Reviews – SmashPad

REVIEW – “Samson” is bland, buggy, and brutal to play

by Andrew Farrell | PC Reviews | 0 Comments | 08 Apr 2026

It’s somewhat strange that there aren’t many indie games taking inspiration from Grand Theft Auto. Driving around a city while taking on crime jobs is a great loop, so when Samson was announced, I was excited to play it. That excitement turned to annoyance in very short order, though, as the game is just plain bad in most ways, from its awful driving and terrible combat to its poor balance and meaningless game focus. The incredibly bland characterization certainly doesn’t help matters either, all combining to make for a subpar experience across the board.

REVIEW – “The House of Hikmah” is a beautiful but bug-riddled cultural experience

by Michael Fertitta | PC Reviews | 0 Comments | 07 Apr 2026

When it comes to puzzle games in a 3D realm, atmosphere is what consistently keeps me hooked into the world whose mysteries I’m unraveling. Games like The Witness and The Talos Principle did so in a way that had me reflect on existentialism, and as such, remained very impactful in my experience. When I first looked at The House of Hikmah, I had a feeling this would be another special experience to immerse myself in, this time in the realm of Middle Eastern inspiration.

REVIEW – “ChainStaff” revels in visceral action on resplendent alien worlds, invoking classics while making its own footprint

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 07 Apr 2026

Have you ever wanted to play a 2D game like Contra or Mega Man, but with the ninja rope from Worms Armageddon? Developer Mommy’s Best Games have just want you need.

REVIEW – “People of Note” has its charms, but it also has plenty of issues to note

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 07 Apr 2026

As a fan of animated musical feature films, People of Note immediately got my attention when it was first unveiled late last year. The fact that it was also a turn-based RPG sealed the deal that it was a game I needed, but as I went through its mostly charming 20-hour journey, I felt like I had more moments of frustration than enjoyment.

MOVIE REVIEW – “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a joy, but it’s all over the place

by Kayla Merritt | Reviews | 0 Comments | 06 Apr 2026

If there was ever a movie I wished that I loved, it’s The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. So many elements that would’ve made a great Mario movie are here, but the movie’s pacing is all over the place, and the plot is incoherent. It’s also lacking proper resolutions to the different storylines, and the movie’s emotional thread falls apart repeatedly.

REVIEW – Good art and performances can’t save “Legacy of Kain: Ascendance” from persistent mediocrity and imbalance

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 06 Apr 2026

So here we are, on the dawn of the return of many people’s favorite suck ‘n’ slash franchise dating back 30 years ago and it’s… not looking good. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance has a lot in its way when it comes to enjoyment of this eternal gang war between the human Sarafans and vampires.

REVIEW – “Marvel MaXimum Collection” is a nostalgic collection that both hits and misses

by Leigh Lamb | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Reviews Steam Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 06 Apr 2026

So Marvel MaXimum Collection is tough to review. In terms of price point and variation of games included, it’s solid. The collection includes six games with 13 variations spanning 8-bit systems (including handhelds), 1-bit systems, and the arcade. The collection…

REVIEW – Get “Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park” if you have people to enjoy it with

by Kayla Merritt | Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews | 0 Comments | 01 Apr 2026

While I would stop short of saying you should go out and buy the $80 physical release for the Switch 2 right now if you don’t already own the game, there’s enough here to recommend paying $20 to get the DLC. While I would stop short of saying you should go out and buy the $80 physical release for the Switch 2 right now if you don’t already own the game, there’s enough here to recommend paying $20 to get the DLC.

REVIEW – “Fishbowl” is a cozy story of grief and growth during the pandemic

by Danreb Victorio | PC PlayStation 5 Reviews | 0 Comments | 30 Mar 2026

Fishbowl is a story about grief during a big life transition, and it just so happens to take place at a time when almost everybody was hoping things would go back to the way they were.

REVIEW – “Homura Hime” may soothe your desire to play a new NieR

by Chris Penwell | Articles PC Reviews | 0 Comments | 27 Mar 2026

Homura Hime is a great detour as we wait for bigger and better character action games to release. It’s refreshing to play an action title that isn’t a Soulslike yet still offers stunning, visually impressive boss battles. While the lack of English voice acting is disappointing, the characters are likeable despite a weird storyline that goes too crazy for its own good.

REVIEW – “MLB The Show 26” hits it out of the park with inclusivity

by Chris Selogy | Nintendo Switch PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 27 Mar 2026

I’ve been playing the MLB The Show series for nearly 20 years at this point–since they rebranded their MLB series to MLB The Show on the PS2. It’s been impressive to watch the series evolve into a top-tier licensed sports…

REVIEW – “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” won’t change OG Mega Man fans’ minds, but it’s a shining example of how to preserve DS games

by Kayla Merritt | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Reviews Xbox One Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 25 Mar 2026

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection serves as a blueprint for how developers can bring DS titles to modern systems. The collection, which comprises multiple versions of the three Mega Man Star Force games, is a unique time capsule of a very different type of Mega Man game that’s a bit of a continuation of the Battle Network series while also changing things up for the DS. It’s definitely a mixed bag and not for everyone, but there’s directions here that developers can take when rescuing their lost DS libraries and bringing them to current audiences.

Category: Reviews

REVIEW – “Samson” is bland, buggy, and brutal to play

REVIEW – “The House of Hikmah” is a beautiful but bug-riddled cultural experience

REVIEW – “ChainStaff” revels in visceral action on resplendent alien worlds, invoking classics while making its own footprint

REVIEW – “People of Note” has its charms, but it also has plenty of issues to note

MOVIE REVIEW – “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” is a joy, but it’s all over the place

REVIEW – Good art and performances can’t save “Legacy of Kain: Ascendance” from persistent mediocrity and imbalance

REVIEW – “Marvel MaXimum Collection” is a nostalgic collection that both hits and misses

REVIEW – Get “Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park” if you have people to enjoy it with

REVIEW – “Fishbowl” is a cozy story of grief and growth during the pandemic

REVIEW – “Homura Hime” may soothe your desire to play a new NieR

REVIEW – “MLB The Show 26” hits it out of the park with inclusivity

REVIEW – “Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection” won’t change OG Mega Man fans’ minds, but it’s a shining example of how to preserve DS games

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