Judi Azmand
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COGConnected Latest Reviews
We’ve seen the PlayLink function launch last year alongside the games That’s You!, Hidden Agenda, and Knowledge is Power covering social, mystery, and quiz-based genres respectively for a party/group setting. This time around, Frantics, seemingly aims to fill in as the mini-game PlayLink entry full of swiping, tilting, and shaking of your mobile devices. Let’s take a look at how it fairs amongst the already launched titles, as well as if it stands out as a unique entry within the PlayLink line of games.
Nights of Azure made its debut last year that had us noting its lack of customization and variability, but praising its concise, straightforward, and accessible structure that doesn’t make you feel as if you owe it 100+ hours. You can check out the full review for it here. A year later, we are greeted by Nights of Azure 2 maintaining many elements seen from the original, all while introducing a brand new cast of characters and updated features.
Back in 2014, I had the opportunity to review Toukiden on my dusty PS Vita that seemingly brought it back to life for a good while. It was enjoyable, but there were aspects missing that made the excitement slowly disappear due to the constraint in freedom and variety. About a year later, its remaster/expansion/half-sequel, Toukiden: Kiwami, was released that expanded the previously handheld-exclusive-game onto the PS4 and PC with the addition of new story elements as well as other features. We are now here with Toukiden 2 in 2017 that boasts a new story, additional battle mechanics, more customization features and an open-world aspect amongst other things. How does it hold up? Surprisingly well.
The Atelier series recently just began its current “mysterious” ark with Atelier Sophie back in June 2016 – you can check out our review for it here. While it packed some changes, tweaks, and updates to its staple formula, they were changes that would either agitate or entertain returning fans that were largely subjective in nature. With Atelier Firis being the second installment in the mysterious ark, we get to see how Gust has decided to tweak it yet again while keeping the core alchemy, fluffy and overly cute characters, as well as other features the Atelier series is known for.
Songs not sung by ‘actual’ humans – that’s what Hatsune Miku, a synthesizer with a humanoid persona known as a Vocaloid, produces. Hatsune Miku is just one of a handful of Vocaloids that have gained popularity over the years, but her being one of the most popular amongst them. Hundreds of songs have been made using the various Vocaloid variations that have sparked music videos, collectibles, and video games. Based on the singing function of Vocaloids, it’s only natural that the video games would be related to their music in the form of a rhythm game.
Mark McMorris Infinite Air is the newest iteration in the snowboarding simulator genre – a genre that hasn’t been very active in the past couple of years. However, with the likes of Poppermost’s Snow and Ubisoft’s Steep headed to consoles, it stirs up quite the competition. While Mark McMorris Infinite Air roughly gets the basics down of what comprises a snowboarding simulator, it fails to provide anything unique or captivating to make it this generation’s “must have” snowboarding simulator. In fact, it may be one you can hold off on.
Video games are packed with various features to compare and argue about that largely surpasses any other form of entertainment. The sounds, visuals, gameplay, and story, amongst other things, are all up for discussion. It’s pretty self-explanatory that, over the years, visuals and sound effects have become more “realistic” in video games (whether story-telling has improved is a whole different topic). But what happens when we have a modern game that mirrors features present in an old-school Game Boy? Well, things can go in either polar opposite direction.
XCOM is one franchise that has been around nearly forever, but not everyone knows that it existed past 2012. Its history spans all the way back to 1994, but it’s in 2012 where XCOM made its first real step into the current “modern” gaming world. XCOM: Enemy Unknown was the “re-imagined” remake of the first XCOM game, UFO: Enemy Unknown, that originally launched in 1994. It was an impressive game that humbled many and won numerous “Game of the Year” awards. Eventually XCOM: Enemy Within, the expansion to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, was released that added more gameplay elements and content which further impressed its audience. Two years later, we’re given XCOM 2 and I can tell you one thing: it still doesn’t fail to impress. There’s a whole lot of the same, but even more of the new as well as the better.
God Eater 2: Rage Burst takes place three years after the events in God Eater: Resurrection where you play as one of the newest recruit in the Fenrir Organization’s Special Unit “Blood”. Throughout the game you’ll report to distress calls and other mishaps caused by the Aragami, but the main meat of the story is centered on a pandemic known as the Black Plague. Luckily, you’ll have your huge weapon of choice known as a God Arc to battle the Aragami and have the support of in-game characters or online players along the way. It is not required that you play past God Eater games to understand God Eater 2: Rage Burst as it’s merely just set in the same world with Aragami and goal of saving humanity.
The Atelier series is one of those under-the-radar JRPGs that is constantly overshadowed by the likes of Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Megami Tensei, and Tales series here in North America. With its staple formula embodying a unique world full of alchemy, light heartedness, and innocence, it may seem odd and not your cup of tea at first. However, the Atelier series has been gradually making its mark since 2005 with Atelier Sophie being the twelfth main game in the series to hit North American shores. The Atelier series is also constantly evolving and changing with each ark and subsequent installment. As the previous “dusk” ark was completed by Atelier Shallie, Atelier Sophie begins the brand new “mysterious” ark fully jam-packed with new characters, themes, and even artist to keep things fresh and exciting.