Alex Everatt
This author account hasn't been claimed yet. To claim this account, please contact the outlet owner to request access.
Writing For
COGConnectedLatest Reviews
Empire of the Ants is an excellent game. This is one of those games that seemingly come out of nowhere but will likely be a beloved favourite for many gamers for years to come. While a lot of these gameplay aspects have been seen before in other games, the way they’re included here, through the eyes of an ant, can be quite unique. The visuals are outstanding and the music is brilliant. There are some challenges with controls and the camera, especially in confined spaces or when your ant is upside-down. And unfortunately, I didn’t get an opportunity to experience the multiplayer aspects. Fortunately, the single-player experience is overall so well done that I’d consider the multiplayer mode a nice bonus more than anything. If you’re looking for a unique gaming real-time strategy experience, then you really can’t go wrong with Empire of the Ants.
It’s been just over twenty years since the adventure game Beyond Good & Evil first graced our screens. It originally launched in 2003, so technically, they could have called this the 21st Anniversary Edition – but for marketing purposes, 20th just sounds better.
For better or worse, it’s that time of year when we dive into the latest Call of Duty offering. Modern Warfare II is an indirect sequel to 2019’s Modern Warfare, and just like its predecessor, this is a reboot of the original Modern Warfare games from just over a decade ago.
Ion Fury is a brand new game with a very classic feel. A damn-near perfect throwback for us older gamers longing to re-experience those amazing first-person shooters that had such an impact in the ’90s. Ion Fury uses an updated version of the beloved Build engine, the same game engine that powered classic first-person shooters such as Shadow Warrior, Blood, and my personal favourite, Duke Nukem 3D. As Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison, you’ll blast your way through a vast campaign filled with all the action and mouthiness that you’d expect from 3D Realms.
I knew next to nothing about Void Bastards until about a week ago when the COGconnected Overlord asked me to review it. I’d seen the comic book styled art and read the brief description that suggested it was inspired by Bioshock (one of the best first-person shooters ever), but I really didn’t know what to expect. However, since first loading it up, I’ve been absolutely hooked. It’s not every day I get to rave about a game… but today is one of those days.
Let’s face it, eventually, some species of extraterrestrials are going to arrive at our planet and start kicking our collective asses. Some of us might die during the first wave of attacks – victims of unfortunate circumstances, just not seeing it coming. Then there will be those of us who run and hide, praying that they don’t have some Predator-like heat vision that can detect us pretty much anywhere (spoiler: they will). Then there will be those of us who’ve played enough Earth Defense Force games to take up arms and kick some alien butt. For the time being, potential Earth defenders will be happy to know that a brand new Earth Defense Force game has arrived on PlayStation 4 – ready to prepare you for the impending invasion. Get ready to blow up some alien scumbags in Earth Defense Forces 5.
There isn’t much in the way of a story for The Escapists 2. For each level, you are brought into a prison, given a quick tour, and then must find a way out. Your escapes are bookended with cute little intro and outro cutscenes, assuming you actually can escape. Make no mistake about it, The Escapists 2 is brutally hard and you’ll need extreme patience and persistence to succeed. In prison, you’ll come across other inmates, guards, guard dogs and civilians (prison employees). Inmates will either offer money for completing favors or they’ll sell contraband to you. The favors could range from beating an inmate up to planting a dead mouse in an inmates desk. Contraband could include crowbars, duct tape, razor blades, and more. You’ll use contraband, along with prison-accepted items like combs and toothpaste, to create all manner of tools to aid in your escape. Grappling hooks, shovels, pick-axes – pretty much everything you’ll need to escape, and even some odd things that’ll make you cock your head to the side and ask “why would I need that?”.
Let’s start by getting this out of the way, What Remains of Edith Finch is essentially a walking simulator. Don’t run away, or rather, walk away just yet! Developer Giant Sparrow (The Unfinished Swan) has included some fun little gaming sequences that help it stand out in the walking simulator genre. While it might not satisfy anyone with an itchy trigger finger or a thirst for puzzles – it does offer a pretty compelling story and some sincere moments that just might make it worth your time.
What do you get when you combine Dead Rising 1 with Dead Rising 3? (let me just check my calculator…) The answer is Dead Rising 4. No, this wasn’t just some simple math problem, this is how I believe Capcom Vancouver approached this latest Dead Rising game. They took the protagonist and location from the first Dead Rising, the open world structure of the third Dead Rising, and churned out Frank West’s latest zombie-filled adventure in the town of Willamette, Colorado. It’s an excellent combination and provides one hell of a fun game!
Turn 10 Studios & Playground Games are back with the latest addition to the Forza Horizon franchise. Forza Horizon 3 truly is the perfect sequel. It takes everything we enjoy about the Forza Horizon franchise and adds just enough to keep it fresh. If you’re a Horizon fan seeking confirmation that Horizon 3 is a worthwhile successor – let me say without hesitation that this is what you’re looking for. With that said, if you’re a newcomer to the Horizon franchise, rest assured that you won’t be lost – Horizon 3 does an excellent job catching you up to speed on what Horizon is all about.