3 Up, 3 Down: The Best (And Worst) Video Games From July 2020
Typically, the summer months are slow in the video games industry, but that hasn’t been the case this summer. Despite the pandemic drastically changing the way we go about our lives, video games are going strong. July saw a number of fantastic releases and a number of games received high scores from us here at COGconnected. Ghost of Tsushima stole the spotlight from the competitors and is well-deserving of the accolades but July also saw a slew of new games worthy of your attention. So without further delay, let’s get right to the best and the worst from July 2020.
The Best
Ghost of Tsushima
***Click here for COG’s full review***
It’s no surprise to anyone that Ghost of Tsushima landed on our best of the month list. PS4 exclusives typically place on our monthly best lists and Ghost of Tsushima is no exception. While it didn’t have the same impact The Last of Us Part II had, Ghost of Tsushima delivered a stellar experience. In his review, James said: “The RPG elements are sparse and simple, offering the player more freedom to master the vast combat mechanics. Even the open-world elements are pared down, with greater emphasis placed on exploration and quiet contemplation. Once I successfully reconciled my expectations with my reality, the game revealed itself as a compelling, masterful work of art. Nothing feels useless or extraneous. The story wastes little time, the fights are all exuberant and engaging, the exploration is addicting, and the entire game is gorgeous. I can think of no better game to be the swan song for the PS4.”
Paper Mario: The Origami King
***Click here for COG’s full review***
Paper Mario: The Origami King was our highest scored review for the month. Sure, it didn’t grab headlines like Sony’s exclusives have in recent months but make no doubt about it Paper Mario: The Origami King is as smooth as butter and is a must-own for Switch fans. In his review, Rhett said: “I expected an epic journey as the franchise has provided in the past, but I had no clue I would fall in love with this game as much as I have. If you’re a Switch owner, you can’t miss it. And if you’ve been on the fence about purchasing one, The Origami King proves the grass really is greener on the other side. Nintendo and Intelligent Systems hooked Paper Mario up to the defibrillator, delivered 3000 volts to his chest, and now I’m here to tell you – Our boy is gonna live!”
Carrion
***Click here for COG’s full review***
Let’s face it, 5-hour games never make our best lists, but Carrion is an exception. This indie horror gem is worth your attention and time, despite the fact you could bang it out on a rainy afternoon. Tony said in his review: “In total, the game took me five hours to finish. I know this might be a deterrent for some of you, but rest assured, the five hours in Carrion is worth much more than the time spent in conventional games made to sink your time. Every piece of Carrion is polished and near-flawless. From the amazing visuals, heart-pounding sound design, to the organic gameplay, everything in this game serves a unified purpose. In our current market oversaturated media, there is something invaluable in a game that doesn’t waste your time.”
Head to PAGE 2 for the worst list from July 2020.