is satisfying despite its shortcomings. Moonlighter’s no pressure approach and overall design make it feel fresh enough that it is worth looking into, but for me personally, I hope this isn’t all that we get, as I like the product a ton. It just feels like missed potential, but Moonlighter is still absolutely worth looking into and is sure to provide plenty for you to do. There’s enough here that you won’t regret your purchase, but you may just be left chomping at the bit like I am. (especially for that Switch version.)

In the end, Monster Prom’s charm stems from its thematic elements. Fantastic interactions, its satirical narrative, and the monster theme offer a unique spin, even if it doesn’t deviate all that much from known formulas. But, it does bring a little more to the table, a party for daters who are in it more for the ride than the destination.

Whatever ties this game has to the film noir detective genre are easily outweighed by the many nuances of the story. Beyond the simple narrative structure established by the damsel in distress arriving at the protagonist’s doorstep are a host of complex character interactions. It’s here, buried deep within layers of dialogue, where all the variants lie dormant. Maybe every road leads to that broken window atop a sinister high-rise, but the paths that lead there are numerous and compelling. In spite of my earlier declaration about not attempting a second playthrough, I still find myself drawn back to the beginning. I want to play again, not to seek out some perfect route, but to experience even more of the many stories buried within the larger narrative. I want to make new mistakes and experience new failures. The Red Strings Club is a vehicle for some of the most engrossing cyberpunk stories I’ve witnessed in recent memory. I don’t know that I’ve had anywhere near enough of them, just yet.

Nightmare Boy had the potential to be a quirky and fun take on the Metroidvania platform, but it squanders that potential by falling flat in nearly all the fundamental components of what makes those types of games fun to play in the first place. It has some neat character designs and thoughtful art choices, but they don’t make up for the numerous glaring flaws. From the generic writing and bland characters to the atrocious level design and floaty controls, my time with Nightmare Boy felt like a bad dream I couldn’t wake up from. 

It has been a staggering 13 years since the last 2D Metroid game and Samus has finally returned to her roots. But Metroid: Samus Returns doesn’t merely hope to satisfy a sense of nostalgia, it transcends those aspirations to become a much more compelling experience. It takes nearly everything about its predecessors that made them great and introduces new elements that make gameplay feel fresh and exciting. It may not top the series’ best titles, but Samus Returns undoubtedly brings 2D Metroid back in glorious fashion, resulting in one the best 3DS games in recent memory.

While Rime’s long trek from announcement to delivery may have been tough to endure for those initially struck by its ethereal charm, the wait has been worth it. Rime is thoughtful, intelligently designed, and satisfyingly accomplishes the emotional experience it strives to deliver. It’s Journey meets The Last Guardian, and while individual elements of Rime feel familiar at times, the way they’re combined make for a unique and memorable experience

On second thought, maybe a lack of personality isn’t the right turn of phrase, because the game does have one. Unfortunately it’s not a person I want to spend much time with. He’s kind of boring, he’s loud in all the wrong ways, and he thinks he’s the coolest guy in the room despite evidence to the contrary. - See more at: http://cogconnected.com/review/immortal-redneck-review/#sthash.nla1zwOB.dpuf

Overall, The Sexy Brutale is an intriguing title where its mood and narrative stand out the most. While artistically sound, the technical prowess of the title is somewhat lacking. Though the various elements of The Sexy Brutale have been utilized in games past, The Sexy Brutale takes them and makes its own game. The Sexy Brutale is creative, interesting, challenging, and fun. Almost living up to its exceptional name, The Sexy Brutale is a must play title for puzzle and adventure game fans alike. - See more at: http://cogconnected.com/review/sexy-brutale-review/#sthash.D9Quocza.dpuf

I feel like Eclipse was definitely on to something here, and then they shot themselves in the foot. They bit off more than they could chew and had to spit something out. If you’re looking for Pang but with a weird new challenge, check out Spheroids. Otherwise, look at other iterations that tried to focus more on the core mechanics that made Pang so great.

I enjoyed BOOR, or at least I did, until Room 82 – which I assume is pretty close to the end. The required level of finesse and patience required to beat this room is just absurd and ultimately prevented me from finishing the game. It’s disappointing that more effort wasn’t made to balance the difficulty to provide a more fluid experience. I appreciate the desire to create really difficult challenge rooms, but add them as a bonus to the main game. I appreciated the graphic style and I absolutely loved the soundtrack. The story wasn’t overly original, neither were many of the puzzle concepts, but for the most part, everything worked well together. I wish I could recommend this whole-heartily, but as it is now, this game is only for those looking for a short but serious challenge. 

Crypt of the Serpent King is obviously a budget title, and as such, certain elements can be forgiven and overlooked. The original release of this featured a flawed jumping mechanic that lead to many frustrating deaths in some of the later levels (particularly level four), but fortunately a recent update resolved this issue. I loved the idea of keeping all my gold and XP upon death and allowing me to upgrade stats and unlock new weapons. Considering the price, and if you enjoy these types of first-person dungeon crawlers, you really can’t go wrong if you need a quick fix to waste away a few hours and earn some easy achievements.

Rise & Shine is a great looking game that elicits a few chuckles and grins, but doesn’t have the gameplay chops to stand up to the big names in the genre. If you’re desperate for a 2D puzz-ooter (puzzle/shooter. Yeah, I just coined that phrase. It’s a good one, right?), Rise & Shine might fit the bill if you can deal with mechanical trouble and repetition for the promise of fabulous art and some yucks. Otherwise, I’d definitely point you to any number of other titles under this big ol’ 2D umbrella. 

Depending on your sensibilities you may find the choppiness of the animation during action sequences endearing or annoying. Personally, I found it endearing and said animation really does enforce the claim that the game is like a water painting come to life. Special note for the music used in the game too. It is of a South American flair and really helps to not only underscore story beats but becomes an added dimension to help flesh out the world of Teku and his tribe. - See more at: http://cogconnected.com/review/candle-review/#sthash.N4q2xU2k.dpuf

Ginger: Beyond the Crystal fills a pretty significant void on the Xbox One, there just aren’t that many platformers on the console that fans of the Nintendo 64 used to enjoy. The game is not very impressive graphically and it has some unfortunate flaws, such as the odd freezing glitch and lengthy load times. But despite the flaws, the game is still enjoyable to play, with a great soundtrack and inspired moments from some of gaming’s biggest games.

As the first in an episodic series, Dead Synchronicity ends quite abruptly, which is very disappointing after putting the time into the story. While there are some major flaws throughout the game, once you are interested, you become invested in answering all of your questions. Between the horrendous voice acting, the puzzling puzzles, and the long dialogue sequences, Dead Synchronicity has some flaws that the suspense and horror just cannot fix. Although the shock and awe of the horrific storyline is unique and the artistic graphics are fantastic, Dead Synchronicity just fails to impress in any significant way. The game plays as if Fictiorama Studios and Daedalic Entertainment are expecting you get lost in the horror of the story and forget about the actual game mechanics.

While the humour seems to be the centre of the game, Zenith has some major fundamental flaws that make it less fun to play and all the more frustrating. If you like the story, the writing and the humour, it might be worth your time. If you need fluid controls and care about the combat and game mechanics, then absolutely not.

The Count Lucanor brings to us the best of two amazing genres that many of us love, with a great twist. The game has memorable and unique characters, a very well done level design and an amazing soundtrack. The survival horror elements are very well done even if the game itself is a bit simplistic. The game is very well thought out and has very good pacing, however that doesn’t stop me from wishing the game were longer!

AR-K: The Great Escape is a great (hehe, see what I did there?) way to spend a few hours solving puzzles in a fun way that doesn’t totally overload your brain. With a lot of content and hilarious gameplay, AR-K: The Great Escape is a charming adventure game that will have you waiting ever so eagerly for the next episode in the AR-K series!