Thumb Wars's Reviews
For me, the combat was very fun, whether it be using the swords, guns, or transmutations, but there were quite a few glitches that ruined the fun at times and led to me losing out on the immersion. The parkour again was fun at the beginning and when a new ability was released, but there were numerous situations where the maneuvers didn't trigger when intended, causing failure. The game world was great to explore with a reasonable pace to the main story, but that was all there was to see, with the side paths being so small they felt pointless unless there was a side quest involved. In regard to the overall story, I was constantly intrigued by what was going on, and I always wanted to find out more, so I was always progressing through the story and learning all I could from the side quests, notes, and NPCs.
Hellraiser: Revival is one of the best film adaptation games we've ever had, certainly in tone and appreciation for the franchise it stems from. It nails the atmosphere, the world, the feeling of being in a Hellraiser story, and non-franchise fans will enjoy it as much as those already in love with the IP. It has something for everyone, from survival horror to uncomfortable levels of gore, to a love story that is more realistic than many out there - it doesn't mess about, it doesn't let up, and ultimately, Hellraiser: Revival may be the first adaptation of the IP, but it certainly shouldn't be the last... I want that sequel. There was a time where video games based on film franchises were bound to fail, with poor attempts at capturing what made them great. Hellraiser: Revival smashes that wall in almost every regard, giving life to the franchise in a meaningful and respectful way, no doubt bringing new fans into the fold and satisfying old fans like me at the same time. Clearly a labor of love, I enjoyed almost every second of my foray into saving Sunny, a deal with Pinhead, and the ramifications of it all. I'm a happy Hellraiser fan, and some little issues aside, hopefully patched in the future, probably the best I could hope for. If you want to be scared, disgusted, uncomfortable and at times angry, Hellraiser: Revival won't disappoint.
Overall my experience with Control Resonant ended with me being very pleased with everything involved, as the combat was very in-depth and was constantly shifting, allowing for new gameplay styles and combinations. The story followed Remedy Entertainment’s usual style that kept me guessing right to the credits, and even then I wasn’t sure what I saw was the truth or if there was more to find. Finally, the game’s world was simply a lot of fun to explore with the various abilities being unlocked that made it easier while also providing me with enough challenges that I had to come back in the future.
I think I’ve been pretty succinct with what I’ve said above, but in short, Marvel’s Wolverine is a flawed, but fun experience that nails what it means to be The Living Weapon. Combat grows as you progress, the skill tree is fit-for-purpose, the gore is always set to eleven and the story… well, the story, specifically Act 3, is one of low points. It’s not up the standards Insomniac Games’ has set itself with its recent releases, but it’s still a standout release in many areas. Wolverine fans will love every second, action gamers most of it.
While I played through The Blood of Dawnwalker, I had a fantastic time exploring the game's open world as I fought the numerous monsters and humans in gruelling combat with fantastic abilities that look as cool as they feel. I was also able to enjoy the large story with its numerous consequences and choices that lasted the entire game. Although the gameplay is fun it can get repetitive doing the same side content, but it is very far and few between allowing a break between them.
Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a big step up for the franchise in a lot of ways. It's better in the puzzle and exploration department, with beautiful areas designed to perfection. The combat is a new addition that makes it more fast-paced compared to previous titles, and the audio is top notch. Seriously, I can't shut up about it. The story does pull at the heart strings whilst also expanding everything we thought we knew about the universe, but is maybe a chapter or two too long. It's not the best in the franchise, but it's close to the complete package.
From art direction to the way it plays, to the world around you and how you can approach it, Mortal Shell 2 is a delight. For so many different features and mechanics to work in almost perfect harmony while also ensuring it's not overwhelming to the player is genuinely impressive, and all of it is tied up in a pretty-looking bow to boot. You won't regret trying out Mortal Shell 2, and sorry in advance if you lose days of your life to my recommendation.
The Relic: First Guardian is Project Cloud Games debut title. It has some issues, like performance issues and a lack of some basic mechanics like jumping, but the world-building, the skill tree, the combat, the bosses and the feeling of wonder we all need and love from Soulslike is present. It has jank sure, but it has heart, and it’s one of my favourite experiences of the year, and something that I will continually be heading back to for the next few months.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is one of the best remakes we've ever had. Maintaining what made the original special whilst making it more modern, and adding some flair of its own in new stories and content is no easy task, and yet, here it is. A good remake will make you remember what you loved about the original, and it does exactly that, and I was transported back 13 years when I first played it. The removal of the modern day setting does leave a bad taste in my mouth, but the updated mission structure, graphical overhaul, new routes for parkour, fleshing out and a proper background for the likes of Steed and Blackbeard all make up for it, and then some. This is a return to form for Assassin's Creed, and hopefully Ubisoft take note and continue with it going forward.
Directive 8020 is a love letter to iconic sci-fi horrors that terrified us in years gone passed. While certain aspects could be improved for example the efficacy of the Turning Point System, the real meat and bones of the game, the environments, the audio, the graphics, are outstanding and easily the best that SuperMassive Games has ever brought us. I enjoyed nearly every minute of my time with the game, and it succeeded several times over in scaring me. It’s the best that SuperMassive Games has ever given us.
007 First Light is exactly what a modern-day James Bond game should be. Action-packed set pieces, decent combat, fun shooting, a story that feels like you’re responsible for the world and a smattering of sex appeal. All wrapped up in a beautiful, globe-trotting adventure that makes you stop and stare, whilst Bond, played by Patrick Gibson, spits out some snarky, witty comment to anyone that’ll listen. Great fun, great first entry in the IP and a game that’ll be up there come award season.
While playing through Hollowbody, I found the game’s world to be quite interesting to explore, as the various locations that varied from small, cramped locations to large expanses with twisting and turning paths were very fun to explore and had me on edge constantly as I waited to see what area I could explore next. In terms of the gameplay within Hollowbody, I enjoyed the combat very much, with it being very challenging, especially due to the various camera angles and the limited amount of ammo. However, there were occasions in which I found the combat to be rather glitchy, especially when the camera began to bug out. Along with the combat, I also enjoyed the puzzles within the game, even with one puzzle causing me distress, as most of the puzzles were very intuitive and made sense, creating an easy path forward for me throughout the game. The overall story of Hollowbody was very compelling, and I was constantly curious as to what had caused the world to decline into what it was, finding as many lore documents as I could so I could learn more about the game’s history, while also being rather curious about how the game would end, and especially what ending I would earn by the end of it.
During my time with Necrophosis: Full Consciousness, I had a fun time exploring the game world, as it kept me intrigued, even with the pit in my stomach, as the general tone of the game was oozing uncomfortable vibes. In terms of the gameplay loop, it is quite basic as it allows the player to walk around, solve various puzzles, and talk to different characters in an attempt to move forward within the game. When it comes to the game’s story, it is safe to say that it is a rather confusing and complicated story, both with the dialogue and the overall tone; however, it does stay with you after the game ends. Along with the base game, the DLC is a lot of fun and continues with the same gameplay and overwhelming atmosphere that makes players feel uncomfortable in many ways.
While playing Thick as Thieves, I found myself often enjoying the landscape of the game world, both inside the maps and out, as they were well designed with most rooms having a reasonable amount of detail, if not a lot. The gameplay of Thick as Thieves is a lot of fun, allowing stealth players to use all they have mastered, along with various tools, to their advantage in order to steal everything that isn’t nailed down. In regard to the game’s story, it was really interesting to see, as it didn’t just explore the game as we explored it, but it also expanded upon what we didn’t see and the hidden lore that was buried within.
Pragmata feels like a love letter to numerous sci-fi IPs, and while it may have taken six years to actually release, it seems every single day was one well used by the developers. Gorgeous to look at, fun to play and like a brain worm that’ll keep you thinking about it, Capcom is having an incredible 2026, and a great flagbearer for taking a risk on new IPs.
For me, the overall world of Aphelion was incredible to behold, as the scenery was very beautiful, and I couldn’t wait to see what was waiting for me around each corner. The gameplay was very challenging in the sense that it was fun to play, but there were a few issues during my run that made it very problematic and made me lose my patience. The game’s story was fantastic, with emotions bursting at the seams with every cutscene, dialogue, and location being filled with so much emotional impact that even a person like me, who doesn’t feel emotion that often, was able to feel for Aphelion.
Drop Duchy scratches an itch that I didn’t realise needed itching. The randomness of nodes, variety of deckbuilding cards, boss battles and the simple, if unexpected combat mechanics add a different flavour to proceedings. No two runs being the same keeps it feeling fresh, and after a few, you’ll find yourself thinking less and acting more on instinct. The different factions also provide starkly different experiences, with how I played during a Duchy run incredibly different to that of The Republic, or The Tribe, for example.
Reach and his story in REPLACED is an apt one in a time where AI is slowly replacing us, both in every day life and artistically. You’d be hardpressed to find a better looking 2.5D platformer, or one that is as tight and enjoyable an experience as this one. I cannot get it out of my head, and would urge anyone to give it a go.
During my time with Tides of Tomorrow, I had a lot of fun exploring the game’s colorful and unique world, as each location had plenty to explore and uncover while also being very different from each other in more ways than one. In terms of the game’s story, I enjoyed it quite a lot as the overall tone of the game was very dark in a lot of ways, but also hit quite hard as it commented on topics like pollution, with other topics sitting with me long after the credits rolled. The best part for me was the gameplay mechanics, as following another player and sharing the response to their actions was a lot of fun, but it did lead me to suffer too many consequences to the point I was locked out of too many options within my playthrough.
The best thing I can say about Opus: Prism Peak is that I was thinking about it long after I rolled credits. It doesn’t do much gameplay wise, but what it does do, it does incredibly well. Tight story, actual important message and some genuinely heartfelt moments meant even my cold, cynical heart was warmed a little. You won’t regret giving this a punt.