Garrett Drake
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COGConnectedLatest Reviews
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is an outstanding achievement from studio Spike Chunsoft. You can feel their love and reverence for the series in every aspect. It includes nearly everything I could hope for in a Budokai Tenkaichi follow-up, with beautiful graphics and excellent gameplay.
Halo fans, myself included, have eagerly and sometimes impatiently awaited the arrival of Halo Infinite. 343 have finally delivered the follow-up to Halo 5: Guardians more than six years later. At this point, many are relatively aware of the immense, time-consuming challenges development studios face when creating massive AAA projects. While little is known of what occurred behind the scenes during these last six years, it’s evident that the direction shifted significantly at 343. Having played the entirety of Infinite’s campaign and spending nearly sixty hours across flights and the current state of multiplayer, I strongly believe the game could’ve used more time in development. Development is ongoing, but I’d have much preferred a more complete package on day one.
It’s been a wild five years for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. I won’t dwell on the abysmal launch it faced in 2014, but it’s worth recognizing the heart and perseverance that paved the road to its success today. The revolution the collection has undergone on console and its debut on PC is a testament to 343’s passion for the franchise and care for the fans.
I once believed my trail of destiny led to the National Basketball Association. A natural conclusion for a 5’5” kid from the suburbs of Northern Georgia who couldn’t make his high school team. The 1-9 record of my senior season of recreational ball struck me back to reality. Throughout my young adult years, I’ve fulfilled many sports fantasies through a series of games, notably through the NBA 2K franchise. I’ve spent several iterations apart from the franchise as my passion for the sport has faded. However, the ember of love for the game remaining in my soul was sparked to light through NBA 2K20. The total package is far from a slam dunk, but the core simulation experience continues to reign in glory.
Wrap up that public event you’ve been grinding for the last three months and cash in your tokens because you’re headed to Mercury, Guardian. To nobody’s surprise, the Vex are up to no good as they’re rummaging about on the planet closest to the sun. Thankfully, the legendary outcast, Osiris, is on the case. Turns out that the guy who the Vanguard once banished from our beloved Tower is the key to solving the supposed crisis. As usual, we’re being dragged into this mess because we happen to excel at killing things with guns. Or perhaps the Vanguard are too lazy to get shit done on their own. Either way, Destiny 2’s first expansion ‘Curse of Osiris’ is finally upon us. It’s time to dig in!
In 2014, Destiny 1’s launch lit the world on fire. To this day, it stands as one of the most hyped video game releases I’ve ever been a part of. I had a great deal of fun shooting countless aliens while collecting loads of loot across the galaxy with my friends for well over a year, but eventually, the game became a bit lethargic. From a practically non-existent main narrative to repetitive experiences in shallow shared spaces, Destiny 1 left much to be desired. Sure, expansions like The Taken King and Rise of Iron stoked the flames of enthusiasm, and in many ways teased what was to be expected in the sequel, but they weren’t quite enough to keep me invested in the rich universe Bungie had crafted. At long last, the much anticipated Destiny 2 has arrived. Between storytelling, gameplay, and progression, Bungie’s follow-up to their shared world shooter reignites the hype as it builds upon every facet of its predecessor. Strap in, because there’s a lot going on in this game.