Author: MichaelF

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Slap Out Of It!” absolutely slaps!

by Michael Fertitta | PC Previews Steam Summer Game Fest | 0 Comments | 22 Jun 2026

One of the defining traits of a puzzle game is the depth of thought required of players to discover solutions with their own wit. Just like every convention of thought, there is always an example of one who dares to ask, “what if?” Indeed, what if there were a puzzle game whose solutions involved mindlessly slapping everything and everyone around them?

The developers at Turbo Button aim to answer just that with Slap Out Of It!, and I got to slap my way through the first level at SGF.

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Escape Academy 2: Back to School” is a shaky puzzle experience

by Michael Fertitta | Epic Games Store PC Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 19 Jun 2026

If you’ve ever done an escape room, you’ll know the fun comes from putting everyone’s heads together to brainstorm solutions using the limited environment around yourselves. In Escape Academy 2, this core component of collaborative puzzle solving gets blown wide…

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – Razer rewrites the game with new hardware experiences

by Michael Fertitta | PC Previews Summer Game Fest | 0 Comments | 19 Jun 2026

From their distinct green headphones to their well-regarded peripherals, Razer is one of the most recognizable brands out there. At Summer Game Fest, I was invited to check out their latest hardware. Among the products shown were their flagship Razer…

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Crimson Moon” is an engaging blend of Soulslike and roguelike mechanics

by Michael Fertitta | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

One such combination that I did not expect to encounter at SGF was a crossover of soulslike and roguelike gameplay styles. Crimson Moon sets out to do just that and blend together the consequential difficulty of soulslikes with the replayability of roguelikes. After playing a demo at SGF, I’ve got to say that this combination absolutely works!

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Valor Mortis” is a fascinating first-person take on the soulslike genre

by Michael Fertitta | PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 17 Jun 2026

Dark Souls has inspired countless games that have taken its hardcore gameplay structure and iterated on its high skill ceiling and item scarcity. Regardless of whether some enjoy such mechanics, the gameplay has become highly influential for studios of all sizes when creating their own experiences. One such game that excels in this is the upcoming first-person soulslike, Valor Mortis. I was fortunate enough to play through a couple of levels during my demo session, and I came away thinking it was one of my highlights of the show.

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Nekome: Nazi Hunter” is delightfully visceral

by Michael Fertitta | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 16 Jun 2026

ProbablyMonsters has commanded more attention over the past few months for its unique and varied game output. This year’s Summer Game Fest was a demonstration of this approach, with one of two titles being a story-driven action game that involves beating up Nazis. On that premise alone, it was difficult to turn down the chance to try out a game with a simple but brilliant beat, but I was also interested to explore the uniquely stylized world that ProbablyMonsters had built for this title.

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Turok: Origins” is an action-packed return of a fossilized franchise!

by Michael Fertitta | PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 15 Jun 2026

I got the opportunity at Summer Game Fest to play Turok: Origins with the team and interview the developers to find out why they decided to take a stab at reanimating an otherwise fossilized franchise for a modern audience.

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Blood Message” is a brilliant blend of stealth and action

by Michael Fertitta | PC Previews Steam Summer Game Fest | 0 Comments | 12 Jun 2026

I was fortunate enough to be able to try out Blood Message at Summer Game Fest this year, and after playing it for about a half hour while talking with the developers, it was easily one of my highlights of the show.

[SGF 2026] HANDS-ON – “Alien: Isolation 2” is spectacularly frightening

by Michael Fertitta | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Previews Summer Game Fest Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 11 Jun 2026

Alien: Isolation is a game that hardly needs an introduction. Easily one of the most well-known horror experiences featuring the iconic Xenomorph killer, Alien: Isolation had people shivering in their boots for years since its release in 2014. When the sequel was finally announced at SGF this year, to say the energy in the room was electric was an understatement.

[SGF 2026] SmashPad’s favorite games from Day of the Devs

by Michael Fertitta | Features Summer Game Fest | 0 Comments | 05 Jun 2026

Summer Game Fest is off to a great start with the main show, but the fun is only just beginning, as the annual Day of the Devs showcase has just aired, showcasing what’s to come from developers all over the…

REVIEW – “Clockwork Ambrosia” is an absolute blast!

by Michael Fertitta | PC Reviews Steam | 0 Comments | 12 May 2026

Clockwork Ambrosia is a game that takes that concept and goes in a fascinating, different direction, focusing instead on letting the player modify their weapons. To put it simply, I absolutely enjoyed my time with this game and its weapon mod mechanics.

HANDS-ON – “D-Topia” demo is a window into a relaxing puzzle-solving experience

by Michael Fertitta | PC PlayStation 5 Previews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 05 May 2026

Annapurna Interactive has always been a name I associate with developers and publishers that create games with fascinating and deep narratives. With the rise of AI in nearly every aspect of our lives, it opens the door for a larger conversation about the existentialism of working alongside technologies that can grow beyond human comprehension. D-Topia, an upcoming puzzle game from Annapurna, seeks to tell a story in a similar manner, and I was interested in checking out how far the demo dives into this increasingly relevant topic.