Iain culverhouse, Author at Thumb Culture

5Jul

By Iain culverhouseNo Comments

Inner Ashes – PS5 Review

Inner Ashes is the first title by Spanish developer Calathea Game Studio it is out NOW on Switch, PC, Xbox and PlayStation Captures the emotional toil of Alzheimer's beautifully Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that affects over 55 million people worldwide, that number continues to grow by an estimated 10 million people a year. Inner Ashes came onto my radar by word of mouth, a brand new developer making a game that focuses on such an emotional and sensitive topic is a brave mood. Gameplay Step into the shoes of Henry and experience his journey through Inner Ashes. This narrative adventure uses environmental interaction and puzzle-solving to take you on a path of self-discovery. Witness the impact of early-onset Alzheimer's and unravel the memories of Henry's separation from h...

30Jun

By Iain culverhouseNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Park Beyond – PS5 Review

Park Beyond is the latest title from German developer Limbic Entertainment and was published by Bandai Namco. It is out now on PC, Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5. No Minimum Height Requirement When reflecting on Park Beyond, it's important to recognize the lasting influence of Theme Park - a game that enchanted audiences three decades ago and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many. The game's premise remains the same after all these years - construct and run a top-notch park to ensure visitors' satisfaction. Park Beyond piqued my interest upon its announcement due to its vibrant visuals, charming characters, and thrilling rides. I eagerly anticipated the opportunity to try it out and discover its full potential. Park Beyond is a simulation game that caters to p...

26May

By Iain culverhouseNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Medieval Dynasty – PS5 Review

Medieval Dynasty is a survival strategy builder by the Polish developers Render Cube. First released on the PC in September 2020, finally arrived on current-gen consoles last year. After a lengthy wait, it has now been released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The middle ages have never looked so good I am never really sure about the survival RPG genre, I think this is in part to not having enough time to get heavily into them. I love the concept and always plan to spend time, and inevitably restart due to time away. However, everything that I had seen about Medieval Dynasty had me intrigued would this be the game to break that cycle for me? Read on and find out how I got on playing on the PlayStation 5. Gameplay Medieval Dynasty casts you in the role of Racimir, a young man fleeing...

17May

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PlayStation Reviews

DE-Exit Eternal Matters – PS5 Review

DE-Exit Eternal Matters is the latest game from the minds of Spanish developer Sandbloom Studio and published by HandyGames. It is available on PC, Playstation and Xbox Consoles. Death was just the beginning Is there life after death? This atmospheric light puzzle platformer with a hint of stealth transports you on a magical journey through a surrealistic afterlife. Embark on an intense cinematic adventure in a warm and inviting voxel world. Explore this deeply reflective experience and find your way out! DE-Exit Eternal Matters appealed to me because the story sounded interesting and playing a character that was already dead intrigued me. Solving puzzles along the way was just an added benefit. Gameplay You play as a Lux, someone capable of wielding an artefact. Artefacts are u...

3May

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Hardware & Tech

DualSense Edge – Review

The DualSense Edge, Sony's "Pro" controller released on the 26th of January this year. It marked a significant step forward for Sony, who had left pro controllers to 3rd parties such as Scuff, Nacon and Razer. Truly Impressive Tech As a lifelong gamer, I have never needed a pro controller. I always felt that you were paying a premium price for better battery life and some flappy back buttons. Maybe that was a naive view to have but for the best part of close to 40 years, I had "managed" without, so why should I start now? In my opinion, the DualSense controller is the best console controller to date, beating the likes of the Super Nintendo, and the DualShock 4. One of my concerns about the DualSense Edge is the price of £209 in the UK. This is nearly approaching half the price of the ...

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened – PS5 Review

26Apr

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PlayStation Reviews

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened – PS5 Review

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is the latest title from Ukrainian developer Frogwares. A remake of the original 2007 release shows the level of commitment Frogwares has to produce titles. H.P Lovecraft comes to 221b Baker Street Sherlock Holmes Chapter One for me was a great title. When Frogwares announced the remake of Sherlock Holmes The Awakened it went straight on my wishlist. Frogwares weren't happy with just a simple remake, opting to change almost everything aside from the overall plot. Quest Design, Voice acting even the ending has changed. This means there is something for everyone whether you are a newcomer or played the original. Gameplay Blending the Lovecraftian world with the rational world of Sherlock Holmes. This dark adventure will push Sherlock to his limits leaving...

18Apr

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PlayStation Reviews

Road 96: Mile 0 – PS5 Review

Road 96: Mile 0 is the prequel to the hit Road 96 by DixiArt which hit PlayStation in April 2022. Road 96: Mile 0 is out on PlayStation, Xbox and PC from 4th April. A disappointing lack of kicks on Route 96 When Road 96 was released last year, I reviewed it, and you can find it here. I was eager to play the prequel and see how the story started. Heading back to Petria seemed like a no-brainer, and it excited me. Gameplay Road 96: Mile 0 is a first-person adventure that places you in the heart of an area called White Sands in Petria. During the game, you alternate between 2 friends, Zoe and Kaito. If Kaito seems familiar to you, you may remember him from Lost In Harmony, another DixiArt title. For those who have already played Road 96, you will be familiar with Zoe, who is one of the ma...

Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake) – PS5 Review

5Apr

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PlayStation Reviews

Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake) – PS5 Review

Resident Evil 4 is widely thought of as the best Resident Evil title of all time. Capcom started remaking some of its games in 2019, this started with the launch of Resident Evil 2. This is the latest remake coming 18 years after it was originally released. Over Here, Stranger For as long as I can remember, I've been a huge Resident Evil fan. No matter what you witnessed, whether it was the first zombie reveal or crows crashing through windows to peck you to death. There was sure to be a scare or two. So I jumped at the chance to check out everyone's favourite title. Gameplay First released in 2005 Resident Evil 4 had everyone talking about it. Resident Evil is a horror series by Capcom, in earlier games, it revolved around zombies. The 4th instalment saw a change to change to game...

5Apr

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PlayStation Reviews

Deceive Inc – PS5 Review

Deceive Inc puts you in the shoes of a spy. This great title comes from a team of 18 members at the Canadian developer Sweet Bandits Studio. If you've ever wanted to follow in the footsteps of James Bond or Ethan Hunt this could be the title for you. Your mission should you choose to accept it I was a massive fan of the game Spy Vs Spy in the mid-1980s. I remember spending hours with a friend setting traps and looking for items to escape. Deceive Inc looks like it has the potential to be this generation's Spy vs Spy. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance to test my spy skills against the best the internet has to offer. Gameplay Deceive Inc is a fantastic multiplayer game, where you can play solo or as a team of 3. The mission entails infiltrating the designated location undetect...

13Mar

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PlayStation Reviews

Destiny 2: Lightfall – PS5 Review

Destiny 2: Lightfall is an action shooter that takes place from a first-person perspective. Lightfall launched on 28th February on Xbox. PlayStation and PC. With Cross-Save it is possible to access your character in any format (although you will need the expansion for each format) Eyes Up Guardian A week has gone by since the launch of Lightfall. I wanted to leave a week to complete the campaign and have my own views, as there are lots of thoughts going around the community right now. With over 3300 hours of play in Destiny, It is safe to say I have seen a lot of changes since it launched in 2014. I have been extremely excited to see the launch of LightFall which marks Destiny 2's 6th year. Gameplay Destiny 2 is a first person action shooter, that has taken us on a tour of the sola...