SmashPad's Reviews
Obviously, if visual novels aren’t your thing then you won’t really care.
The main thing that makes Doki Doki Literature Club Plus worth anyone’s time is the fact that even four years since its original release, it’s still a shocking and unique experience.
In the end, INTERmission is some pretty fun gaming, but it’s not worth spending another $60 on Intergrade unless you’re actually interested in replaying the game on PS5.
if you’re looking for an entry point into this series, this isn’t it (especially if you hate grinding). But if you’re a fan of the series like me? You’ll still find much to enjoy. Exploding Prinnies never gets old.
Rise doesn’t feel like it needs a huge expansion to open it up. One may come in the future to expand the game even further, which would be awesome, but it’s already great as it is.
Playing this new, remastered version of Mass Effect brought back so many memories and feelings from a by-gone era, and the fact that people half my age can now experience this epic at the same age I originally did? That’s a very special feeling.
Like The Missing Heir before it, The Girl Who Stands Behind features an enjoyable and thought-provoking story, but its style of gameplay will take some getting used to whether you’re a connoisseur of visual novels or not.
After a few rough goes at it, Capcom has finally recaptured the magic of RE4 with Resident Evil Village. In some respects, it even feels like a spiritual successor to the commonly revered title.
For the sheer amount of content alone, New Pokémon Snap is well worth the price of admission especially if you already have an idea of what to expect. However, if you’re expecting the game to move the needle as far as real advancements in gameplay over the last 20 years, you’re not going to find that here.
This game is really more than the sum of its parts. The overall experience, from the character development, the devastating and mind-reeling revelations that plot throws at you, and even the new bits of content specially made for this game make it worthwhile.
$20 is a good price for the amount of enjoyment there is for Tools Up!, but given its age, you probably would be right to wait for a sale when the discount is more significant.
JRPG fans should know what to expect here. JRPGs are typically a slow-moving grinds, and Bravely Default II is no different. If you’ve never been a fan of the genre, it’s tough to envision this game changing your mind.
There’s not much that’s engaging about The Longing which makes it a hard one to recommend.
A game that is dark, funny, hopeful, depressing, nihilistic, anti-nihilistic, and yet so sincerely earnest that it almost brings a tear to my eyes.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page is a short but enjoyable and heartfelt experience that anybody looking for a chill game to play should try out.
It Takes Two is the absolute best cooperative experience you’ll find in the medium, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.
The careful integration of culture mostly through writing and basic level design is really what makes the game really special. I’ve been putting off my first Japan trip for years, and now since I can’t travel, Persona 5 Strikers sort of scratches that itch.
Super Mario 3D World is about as close to perfect as you can get with a Mario game, and the fact that it features online multiplayer makes it even better, but what really makes the package worth the $60 is the fact that you have one of the best Mario titles with a new game thrown in.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a real shot in the arm as far as livening up the formula, and while Falcom accomplished the mission of making Ys’ non-combat gameplay more exciting, the setting of Balduq left much to be desired–maybe it’s just me being tired of having to quarantine after doing it virtually all of 2020, but it can’t really feel good for Adol either.
"...if you’re someone that thoroughly enjoyed Ryza’s last adventure, you’ll absolutely love Atelier Ryza 2."