Jordan Rooker, Author at Thumb Culture

30Sep

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Katanaut – PC Review

Katanaut is a new 2D horror roguelite by Voidmaw now available on PC. Enter a massive drifting space station and explore the horrors within while discovering enhancements and unlocks to increase your combat prowess. With publishing assistance from the newly resurrected Acclaim, Inc., you can pick it up only on Steam. If Dead Space and Dead Cells Had a Baby… Anyone breezing over info about Katanaut may also make the same comparison I did to Dead Cells. Both are pixel graphic 2D action roguelites with seemingly similar mechanics. So then, what sets them apart? What makes each worth playing in their own right? Comparisons slightly aside, I dove into Katanaut to find out. Read up on my thoughts below. Gameplay Katanaut is an action roguelite that will challenge your ability to be quick...

25Sep

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Jump Space – PC Preview

Jump Space is a co-op, mission-based FPS that just launched into early access on Steam and Xbox. For this preview we got hands on with the PC version. Gather up to three of your friends and follow developer Keepsake Games into the void of space. You'll crew your own ship, fight in space and on the ground, and work together against a spreading robotic corruption. Join the resistance today! Jump... and Shoot and Fly and Loot! Ok before we get into it, I need to own up to something. In my opinion the Jump to Lightspeed content in Star Wars Galaxies was peak for me. It was my first experience in an MMO and I absolutely loved getting into space on a ship of my own or as part of a crew for someone else. It was a highlight in my gaming experience that I will forever pursue to feel again. Wh...

Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids – PC Review

10Sep

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Chip ‘n Clawz vs. The Brainioids – PC Review

Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainiods is a new 3rd person strategy action game by the creator of X-COM, Julian Gollop, and Snapshot Games (Phoenix Point). With publishing by Arc Games (Remnant II, Torchlight 3), play solo or with a friend to save the planet's supply of Brainium from the invading Brainiods. You can pick it up today for PC via Steam or Epic, PS5 or Xbox. Today I'm taking a look at the PC version which is £25 on Steam. Meet Your Next Comedic Gaming Duo: Chip 'n Clawz! Duos seem to be a common theme in 3d action platformers. The obvious and most direct comparison here would be between Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids and the well-known Ratchet & Clank series. Both feature a humanoid and their robot sidekick with a world to save. Regardless of similarities though, the trailer c...

21Aug

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Recharge – PC Early Access Preview

Recharge is an RC car racing sim now available in early access. Room Games (Floor 9) is developing and publishing the physics-based small scale simulator for PC. Release to consoles will come in a future update. You can purchase now on Steam and the play the game as it continues development. Rippin' and Tearin' at RC Scale in Recharge I don't play a lot of racing games. Of the few I do, I enjoy those that are a nice mixture of simulator and arcade. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Recharge other than it being a game about racing RC cars, but, you know, the high-tech kind that your parents couldn't afford. Not the electric kind stuck to the track that just go around and around and around… Anyhow, read below for my current thoughts on the game. Gameplay The gameplay in Recharg...

21Jul

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Hell Clock – PC Review

Next up in my continuing spree of roguelikes comes Hell Clock by Rogue Snail (Relic Hunters Legend). Collect relics, gear, and further your descension with customizable builds in this new hack and slash style roguelite ARPG. With publishing by Mad Mushroom (Conquest Dark), the game releases on Steam this Tuesday, July 22nd. Don't Lock Into a Build in Hell Clock Yes, I know. I should give the roguelites a rest. But hear me out! They always look so quick and fun to pick up! I also seem to enjoy finding the interesting ways that they can differ from one another. Hell Clock is no different and I hope you'll take the time to see why you should also check out this new roguelite ARPG below! Gameplay Hell Clock is a roguelite, hack and slash ARPG that is set in the aftermath of the Canudos War...

Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel 1.0 Release Date Announced

10Jul

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

News & Updates

Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel 1.0 Release Date Announced

What did you do yesterday? Maybe some work and played some games? Same. Oh and I attended an annoucement event from our friends over at Grindstone! And I come bearing good news. Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel, the Nordic-themed roguelite horde survivor, is rolling into a 1.0 release this September on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. More Norse Roguelite Goodness Grindstone has announced that Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel will be heading to a full 1.0 release very soon! It will be available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. I previously checked this game out when it hit early access earlier this year. It had already left a great impression on me and it was great to see more content has been added and improvements made with user input since. In fact they actually just launched a major content patch to...

Netherworld Covenant – PC Early Access Preview

29Jun

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Netherworld Covenant – PC Early Access Preview

Netherworld Covenant is an isometric crossover of souls-like and roguelite gameplay in development by MadGoat Game Studio with publishing by Infini Fun. Obtain souls of the fallen in the form of companion abilities and create unique builds to suit your preferred playstyle as you fight between realms. The game is now available in Early Access for PC on Steam and Epic. Who Put these Dodge Mechanics in my Roguelite?!? Yep. It's me. Here with yet another roguelite. I will note that the game describes itself as a roguelike rather than a roguelite, and I was curious to see how it plays differently than others I have recently spent time with reviewing. Needless to say, Netherworld Covenant caught me a bit off guard with a more unique playstyle that took a little getting used to. Check out my th...

26Jun

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

FBC: Firebreak – PC Review

FBC: Firebreak is a new 3-player co-op FPS by Remedy Entertainment, the same studio that brought us Control. Take a step back into the FBC's headquarters and clean up various paranormal occurrences within. It is available now on PS5, Xbox X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic, or PC Game Pass. Today I'm checking out the PC version. Contain Chaos in FBC: Firebreak Control is a very enjoyable game in my humble opinion. I definitely never spent nearly as much time as I could or wanted to spend in it, but it is one of the few games that I have completed the main story in. FBC:Firebreak is a completely different style of game though, so I was curious where the similarities bled through. What I found was an interesting mixture of genres with a whole lot of Hiss to fend off. Check out my review of the PC...

Deadzone: Rogue – PC Early Access Preview

6Jun

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Deadzone: Rogue – PC Early Access Preview

Deadzone: Rogue is a roguelite FPS by Prophecy Games (Tribes 3) now available in Early Access via Steam or Epic. Live, die, repeat in this foray onto a drifting colony ship to Mars that never made it. Fight your way through bots, cyborgs, and even reanimated corpses as you search for answers not only about the ship but about yourself. Going Rogue in the Deadzone Deadzone: Rogue has been on my radar for a while now. I spent a good amount of time playing the demo, which left me wanting more. Even as an Early Access launch, the game has not been disappointing in the slightest. Check out my thoughts on this latest roguelite below! Gameplay Deadzone: Rogue is a first person shooter roguelite that can be played solo or co-op. As a [insert spoiler here], fight and die to upgrade and fight...

2Jun

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Cubic Odyssey – PC Review

Cubic Odyssey is a new voxel-style open world survival crafting game by Atypical Games (Radiation Island, Infinite Tanks). Explore, build, and craft your way through a voxel galaxy alone or with friends. The game is available now with publishing by Gaijin Network Ltd (War Thunder) on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S (but not via Game Pass). For this review I'll be taking a deeper look at the PC version via Steam. Speeders and Spaceships? Count Me In! Alright so let's get this right out of the way. Yes, Cubic Odyssey at a glance looks like a wanna-be Minecraft. There I said it. You can't deny you thought it too just looking at screenshots. I admit that I thought this as well - until I got to review it. I'm thankful for the opportunity to enjoy it, because there's a lot more to th...