Stuart, Author at Thumb Culture

1Mar

By StuartNo Comments

Gravel Review – Spiritual Success

Gravel from Milestone has dropped down some steep hills and brings a taste of what rally games could be. It could potentially be classed as a spiritual successor to Sega Rally. I know, that is some big claims, but with its straight forward racing and responsive controls, you could be fooled into it. Gameplay Gravel is classed as the ultimate off-road experience, now that is some hefty claims, but it does live up to it in some respects. During the main portion of Gravel you are taking part in the wildest show on the Gravel Channel web TV, travelling around the world, discovering the wide variety of environments and defying the Masters! Enjoy four different disciplines throughout your Career as a star of the off-road racing – Cross Country, Wild Rush, Stadium and Speed cross –and live t...

Rad Rogers Review – Shoot Em Up Brilliance

20Feb

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews

Rad Rogers Review – Shoot Em Up Brilliance

Rad Rogers published by THQ Nordic, is a new take on an old classic. The side scrolling platformer! You take the controls of Rad Rogers, a rambunctious but spirited young boy who maybe plays too many video games. After dozing off at the tail end of a long night of gaming, Rad awakens to find his dusty old console has turned itself back on. Suddenly a vortex emerges and he's sucked into his TV, where he finds himself the star in his very own video game adventure. Dusty is Rad's good-hearted but foul-mouthed, now-sentient game console. His clock speed isn't what it used to be, but what he lacks for in megahertz he makes up for with experience and attitude! Rad & Dusty's adventure begins in the First World, taking them through seven dangerous stages of action-packed, humor-filled, h...

15Feb

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Razer Raiju Review

We recently got the chance to have an extended time with the Razer Raiju controller and what better way to report the findings back to you, than to write a review! After all it's kind of our thing here....reviews. In The Box So first things first, inside the box you get a nice little note from Razer saying thanks for purchasing your new Razer Raiju controller. This is a neat little touch and brings a little bit of humanity to the product and the company. So moving deeper we find a case to store your Razer Raiju inside and keep safe, a USB braided cable that slots into the back of the controller, a small screw driver for removing those extra buttons on the back and then the standard Razer stickers for adorning your walls, ceiling, furniture or cat. Thumb Culture in no way endorse...

Kingdom Come: Deliverance Review in Progress – Bohemian Rhapsody

13Feb

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews

Kingdom Come: Deliverance Review in Progress – Bohemian Rhapsody

Ever since Kingdom Come: Deliverance by Warhorse Studios had been announced it was well and truly on the radar here at Thumb Culture, and after finally getting our hands on this ultra-realistic medieval RPG we are happy to report that overall its a great game with a few frustrations. Read on to find out... Gameplay So the gameplay element is where it all is on show, being an RPG if you don't get those gameplay elements right, Kingdom Come: Deliverance will fail even before its begun to canter. So the RPG elements of the game work pretty well, essentially the more you practice a particular skill the better you get at it. So if you want to be better at sword play, then head down to battle arena and get practicing. Having a focus on realism in Kingdom Come: Deliverance gives it a few ...

Descenders Preview – Hitting Those Trails

9Feb

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Descenders Preview – Hitting Those Trails

Ever wanted to take on some steep slopes, hit some crazy stunts off some sweet sweet jumps, or carve up some great turns on some tight curves? Well if you answer yes to any of these, then Descenders might just be the game for you. Developed by RageSquid and published into Early Access by No More Robots, Descenders is a downhill freeriding game with procedurally generated worlds, where no track is ever the same and mistakes have consequences. Gameplay When you first load up Descenders you are treated to a very basic tutorial, taking you through turning, carving, jumping and performing skills. This arms you with enough controls to take on the courses and move forward towards being the best Descender out there. With procedurally generated environments you will be taking on fresh and ...

TT Isle of Man – Release Date and Gameplay Trailer

8Feb

By StuartNo Comments

News & Updates

TT Isle of Man – Release Date and Gameplay Trailer

Check out the latest trailer for the TT Isle of Man games by Bigben and Kylotonn. Without any further delay lets take a look. In this new video, gameplay extracts are commentated by this great driver who says he was stupefied by the realism of the game and that he felt the same adrenaline rush as when he's riding his bike through the tracks of the Isle of Man. He also points out that every detail is faithfully reproduced in the game: the walls, the crowd, even the advertisements. Everything possible has been done to completely immerse you in this mythic course. Main Features: · A faithful reproduction of the 37,73 miles and 264 bends of the Snaefell Mountain, which offers a race more longer and more difficult that all GP circuits · 9 fantasy tracks to practice...

Inner Space Review – Cupid Draw Back Your Bow!

6Feb

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews

Inner Space Review – Cupid Draw Back Your Bow!

We have a new writer inbound, check out SamK and his review of Inner Space (Not the film) Inner space... Isn't that a film? "A hapless store clerk must foil criminals to save the life of the man who, miniaturised in a secret experiment, was accidentally injected into him." Nothing to do with that then. Isn't there another game called this? No, it's just such a generic title I thought I'd already played it which is an odd start to a game. Gameplay Inner Space is best summed up as a flying collectathon game with an indie darling-like vibe. The more you play the more it reminds you of the free roaming flying sections in Panzer Dragon Saga. Although it's less engaging than journey or other indie titles with the same ilk from the start you can still got a wow when unlocking areas, That...

5Feb

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

Snakebyte Pro Range Review

Recently through the Thumb Culture door came the Snakebyte PRO range of products, this included a keyboard, mouse and a nice mouse pad, apparently all designed for the pro gamer. Now whilst I am definitely not a pro gamer, I thought it would be poignant to take each of these products for a ride in the day to day working that goes on in my office. Including some graphics design, video editing as well as general internet stuff and a splattering of gaming here and there. Let's dive into the snake pit and take a look at the products. Snakebyte Key:Board PRO With mechanical feel keys this keyboard definitely gives a satisfying click to your key presses, although when you are typing a document out this clicking can be a little annoying, but eventually you get desensitised to the sound and ...

2Feb

By StuartNo Comments

News & Updates

Far Cry 5 Season Pass Content Revealed

Following the launch of Far Cry 5 on March 27th, the season pass will take players on three uncanny adventures with a unique Far Cry twist. · Hours of Darkness: Players will travel back in time to Vietnam to battle against Việt Cộng soldiers · Dead Living Zombies: Players will face hordes of zombies in multiple b-movie scenarios · Lost on Mars: Players will leave Earth behind to go toe-to-claws with Martian arachnids Additionally, all Far Cry 5 Season Pass owners playing on consoles will receive the single-player content from another critically-acclaimed Far Cry series entry with the Far Cry® 3 Classic Edition, which will be available to season pass holders four weeks prior to launching as a standalone purchase in summer 2018 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Far Cry ...

2Feb

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews

UFC 3 Review – Bloody Bloody Bloody

It's that time again when the yearly foray into the mixed martial arts comes to town, and with it the ingeniously titles UFC 3. Developed by EA Canada this is the third iteration of the MMA artform since EA took over the licensing for it. So does the game deliver those knockout blows, or is it more at home on the ground. Let's find out. Gameplay The controls on UFC 3 are both simplistic and incredibly complex all at the same time. Yes you can stand and trade shots if you so wish, but the real reward comes from being a well rounded fighter. Being able to throw those big hits, but at the same time be able to sink in a deep guillotine is as rewarding as it sounds. So the controls in a nutshell, the face buttons on your controller of choice control your four limbs, left and right arms and...