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

Spray Paint Simulator Review - A Therapeutic Stroke of Color

1 week 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 week 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

2 weeks 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

1 month 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

1 month 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

1 month 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.
LUNAR Remastered Collection Review - Powerful 90s Anime Vibes

1 month ago | cogconnected.com | James Paley

LUNAR Remastered Collection ReviewOld RPGs aren’t always easy to play again, especially after a decade or two. The Lunar games didn’t get quite as many ports as some other franchises, so it’s not as well-known these days. Thankfully, the LUNAR Remastered Collection is here to drag these games into the 21st century. The devs have even added a couple of modern upgrades, like a speed toggle and new English voice recordings.
Wildkeepers Rising Is Chaotic and Something Special

2 months 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

2 months 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.