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

Hands-On With the Nintendo Switch 2: Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and More

1 week 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

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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

4 weeks 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

1 month 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

2 months 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

2 months 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

2 months 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.