Richie Vernon, Author at Thumb Culture

4Sep

By Richie VernonNo Comments

Rally Arcade Classics – PS5 Review

If the sight of a Lancia Delta flying through the air, accompanied by yells of “over jump!”, provides a hit of nostalgia, then Rally Arcade Classics could be the game you’re waiting for. It’s a debut title from Netk2, a group of Barcelona-based devs who have been making games since the microcomputer days. It’s releasing on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PS5. Today, we look at the PlayStation 5 version. Do You Rally Want To Hurt Me? As a big fan of arcade racers and dewy-eyed nostalgia, the prospect of scratching this 30-year itch was too much to resist. If you're a fan of the genre, please let me know which are your favourites in the comments! Can Netk2 recapture the magic of those 90s-era racers? Or will this one leave you upended in a swamp? Let’s find out! Gameplay Rally Arcade ...

The Demons Told Me To Make This Game – PC Preview

6Aug

By Richie VernonNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

The Demons Told Me To Make This Game – PC Preview

The Demons Told Me To Make This Game is the debut title from self-proclaimed “reckless artist” Haunted Dude is a wild mash of genres. It’s part horror, part mystery, and a bold take on the visual novel format. Can you steer one of gaming’s oddest couples from the jaws of death? Or would you rather let them walk straight into it? In The Demons Told Me To Make This Game, the choice is truly yours. It's also available in early access now on Steam for just £11. The Devil Is In The Detail If games were about first impressions, then The Demons Told Me To Make This Game leaves a weird and confusing one. You progress through the desolately dark town of Red Hives, trying to comprehend why the town’s inhabitants are behaving so strangely. With possessed individuals at every turn, there is some...

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut – Switch 2 Review

16Jun

By Richie VernonNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut – Switch 2 Review

As one of the final entries in the Kiryu timeline, Yakuza 0 is an almost perfect refinement of the long-running series. The original was a breakout hit in the West and began a march of remasters. All were well received, both critically and commercially. Now, Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut lands on the Switch 2, with some subtly reworked graphics and additional cutscenes that connect it back to the current timeline. Can Kiryu unleash the beast one last time? Or is it a trip back to the dojo? Let’s find out! Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Dragged Me Back In (to the karaoke bar). As a long-time Sega stan, I regard the Yakuza series as the missing link to the Dreamcast era of the early 2000s. While the console flopped, the company went out in a blaze of extravagant, surrealistic glory. Titl...

1f y0u’re a gh0st ca11 me here! – PS5 Review

10Jun

By Richie VernonNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

1f y0u’re a gh0st ca11 me here! – PS5 Review

1f y0u’re a gh0st ca11 me here! is not only difficult to type, but also a new visual novel from Furoshiki Lab. It's live now on the PlayStation Store for £9.99. Disclaimer: This is not your usual text-based trip through Japanese school life. Instead, we have a story set somewhere between heaven and hell. It’s your job to work the help desk, receiving calls from lost souls in need of direction. Sounds normal? It isn’t. Who ya gonna call? To play 1f y0u’re a gh0st ca11 me here! is to experience one of the strangest video games ever created. Are you ready for a lore-laden trip to the netherworld? Then come with me. Just bring some biscuits and tea. This is going to be stressful. Gameplay Unlike many visual novels that sacrifice gameplay for story beats, 1f y0u’re a gh0st ca11 me he...

28May

By Richie VernonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Projected Dreams – PC Review

Projected Dreams, the debut title from small Swiss-based Flawberry Studios, is a heart-warming tale told through the medium of shadows. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and possibly go crazy solving an increasingly mind-bending collection of puzzles. You'll also not be able to buy it until 29th May. But that doesn't stop you adding it your Steam Wishlist! The Last Of The Shadow Puppets Can your shadow puppet skills carry Senka through the journey of life? Or will you end up all fingers and thumbs? Let’s dive in! Gameplay Projected Dreams is enchantingly simple. You're shown a mysterious, shadowy shape and asked to recreate it using a torch, a wall, and whatever other objects you can find. If you can get somewhere in the ballpark, then that is OK too. Succeed, and you will be awarded three...

12May

By Richie VernonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Detective Dotson – PC review

Detective Dotson marks the Steam debut for India’s Masala Games. Taking place against the vibrant backdrop of Holi, we join Dotson, an aspiring actor turned detective, tasked with solving the riddle of his father's disappearance. Will he crack the case, catch the bad guys, and live his Bollywood dream? Much Urdu About Nothing Masala Games has called Detective Dotson - India’s first ever adventure game. So, let’s jump straight into this colourful crime caper! Gameplay This being Masala Games’ first foray into the genre, mechanics are kept simple. As Dotson, you traverse the game world like any 2D platform game, running, jumping, and chatting to characters to further the quest. Underneath this veneer lives a modest collection of mini-games that help you accrue in-game cash. You’ll fi...

30Apr

By Richie VernonNo Comments

PC Reviews

BOKURA: planet – PC Review

When a game comes along with a vision so bold that a certain amount of hoop jumping is required, you sit up and take notice. And so it is with BOKURA: planet, a unique 2-player co-op, puzzle adventure that has you working with and, at times, against your real-life cohort as you try to escape a mysterious, unknown planet. Xenomorphing Power Rangers BOKURA: planet is the latest game from solo Japanese developer Tokoronyori. Over the years, they have gained a reputation for crafting unique, pixel-art experiences that often break the 4th wall in novel and unexpected ways. Their debut title, farewell planet, had you carrying out the final wishes of machines that thought they were human. In BOKURA: planet’s previous instalment, BOKURA, you took on the role of two boys, one of whom sees the wor...

Cookie Cutter Overkill Edition – Switch Review

27Mar

By Richie Vernon1 Comment

Switch Reviews

Cookie Cutter Overkill Edition – Switch Review

Cookie Cutter, the bloody yet oddly beautiful Metroidvania, makes a belated appearance on the Nintendo Switch. Can the aging console handle the collision of gross-out art and frantic button-mashing? Cut Me A Cookie, I’ll Be Back For Breakfast After six years of blood, sweat, and tears on behalf of Subcult Games, we now have this eye-catching passion project. Born from an abandoned concept its creator simply could not let go of. At its core, Cookie Cutter is a 2D Metroidvania with added RPG and beat em-up mechanics that double down on the blood and gore to the point where things get rather stomach-churning. With lovingly handcrafted character assets, the artistry required to bring Cookie Cutter’s world to life is evident and bursts at the seams with energy and charm Gameplay Game...