Mark Hudson, Author at Thumb Culture

2Aug

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

Autonauts vs Piratebots – Preview

Autonauts vs Piratebots is a simulation strategy game developed by Denki Ltd and published by Curve Games. With a release date set for July 28, Thumb Culture gets a sneak peak and an early look at the game. Autonauts... Automate! "Grave news! Piratebots are kidnapping Autonauts and taking over our automated settlements! Only you can remove the invaders, recover your resources and resume control!" Side note: Did you know the devs for this one are based in Scotland? What a beautiful place to create games! Anyway, on with the show... Gameplay First up, the tutorial. Autonauts vs Piratebots is a little heavy on the reading, particularly in the earlier stages of the game. The intro tutorial can get a little bit long and frustrating at times, although there is a lot to learn so best pay a...

28Jul

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Zombie Cure Lab – PC Preview

Zombie Cure Lab is a new sandbox lab builder developed by Thera Bytes GmbH and published by Aerosoft GmbH. Gather, build and survive the ever-growing waves of zombie hordes in this Colony Sim/Base Building/RTS mashup. Friends, NOT Foe! As the title might suggest, Zombie Cure Lab sees players capture and cure - not kill, zombies. So zombies are... friends...? An unusual twist on the concept of zombie games. One that I for one couldn't wait to try out! Join me below to see my thoughts on how this concept played out in the early access demo. Gameplay As with most RTS base builders, players must manage resources and workers as well as survive enemy waves whilst building & expanding their base. Resources include food, wood, stone and metal - all the usual things we've come to expect fro...

15Jul

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Panic Mode – PC Review

Panic Mode is a 2.5D casual simulation game developed and published by MobiusCode. As far as I can tell, MobiusCode are the new kids on the block with only 2 games to their name; the other being Exotic Matter - a Sci-Fi sandbox adventure game. With only 10 user reviews on steam since it's release in 2021, it's fair to say that Mobius are still building their following. With this in mind, let's dive in and take a look at Panic Mode. Cute but Clumsy "Try your luck as a disaster manager and save the cute but clumsy Pammies from harm's way". Using your contraptions, common sense and zero experience on the job, can you save the Pammies from crisis? Gameplay In Panic Mode, we play as an intern safety inspector. It's our job to implement safety protocols and run drills in surrounding business...

Starship Troopers: Terran Command PC Review

21Jun

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Starship Troopers: Terran Command PC Review

Starship Troopers: Terran Command is a real-time strategy game, best compared to the likes of Command & Conquer, Halo Wars and Age of Empires. True to the 90s films, you command forces and go to war against the Arachnid hives of distant planets. Releasing fully on 16th June this year, Terran Command is being developed by The Artistocrats and published by Slitherine Software. Slitherine has published some notable war games already, including Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock. This is also The Artistocrats 2nd real-time strategy game, following on from Order of Battle: World War II which released 2015. Putting together the already existing Starship Troopers franchise, the publisher and somewhat experienced developers, I'm expecting good things from Terran Command. The Only Good Bug Is A...

26May

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Out There: Oceans of Time PC Review

Developed by Mi-Clos Studio and published by Modern Wolf, "Out There: Oceans of Time is a space exploration game that puts you at the helm of an interstellar mission of discovery spanning a vast and vibrant cosmos." Releasing 26th May 2022, this title will be available on PC through Steam, Epic Games Store and GoG for £19.99/$24.99. Captain, we have a problem! As if transporting an evil demi god to an intergalactic prison filled with some of the most vile, destructive beings ever created wasn't bad enough.. Now we have to fight off space pirates who seek to destroy the Vanguard and liberate the Archon! Gameplay After awaking from cryosleep we find ourselves marooned on an unknown planet. We must have crashed in our escape pod. They're programmed to seek out habitable planets, but ...

Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles PC Review

10May

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles PC Review

Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is a 3D puzzle platformer developed by Luminawesome Games Ltd and published by Wired Productions. With a price tag of £15.99 Lumote is available via Steam for Windows or Stadia. Unlike most games, Lumote offers a free playable demo... So if you're on the fence, why not give it a try first? Lumote is the most beautifully addictive puzzle game I have ever played. Period. We all remember the first time we picked up a game and fell in love with it, you play 'one quick level' and before you know it it's been 6 hours, the kids have gone to bed and you're in the doghouse... again. Lumote has taken me back on that journey, from the second I picked it up I found myself saying "just one more stage.. just one more". Without a doubt this is the most beautiful, addic...

1May

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Kao The Kangaroo PC Preview

Kao The Kangaroo is a total reboot of the franchise. Developed and published by Tate Multimedia this 3D action-platformer brings Kao into the 21st century, and is available to play via PS4, PS5, XBox, Steam and Switch. With the full release coming on 27th May 2022, join me as I take a look at the games early access content. Hop To It! With the full release coming on 27th May 2022, join me as I take a look at the game's early access content. Don't forget to check out what the team are up to over on our social channels! Gameplay Kao The Kangaroo is our main character in this 3D action platformer - which gives off the same comfy vibes that I get from Spyro and Crash Bandicoot. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, Kao must embark on a journey to find his missing sister and discover t...

23Mar

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Spaceflight Simulator Preview

Spaceflight Simulator is a new indie sim video game developed and published by Moroyna Limited. Just entering early access, this title is now available on Steam for a very reasonable £9.99. One Small Step For Man... With a growing appetite across the globe for all things space and increasing interest in humanity's push towards Mars, I feel as though this title is landing at the perfect time. With recent technological advancements including reusable rockets, the James Webb telescope, Starlink and the Tesla that now orbits our planet... I'm curious and hopeful to see if I can play around with any of these things inside the game. So, if like me you're a little bit of a space nut.. then join me as I launch into the world of Spaceflight Simulator. Gameplay Let's start at the beginning, with...

24Feb

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

PC Reviews

Grapple Dog Review

Grapple Dog is a unique 2D action-platformer developed by Medallion Games and published by Super Rare Originals. Released 10th Feb 2022, this appears to be the first title from Medallion Games. It's currently on Steam for £11.99. 2D or not 2D If you've followed my previous reviews on Thumb Culture, you'll notice I tend to go for open world 3D games over 2D platformers. The last platformer I played was a fantastic little game called Hoa. Inspired by this, and armed with a new outlook on 2D platformers, join me as I delve into the world of Grapple Dog. Gameplay "Jump, Swing and Zip your way through colourful worlds and exciting challenges in this unique 2D action-platformer! Master the power of the Grapple on your adventure to save the world!" First of all, the title 'Grapple Dog' tel...

21Feb

By Mark HudsonNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

The Anacrusis Preview

The Anacrusis is a fresh take on the co-op shooter genre, developed and published by Stray Bombay - a studio formed by ex-Valve and Riot developers. With such an established development team, I was excited to see what The Anacrusis had in store for us. Falling short of the mark? With mixed reviews, I go into this one cautiously optimistic. Is The Anacrusis a diamond in the rough, or does it completely miss the mark? Let's find out. Gameplay The basic principle of The Anacrusis is to survive from point A to point B, finding saferooms along the way. Each episode has it's own objective - although being honest, it's not always clear what that is. The bright pastel colour scheme means every room looks kind of samey, and progression feels more like random luck of stumbling on the right path ...