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Cognition Episode 1 Reviews

Started by KatieHal, October 30, 2012, 02:00:27 PM

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KatieHal

The thread for collecting reviews of Episode 1: The Hangman!

IndieGames.com
IndieGames.com's Top 10 Adventures of 2012: #4!
Destructoid: 7.5/10
FutureSack 9/10
Inside Games (German, video) 7.5/10
AdventureGamers 3.5/5
Kotaku
GamingPortugal (Portugese) 8/10
PlayerAttack
WCFCourier 3.5/5
IGN Italia (Italian) 7.5/10
Voice of Geeks Network B+
Video Game People 9/10
Indie Game Mag 86/100
Impulse Gamer: 6.5/10
Skillpoint.se: (Swedish) 3/5
Creative Gaming 7/10
Gamers.de(German) 85/100
WatchPlayRead
Charisma Plus 2
Alternative Magazine Online: 9/10
Digital Hippos: 4/5
4Players: (German) 75/100
Gikz.pl (Polish) 4/5
Punta E Clicca: (Italian) 78/100
Geek Legacy: 7.5/10
Entertainium: 4/5
Mash Those Buttons: 3.3/5
MeriStation: (Spanish) 7.8/10
Rock 'n' Roll Reporter: (German) 5/6
TechZwn: 3/5
All That Gaming Stuff
GirlGamer: 9/10
Trollish Delver: 4/5
The Gameological Society
Games Arena: (Romanian) 8/10
Thirteen 1: (select Cognition review from the dropdown box at the bottom left)10/13
2nd Opinion Productions
Just Adventure: A-
Classic Game Room
GamerSyde (French)
RPGFan: 80%
GameBoomers: B+
DiehardGameFAN" Enjoyable Game
Beefjack : Recommended
GGS Gamer
Adventure-Treff: (German) 85%
Elder Geek: (video) 4/5
DIY:  7/10
Atomic Gamer: 8/10
Game Debate: 7.5/10
Spiele Tester (German)
MidLifeGamer: 8/10
Invision Community: 4/5
AdventureZone: (Polish) 7/10
GameZone: 7/10
Gameswelt: (German) 71%
HOTMC.com: (Italian) 8.5/10
Softpedia: 8/10
God is a Geek: 7/10
Noob Feed: 75/100
Game Rant: 3/5
Gaming Nation: 8/10
Game4Me: 77/100
Digital Chumps: 6.8/10
1P Start: 4.375/6
Z-Giochi: (Italian) 9/10
Tap Repeatedly: Thumbs Up!
2D-X: Excellence Award
Adventure Classic Gaming: 4/5
Game Podunk: 8/10
TechGaming: B-
Explosion: 4/5
For the Love of Gaming: 7/10
Gert Lush Gaming
Royal Flush Gaming
Videoshock (Spanish)
Irrompibles: 84%
Pelit Magazine: 89%
A Role Model: 4/5
Rage Quit (Greek) 85/100
IndieLove
Akihabara Blues: (Spanish) 80%
JTM Games
Johnnosh ark
Games.cz: (Czech) 8/10
Gamers Haven News: 4.3/5
EGMNow: 4/5
Adventure Spiele: (German) 95%, AVSN Award
Adventure's Planet: (Italian) 74/100
Ladebalken: (German) 85%
Indian Video Gamer: 7/10
Gamersaurs
Indie Game Reviewer: 3.5/5
Dad's Gaming Addiction
EveryEye.it
AppGamers.de: (German) 5/5
Pocket Tactics: 4/5
Apples 'n' Apps: 3.5
Slide to Play: 3/4
Pad Gadge: 4/5
PocketGamer: 7/10
Gaming Excellence: 8/10
AppSpy: 3/5
148 APps: 3.5/5
Apps Looking: 3.5/5
Apps Strawberry: 3.5/5
Just Another Gaming Site: 7.5
PocketGamer France: (French) 6.9
Virtual Inn (Italian) 7.0
Gamers Intuition
Polygonien (German)
Hrej.cz: (Czech) 8/10
CyberLudus: (Italian) 70/100
Gaming Illustrated : 73%
MacMaa (Finnish)
Media World (Italian)
The Hulking Reviewer: 8.5
Indiependencia: (Spanish) 8/10

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

#1
I'm thrilled to be able to kick this thread off with such a great review!

FutureSack 9/10

QuoteA very good start of a series and candidate for adventure game of the year

Phoenix Online Studios' first episode The Hangman is both an achievement in mature storytelling and great puzzle design. It is the spiritual successor of the Gabriel Knight series, but with its own unique ideas. Even if it has some technical hiccups and the graphics are dated, it has more substance than many other "serious" adventure games of late. The game also sets a new standard of episodic content with a long playtime of at least 5-6 hours and unlike Telltale's The Walking Dead (which is without a doubt amazing in its own right, but less a game than a cinematic experience) demands a lot of cerebral thinking with its successful implementation of investigative work, cognition abilities and overall involvement in a believable game world.

Rating: 9/10

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

#2
Inside Games has posted a review on YouTube. This one's in German, and we got a score of 7.5/10!

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

An extensive review is in from AdventureGamers, coming in at 3.5/5:

QuoteI really enjoyed almost everything about Hangman. It is soaked with gloomy style, is gorgeous to look at and listen to, sets up its plot points with great precision, and takes off in the third act as it builds to a huge climax with a disquieting final shot that makes me genuinely eager to play the second episode. That's about the highest compliment you can pay to the first in an episodic series.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

GamingPortugal gave us an 8/10!

We've also gotten a "preview" from PlayerAttack, although it was posted after the release, so it's technically a review. :)

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

Another batch of reviews are in! And so far, we are averaging 80% scores on our reviews! :D

WCFCourier gave us 3.5/5.

From across the pond, IGN Italia gives it a 7.5/10. :)

Voice of Geeks Network has given us a B+.
QuoteThe voice acting for Erica is provided by Raleigh Holmes ... She does an excellent job giving Erica some depth, going from between completely serious, to cracking jokes to herself, to then flirting with her coworkers, who all seem smitten with her. It's easy to play the part of "I'm an FBI agent who works alone and doesn't need anyone else ever" - it's much harder to pull off someone who actually DOES have feelings for someone else, but can't bring herself to think about it. Holmes pulls it off.

And Video Game People a 9/10!
QuoteThe gameplay is fantastic and apart from the great music playing and the voice-acting, the 2D comic effect was superb. So if you like a game having a mixture of CSI and Gabriel Knight, do not hesitate to get a copy now and start investigating this great adventure.  See you in Episode 2.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

#6
Indie Game Mag's review is up! 86/100!

QuoteThe presentation of the game is beyond a doubt, the best aspect of Cognition.  The comic book visuals are great and really add to the crime drama feel Phoenix Online went for.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal


Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

Creative Gaming gives Episode 1 a 7/10!


QuoteThroughout the game, you will occasionally be subject to comic-book-like cutscenes. These are very well done, the artwork is excellent, as is the music and sounds that go with them. They are a joy to watch.

(emphasis theirs!)

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

#9
In this morning, Gamers.de (German) gives Cognition Episode 1 an 85/100!

In a great review from WatchPlayRead, who have some great things to say!

QuotePhoenix Online Studios shows that they're more than just a fangame company.
....
Story is where Cognition really shows its muscle. Character details are either out there in the open, or can be further explored through Erica's titular ability, which allows her to see into the past, untangle lost memories, or manifest a spiritual manifestations of those who have passed on. The game also features branching paths, which even this early in the game results in different outcomes.

And there's a review up at Charisma Plus 2!

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

snabbott

Quote from: KatieHal on November 07, 2012, 07:12:25 AM
In this morning, Gamers.de (German) gives Cognition Episode 1 an 85/1000!
*Ahem* That's 85/100. 85/1000 would be very sad. :P

Steve Abbott | Beta Tester | The Silver Lining

wilco64256

Quote from: snabbott on November 07, 2012, 09:42:30 AM
Quote from: KatieHal on November 07, 2012, 07:12:25 AM
In this morning, Gamers.de (German) gives Cognition Episode 1 an 85/1000!
*Ahem* That's 85/100. 85/1000 would be very sad. :P

Hahaha, good catch. I'll grab that extra zero :P
Weldon Hathaway

KatieHal


Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

Alternative Magazine Online LOVED the game--they gave us a 9/10!

QuoteThree things in particular make Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller – Episode 1: The Hangman stand out. Firstly, Erica Reed is voiced to perfection (with an authentic Bostonian twang) by Raleigh Holmes, daughter of Robert Holmes, aka Jane Jensen's husband. It's an exceptional performance that encompasses a gamut of emotions including grief, anger and sheer determination. Secondly, the soundtrack by Austin Haynes is scene-perfect every step of the way and the song 'The Taking' (featuring Raleigh Holmes on vocals) should win video game song of the year, hands down. Thirdly, César Bittar (with a little help from his friend Jane Jensen) and the folks at Phoenix Online Studios have crafted a story that is genuinely involving and extremely emotional. For their first commercial outing, all of these factors add up to a truly incredible achievement.

And Digital Hippos (what a fun name!) gave it a 4/5, adding that Cognition went well beyond the reviewers expectations!

QuoteRATING 4/5  - Whenever I see the word "Thriller" in a title of move or game, I tend to be a little hesitant. That is how I prejudged Erica Reed and I made a big mistake. This game actually is quite intense and thrilling. That is rare for me as I play so many games of varying quality, I have become a bit jaded when it comes to point and click. Not the case here, as this is a solid adventure in both writing, a unique graphic style, great puzzles and a burning intensity. My favorite part about playing smaller releases and indie games is finding talent that is so apparent here. The point and click adventure revolution is alive and well with Erica Reed riding this wave very high. Available on Steam right now, you should definitely check it out if you have any interest at all in the adventure genre.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

snabbott


Steve Abbott | Beta Tester | The Silver Lining

KatieHal

Three more reviews in from across the pond :)

4Players: (German) 75/100

Gikz.pl (Polish) 4/5

Punta E Clicca: (Italian) 78/100

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

Geek Legacy enjoyed the game greatly and gave it a 7.5/10!

QuoteOverall I had a pleasing experience with Cognition. Players get to make choices on how the story unfolds. That's a huge plus in my book and certainly adds to the replay value. ... I'm curious to see how Erica will handle herself after what took place in the final moments of episode one.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

KatieHal

Entertainum gives Episode 1 a 4/5!

QuoteIt's incredible to think that such an ambitious adventure game was developed by such a small team. They go so far as to include some decent to excellent samples of voice acting, on part with most multi-million dollar games. This premiere chapter shows plenty of potential, giving us reason to expect the next three parts to be even better. If you enjoy adventure games with a gripping story and great art, Cognition is shaping up to be a fantastic option.

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!

darthkiwi

Have you sent a copy to http://rockpapershotgun.com? They're focused exclusively on PC gaming and are very well thought of.

Also, have you told http://indiegames.com? They have a fairly large viewer base, I think.
Prince of the Aquitaine. Duke of York.

Knight errant and consort to Her Grace the Empress Deloria of the Holy Roman Empire, Queene of all Albion and Princess Palatine.

KatieHal

#19
We are working on them--the press copies go out to a very long list (and those two are on it). We post 'em as they come in, and we are very much hoping those sites will be coming up!

In the meantime, we've got a 3.3/5 from Mash Those Buttons. :)

And our first Spanish review! A 7.8/10 from MeriStation!

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

"Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the phoenix." Christina Baldwin

I have a blog!