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With such fast paced lives these days, Season A letter to the future reminds us to stop pedaling, get off our bike and take in the wonder and beauty of the world around us.
Lil Gator Game will take about five hours to finish 100%, which I did without thinking thanks to some perfectly-timed, clever late-game item additions. Overall, Lil Gator Game is a memorable experience from start to finish and I’m still carrying a little bit of its charm around with me as I go about my days.
Toy Soldiers HD gives players that nostalgic tower defence genre another run on modern devices, which is fantastic for those that crave a bit of the past. It is certainly not an easy game to play and lends a bit of challenge to the old grey matter
Scrap Riders is a compelling little title that’s a little rough around the edges, and I had a blast playing it. You should definitely check it out if you’re interested in beat ‘em ups, point ‘n clicks, or both.
OmegaBot has no qualms about kicking your ass and telling you to GET GOOD. There’s no hand-holding here. If you’re on the look out for a tightly controlling, challenging game that has perfectly paced mechanic unlocks and varied boss fights then you’re in for a treat here.
NFS Unbound feels fresh thanks to the urban hip-hop blend of graphical style and soundtrack. If you enjoy your driving games then it is one to pick up and have a play with. Customisation options are off the scale which gives you the ability to feel unique as you drive around
Before picking up Pokemon Violet, I had heard a lot of negative comments and the bad press seemed to be piling up. I don’t think this is the best Pokemon title I have played, however, it still offers that Pokemon experience that we all know and love.
Lone Ruin gives off a great retro vibe, and if I were playing it on my ZX Spectrum in 1985 I would have enjoyed it a lot more. In today’s market, there is so much better to choose from. Great gameplay is hindered by a lack of content and continuity, the big question is ‘Why?
My Fantastic Ranch delivers a simple but polished gameplay experience. Its slow pace makes it perfect to play alongside younger kids while also having some challenge for older kids.
The Knight Witch is a good game but it’s the little details that separate the good games from the great. While the game excels on the visual and audio front, some frustrating gameplay/game design takes away from the experience.
While I, AI hasn’t done anything groundbreaking with the genre, it is a pretty solid scrolling shooter which looks pretty and plays well. While it was fun on the Xbox I can see the appeal of it being more on a handheld console such as the Switch, which I feel dipping in and out of this game would be more suited on.
While each of the World Tour DLC adds a different flavour to your city, I felt that the Financial Districts DLC was the best out of the bunch. The main reason being that the implementation of the financial mechanics really added to your overall experience of running a city.
Whilst I enjoyed Saturnalia I found the lack of direction really frustrating. It was a shame that it took my enjoyment out of the game the first few times I played it. If you can persevere then you will get enjoyment out of it. It is probably the most unique title that I’ve played in 2022. For that reason, I award Saturnalia the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Putting rage aside and taking a sip from the golden goblet Battle Axe brings you a fight that feels nostalgic and new. The overarching feeling of picking up a game that you feel will not live up to the classics it takes inspiration from will not last long. Henk Nieborg and Bitmap Bureau Ltd have not just brought you “yet another pixel art game based on a retro classic”. They have brought you a title that not only looks beautiful but plays really well and is extremely enjoyable!
Due to the fact some classic and amazing arcade games are missing from Atari 50 I can only award it the Thumb Culture Gold Award. Hopefully, some future deals can be achieved to help bring them to this title and make it the ultimate Atari compendium!
Digital Kingdoms have really set the bar high here and I look forward to what treasures they bring to us in the future.
Surviving the Aftermath is a solid base game, with some questionable DLC. Core mechanics are well designed and while the game does have some issues, it offers just enough to make it worth picking up. There’s plenty to do and the game offers quite a bit of bang for your buck. My only issue, like with other players, lies with the DLC, which doesn’t quite integrate with the base game as well as it could have. Overall, this is a solid title with some interesting mechanics, and it’s well worth the price tag. I award Surviving the Aftermath the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Overall, I enjoyed the time I spent with this game. Its immersive surroundings, sounds and action made you feel in the thick of the action. The graphics were extremely detailed. The sound was fitting with the feel of the game. The voice acting was great and so were the animations by all of the characters. It could be overwhelming at times with constant hordes being thrown at you. This just meant teamwork and sticking together were vital for survival and completing the levels. It may not be for some, however. I tend not to choose these types of games but I do appreciate them. For those who like the visceral action given by games like Doom Eternal, Metal: Hellsinger, and Vermintide this game is for you. With updates and additions planned for the game by the developers, it’s well worth getting if you have been meaning to for a while. I award Warhammer 40,000: Darktide the Thumb Culture Silver Award!
I had a great time playing Sable and thoroughly enjoyed the game. The narrative and how it was told was delivered very well and helped me connect with Sable and the world. The story delivered from exploring and completing quests was both engaging and satisfying. I enjoyed the puzzle solving and travelling across Midden even if the hoverbike was a tad bumpy. I respected the cel-shaded design and Sable looked beautiful. However, textures and the environment looked low in detail and sometimes with parts of the landscape appearing through solid walls. The soundtrack and score of Sable were a big part of why I was so immersed in the game. Music coming from Japenese Breakfast especially at key scenes set the tone. Alongside environmental sounds and sometimes Sable herself, the game felt more engaging. With many hours of content and 57 trophies to win, you’ll have plenty to keep you busy. I am pleased to give Sable the Thumb Culture Gold Award. I’m excited to see what the Shedworks brings us next after their debut game! I hope you enjoyed my Sable review as much as I enjoyed playing it. If so I also reviewed Broken Pieces which you can check out right here.
Having been a VR port to Nintendo Switch, I found Jurassic World Aftermath Collection to play ok. The were times whereby I could see how the VR experience would have made the gameplay probably feel a lot smoother and less clunky. That said the puzzles were achievable. For me, it was more the quick pressing of buttons as you try and hide inside a locker and shut the door again where it sometimes went wrong! Probably my age. I have played some VR ports to console before and you can tell that something is off with the way it feels. Aftermath did not leave me with that feeling thankfully. If you want to play a challenging game that combines puzzles, stealth and the lore of Jurassic World then this is for you. I award Jurassic World Aftermath Collection the Thumb Culture Gold Award!