Mike Crewe, Author at Thumb Culture

16Sep

By Mike Crewe1 Comment

PlayStation Reviews

The Blood of Dawnwalker – PS5 Review

It's hard to remember the last time a developer's debut videogame has had this much hype. But Rebel Wolves' The Blood of Dawnwalker has had a lot of industry veterans working on it. So, it should live up to the hype, right? Well, we've seen many a game fail to do so over the years. Will The Blood of Dawnwalker be any different? The Blood of Dawnwalker is out now, and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The Blood of Dawnwalker Made Me Afraid of Vampires Again I won't be getting into any spoilers in this review, as The Blood of Dawnwalker is a narrative-heavy title. An incredibly dark one at that! You play as Coen, a young man that lives in a village ruled by vampires. Said vampires (known as Vrakhiri in game) are led by the ruthless, unjust Brencis. Each month, ...

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – PS5 Review

10Sep

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – PS5 Review

Developer Digital Sun's debut outing Moonlighter was a smash hit when it released in 2018. Then, in 2025, the developers released Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault into Early Access. Now, less than a year later, we have the full release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC! Have the developers expanded the mechanics and gameplay for the sequel? Or is the transition to 3D the only major upgrade? Let's take a look! Moonlighter 2: More Than Just A Dungeon Crawler! Following on from the plot of the first game, players once again control Will. An interdimensional being known as Moloch banishes Will and the other villagers of Rynoka to a strange new town called Tresna. In order to return home, our white-haired hero will need to delve into the Endless Vault, recover relics, and sell ...

27Aug

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Duskfade – PS5 Review

Jump, swing, and slash your way through a throwback 3D platformer in Duskfade! Coming to us from developer Weird Beluga, Duskfade harkens back to classic action platformers from the sixth-generation of consoles. Available now on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, is Duskfade a fun evolution of games gone by? Or is it just another title stuck in the past? Duskfade: A Stunning Homage to PS2 Classics Duskfade opens with a seemingly light-hearted narrative. Protagonist Zirian and his sister Allira live in Tick Town, where everything seems like a Disney-esque fairytale. That is, until Allira locks herself away to work on a secret project. This then leads to something going awry: their home exploding. and reality being ripped apart. Now, where their home once wa...

25Aug

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

The Sinking City 2 – PS5 Review

I'm a big horror movie fan, although I have to admit I'm not the best when it comes to playing horror games. One jumpscare is enough to send the controller flying across the room and get my heart racing. Thankfully, The Sinking City (or more specifically, the PS5 remaster I played) wasn't full of cheap scares. Instead, it focused more on investigation, with combat taking more of a back seat. Now, with The Sinking City 2 developer Frogwares has flipped these two mechanics around, with this sequel being much more like a traditional survival horror. Considering their history with detective titles, would this gambit pay off? Would my heart be able to cope with all the Lovecraftian monsters out for my blood? Let's dive in and find out! The Sinking City 2 is out now, and is available on Pl...

5Aug

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

The Planet Crafter – PS5 Review

Originally released into Early Access in 2022, The Planet Crafter has touched down on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S! Touted as “A space survival open world terraforming crafting game, designed for 1 to 10 players”, could this be a must-play survival title for consoles? Developer Miju Games’ debut title is currently sitting at an impressive “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam. Very impressive, but would it be just as fun to play on consoles? The Planet Crafter: Terraforming fun or Terra-boring tedium? There are plenty of survival crafting titles out there. However, this one seems to be a highlight of the genre based solely on the Steam reviews. Have you played The Planet Crafter before? Then I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! Gameplay After stepping o...

27Jul

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Viking Frontiers – PS5 Review

Grab your axe and bow, and get ready to fight for survival! Developed by BLUM Entertainment, Viking Frontiers puts you in the role of a surviving member of a Viking clan cast out of their homeland. You'll need to hunt, build, and raid your way to the top, as you attempt to keep your clan alive. After its release on Steam last year, Viking Frontiers is now available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Despite the mixed reception received for the PC version, I was nonetheless excited to try this one out! Survival is Everything in Viking Frontiers... When it Works Viking Frontiers opens in the most generic way imaginable. A quick text crawl sets the scene: your father has had his Jarl rights stripped from him during a time of political unrest. With your clan chased out of their homelan...

15Jul

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Denshattack! – PS5 Review

Developer Undercoders has quite a collection of unique videogames under their belt. Denshattack! looks to be perhaps the most off-the-wall (or should that be off-the-rails?) game they've developed to date. Available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, is Denshattack! as fun as it looks? Or is it all style, no substance? Well, get ready for something crazy, as we kickflip our way into the review! Did You Know? Denshattack! Translates to Train Attack! It's obvious right from the get-go that Denshattack! is a wholly original concept. From games like Noby Noby Boy to Goat Simulator, I love me some weird! Got any favourite gaming oddities? Let us know in the comments below! Gameplay In its absolute simplest form, I'd describe Denshattack! as Tony Hawk's Pro ...

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – PS5 Review

14Jul

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – PS5 Review

After numerous rumours, leaks, and social media hoaxes about its cancellation, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is here! Possibly the worst-kept secret in gaming, the remake of the beloved 2013 swashbuckling, stabby adventure has arrived on modern platforms. Developed by Ubisoft Singapore, this ground-up remake looks to recapture gamers all over again with Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, exactly how much of Black Flag has changed? And, is it worth revisiting for gamers who have already played the original? Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: My Favourite Sea Shanty Simulator Narratively, the main plot remains largely unchanged. Privateer Edward Kenway kills an assassin and assumes his identity, leading to one of the series' best character arcs. Edward is...

3Jul

By Mike CreweNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 Last Round – PS5 Review

2019's DEAD OR ALIVE 6 received average review scores on its release. Whilst it was praised for the deep combat mechanics, it was criticised for a poor story mode and barebones multiplayer. Now, developer Team Ninja has released DEAD OR ALIVE 6: Last Round for current gen consoles. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, what does this new and improved version have to offer? Well, prepare for a punch to the gut, because this game is far from being a knockout... DEAD OR ALIVE 6: Dead On Arrival I am, admittedly, kind of a casual fighting game fan. Although I do enjoy beating people up (virtually, of course), I tend to stick to the single-player content. Unfortunately for me, fighting games are often more focused on multiplayer. With that said, do you have any recommend...

22Jun

By Mike CreweNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Bellwright – PS5 Preview

After two years in Ealy Access on Steam, Bellwright has come to consoles! Available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, how does this mediaeval-themed open-world survival game fare on the new hardware? Developed by Donkey Crew, Bellwright is still labelled as Early Access on Steam, and states that the console versions will be updated alongside it as it heads to a 1.0 release. With that said, let's preview this intriguing-looking title, shall we? Bellwright, or Bellwrong? It's rare for games to come to PS5 whilst still being worked on (updates and DLC notwithstanding), so I was intrigued to see if Bellwright was even in a playable state! The story opens with little more than a text box explaining a little about your situation. Years ago, your family fled the Karvenian uprising. A...