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

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster Review - Faithful, Fun, and Just a Little Familiar

1 week ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster ReviewBravely Default was probably one of my favorite games ever released on the 3DS. It’s an exceptional RPG, with a compelling story, deep mechanics, and charming visuals. This new version released for the Switch 2 is lovely, but is it worth re-visiting? Maybe! On the other hand, if you’ve never played this game before, there’s absolutely no skipping this one.
Nintendo Switch 2 Review - A Much-Needed Upgrade

1 week ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Nintendo Switch 2 ReviewThe Switch 2 represents the end of an era for Nintendo. For decades, they were exclusively in the business of subverting expectations. Indeed, the Switch itself was a massive shock, a portable console in an era dominated by titanic hardware. Rather than shock us once again, the Switch 2 is exactly what we – and Nintendo – needed. They’ve always been amazing at portable game systems, and this is no exception. It’s just not a surprise, is all.
Mario Kart World Review - Rocket-Powered Launch Title

2 weeks ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Mario Kart World ReviewThere’s a lot of pressure on launch titles. They’ve gotta be incredible stuff, you know? Mario Kart World carries this weight pretty easily. This game is slick, shiny, and super fun. Better still, it feels like a serious upgrade, taking all the good of MK8 and pumping it up to continental proportions. The tracks are bigger, the roster is bigger, and the skill ceiling is much higher. A good Mario game gives you room to play and experiment.
Spray Paint Simulator Review - A Therapeutic Stroke of Color

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Spray Paint Simulator ReviewSimulator games are excellent at scratching a very specific itch. For example, if you love power washing and want to expand on that particular paradigm, then Spray Paint Simulator is here for you. Somehow, spraying everything you see with a variety of intense colors is both frustrating and deeply satisfying. It’s slow, grinding work, but there’s no denying that the finished product is lovely to behold.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Review - A Delightfully Chill Grind

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time ReviewMy favorite part of any RPG is the job system. I love mastering a whole host of different classes, slowly turning my fledgling hero into a straight-up juggernaut. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is mostly made of my favorite bits. Mastering classes, breezy combat, and endless side quests are the bulk of the game’s content. Which I love, but I understand if it’s not for everyone.
MSI Titan 18 - The F1 Racecar of Gaming Laptops

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

MSI Titan 18 HX AI A2XWAt what point does a laptop stop feeling like a laptop? The MSI Titan 18 HX A2XW is such an absurdly powerful machine that the label feels woefully inadequate. Surely a gaming PC with this much gas in the tank should take the form of a glowing red monolith, you know? Something three feet tall and festooned with cords and cables. A PC this powerful should require two keys turned in unison, or at least a comically large lever being thrown. And yet, here we are.
Hands-On With the Nintendo Switch 2: Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and More

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Hands-On Preview: Nintendo Switch 2I got a chance to play some Nintendo Switch 2 games at the end of April. Nintendo was holding a whole event in Toronto, complete with staff, set decoration, tons of stations, and a big crowd of excited players. Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza were the big highlights, with Metroid Prime 4 and Drag x Drive making a big impact as well. I also played a handful of other ports and expansions. It was a pretty busy afternoon.
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ Is More Than A Gaming Device

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

MSI Claw 8 AI+ ImpressionsThe portable PC market has exploded since the Steam Deck came onto the scene a few years ago. And why not? Playing full-sized games on a tiny device is totally rad. On the other hand, the more complex you make the device, the more problems you run into. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is definitely more complete than your average portable gaming rig. But is this a good thing? After spending a few weeks with the device, I’m still not quite sure.
Build A Wizard School With Wizdom Academy

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Wizdom Academy PreviewMaking a wizard school sounds like an excellent time. Wizdom Academy hopes to fill that very specific niche. After playing the early access build, I’d say they’re mostly succeeding so far. There’s a fair bit of content that’s missing at present, so any kind of definitive judgment is pretty much impossible. If nothing else, you can make a lovely-looking academy. But is that enough? You can zoom right in to any given section of the school and watch your students do their thing.
Promise Mascot Agency Review - Excellent and Weird

2 months ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

Promise Mascot Agency ReviewPromise Mascot Agency is deeply flawed and incredibly weird. I also can’t stop playing it. It seems like even the most repetitive, exhausting premise can also be totally compelling. That is, so long as the core gameplay loop is fun enough. And make no mistake, building an empire out of these damaged, deranged weirdos is extremely fun. This world is just so charming, you can’t help yourself.