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While doing this Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions review I do look back on fondness for the game. While it does have its flaws. It’s a nice refreshing change to go back to a boxing game. You don’t have to be a fan of the Rocky franchise to play it although that certainly does help. It can appeal to any gamer with its easy-to-pick-up and play attitude. So that’s why I’m going to give Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
As I mentioned the graphics aren’t groundbreaking. The audio in the game also won’t whisk you into a world of your own. But don’t let that discourage you from playing Train Station Renovation. It’s a very relaxing game which I have sunk many hours into. It is definitely a game that can help you if you’re struggling with any mental health problems or de-stress. Kind of like PowerWash Simulator which Dan previewed here. The gameplay definitely makes up for the standard graphics and audio. I award Train Station Renovation the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
I’ve played a lot of Darius games, especially since I joined Thumb Culture and I have to say this has been my favourite one yet. The gameplay is frantic and fun and I think the capture ball and its various mechanics make the game so much better. Throw in a great soundtrack I would happily listen to whilst driving at high speed, and we have a great game. Even though some things can blend into the background a bit, the HD treatment is appreciated. I award G-Darius the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition is an absolute cracker. If you’re a fan of the XCOM series or even games like Mario + Rabbids Battle Kingdom then you are in for a treat with this game. Controlling the game with the DualSense controller is no chore. Snapshot Games has done a fantastic job of converting controls from keyboard and mouse to a control pad. With four DLCs included, including the newly released DLC 4: Corrupted Horizons this is definitely a brilliant deal. I award Phoenix Point: Behemoth Edition the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Broken Blades is a very challenging game and while I did feel quite a bit of rage, I didn’t quit. If it weren’t so overwhelming the combat would feel really fun and often it did. The visuals and audio were great and my personal highlight of the game. I enjoyed the choices and how there was risk and reward when exploring this underground world too. There is definitely a lot to the game and different approaches to experience it. Assuming you don’t rage quit, of course, Broken Blades is a fine addition to the Metroidvania genre. I award Broken Blades the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
The gameplay is still solid with some improvements, yet there is still a little room for more. The 50th-anniversary content is a real treat and the cars handle so differently from their modern-day counterparts. The career is as in-depth as it was before, maybe a little more so. Overall, this is the best version of a WRC game to date. Last year I gave WRC 9 a Gold Award, but as WRC 10 has better puddles (among other things), it also gets a Thumb Culture Gold Award, just a higher version of it. KT Racing, just iron out those little niggles, and hopefully, it can be a Platinum Award next year.
I was honestly looking forward to NBA 2K22 with the real-life NBA 2020 season a write-off due to covid, I thought that this edition would have been a big jump in all areas of the game from the 2020 and 2021 editions but sadly it wasn’t. Here’s hoping that Visual Concepts will keep building on the great foundations and add something spectacular in the 2023 edition! Don’t get me wrong it is still a great game. It’s just not the jump in improvement I may have been expecting. If you want a visually stunning basketball game, a superb soundtrack, and aren’t worried about grinding away for VC points, then this is the one for you! I award NBA 2K22 the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
For me I have absolutely enjoyed myself so far, even traveling across the map to just die and start your quest over again has been fun. Each time just leveling your char that little bit more to enable you to reign supreme. I could also quite as easily lose myself constantly chopping the trees and harvesting berries, the little escape from the battle can be sometimes quite calming.Obviously, the game is new, the game is not perfect. I think when we revisit New World again after a few bug fixes and updates it would score higher than where I have put it on the board. I award New World a Thumb Culture Gold Award.
My final thought for Chernobylite is that I actually enjoyed playing the game from start to finish. It doesn’t feel like a drag at times and with a compelling story. It keeps you on your toes. But for me, it was the horror elements. Being a huge horror fan it really got my scare factor up there. So if you love a good jump scare in your video games then this is the one for you. So I’m going to give Chernobylite the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
I knew immediately upon seeing Rainbow Billy that I would have to play it. I’ve struggled to put it down. The experience has been an absolute joy and I can’t wait for more. It’s a game that has packed its world with unique characters, all with their own personalities without ever feeling shallow or padded. There’s also plenty to do and collect without it being an overwhelming or seemingly insurmountable challenge. I’m giving Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan a Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
I feel like Embr has a lot of potential for a great party/co-op game. While being easy to play it is harder to master but can provide a fun experience for friends. Single-player for me was a bright but fast-burning flame however it was still very much enjoyable. Therefore, I award Embr a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
My final thought is that Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a great game with a rich story into Chinese mythology. You really create a bond with the characters and you just wish it had a longer playtime. For me, twenty hours is nowhere near enough for a game of this much potential. Even with some graphical flaws I had an absolute blast playing it and would highly recommend it to any RPG fan. So I would like to give Xuan Yuan Sword 7 the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Here are my final thoughts of Inked: A Tale of Love. It is most definitely a great little puzzle game and I enjoyed playing it. The graphics and audio are really good in the game. The only thing was I felt I could only play an hour or so at any one time. Otherwise, I felt as if I was getting bored, even though I was enjoying the game. Of course, this is no fault of the devs or the game itself, it’s just me. I give Inked: A Tale of Love the Thumb Culture Gold Award
Overall the developers have done a great job. The game has some interesting twists on the genre and I really think it will appeal to a wider audience. There are a few things I would like to see improved, which I touched upon a little already. It would be nice to see some more weapon types in Arboria, maybe some take on a bow and arrow or crossbow? Some ranged spells, perhaps? From the time I spent playing I was only able to find melee weapons, and while they do behave differently it still feels a little bit repetitive. I award Arboria the Thumb Culture Silver Award.
Overall, I believe that AWAY: The Survival Series has a lot of potential. While there may be some bugs in its current state once these are fixed then gameplay and longevity would greatly improve. Despite its current flaws, it is still very much playable and very enjoyable. A hybrid between a platformer, a puzzler and also a nature documentary. This is definitely one to keep an eye on, for this reason. I award AWAY: The Survival Series a Thumb Culture Silver Award.
A wonderful addition to the Life Is Strange series, True Colors has everything that has made the series a success. Bringing back Steph was great as she is the standout character of the series for me. Deck Nine have produced a superb title that I really enjoyed. It is for these reasons that Life Is Strange: True Colors gets the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Combat is great, exploration is exciting, Rots are cute, the world is beautiful, the music is perfect. Buy it now, and again in November when it is released on disc. I award Kena: Bridge of Spirits a very high-spirited Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
There’s no doubt that A Juggler’s Tale is going to leave you wanting more. Whether you feel that is down to the game being too short, or just that you would love to spend more time in the world will be personal to you. I fall into the latter category. I’m happy that the game is well structured and very well executed. It’s important for an initial impression of a game and a developer to be strong and A Juggler’s Tale is a fantastic first foray into the world of game development. To avoid spoilers I’ve been unable to delve too deep into certain part’s of the game, but just know that there’s more to the story than you may think. You’ll have to go and check it out! With all that being said, A Juggler’s Tale gets the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Is Sonic Colours Ultimate a bad game? By all means no it isn’t. It is certainly a fun time, albeit not very long-lasting. It’s just sad that is marred by overly complex level design and finicky controls. The Wisps add that replayability factor to the game for completionists, and it sounds and mostly looks great. I think the new generation of young players will enjoy this with its simple and easy-to-follow story. It is undoubtedly the best way to play Sonic Colours, but for now, I will be sticking with my 2D pixelated Sonic games. I award Sonic Colours Ultimate the Thumb Culture Silver Award. It’s a high Silver though, just not quite enough to be a Gold.
Encased is a game that plays into fond memories of similar games that came before it. Although it is a theme that feels a bit overdone at this point, it still adds value to the genre in its own right. If you have been itching to play something that reminds you of the other games mentioned above, I highly suggest you pick it up. It’s a healthy balance of turn-based action, exploration, and story. I am looking forward to my next playthrough already. From what I’ve experienced, Encased receives the Thumb Culture Gold award.