COGconnected

Blue Reflection Quartet is good, but not great. I really enjoyed the shoujo story, pretty visuals, and emotional music. The gameplay was very simple and derivative of other series, but some might find it cozy. I’m a sucker for Persona-style school sim by day, and combat by night structure. It’s something I haven’t gotten bored of. Blue Reflection Quartet is four full games that can be played in any order. It’s easily over 100 hours of good JRPG for genre fans, and I am happy to recommend it to anyone curious who’s familiar with the genre.

Relic: The First Guardian is not so messy as to be unplayable. In fact, the game’s combat can be excellent at times, and the use of Korean folklore twisted into a dark narrative is an interesting idea. But the devil is in the details, and Relic: The First Guardian is bedeviled by issues with balancing, character progression, bugs and some questionable design choices. I think it’s redeemable. If the developers address some of the problems, it’s a game I’d be happy to return to.

Strip away the fog, the ruins, and the booty, and what’s left is a gameplay loop so thin it barely qualifies as one. Pick a mission. Pick a loadout. Trudge down a linear path, survive some sloppy combat, grab some (admittedly gorgeous) treasure, and head home. Rinse, repeat, regret. I kept waiting for a twist that would make The Mound worth my time, but, unfortunately, it never came.

Not every port is essential, and not every port is done well. Second Story R doesn’t offer any new content, but the game looks and feels terrific. If nothing else, the game goes a long way towards easing suspicion regarding ports on Nintendo consoles. It also helps that this game is excellent. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to check it out, the Nintendo Switch 2 version is a great one. This is a top-tier JRPG, crammed with delightful characters, snappy combat, and tons of customization. Also, the plot is appropriately bonkers. Definitely don’t miss this chance to check out Star Ocean: The Second Story R.

All in all, 70s Style Robot Anime Geppy-X is a very cheesy game. However, it’s also fun as hell. Every time the vocals on a boss theme kick in, my heart starts thumping. If you’re a fan of mecha or shooters, definitely check it out.

Culdcept BEGINS is a nice return for a franchise that was simply ahead of its time. It stands as an accessible and polished entry into the series for newcomers, offering a uniquely satisfying experience for strategy fans.

If you're a die-hard Halo fan, you've probably already experienced this first campaign countless times before. There are some good reasons to replay it again here with Campaign Evolved, especially if you've got some buddies to play with. Campaign Remix is an okay touch, but I do wish there was a bit more to it. The three bonus missions included are excellent and worth a playthrough - but they definitely left me wanting more. Who knows where Halo goes from here, but Campaign Evolved should open the door to some new fans.

X and X-2 are amazing games. The HD Remaster collection is the perfect way to experience them again. We’ve also gotten this gift several times over the last decade or so. So a shined-up version of a couple of classics is a tough sell. But those convenient mechanical tweaks are a huge bonus. I’ve got other versions of this collection already. But the Switch 2 version will be the new standard, thanks to those fixes. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to play these games again, high speed random battles, stat-maxxing, and optional encounters might be just what you need. This version of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is the best one yet.

Avatar Legends captures the fast-paced, frenetic battles of its source material and translates this into a deep, immersive fighter that requires skill and precision to unlock its full potential. Each character brims with personality, which bleeds into their moveset, making each contest feel unique. Although the roster is limited and newcomers may struggle to get to grips with the higher-level combos, it’s a rewarding fighter that captures the spirit of the series, rewarding persistence with some truly spectacular battles.

The 1.0 release of Palworld presents a very different game than the original early access version. The quest system has been revamped, the map has been expanded, and civilization is scattered everywhere. But the gameplay loop is still pretty relentless. Plus, the rough edges haven’t been completely removed. If the old game was almost it for you, this new iteration might be exactly what you yearned for. But Palworld 1.0 is still an acquired taste.