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Two Point Campus has taken the world of its predecessor and built upon it, creating the best example of a management simulation. Two Point Campus is available on PC (Steam), Xbox One / Series S/X and Playstation 4/5.
My final thought on Spidersaurs is that it’s a great game. It pulls you in right from the start with the catchy intro, colourful art style and kickass theme tune. The gameplay is fast-moving and flows really well. It’s a game that will definitely appeal to many video game genres as well as retro gamers.
Retreat to Enen is landing at a time when we as humans are starting to really explore the issues of climate change, and our effect on the natural world. The game really explores some of these issues in a relaxed and passive manner.
Unavowed is a great point-and-click adventure made by a studio at the very top of their game. It’s accessible to new players without compromising anything for more experienced point-and-click enthusiasts.
TombStar looks and feels a lot like other top-down, twin-stick shooters. But I feel it also has its own uniqueness in the setting and lore that gives it enough of a bump to make it competitive with others like Enter the Gungeon or even Hades
Firegirl: Hack n Splash Rescue DX is fun, but only when you get past a frustrating initial hump. It suffers from balance issues with its progression and economy. It may be a push that many players are unwilling to grind through.
Bright Memory: Infinite is a sci-fi single-player FPS set in 2036 China where you investigate a singularity threatening the world. It was made by indie developer Zeng Xiancheng of FYQD Studio with their first major release and publisher Playism (DEEEER Simulator). Bright Memory was originally released in Steam early access in 2019 as an episodic game. After success on Steam, Xiancheng was inspired to re-release Bright Memory in full rather than in episodes. FYQD Studio has found success, both in Steam early access and being awarded the Unreal Dev Grant from Epic Games.
My final thought on Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is that while the gameplay is fast and fluid and easy for most of the game. I just can’t ignore the bland and boring story. It goes on way too long and it’s way too predictable. Along with bad performance graphics-wise and a non-excictent multiplayer. The soundtrack is one that truly stands out.
Sadly, this is a game that doesn’t quite stick the landing, despite having a stellar concept. There’s plenty of ambition on display here, and I commend that fact. Decisions are poignant and permanent, and seeing all the different places available to go is a treat. Seeing some of the tropes of other game genres mixed in was also a nice touch. One of the highlights was picking produce from my garden in that wild west farming game. Pop culture commentary. Gets me every time. However, the numerous negatives I’ve highlighted throughout this review does make for a tough recommendation.
Astro Aqua Kitty delivers fun in spades and gets its claws into you with a challenging but rewarding adventure. The care and passion that was poured into this title is very clear. Its beautiful visuals, stellar soundtrack, epic boss battles and deep customisation systems all make for a very enjoyable polished experience. Its Pawsome!
My final thought is that the Capcom Fighting Collection does what it does in catering to the needs of retro gaming fans. It has a great little selection of games. Even if most of them are from the same series. It’s great for passing a couple of hours away solo or playing with some friends but it just feels like the same old collections that Capcom have released in the past.
For one of the few 4x space strategy games I’ve spent time in, Distant Worlds 2 is a decent game. It launched with a full trove of content and immense number of options to suit your playstyle. Overall it sticks to a basic formula that is safe but does not make it stand out above and beyond. It also sounds like there are some bugs that Code Force needs to iron out. Without having any prior bias from playing the previous game, I am giving Distant Worlds 2 the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Redout 2 does a lot of things right. It so excellently captures the sense of speed, the sound design and soundtrack are phenomenal and it runs like a dream. It does however fall down in some critical areas, most notably the career mode and extremely steep learning curve, that could turn off newcomers to the franchise. Once over that steep learning curve though it delivers a crisp, smooth and rewarding experience that will have you beaming when you start to master it. Hopefully, the talented team at 34BigThings bring some additional features and tweaks to the game with future updates. I applaud what they have achieved here and would love to see them entrusted with making a new Wipeout game. They would bring some fresh ideas to the franchise.
My final thought on Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic II is an absolutely fantastic game. It’s not as good as the first game in the entry but it is a sequel that would make it into any of the Top 10 lists of best sequels. The Nintendo Switch port is perfect for any Star Wars fan, whether you’re playing on tv or laying in bed on the handheld. You will easily blow away hours of your life and it is certainly worth the money.
There were parts of F1 22 that left me thinking, why is this part of the game. However, mostly I was blown away. This could be because I haven’t picked up an F1 title in quite some time. But, I do feel that it had a lot to offer any F1 fans who are also gamers. This title is a perfect companion piece for any fan who enjoys the sport and for those who love a racing title. Comparing it to various other racing titles it did feel like it was on rails. However, on this occasion that is not necessarily a bad thing. Did I think it was the best racing game I have played, no? But is it one hell of a racing title, The answer is yes. I award F1 22 a Thumb Culture Gold Award
I had a decent time with Barn Finders which does make a novel addition to the simulation genre. While the narrative is a little scattered, it feels like a port from VR and suffers as a result. Overall it was fun to play after a slow start and pleasant to look at but it just wasn’t the best experience. I did enjoy the soundtrack and score, very much in keeping with the setting. And while perhaps short and sweet the game will keep completionists happy.
I am a cyclist and a cycling fan and yet again Tour de France 2022 has left me disappointed. This may be because I live in the cycling world so know about the nuances of racing and the differences between bikes, maybe a Zwift review should follow?!
My final thought is that after waiting for quite some time. Fans (myself included) have finally got the expansion that we had hoped for. There is so much to do and new things to get used to that you’ll never get bored. Plus there’s more dialogue from the ever-so-brilliant Dr Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). So with that in mind, I am going to give the Jurassic World Evolution 2 – Dominion Biocyn Expansion the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Gibbon: Beyond The Trees is a short yet sweet experience. There has clearly been a lot of research and love poured into it. Creative liberties have been taken, but the subject matter has been respectfully handled through collaboration with locals and experts.
Whether this game is for you, again, depends on whether you’re looking for a competitive multiplayer arcade-style game. If that’s for you then Mario Strikers: Battle League has plenty to offer. With its fun presentation—and the good time I had with Toad as my star striker—along with its satisfying gameplay and deep controls, Mario Strikers: Battle League gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.