3 Up, 3 Down – March 2023
March 2023, like most Spring months, was full of great game releases. COGconnected doesn’t award a lot of 90 or higher reviews, but this month had multiple 90+ games that won’t make it on the Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from March 2023. The PSVR 2 released several games with 90 or above reviews, including Moss: Book 2, Gran Turismo 7, and Resident Evil: Village. But along with all that greatness came a few lemons too, so here are the Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from March 2023:
The Good
Resident Evil 4 Remake
***click here for our review***
There are those of us that aren’t sure why Resident Evil 4 needed a remake. Its gameplay is still the building block for the ultra-beloved Resident Evil 2 and 3 remakes. It got rave reviews upon release, and is still considered by most to be the pinnacle of the Resident Evil franchise. Capcom didn’t change much. They updated the visuals, and tweaked moments in the game. But for the most part, Resident Evil 4 Remake remains the Resident Evil 4 you already know and love. According to our reviewer, all Capcom did was “ refine the masterpiece to create the definitive version of the game.” And that’s all they needed to do.
Romancelvania
***click here for our review***
Romancelvania is a Metroidvania mixed with a dating sim, and the results are a delight. It’s a story about Count (or Countess) Dracula, who has been isolating themself since their last relationship ended. The Grim Reaper, being the great friend that they are, drags Dracula out of isolation, and throws them into a dating show, with contestants scattered around Dracula’s castle. The blending of genres works weirdly well. Our reviewer’s tastes should be questioned, as they admitted liking the PS3ware graphics and pun-heavy dialogue, but the gameplay is undeniably unique and fun. They wisely concluded that “no matter your flavor of weird, Romancelvania’s got something for you”.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
***click here for our review***
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a triple-A Soulslike from Team Ninja. So even though people will want to compare it to Elden Ring, it’s much closer to an evolution of the Nioh games. All the important Team Ninja staples are present, such as insane difficulty, fast-paced combat, and tighter linear pacing. Players that find FromSoftware combat too sluggish, but enjoy the Souls series’ other aspects, will definitely want to try Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Our reviewer offered very high praise, concluding that “Wo long honors the genre and pushes it forward in an exciting way”. Its 93 rating easily put it on COGconnected’s Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from March 2023.