SmashPad's Reviews
In order to sell me on a new version of Cave Story in 2017, I needed to see a significant amount of new content—new weapons, new areas, new playable characters, new choices. Without any of those things, Cave Story+ is a short, simple, fun experience that doesn’t quite live up to the standard set by similar games in the time since Cave Story originally released.
...aside from RiME having good graphics, it’s tough to recommend this title at $30 ($40 on the Switch) when there are so many other great games that came out this year."
It’s clear that Sonic Mania was made with a lot of tender loving care, and with all the fans this game is set to please in addition to finding new ones, it would be a shame if Sega doesn’t name Christian Whitehead and company the new Sonic Team.
There are two kinds of players that Yakuza Kiwami should interest — existing Yakuza fans that want to give the first game a visit, and the gamers who’ve heard great things about Yakuza but never gave it a chance. When it comes to these two audiences, Sega hit it right out of the park with this remake especially with the game’s $30 price point.
Madden NFL 18 is every bit as great as the last Madden was, but aside from its awesome story mode, there really isn’t anything new to talk about. If you’re a Franchise guy, it’s the same. If you like MUT, there are some new things sprinkled here and there, but it’s mostly the same. Madden is still Madden, and it’s not really a bad thing.
It’s another win for Falcom as they continue to churn out quality games and be the envy of every developer in the genre, and we wish them the best as far as this great series gaining more noticeable mainstream attention.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a joy to play and is one of the most charming releases of the year.
The writing so far is every bit as corny as an independent film crossed with a CW drama is, and it’s this writing style that has made the series so endearing, so it’s hard to not be excited to see what new developer Deck Nine has store for the next couple episodes.
"...essentially last year’s game with a shinier coat of paint, and we cannot recommend the game at full price primarily due to the fact that everything new in the game does absolutely nothing special, and it makes the package feel like a bloated mess."
Players that get over the fan service should find a lot to enjoy in Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash, no matter how weirded out onlookers might be.
There’s nothing wrong with more Uncharted, and The Lost Legacy is exactly that.
Where Awake did a great job reacquainting Life is Strange players to the harsh reality in Arcadia Bay, Brave New World does as great a job making us care for Chloe again while also giving people another look at characters that seemed like different people in the original game.
If The Fractured But Whole is your first South Park game, you’re in for a treat. If it isn’t, you’re still in for a treat. Just don’t expect it to surprise you as much as the last one did.
Super Mario Odyssey does things that no other game before or after it could or ever would do, and that’s one of many reasons why it’s a must-have for anybody with a liking for video games.
Hell is Empty doesn’t do anything special, so if you’re looking forward to see what unique stuff Before the Storm‘s conclusion does to separate itself from the rest of the story, it’s the fact that the game gets a whole lot heavier.
It’s hard to even think of a game that gives players as many feels as Life is Strange does, and this bonus episode alone is a beautiful mess of emotions that succeeds at striking about every chord for players who’ve grown attached to the game’s main characters.
Gamers have heard for years about how great the series is, and no Monster Hunter game demonstrates that better than Monster Hunter: World. The game is constantly cycling in new content to blend in with the game’s main campaign and meaty post-game with the bulk of it being free, making it hard to not praise Capcom for this feat.
...this game actually does a fantastic job making a multiplayer game feel as involved and engaging as an 8-hour 70’s buddy movie.
While this sequel has its clear improvements over the original, I was still more thoroughly impressed with Wrath of the White Witch. Even though the predecessor was more childish, I personally enjoyed the first game's journey and its characters a whole lot more.
Vampyr has a lot of great features and ideas, which is an impressive thing to say about any game in this genre, but it just doesn’t hit home on aspects that make a good action RPG truly engaging.