SmashPad's Reviews
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is one of the best looking games you’ll ever play, and if you can find your way around its old-school feel and difficulty, you’ll probably make yourself a fan of Ember Lab and look really forward to what they put out next.
There’s promise in this kind of game, but it lacks the polish that definitely could’ve benefitted from more time in the oven–especially with how needlessly difficult the arcade minigames are.
The game also features some extra content to give you a greater feel for its superb cast, so I simply can’t recommend these games enough.
Everything from its overall look, the amazing orchestral soundtrack, its mostly tight combat, and exquisite level design makes the fact that Acid Nerve is primarily made up of four people simply astounding. Devolver Digital has published no shortage of fantastic games, and Death’s Door just might be the new crown jewel. This is a game that’ll put Acid Nerve over as one of the top indie teams out there, and I simply can’t wait to see what they have next.
At that, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is, by most accounts, Ratchet & Clank perfected, so if you’re a fan — you definitely owe it to yourself to pick this one up if you have a PS5.
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.