Mike, Author at Thumb Culture

Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack – PS5 Review

9Dec

By MikeNo Comments

Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack – PS5 Review

Between 2019 and 2023, developer Gust released three games in the Atelier Ryza series. A trilogy that many believe really popularised the almost three-decade-old franchise. Now, Gust have compiled all three games into Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack! Each game, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX, and Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key DX includes lots of added content and all previously released DLC. Sounds like a bit of a big collection, right? This review will be using the PlayStation 5 version, which is available for purchase now! The bundle pack, priced at £73.99, contains all three titles for both PS4 and 5. Alternatively, you're able to purchase each separately at £32.99. R...

Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection – PS5 Review

14Nov

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection – PS5 Review

Developer Kyodai are back with their latest simulator: Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection. The follow-up to 2023's Truck Driver: The American Dream, this new entry see's you driving across a fictionalised area of the Netherlands. The game is available now on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for £34.99. This review is based around the PlayStation 5 version of the game. It's also worth noting that The Dutch Connection has already had several patches since its release, so props to the developer for pushing out this many updates so soon after launch! Keep On Truckin' This will be my first Truck Driver game, and it's one I've been looking forward to! As a fan of practically every type of simulator game (Train Sim World being my true guilty pleasure), I was eager to get behind the whe...

12Nov

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Wreckreation – PS5 Review

Developer Three Fields Entertainment knows a thing or two about wanton destruction. Their previous games, such as Dangerous Driving and Dangerous Golf, prove that sometimes, games simply about smashing stuff are fun! Now, though, the developer is attempting to think bigger, with Wreckreation. And by bigger, I mean open-world vehicular mayhem, of course! Wreckreation is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, priced at £34.99. This review will be based on the PlayStation 5 version, so pick up your DualSense because it's time to race! Wreck the Casbah It's immediately apparent, even from looking at screenshots, that Wreckreation bears more than a passing resemblance to 2008's Burnout Paradise. Which isn't too surprising, as many of the team had previously worked on that tit...

6Nov

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Satisfactory – PS5 Review

Well, here's a treat for console fans! Satisfactory, originally released into Early Access in 2019 before its 1.0 release last year, was a huge hit on PC. Garnering over 120,000 reviews and sitting at a "Very Positive" rating on Steam, it certainly seems to be a fan favourite! In fact our very own Jordan gave the game a Platinum Award in his PC review upon release! Now, developer Coffee Stain Studios has released this open-world, base-building, automation title onto consoles! Satisfactory is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with added features for anyone who owns a PS5 Pro. In this review, we'll be checking out the PS5 version, which is out now and priced at £32.99. Much More Than Just Satisfactory? As always, my main focus on games ported to console is to see how well ...

17Sep

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Frostpunk 2 – PS5 Review

I was a big fan of Frostpunk when it released on consoles in 2019. Fast forward six years later, and console gamers finally get their hands on Frostpunk 2. Developer 11 bit studios first released their follow-up title in 2024 for PC (Thumb Culture even reviewed that version), garnering positive reviews across the board. But how does the console version fare? Is this city building, survival title a big improvement over the original game? Let's find out! Put a Jacket on; It's a Bit Nippy Outside! It may be worth noting that this is the first time I've played Frostpunk 2, so there won't be much comparison to the PC version. If you've got any thoughts or opinions on the original release, I'd love to hear them! Let me know in the comments below, but for now, it's on with the review! Game...

20Aug

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Sengoku Dynasty – PS5 Review

Sengoku Dynasty started life in Early Access on Steam back in 2023. Thumb Culture even previewed it! Then — after a year of updates — the full game launched in November 2024. Now, developer Superkami have released their feudal Japan simulator for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Today we'll be reviewing the PlayStation 5 version. Current Steam user reviews cite some technical and performance issues, but will that be the case on Sony's hardware? Sengoku Dynasty is available from the PlayStation Store from the 21st August, priced at £24.99. I Studied the Blade… and the Axe… and the Hammer. Since I never played Sengoku Dynasty when it was in Early Access, nor its full PC release, this review won't be comparing the two. However, I'd love to hear your thoughts on how the game has imp...

31Jul

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Lucy Dreaming – PS5 Review

The 90s were a decade filled with some truly fantastic Point and Click games. Many of which are still fondly remembered to this day. Unfortunately, the genre seems to be more of a rarity in today's gaming landscape! So, when developer Tall Story Games announced Lucy Dreaming was coming to consoles, I just had to review it! Lucy Dreaming was originally released on Steam in 2022, with a "Very Positive" review rating from players. At a glance, this looks like a wonderfully British-themed adventure full of witty writing and clever puzzles. But, is that truly the case? Lucy In the Sky With... Nightmares? From Day of the Tentacle to the Deponia series, I've played a bunch of point-and-click games over the years. That said, I'd love to hear some of your recommendations! Let me know in the co...

10Jul

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Star Overdrive – PS5 Review

Are you ready for an adrenaline-fuelled, high-speed adventure on an alien world? Star Overdrive, developed by Caracal Games, is an action-adventure title set in a sprawling open world. Star Overdrive was originally announced last year as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Now, the game is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with this review focusing on the PS5 version. With several fun-looking gameplay elements and a genuinely striking visual style, is this the next must-play indie title? Who Needs a Sword and Shield When You Can Have a Keytar and Hoverboard? With Star Overdrive already available, I'd love to get your thoughts on the game if you've played it! Why not leave a comment and let us know how you found it? But, for now, it's on to the review! Story Our h...

Building My First Gunpla: HG 1/144 GN-002 Gundam Dynames

1Jul

By MikeNo Comments

Features

Building My First Gunpla: HG 1/144 GN-002 Gundam Dynames

I've been a pretty casual fan of the Gundam franchise since childhood. Upon discovering Mobile Suit Gundam Wing one night on Toonami, it's been something I've enjoyed on and off for more than two decades. Recently, I've started watching Gundam 00 and decided it was finally time to get my first Gunpla! As someone who's been building and collecting various LEGO kits over the years (much to my wife's dismay), and finding constructing them gives my mental health a big old boost, it was time to give Gunpla a go. Short for Gundam Plastic models, these require a bit more care and attention than LEGO sets. Unfortunately, I'm pretty clumsy with fiddly things. Which likely meant I would probably end up getting frustrated and scrapping the kit halfway through. So, join me in my very first Gunpla k...

Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game – PS5 Review

26Jun

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game – PS5 Review

There's no better way to describe parkour than the word "cool". Perhaps not the most eloquent way to describe something, but leaping from rooftop to rooftop whilst performing aerial acrobatics is just bloody cool. Unfortunately, there aren't nearly enough games based around the sport, and the ones we do have aren't too impressive. Thankfully, developer MLMEDIA has just released version 1.0 of Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game! Initially released into Early Access on Steam in May 2024, the game is now available for consoles. Today, we'll be reviewing the PlayStation 5 version, although it's also available on Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. With the average Steam review score sitting at "Overwhelmingly Positive", I was certainly optimistic about the console iteration! Flip, Ju...