SmashPad's Reviews
The path to Afterlove EP‘s release undoubtedly came with a lot twists and turns, but the end result is an impressive slice-of-life adventure that successfully brings great diverse characters, relationships, and inclusion to the forefront as a game that’s both artistic and entertaining.
I still loved it, and I can’t wait for the next entry in the series, but Daybreak II doesn’t take the series to new heights like its predecessor did.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is an ambitious narrative game. Its blend of TTRPG mechanics, compelling storytelling, and strategic gameplay made it a standout game for me. For those seeking a story rich, narrative experience will find Citizen Sleeper 2 to be a standout game that I would recommend.
Despite injections of nostalgia, the game falls a bit flat in its controls and movement physics; it doesn’t feel good to control DK. Finally, this being a full-priced release is absolutely bananas. Here’s to hoping the big guy can make a better return on the Switch 2.
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a terrific value to both newcomers to Ys and those looking to experience the story again with the updates it got. I would’ve preferred more substantial improvements, but the 12 hours spent in Felghana were definitely more than enjoyable and definitely represents a great start to the big huge 2025 that Falcom is poised to have–which should be music any JRPG fan’s ears.
If you want a simple game that’ll allow you to feel, Pine: A Story of Loss does that at the barest of minimums, so I can’t fully recommend it for $10. You’re better off with a game like Florence which does the same thing with much more variety and likely more enjoyment.
Whether you’re a fan of Metroidvania games, Soulslike combat, or gripping stories, Nine Sols offers something for everyone. With its stunning world, unforgettable characters, and masterful storytelling, this is a game I highly recommend you don’t glance over.
Last Time I Saw You is a worthy $16 experience if you’re looking for a palette cleansing game to play between big games or if you just need a beautiful cozy game to play that has nothing to do with farming. Last Time I Saw You is a game that checked a lot of those boxes for me, and I think a lot of people will find something to enjoy with this title.
Atlus and Sega have once again come out with a winner in Metaphor: ReFantazio. It’s simply exquisite.
It makes you feel in ways you can’t even describe, and that’s a quality that makes Neva even more special with all the amazing things it has going for it.
The game’s saving grace is that aside from the clunky sailing, I never felt like I was wasting time in this game’s 30-or-so-hour adventure. I may be down on a lot of the changes, but I had a lot of fun playing it, especially since Karja was such a cool character.
Sadly, not even quality world-building and a solid soundtrack can save this one. It tries to tell a semi-serious story about what a world of wizards and witches would actually look like, except the world is shows is as wooden as its frequent excursions into the woods.
The Plucky Squire are what will keep the indie game scene alive for years to come.
With everything it has going for it, Astro Bot is easily one of the best games of the year.
At the end of the day, the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection is an easy recommendation for people that enjoy the Ace Attorney series, especially if the Miles Edgeworth character from the original trilogy was intriguing to you. If visuals novels or tons of reading aren’t your thing, you’d be wise to stay far away. Either way you look at it, it’s a great set, and Ace Attorney Investigations 2 is worth the price of admission on its own.
Just Crow Things is a fun little title that masterfully marries the enjoyment people have with both cozy games and games that are more on the chaotic side.
College Football 25 is a lot of fun to play from moment to moment, and so much else about this game seems hellbent to sour the experience because it feels like an unfinished game.
You won’t find a complete game changer with this overhaul, but you’ll have a chance to play the game with far better graphics and a much larger screen. For some, that just might be worth it enough. For others, at a $60 price tag, that might be a little too steep for a fairly straightforward adaptation.
Thank Goodness You’re Here! is undoubtedly one of the weirdest and most unique games I’ve ever played, and it’s also quite clear that it goes for the jugular with its humor, but it just didn’t work out like that for me. I can definitely see a lot of people enjoying the experience and enjoying the humor way more than I did, so I’ll understand if people think I’m being harsh.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of the biggest surprises and best games of the year.