Alex Crooks, Author at Thumb Culture

#DRIVE Rally is Revving Up for Early Access

24Aug

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

#DRIVE Rally is Revving Up for Early Access

During the Awesome Indies Showcase, developer and publisher Pixel Perfect Dude proudly announced September 25th, 2024 as the release date for the Early Access version of their upcoming game, #DRIVE Rally—an arcade rally racing game inspired by the racing scene, pop culture, and classic video games from the iconic ‘80s and ‘90s. Future racers will be able to jump into this mud-slinging, high-octane experience on Windows PC, macOS, and Linux via Steam— yes including Steam Deck— Epic Games Store and GOG at an Early Access price point of $19.99 USD - which is around £15.13. #DRIVE Rally Is Racing To The Finish Line In #DRIVE Rally, players take the wheel and speed through over 400 km of diverse rally tracks inspired by real-world locations. With 36 customisable cars divided into 3 uni...

Farmer’s Dynasty 2 New Trailer Reveal At Gamescom

23Aug

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

News & Updates

Farmer’s Dynasty 2 New Trailer Reveal At Gamescom

Polish developer Umeo Studios in partnership with games publisher Toplitz Productions proudly reveals their new gamescom trailer for Farmer’s Dynasty 2. Become a budding farmer on your dream farm Farmer’s Dynasty 2 provides a beautiful open-world farming simulation featuring a main campaign. With captivating side quests for players to live, build and farm as they bring their farming dreams to life, there's plenty to be done in Farmer's Dynasty. For more information on the game, head over to the games official Steam page here. The Farming Life Explored in the Latest Gamescom Trailer Farmer’s Dynasty 2 is part of Toplitz Productions lineup of games showing in Cologne ahead of a fall 2024 launch. The latest trailer gives players another look at the game before they start forging t...

SEGA Reveals Sonic X Shadow Generations Doom Powers Trailer

23Aug

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

News & Updates

SEGA Reveals Sonic X Shadow Generations Doom Powers Trailer

To celebrate Sega's return to Gamescom 2024, the Sonic team have released a new Sonic x Shadow Generations trailer! It's focused on Shadow's all-new Doom Powers and how they can be used by the player. Harness Shadow's Doom Powers to take on your next adventure From surfing on water to flying over obstacles, the trailer is filled with high-speed gameplay and highlights the new abilities, stages such as Chaos Island from Sonic Frontiers™, and boss challenges fans can expect to play through this fall. Get over the Green Hills to find the Sonic Team at Gamescom You can find the Sonic Team on the Gamescom show floor from August 21 until August 25, where you get an exclusive chance to get hands-on with Sonic x Shadow Generations. You can even snap a quick photo with the Sonic mascot! ...

Broken Sword The Shadow of the Templars Physical Copies Announced

22Aug

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

News & Updates

Broken Sword The Shadow of the Templars Physical Copies Announced

Reanimated and presented in 4k, Red Art Games welcomes players back to Paris in with the physical release of Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged. Pack your bags, George and Nico are waiting! Set to release early 2025, players can grab their copy for the Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox with a brand new, enhanced version of the genre defining adventure game originally from Revolution Software. It will cost you £34.86 across all platforms. Preorders for the standard edition are open and you can grab your copy here! The legendary Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars: Reforged unveils its physical versions As a completely revitalised and ‘reforged’ version of the original globe-trotting adventure, players will be taken from the atmospheric avenues of the French capital...

19Aug

By Alex Crooks1 Comment

PC Reviews

Before Exit: Supermarket – PC Review

Ever wondered what it was like to be in a supermarket after all the doors had locked? Meet Before Exit: Supermarket, a new game from Take IT Studio. Combining rogue-like elements with the walking simulator genre, become the best employee you can by locking down your supermarket. Is that a piece of paper behind the counter? Make sure to pick it up to avoid the warning you'll get from your boss! You can grab Before Exit: Supermarket now on Steam! Looking to expand your Steam library? Check out our other PC reviews here. Don't forget to check the trash before you exit! Gameplay When you first start playing Before Exit, you are thrown into the deep end. There is no tutorial that will hold your hand whilst you get to grips with everything. Luckily, the controls themselves are really str...

12Aug

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

The Mortuary Assistant – PS5 Review

The PC has gone into the freezer and the PS5 edition of Mortuary Assistant has been rolled out. DarkStone Digital’s massive horror hit has finally made its way to consoles, allowing more players access to Rebecca and her spooky, mysterious backstory. I’ll admit, I’m a little bit late to the mortuary party. I’ve owned the original game on Steam since it came out but have never been brave enough to try it out for myself. With the rollout of the console version, it seemed like the best time to dive into the story of Rebecca and River Fields Mortuary. Checkout our other Playstation Reviews here... or if you want to read more of my ramblings check out my author page! A night shift in a Mortuary? What could possibly go wrong? If you’re also new to The Mortuary Assistant, then let me ...

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree PS5 Review

30Jul

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree PS5 Review

Review bombs, patches, and 5 million concurrent players - From Software has outdone themselves with the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. Introducing new NPCs, unique bosses and expanding lore surrounding Miquella, Shadow of the Erdtree raises the standards yet again. With 80 new boss fights (11 of which are remembrance bosses), over 100 new weapons and 11 new NPCs, Shadow of the Erdtree can be viewed as a standalone game on its own and is definitely worth the £35 price point. Before you read this, yes I used my mimic, yes I ended up using a bleed build. No I don’t want to hear about it, let me be bad at the game okay? Spoilers ahead for the entirety of the DLC !!!! Gameplay As with any From Software DLC, the Shadow of the Erdtree is locked behind two bosses. Players mu...

19Jun

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews

Paper Trail – PC Review

Become an origami pro as you make your way through Paper Trail, the new top-down puzzle game from Newfangled Games. Join Paige on her adventure to pursue her studies away from home as you make your way through caves, swamps and more by folding the world to your will. Paper Trail is available now on Steam or you can try before you buy with the free demo! You can also grab it on Playstation, Switch, Xbox and Netflix Games. Gameplay When first approaching Paper Trail, I thought ‘how hard could it be?’ and for the first few levels I was right. Newfangled introduces you to the game mechanics slowly, holding your hand throughout the first in-game day. Folding pages in half revealed Paige’s relationship with her parents and why she was determined to leave home in favour of furthering her...

29May

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Biomutant – Switch Review

Three years after its initial release, Biomutant has finally made its way to the Nintendo Switch! Marketed as an open post-apocalyptic RPG, Experiment 101's 2021 introduces new players and makes a call out to old fans as an invitation to restore the Tree of Life and rid the land of World Enders. As a game plagued with mixed reviews, I have never picked up Biomutant. With the new Switch release I thought it was finally time to see whether it lived up to the hype or played down to the critics. Saving the world from one World Ender at a time... Gameplay On the surface, Biomutant is an RPG with a very simplistic plot and a black and white choice system. Unlike games like Life is Strange or any release from Quantic Dream, deciding whether you side with 'light' or 'dark' doesn't feel lik...

Aarik And The Ruined Kingdom – PC Preview

30Apr

By Alex CrooksNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Aarik And The Ruined Kingdom – PC Preview

Set to release on June 20th, Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom is indie developer Shatterproof's first release. New perspectives on old favourites... As the perfect addition to the library of fans of Evo Explores and Monument Valley, the game combines simple yet beautiful graphics and perspective puzzles to build a mystic world and story filled with intrigue perfect for puzzle fans. Gameplay The demo of Aarik and the Ruined Kingdom is short yet packs a punch. With an introduction to Aarik, as well as his father, old pet and mother, the mystery of the story is present from the get go. The kingdom is already in ruin but there is not explanation for why it's so quiet, why Derek (Aarik's old pet) is dead and why his father refuses to wake up and get out of bed. The controls for the g...