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Homura Hime is a great game to play, yet I have a few notes that I hope get fixed either before the review goes up or after. The game ran smoothly during the cutscenes and when going through the different levels. Yet, I feel like there should be a bit more work on the hub itself. Not because of the design, but because my frames hit the ground. I honestly think it was because of the jellyfish swimming around so close to the hub itself. It didn’t matter if it was on my PC or Steam Deck, but it chugged hard only in the hub. Other than that issue, this game would have our platinum. However the hub was my only negative issue with the game due to the huge frame drop. Even with all that, you should still get this game because of Crimson Dusk creativity, amazing attention to detail and forgiving gameplay. I give Homura Hime the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
For a game which mainly advertises being in a hot air balloon, fighting against a monster hot air balloon. I was not expecting to be on the ground most of the time. The player does a lot of mindless quests that apart from a couple do nothing for the plot. With some being a dude asking you to just get moonshine back, while another was just turning off some valves. I wish I could say that the quest with the sea monster was cool, but it’s too brief. Dialogue is never serious and ruins the whole atmosphere of Inky Blinky Bob. Don’t get me wrong a killer hot air balloon, is not exactly the most serious. But I expected the NPCs to say how he is effecting them. Bob himself seems absent too, due to only attacking the player when they are airborne. And even then, you won’t see him flying through the sky as a warning. He just appears, locks you in place until he is defeated. In the end I did not beat the game due to a soft lock of not receiving a radio from Ralph to tell me what to do next. All the Tesla towers were activated, but the giant dome never shutdown. Inky Blinky Bob is okay, but just misses the mark. I’d suggest maybe playing Choo-Choo Charles instead. So I’ll be giving it the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
The first few hours of Fatal Frame 2 will most likely ruin it for most players. Since the aggravated ghosts really do take the mick, and the game spams ghosts a lot. Thanks to this they seemed to have dropped the suspense, and horror side of things as well. But after you reach I would say midway through chapter four, Fatal Frame 2 becomes rather trivial. Mainly due to the game spawning a lot more prayer beads for the player. I’ve enjoyed the new camera mechanics and additional side content, however. It does become boring and stale with just mindlessly running around fighting the same few ghosts. There aren’t as many puzzles as I thought there would be. Damage never seems exact as well, when ever I would take a photo with various film types, and basically have the wraith in my face, the damage output just never stayed consistent. One shot would do a lot, another barely anything, and that is before aggro. This was my main problem during the first four chapters of the game which is rather bad since there 9 in total. You realize just how bad it is when it comes to the first encounter with the boss fight, with the lady on the bridge for the first time. Some of the new mechanics they did bring are excellent. Like being able to have Mayu run at the same pace, dodging, and moving while holding the camera. I just think the game will heavily divide players for sure. Fatal Frame 2 Remake, is a lovely looking game, but obnoxiously difficult on normal for the beginning. I would hate to see what nightmare mode is like. So personally from me, after beating it, and reaching the midway point of the game. I did end up enjoying Fatal Frame 2, So it is getting the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Christoffer Bodegård has made an excellent game in Esoteric Ebb, especially for a fantasy RPG and D&D fan like me. Even if you don’t know about D&D, it’s easy to get into. With a rich world to explore and an intriguing story, there is plenty to do, plus numerous interesting side quests. The satirical humour and colourful characters throughout provide a very fun fantasy world. With many hours of gameplay, the stunning graphics and attention to detail will keep you engaged, partnered with a solid soundtrack. Amazingly, this is Christoffer Bodegård’s debut game, and I’m beyond excited to see what they develop next. I’m thrilled to give Esoteric Ebb the Thumb Culture Platinum Thumbs Up! I previously reviewed Knights in Tight Spaces, a similar isometric fantasy RPG, so feel free to check that out too.
I very much initially underestimated how much new content Rise from Ruin would deliver. I was pleasantly surprised to see this expansion pack be more than just a few new cosmetics, creatures, weapons, magic spells, and such. Triumph Studios has really cooked something new here that radically changes the rules of magic and the rules of combat, thus challenging players to rethink every move at least twice. This expansion pack definitely keeps you on your toes and brings an abundance of new adventures to an established fantasy strategy game. The new addons add a layer of difficulty in a good way without breaking with the core experience. It is highly entertaining and fun, if you’re up to the challenge! I hereby award Age of Wonders 4: Rise From Ruin the ThumbCulture Gold Award!
Overall, Tiny Garden is a lovely little puzzle game that is filled with whimsy and nostalgia. The puzzles are engaging without being tedious, the art style is cute, and the vibes are definitely there. I do, however, have to deduct quite a few points for the clunky controls and the practically non-existent audio. Even with that, the core gameplay loop is still satisfying, though I would recommend picking the game up on PC instead, if that is an option for you. With that being said, I am giving the Nintendo Switch version of Tiny Garden the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
Lil Gator Game is a cute little experience that would fit well into the library of any cozy gamer. The story is super easy to follow and doesn’t get weighed down by trying to do too much. That being said, it didn’t blow me out of the water either. It’s a short game that you either blast through in one sitting or play in short bursts because there simply isn’t a lot to keep you captivated. Is it a bad game? Definitely not. As I say, this is definitely a contender for a decent addition to a cozy library. However when I finally sat down and just played through the story it only took me around 5 hours to do everything. Is that enough for the £20 price point? I don’t think so when there’s so little replayability. Ultimately I have to give Lil Gator Game the Thumb Culture Silver Award. It’s cute, it’s easy but it isn’t much more than that.
Packing Life is an okay game, but isn’t trying to do anything special. If you are looking for a time killer, then grab this when you are ultra bored. But maybe not if you actually work in a warehouse, might drive you insane. The simple tunes and easing pacing with relaxing mode, is enjoyable and easy to unwind with. So I’m going to give Packing Life, the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Solateria was honestly great game that actually can hold a mantel for itself with the plethora of metroidvania in the gaming market this year. It is a great distraction while we wait for the DLC for Silksong. From the amazing story and the rush of beating a boss after a nights rest is exhilarating . I highly recommend getting Solateria and get your parrying fix going. I give Solateria the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Laysara: Summit Kingdom is incredibly engaging and visually stunning. It feels like a refreshing change from the usual city builders, focusing more on production chains and careful planning. There’s a great balance of challenge and a chilled-out experience that seems rare for the genre. I’d highly recommend giving this a try; even console players that may struggle with these types of games on a controller may be pleasantly surprised! Therefore, Laysara: Summit Kingdom receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
The game is really basic in a good way. I never feel pressured to do the market, and gathering happiness is easy. Cosy Caravan does however, get a little boring rather quickly. So I would probably play it in maybe small 2-hour sessions. Its world is nice, relaxing, and the lo-fi makes it feel homely, without taking away from itself. But this isn’t for those expecting faster progression. So it is hit or miss depending really on what you expect from a cosy game. For me Cosy Caravan is getting the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Collector’s Cove offers, an easy and comfortable grind for the player to enjoy. The upgrading of the ship can seem a little too grindy at times, more so when you need to slowly sail to each island. Control are simple with nothing to heavy to learn. Management of inventory is not as tedious as you would expect, thanks to being able to return to the ship whenever. I would definitely say it is a nice game to wind down to. That is why I am giving Collector’s Cove the Thumb Culture Gold Award. Now, back to filling up my book.
Piece by Piece is one of the most tranquil, cosy games I’ve ever played. It sweeps you into a cute little animal world and can keep you entertained for hours at a time. Aside from the initial issue I had with waiting for customers to appear, this really is a good little game. As a result I have to give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Under The Island is a title I would recommend to pretty much anyone. Its family-friendly approach and relatively easy combat make it accessible for a wide age range. It brought back fond memories of my gaming youth, although it isn’t a game that’s overly reliant on nostalgia. If you’re looking for a light-hearted adventure with an old-school feel, chances are Under The Island may be exactly what you’re looking for. So, with that being said, Under The Island receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award! Go play this one!
God of War: Sons of Sparta is a fun and straightforward traditional 2D Metroidvania platformer experience, covered in a God of War paint that delivers a canon but largely uneventful prequel to Kratos’ story. God of War: Sons of Sparta receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Honestly, this may not sound like an incredibly exciting game. And, well, it isn’t. That said, I had a great time playing Docked, and would encourage people to at least try the demo on Steam. For the rather cheap price of £24.99, there’s a fun simulator game here, and has a bit more to it than other similar titles in the genre. I found Docked to be a pleasant surprise. What I assumed would be another generic first-person simulator was actually a lot more. It certainly won’t be for everyone, as the slow nature of the game may put some people off. However, I found it incredibly relaxing, and would place it in that “games to play whilst listening to a podcast” category. So, for for being a surprisingly enjoyable sim. Docked receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
For a retro inspired shooter, EVERDARK does really well. However, the game could do with turning down the amount of enemies, or improving the stealth mechanics. As it is too easy to be sighted by vampires, and when a swarm is on you, it isn’t easy to take them all down. The level designs are okay, but I wish that I could have really looked around. But due to the issue I just mentioned this wasn’t easily done, with the sewer areas in particular when heading to the church. I think the price is a little steep for the amount of gameplay you get. I mean on the puzzle side, there are only two door puzzles in the whole game. And I wouldn’t say it is all that fact-paced when it comes to the action. I would definitely say it there is some charm to EVERDARK, but nothing that makes it stand out. That and the difficulty spikes might dissuade most people. So I am awarding EVERDARK: Undead Apocalypse, the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Ultimately, Resident Evil Requiem does exactly what it sets out to do – it closes this chapter of Leon’s story. I did enjoy it and I do plan on doing more of it but after how strong the previous installments were this just didn’t live up to it. Requiem is still a good next step in the franchise but the two protagonists doesn’t really add all that much to it and the shift between the two is inconsistent at best. All in all, I have to give Requiem the Thumb Culture Gold Award. A wonderful game just not the best in the series.
Tavern Manager Simulator may not be as in-depth as others in the genre, but I still had fun playing. The early game can feel slow and dragged out, but once things pick up it remains engaging throughout. If you’re looking for something that can get quite hectic, but also allows you to chill and and take things at your own pace, then this is definitely worth a look! Therefore, Tavern Manager Simulator gets the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
For someone that hasn’t played any sort of pool game in forever, Pure Pool Pro is a simple game to learn and play. It offers a variety of game types and modes, as well as difficulties and cosmetics customizations to unlock. Despite lack of a more apparent chance at failure for precisely-lined shots, and a game world the could feel a bit more complete, it is very deserving of the Thumb Culture Gold Award.