SmashPad's Reviews
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."
Sackboy: A Big Adventure takes the franchise in a new direction while still maintaining the infectious charm of its predecessors
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is a game that wears many hats, but doesn’t fit any of them quite right
Demon’s Souls is a testament to how maybe old dogs don’t necessarily need to learn new tricks to win best-in-show, but rather how a little grooming can go a long way
Trails of Cold Steel IV is to the Trails series what Avengers: Endgame was for the MCU, and I’m both happy and proud that Falcom had me along for the ride.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a hardcore game built for a hardcore audience. If you’re in that camp, this might be the game for you
Much like professional wrestling on TV, if you take it too seriously, you’ll end up disappointed.
The game isn’t bad. Is it a must-play? Definitely not. It’s an epic waste of time that I can easily recommend at a much cheaper price. This kind of game is really for a select cluster of intellectuals that don’t get crabby when it comes to trying new things.
If you’ve never played any of these Mario games, go ahead and take the plunge, but if you’re somebody looking for more, consider voting with your wallet and make Nintendo realize devoted fans deserve more than this. There are other compilation packs of great games with more effort put in for much less than $60.
Tell Me Why is a pretty cool experience. It had an outstanding introduction, but after that it fell flat. The lack of any weight to any of the choices there are to be made in the game make you feel like you have no control, and whether or not that’s the intention, it just makes the game feel sort of shallow.
The problem is that the game, arguably, struggles with its identity, and therefore can’t really lean into one.
However way you enjoy NBA 2K, NBA 2K21 offers it all and still does it better than any basketball game in the market. Now we're just hoping the next-generation version doesn't skip a beat and we see some changes that truly feel like we're in a new generation.
Not a single choice I made felt like it had any consequence, and with one chapter remaining next week, the fact that it’s the last one is really my only motivation to finish. The first chapter started with such a high note, so we can only hope it all ends on a high note too.
The THPS series may be one that’s getting older all the time, but if this latest outing by Vicarious Visions is any indicator, then just like the Birdman himself, age hasn’t slowed it down one bit.
The attention to detail so far truly is astounding, and with the debut chapter clocking in at around less than four hours, I can’t wait until the next one.
Battletoads is an enjoyable experience that can be completed within five hours, but it’s nothing more than that.