Jaz Sagoo
Overall, with a slightly higher than the expected price point of £19.99, I wouldn’t recommend you take a punt on the game if you’re slightly interested in the genre and/or theme. This game is for fans of the RTS genre who are looking for a challenge and I’m sure that the game will build a cult following of hardcore RTS fans, however with no tutorial and campaign to support newcomers to the genre, I’d give the They Are Billions a Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Creature in the Well is a carefully crafted game that combines two genres to create a truly unique puzzle action game. The gameplay loop is addictive, challenging and rewarding. It trusts the gamer to work out its mechanic, which is refreshing, but may frustrate some people. Although it may not have universal appeal, those who are interested won’t be disappointed with this game. Flight School Studios had an audacious idea but they stuck the landing. This hits the jackpot and is awarded the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Well…Battlewake is a mixed bag. The campaign is disappointing and offers little replay value. It acts as an extended tutorial for each Pirate Lord rather than a meaningful experience for the gamer. Graphically it’s impressive, and it plays well, if you like the Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag naval missions, but as a whole, it lacks the depth to stand out to be the next must-play PSVR game. Rather than the Black Pearl sailing the deep seas, it’s more like a turd floating in a puddle. Unfortunately, it’s shallow experience with some solid ideas, due to that I give this a Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
Ghost Recon has moved far away from its tactical military roots, and if you are returning to the series after a long hiatus, you will be disappointed. However, if you’re a fan of Wildlands and modern open-world shooters, then you’ll enjoy this game. For me, it throws too much into the mix and doesn’t really nail any of it, and due to this you are left with a decent shooter which is far from the glory days of Advanced Warfighter. With that said, I award Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Is this the Breath of the Wild fresh air you’ve been waiting for or is it a Link to the Past PS2 era adventure games? Is this worth your rupees? Can I think of any other Zelda based puns? Probably but that will annoy the hell out of you and only keep me mildly amused… Anyway, I award A Knight’s Quest the Thumb Culture Silver Award! It’s a fun adventure game that will keep you entertained but is plagued by some technical issues.
I’m happy to report that the game is worth checking out. I was surprised with the quality of the game in terms of level design; it’s varied, challenging and feels like classic Monkey Ball. Unfortunately, the party games lack the quality and depth of its predecessors and due to this, I award the game a Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Into the Dead 2 is astoundingly expense for an auto-run game. There are two DLC packs, Ghostbusters and Night of the Living Dead, which look better than the base game however, these are available for an additional £4.49 each! The game’s core mechanic will most likely bore most people. It may appeal to the casual gamer and if you’re interested in the title then download the free to play mobile version as the Switch version is definitely not worth your time or money. This game needed to stay dead. I award the game a Thumb Culture Bronze Award.
NFS: Heat was everything I wanted from the game. It’s diverted from loot boxes of Payback and shifted into top gear by embracing its arcade roots, so due to this, it has raced its way to a Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Arise: A Simple Story is a special game and it deserves your attention. The narrative, although like the title suggests is ‘simple’, how it’s told is not, and the game deserves to be lauded for this. The puzzles are fun with suitable challenge allowing you to progress through the game and experience the unique chapters with a smile on your face. If you’re a fan of artistic indie titles such as Brothers: A Tale of two Sons, Rime and Limbo then do yourself a favour, and check out this game. Not only does this game get the rare Thumb Culture Platinum Award, it’s also a game of the year contender!
Although the combat was quite dull and the puzzles were basic. I really enjoyed my time on Trover Saves the Universe, The game nails the humour. Due to this, I played the game with a permanent smile plastered across my face. It’s a flawed game but it’s fun romp in a dark, demented world and due to this, I give the game a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
In short, AO Tennis 2 isn’t for everyone. Some may complain about its difficulty, struggle with its mechanics and not enjoy the slower paced realistic approach to the sport. Others will love it. I fall in to the latter category and can firmly say that this is an ace! I award the game a Thumb Culture Gold Award!
A diamond in the rough which rightfully will deter some gamers. Fans of the original will not be disappointed with a trip to Le Carre whereas newcomers may feel like the game is not only set in 2005, but created then, too.
With over 500 levels at your fingertips, Catherine: Full Body has a wealth of content that will keep veterans and newcomers entertained for hours on end. Although themes and representation are questionable, the gameplay and narrative are undoubtedly fun, making Catherine: Full Body more than a one night stand.
If you’re a fan of the series then owning this collection is a necessity, even at the steep price. With seven incredible games, a ton of extra content and stable online play, this title will keep you busy for hours on end. However, if you’re new to the series and looking to explore what the NeoGeo fighters were like, then maybe give this one a miss.
Skater XL is a strong proof of concept but it’s currently incomplete.
Simply put, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is brilliant.
EA Sports UFC 4 is the best MMA game to date. With an improved career mode, robust online options and significant updates to the core combat, fans of the franchise will be in awe at what steps into the octagon.
With over 90 puzzles, an array of crazy characters, witty dialogue and unique mechanics, a trip to Helheim is definitely worth the trek.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a mediocre trip down memory lane. Although interacting with beloved characters is amusing, its core gameplay is dull and repetitive. Fans may enjoy the new narrative that extends the epic conclusion of season 5 but be prepared to endure some blunt, boring combat.
Despite the relatively short playtime and little replay value, Manifold Garden is worth exploring. Just be prepared for an existential trip into the world of William Chyr.