Mark Steighner
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COGConnectedLatest Reviews
Cat Quest III
Now in their third iteration, the Cat Quest games have always been a combination of action RPG and a cat pun delivery system. There are more cat-related puns, jokes, and other references per square inch than you can imagine. Cat Quest 3 is pirate themed, adding a whole new opportunity...
A few years ago, I attended a developer presentation for a promising new Soulslike called Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn. It left me intrigued and impressed. The 18th century-ish setting checked some interesting boxes and the duo-protagonist mechanic looked cool. The magic and guns combo helped the fast-paced combat stand...
I love film noire, great detective stories, hardboiled dialogue, and true crime. As genres go, they’re a bit underrepresented in video games, though not entirely absent. Add to the roster Nobody Wants to Die. In addition to being a genuinely impressive retro-future noire narrative, it’s a troubling meditation on several...
At first blush, the title Vampire Therapist sounds like the product of a random band name generator, juxtaposing random words like Uranium Bubblegum or Video Game Critic. Far from it. Vampire Therapist is a smart, entertaining, and, dare I say it, educational game about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Oh, and...
Once Human
Games that take a multi-genre approach to design have at least two challenges. First, the components have to make sense together. Second, the hybrid mash-up still needs a strong identity. It can’t be “jack-of-all-trades, master of none.” Luckily, Once Human solves these problems in a satisfying and engaging way. It...
Hot Lap Racing
Great racing games for the Nintendo Switch are few and far between. There’s Mario Kart (of course) and a handful of others, like a watered-down GRID spinoff and a Need For Speed remaster. Hot Lap Racing would like to be the next great Switch racing game. Unfortunately, I played it...
Astor: Blade of the Monolith is the game equivalent of fast food. There are better, more satisfying, and original options out there, but it gets the job done. It’s an attractive, colorful, and pleasant enough action RPG, just don’t expect much more than surface-level enjoyment.
Cryptmaster
I’m not sure what I was expecting with Cryptmaster. At first glance, it kind of has a retro-first-person-shooter vibe. Its distinctive black-and-white art certainly suggests something sinister. Turns out, Cryptmaster is nothing like I thought it would be. It’s a genuinely unique combination of an action puzzle adventure game and...
When it comes to action RPGs, most games are focused on the elements of combat and exploration. The story often feels secondary, tacked on or irrelevant. Tales of Kenzera: Zau is one of those rare games that strikes a near-perfect balance between engaging action and a genuinely heartfelt and emotionally...
Harold Halibut
It has long been recognized by sociologists that someone’s happiness isn’t really dependent on circumstances. Unhappy people who win the lottery level-set back to unhappy not long after. Happy and content people are generally that way whether they’re rich, poor, or in between. I thought of that while playing Slow...
I review dozens of games every year. I’m always excited and a little grateful to find a game that looks or plays unlike everything else. Of course, different doesn’t always mean good, or fun. In the case of Withering Rooms, it’s both visually striking and mechanically satisfying to play. Mostly....
Floating somewhere between an open world RTS game and a chill, endless builder, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles has a unique approach to both. Director and developer Tomas Sala emphasizes that the game isn’t really about endgame goals or traditional victory conditions. There’s a campaign with back-and-forth trade and combat, but as...
