Main Menu

Cognition Episode 1 Reviews

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

Previous topic - Next topic

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

TechZwn reviews Cognition with a 3/5:

QuoteThe story is what makes this game a winner and the ending will definitely leave you wanting more.

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

A scoreless but positive review in from All That Gaming Stuff.

And a 9/10 from GirlGamer!
QuoteThis is the first commercial release from Phoenix Online Studios and they've done an excellent job creating a dark, atmospheric thriller with a thought-provoking narrative, something many games struggle with these days. It took about six hours to finish which is longer than many comparable games, too. Not surprisingly, the ending was one heck of a cliffhanger so I'm anxiously waiting for the next chapter!

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

#23
But wait, there's more!

Trollish Delver gives Episode 1 a 4/5!

(Or, as a 10/13, the same review is done up nicely in Thirteen 1. Select Cognition review from the dropdown box at the bottom left.)

We got a nice write-up from The Gameological Society.

And Games Arena (Romanian) gives us an 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


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

#25
Just Adventure has posted their review, giving Cognition an A-!!

Other reviews that have come in today (scoreless):

Classic Game Room.

QuoteCognition succeeds in doing what a good adventure game should: it marries good story telling with satisfying puzzles. Most importantly the puzzles are challenging without being frustrating (gone is the adventure game moon logic that plagues so many titles). If you do get stuck, the integrated hint system can be used to get helpful hints without totally spoiling the solution.

GamerSyde, a French site, has also posted their 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

#26
RPGFan has posted their review of Episode 1, scoring it at 80%!

QuoteThe passion of the developers for their work is evident in every facet of the game, and there's a strong foundation here. The puzzle design is far more detailed than what you'd see in similar games, and, with a few exceptions, can be solved with only the magic of clear thought. The art and music are also inspired and make a strong case for the game. Some of the game's technical aspects aren't quite as well-tuned, though, and the unevenness does hurt the experience. Ultimately, Cognition is a good start, and at its core, a quality adventure game. If the folks at Phoenix Online Studios can iron out the technical kinks and uneven presentation, this series will be a sure winner.

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

GameBoomers has posted their review, giving Episode 1 a solid B+!

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

DiehardGameFAN has written up their review, scoring Episode 1 as an "Enjoyable Game" (you can see the breakdown of their 'scoring' at the end of the article).

Quote"I really do like this game. It's a different take on the detective side of adventure games, which I usually don't go for... I'm all for incorporating the supernatural side of things into games like this because it is a neat angle, and to see someone who has had this ability all her life still struggling to come to grips with it and tackle getting over certain events in her life really makes the lead seem even more human than she would have normally. It makes her relatable and makes me want to keep playing it."

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

A couple more reviews coming in over the holiday weekend:

GGS Gamer enjoyed the game and how it incorporated Erica's powers into her job:

QuoteIf you like your point-and-click games more serious than Monkey Island then I can heartily recommend Cognition with its neat touches like comic book style subtitles. While fans of the piratey point-and-click classic might be shocked that you can die and maim others in Cognition, the polished nature of the puzzles and the well established atmosphere create an experience that highly suits the CSI style genre. Plus it's always fun to walk into a crime scene, touch one object, and magically recollect the intricacies of the murder, then bluff your arse off and act like you just followed the clues.

And Beefjack has given a big thumbs-up, Recommended rating!

QuoteIf style were the most important aspect of a game, Cognition would be game of the year. Reverb Games and Phoenix Online Studios have created a visual feast in the first episode of this murder mystery adventure game. Most of the cutscenes are partially animated artworks. Whether this was a budget decision or an aesthetic one, it works, and gives Cognition an atmosphere that sets it apart from other games.

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

#30
Adventure-Treff has given us a score of 85%!

Quote"I myself was skeptical about whether the title is what he promised. According to Jane Jensen's disappointing for me, Gray Matter (both the puzzle design, storytelling and presentation) and the announcement that she would help with the story, the expectations were even . still lower However, I was pleasantly surprised, because what The Silver Lining hinted at every line of dialogue and staging shows here clearly: a logical development of the adventure genre in episodic format An exciting story, an interesting main character, challenging puzzles, and a grandiose. atmosphere make for me this first episode a worthy spiritual successor of the Gabriel Knight series, which hopefully will be even better with each new episode. Besides The Walking Dead is the best for me so far (serious) Adventure game experience of the year. "

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

DIY has reviewed Episode 1, giving it a 7/10!

Quote[Cognition] is an entertaining way to spend a few hours. The story kept us interested and we'll be watching out to see what Phoenix have to offer in future episodes.

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 8/10, this time from Atomic Gamer!

QuoteFor a first effort and a brand-new IP, Phoenix Online Studios has done an admirable job. Although in places Cognition's graphics are little rough and the writing's a little unnatural, it offers us an adult-level adventure game full of interesting mechanics, a professional voice cast, great music and a compelling heroine. After playing the first Erica Reed episode, I have no doubt there will be future ones and no doubt that through them, Phoenix Online will iron out the remaining kinks and create for us a truly memorable adventure 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

Game Debate gives us a 7.5/10!

And I'm pulling two quotes from them, because I just love the second one so much :)

QuoteThe more violent moments are definitely gritty, but the brilliant cel-shaded graphics give everything a glorious comic book sheen, similar to the Walking Dead games.

QuoteAs far as adventure game introductions go, Cognition Episode One: Hangman (An Erica Reed Thriller) is one of the most hard-hitting. We had to sit in a quiet room and sip mulberry tea afterwards, to try and calm down a bit.

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

YouTube Reviewer GorzkiBaton has uploaded his 2-part video review of Cognition--this one's in Polish. :)

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjsZCoI7r1s
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2GjGgWnvEE

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

MidLifeGamer gives us an 8/10!

Quote"The haunting score is as stunning as the graphics and accompanies the environments with perfect balance to draw you into the foreboding and disparate world. Whether it be the quick paced string sections to emphasise the urgency of the situation Erica is in, or the slow vibrato piece when attending a crime scene in the downtown area of Boston, each movement brings a little more depth and character to the world."

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

#37
Spiele Tester, a German game review site, has posted their coverage of Cognition, and gave us 72%!

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

Invision Community comes in with a 4/5 :)

QuoteThe first episode of four is a promising start. The game has some challenging puzzles that aren't impossible and aren't too easy to still give you that sense of accomplishment once you complete them. The atmosphere is creepy, inviting and addictive and the voice actors/actresses and visuals rise this game to sit among the great Point and Click games. Although there are a few flaws that keep it from filling it's full potential, Cognition is definitely a game for lovers of the genre and otherwise.

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

AdventureZone, a Polish site, has given Episode 1 a 7/10!

Katie Hallahan
~Designer, PR Director~

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

I have a blog!