Scott Sullivan
This author account hasn't been claimed yet. To claim this account, please contact the outlet owner to request access.
Writing For
COGConnectedLatest Reviews
The Game Kitchen’s highly anticipated Kickstarter title immediately impressed with its gorgeous pixel art and surprisingly grim premise. Fast forward two years, and we finally have our hands on the brutal action platformer that pays homage to series like Castlevania and Dark Souls. You assume the role of the Penitent one, the sole survivor of the massacre of his brotherhood, and your task is simple, the ascend to the peak of the city and break the curse of death and rebirth, all while battling some truly horrifying enemies and bosses and avenging your slain order. There are an abundance of metroidvanias over these past few years, but there’s a lot of things Blasphemous does better than any of them, and a lot of things that hold it back.
For Yakuza fans, they’re well acquainted with the city of Kamurocho. A metropolis that’s as glitzy as it is seedy, we grew well acquainted with the crime that goes on as we followed Kiryu’s exploits across six games (and a couple of excellent remasters as well), but Judgment gives us an interesting twist on this formula, casting us on the side of good for once. Playing as Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer turned private investigator, you’re quickly wrapped up in a meticulously crafted tale of intrigue that will keep you gripped until the end, splicing in new mechanics that make Judgment feel fresh enough to warrant yet another visit to the city of Kamurocho.
Studio MDHR’s highly praised, tough as nails title Cuphead has finally landed on the Switch, and it pleases me immensely to see that the transition went off without a hitch. Featuring the same tight platforming, fantastic bosses, and jazzy big band soundtrack as the original version, the Switch version may even arguably be the definitive way to experience the game, thanks to the grab ‘n go nature of the Switch. There’s a lot to delve into, so let’s spill the tea (or coffee or milk or whatever you may drink out of a cup or mug. I won’t judge you.)
As terrible as it may sound, what stuck with me the most about Unravel’s initial E3 reveal way back in 2015 wasn’t quite the game itself. In fact, it was the endearing mixture of nervousness/clear passion for the game that Martin Sahlin was showing as he took us through what exactly Unravel was. Three years later, and after commercial success, we’re back in the tiny shoes of Yarny, the aptly named protagonist of Unravel, but they’re not alone this time. Featuring brilliantly designed co-operative gameplay and a whole lot of heart, Unravel Two is a brief, but thoroughly entertaining journey.
It’s hard to believe that Wargroove is finally here. Back at E3 2017, the uniquely styled strategy game immediately caught the eye of many, as it appeared to be filling a void left by a noted franchise for Nintendo in Advance Wars. Fast forward through two years and copious developer blog entries, and we have what is arguably a superbly crafted progression of the turn-based strategy style of gameplay that hadn’t really been done before. Chucklefish loved it so much that they took it a step further, putting their own spin on this genre with Wargroove. Those two plus years may have been tough to wait through, but you can stop holding your breath on this one, as Wargroove is not only worth the wait but a strong addition to the strategy genre as a whole.
Gone are the days of throwing historical factions at one another. No longer will I be pitting Samurai against one another. No longer will I be sending my Spartans to push back the encroaching Egyptian forces. Instead, I now pit humankind as a whole against the gnashing, “WAAAAGH”-ing hordes of greenskins (Orcs, for those not acquainted with Warhammer) entering my lands, while brokering trade agreements with Dwarves. The undead loom in the area as well, but those all pale in comparison to the dire threat of the forces of Chaos. It all sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings, but this is Warhammer, and the marriage between its lore and ideas, with the gameplay of Total War makes for what could honestly be one of the best entries in the entire franchise. Total War: Warhammer was meant to be.
Point and click adventure titles are the sort of game we often look back on with fond memories, but sadly, they don’t tend to age well for the most part. Armikrog is a victim of this sort of design mindset, and feels like an adventure game from back in the day. This works heavily against it though, mostly just for it feeling archaic.