James Paley

New Westminster

Content Editor at COGconnected

I play and write about games and also heap praise upon the works of my wife @WrenHandman

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Articles

Wildkeepers Rising Is Chaotic and Something Special

3 weeks ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Wildkeepers Rising PreviewBullet heaven games have carved out a permanent spot in my brain. So Wildkeepers Rising had my attention more or less immediately. Indeed, I knew this one had the juice mere moments after starting it up. This is a bullet heaven game with some serious potential. So, after playing through the Early Access build of the game, I’m pretty psyched for the eventual full release.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Review - Best Of The Bunch

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition ReviewI had an excellent time playing Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. The gameplay loop is tight, the plot is cool, and the customization options are blessedly numerous. But the game still suffers from some serious pacing issues, and there’s a lot of content that feels like padding. Plus, for better or for worse, the combat is still extremely Xenoblade. But this is the most fun I’ve personally had playing a Xenoblade game thus far.
WWE 2K25 Review - Body Slammed by the Learning Curve

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

WWE 2K25 ReviewAs a brand-new wrestling fan, I didn’t know squat about this game series. 2K’s wrestling games are gigantic affairs, crammed with distinct game modes, playable characters, and a remarkable character creation system. It’s all new to me, and it’s all pretty rad. But the downside is that I’m not familiar with the series’ history. So things like missing content, repeated content, and persistent issues will fly right over my head.
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars Review - Modern Look, Retro Mechanics

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars ReviewWhen classic RPGs get a remaster, they can’t get away with an aesthetic upgrade. You’ve got to modernize the mechanics as well. Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars looks and sounds better than ever, it’s true. All of the assets have been shined up and scaled for modern monitors. The character sprites are crisp and colorful.
Xenoblade Chronicles X Just Hits Different

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition PreviewI’ve played most of the games in the Xenoblade series at this point. Somehow, this one feels different. Maybe it’s the character customization, or the robust equipment system, or the sci-fi setting. Regardless, I’m having a great time so far. Can’t say for sure, but Chronicles X might end up my personal favorite. Saving The World In Style To be perfectly clear, this isn’t based on anything objective or concrete.
PGA Tour 2K25 Review - Clean, Crisp, Compelling

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

PGA Tour 2K25 ReviewGolf is a pretty laid-back game. Fresh air, little bit of exercise, lots of time to make your moves. PGA Tour 2K25 embodies this perfectly, at least for me. I’m not good at sim golf, but that feels totally alright in this case. You can fine-tune your experience to be as stressful or simple as you’d prefer, and again, the pace is rather forgiving. On top of that, the whole game looks and feels terrific.
Gunnar Made Some Bold Choices With Their Dume Glasses

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Just An Incredible LookI’ve tried out Gunnar glasses before, and found them pretty useful. They’re good for cutting out blue light, and they look great. Whether they look great on me is up for debate. If nothing else, this latest pair is really growing on me. Gunnar’s Dume glasses aren’t just functional, they’re kind of cool? If you’re wanting to solve your blue light problem in style, these might be the answer. The ad copy says these are modeled after the pair Tony Stark wore in Age of Ultron.
TMNT: Splintered Fate - Casey Jones & The Junkyard Jam DLC Review - Sudden Death Overtime

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

TMNT: Splintered Fate – Casey Jones & The Junkyard Jam DLC ReviewOkay, so you’ve played Splintered Fate, you loved it, you’re done. What’s next? Why not leap back in for a hot minute with Casey Jones & The Junkyard Jam? I blew through the DLC in question this weekend, and you know what? You’ll easily get your money’s worth out of this one. Casey is cool, the stages are well-designed, and we can always use more Splintered Fate content. Really, any excuse to get back into this game is a good one.
WWE 2K25 Might Make A Wrestling Fan Out Of Me

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

WWE 2K25 PreviewPro Wrestling was a much bigger part of my life when I was a kid. As an adult, not so much. So WWE 2K25 has been a real education for me. I spent a little time with the game earlier this month. Between that and the Royal Rumble, I’m well on my way to becoming a convert. If my short time with the game is any indication, 2K25 is shaping up to be an excellent entry in the series. The first thing I noticed was the gigantic list of features and modes.
Hit The Links With PGA Tour 2K25

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

PGA Tour 2K25 PreviewThere’s nothing like a good game of golf on a sunny day. It’s a pretty relaxing sport, and PGA Tour 2K25 reflects this. I spent a couple of hours with the game in Phoenix, and the whole experience was smooth and seamless. Although my time with the build was limited, I could have played MyCareer mode all day long. Even the regular matches are that slick blend of laid-back and engaging I look for in golf games.