SmashPad's Reviews
Rugrats: Retro Rewind Collection is like poop in a baby's diaper. It's significantly ugly, outdated in its gameplay offerings, and genuinely frustrating, with a gallery of glitches. While some of the minigames can be fun overall, most are outdated and shouldn't have been re-released. It is a decent flash in the past and great for preservation, on the other hand.
Even with some repetition issues, Table Flip Simulator packs quite a bit for its $14.99 price tag. If you’d like to have a cozy type of game that lets you cause a scene, not too dissimilar from Untitled Goose Game or a pared-down Goat Simulator, this is a solid value. There’s good fun to be had, as it genuinely got me chuckling for what I could take down along the way.
Bubsy 4D is a great 3D platformer that’s a little on the short side but still gives a lot of respect to a character who deserved more love than he ever got. It’s charming, funny, challenging, and shows that it’s paw-sible to make a wonderful Bubsy game.
Bluey's Quest for The Gold Pen is a genuinely fun game with a lot to do. I found the platforming genuinely engaging and, at times, challenging. I'd imagine this is also a solid one to put kids in front of so they can meander around. However, the game should be a consistent, playable experience across all platforms. If you have the means to play on Switch, I'd recommend it. But if you are limited to PlayStation, I'd recommend waiting for a confirmed patch to fix a bad progression bug before giving it a shot.
Just like with the last couple of games, I found myself drawn into this ordinary yet fantastical world, with its ordinary and fantastical inhabitants. Admittedly, I wasn't too sure going in, but Coffee Talk Tokyo represents everything I love about the series and more.
STARBITES has a lot going for it. The combat is fun, easily the most consistent and entertaining aspect of the game, as it should be. The story is serviceable, carried by cool, funny characters and a decent, gradual upscaling of stakes relative to them. The things that bothered me with this game were not fundamental enough to keep me from playing to the very end, and that makes for an overall, convincing win. It has ample charisma, a good message, and plenty of heart.
Forza Horizon 6 is a landmark title, as it not only does everything it sets out to do but also does so in a way that allows anyone, even those previously put off by open-world games, to play and enjoy it. Playground and Turn 10 Studios have made the conscious decision to take the time to figure this stuff out. They succeeded in creating a game that immerses you in the culture and lets you have a great time. Even if you aren’t coming at this one from an accessibility standpoint, the game is an absolute blast to play.
Clockwork Ambrosia is a solid Metroidvania experience. The weapon customization gives players near-infinite loadout combinations, significantly changing gameplay and lending itself well to replayability or even a challenge run for those inclined. From the weapon-modifying combat to the killer soundtrack to the beautiful pixelated art style, Clockwork Ambrosia is a game you shouldn't skip out on.
The stellar performances from the actors, out-of-this-world graphics, and sci-fi theming are on point. It's just a shame that the game is repetitive, with too many arduous stealth sections. If you can get past some bad pacing issues as well, Directive 8020 is worth the riveting trip it takes you on.
When I rolled credits on Mixtape, I whispered to myself, "Dang, I'm never gonna play anything like this again." If I do, it'll be compared to Mixtape, both fairly and unfairly. And again, the things this game does from a gameplay perspective aren't unique. It's the careful sum of its parts that makes Mixtape a modern classic, and at $20, it's an easy recommendation whether you binge or slow burn the six-hour title.
"This seven-to-eight-hour experience definitely was not a waste of time. This is a cozy game, through and through, that I really enjoyed from beginning to end. I wish there were at least some fail points or at least a little bit of struggle, but if you take the game for what it is, you’ll have something that’s definitely heartwarming."
Wax Heads represents a unifying beauty and purpose I've never seen in a game before. If it exists elsewhere, please guide me to it; for now, this game deserves its moment. I laughed (a lot), I cried (a bit), I smiled (endlessly). It feels like a game made for me, but not only me.
This is a fairly unique game that's pretty impressive in some ways, given its indie nature, but the controls and signposting simply aren't good enough. With some tweaks to the platforming, wall running, and wall chainsawing, this would be a far better game, but as it stands, it's too frustrating for general audiences, even if I think most people interested in the concept will still be able to overlook its many foibles.
Invincible VS is good. It’s a big game even if it feels small at times. Good production does it some nice favors and with DLC already lined up, hopefully Quarter Up and Skybound Games can take notes from the community, deliver some surprises, and forge some longevity for those who are jaded and looking for a new mainstay on their hard drives and offer a new way for Invincible fans to experience that universe.
Kiln is a fantastic concept by Double Fine that feels limited in scope. There is only one mode and a limited number of maps, while the progression also doesn’t have rewards worth slaving hours for. I hope it has a future, but in today’s competitive environment, it could struggle. Fingers crossed the team continues to build on this game because the foundation is extremely fun, and forming your own pots for battle is an engaging experience
Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream is a wild and deep life simulation that grants players near-unlimited creativity. The game allows you to just sit down, create whatever you want, and make it weird. Even if the game is missing some online capabilities, it’s still the only place where you can see a giant praying mantis and a man in a hamster suit sharing a meal at a diner.
By the time I hit credits, I had gone through a whirlwind of emotions that had me floored at the fact that the developers really went there with a Moomin game. That said, Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth is a wonderful and whimsical tale where being together matters the most. Fun and beautifully written adventure games with philosophical lessons don’t come around too often, and this game hit me right at my core. It does a great job carrying over the same comforting feeling of hopefulness Tove Jansson conveys in her original works.
Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is as solid on Switch as it ever was, and if you’ve never played the game and you’re coming off Ys X: Nordics, Celceta is a great way to check out not only the story immediately after Ys X, but to experience one of the games that laid the groundwork for systems seen on other Ys games. Still, $60 is a little steep for this game when you can get the same experience for at least half the price on PS4 or PC.
Shadow Tactics is a fantastic old-school stealth tactics game that rewards thoughtful play and is incredibly replayable. If you don’t own it elsewhere and want a portable version, it’s worth picking up on the Switch 2. If portability doesn’t matter to you, it’s still absolutely worth playing—you might just want to choose a different platform.
If, dear reader, you intend to do anything productive for the foreseeable future, do not play Titanium Court! Its blend of tested mechanics, wit, and creativity, combined into a truly whimsical, clever, and heartfelt package, takes you on a long, involved, and worthwhile journey. Titanium Court is not a game for those seeking quick gratification. It is one for those who favor substance over superficiality.