Smash Jump
HomepageSmash Jump's Reviews
The Drifter is a phenomenal experience that takes you on a roller-coaster ride unlike any other game that I’ve played in recent memory. The gameplay may be simple to some but it provides players with a lot of satisfaction with every puzzle solved. Couple that with a gripping story featuring incredible writing, memorable characters, hard hitting themes and messages, amazing art design and a brilliant soundtrack, and The Drifter has everything that it needs to provide you with a perfect experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades” kick-starts the game with the line “You win some, lose some […].” That’s exactly how I feel about Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. Despite the outstanding gameplay, level design, and stable performance, this is not a faithful recreation of the originals.
Hypercharge is a solid experience that has everything you could want from a shooter game and if you’re in the mood to play toy soldiers for a couple of hours then this one is a must buy.
The more I think about Ruffy, the more I see lost potential. Ruffy and the Riverside is a solid puzzle platformer that needed more substance. The collectable elements always reward the same thing, gold, which is largely worthless, the platforming is much too light given the arsenal of moves Ruffy has access to, and the swap ability, while inventive, needed more interesting application.
Despite its glaring flaws, Nightreign is a fantastic experience for long-time FromSoftware and, specifically, Elden Ring fans. At its core, it is more Elden Ring, an automatic positive. When Nightreign is clicking, it soars to some of the highest heights FromSoftware games can get.
I have mixed feelings about Mario Kart World. I’ve enjoyed my time with the game, but there are several major issues that I just can’t ignore. The terrible character select screen, the lackluster Free Roam and battle modes, and the small number of tracks leave a lot to be desired. That said, the better graphics, the character roster, and the vast content in the game are a step in the right direction.
Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game is not gonna break bounds or anything largely because of its niche demographic and straightforward gameplay, but it’s a game that you’ll quickly find is addicting once you figure out the controls, put on your running shoes, and get moving.
In its current state MindsEye certainly isn’t anything special, but if you are willing to take a risk on something that has a solid foundation, oodles of potential but might just end up leave you a little dissatisfied with the final result, MindsEye is worth a try – but maybe wait until its performance is ironed out.
Date Everything! is a very unique game that stands out from other visual novels. The creative idea, the vast array of memorable characters, the quirky writing, and the beautiful art really help this game shine. While the large amount of content can be overwhelming and the performance issues, along with the bugs, can put a damper on things, none of it really drags the experience down.
Debuting with this game is an impressive feat for Far Out Games. Even more so impressive as many on the team have been recent students. The destruction is iconic, the driving feels weighted, and its story keeps you guessing, even if the ending is a head-scratcher. But the game is a labor of love, and the developers have something special here.
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a solid collection with a nice assortment of classic fighting games. Despite some of the flaws with its online, there are still plenty of reasons to love this game. The numerous extras, added online play with rollback netcode, and the overall style of the collection, combined with the obvious benefit of having these games preserved, make this quite a great collection.
On offer here is an interesting story with engaging characters, simple, and gorgeous environments. Where it is perhaps let down the most is the uneven pacing, characterization that can feel unnatural and unearned, and a simplistic combat system flawed enough to tip the balance from fun and challenging to frustration.
StarVaders is a very addictive game that offers a lot of replay value. Its gameplay loop of defeating enemies with smart tactical manoeuvres, collecting cards to build a powerful deck, and repeating the process is a ton of fun. It’s not going to be for everybody and it can feel overwhelming at times with the stats, but after a while it’s a very easy game to pick up and play.
Doom: The Dark Ages is a complete experience from top to bottom. Top notch combat that comes from a dev team that has been doing FPS for a long time. A story that moves the plot along in a meaningful way and keeps intrigue, at least enough to get to the next fighting sequence. Quality cutscenes give players the full depth of the story as it happens and adds to the overall production value of the game.
Out of Sight is not one to be missed. It provides players with something brand new whilst keeping things simple for anyone to pick up and enjoy. Add in some great challenging puzzles, impeccable art design, and a story that keeps the mystery alive all throughout and you have a game that needs to be experienced. There are flaws for sure, less finicky controls and a much more satisfying resolution that ties up loose ends would have been appreciated, but they don’t hinder the experience too much.
Oblivion Remastered is everything I wanted it to be. It is an example all future remasters should strive toward. It preserves the core of what makes Oblivion special in the eyes of its long-time fans while upgrading and modernizing it just enough so that it feels fresh and in-line with modern sensibilities.
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is an extremely unique game that has an interesting premise, memorable characters, and a wonderfully expressive art style. While the game might be a little more linear in nature, the story and the characters found throughout Limbo really helps this game stand out amidst a sea of up and coming indie titles.
Finding Frankie has a lot of great ideas, which are complimented nicely with its visuals and horror elements, but it’s not enough. It feels as if there should be more here for players to sink their teeth into, however, all we are left with is a short experience that has nothing interesting to say. The few great elements the game has such as the tense Henry Hotline section, the soundtrack, and the art design does elevate it past its mediocrity, but after spending just a measly two hours with the game, it feels as if I only got a quarter of the package.
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is a superb game. It’s got great gameplay, a plethora of content, and a unique art style that ties the game together. It does have its issues, most notably its roster, which really holds the game back. That being said, the game does a great job of bringing Fatal Fury into the modern day and is a great evolution of the franchise. If you’re a big fan of the Fatal Fury series or fighting games in general, this game is definitely recommended.
Overall, the Lunar Remastered Collection is an attractive package that updates two great role-playing games from the mid-’90s. There are options to play the remastered and original versions, and you can switch which version you are playing midway through your playthrough if you feel like it. The core games incorporate great anime-style cutscenes. The cutscenes are impressive and really make the great, feel-good story shine through as you are playing the game.