Mike Differ, Author at Thumb Culture

13Nov

By Mike DifferNo Comments

The Invincible – PS5 Review

The Invincible is a narrative-focused adventure developed by Starward Industries and published by 11 Bit Studios (Children of Morta). Starward are a Polish studio delivering its debut game with staff having worked on The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. The game is based on Stanislaw Lem's 1964 novel of the same name. Set in the distant future, you play Dr Yasna who ends up on the desert planet Regis III suffering from amnesia. The game has elements in common with Firewatch but also movies such as Annihilation & Arrival when it comes to tone and narrative. The game also has elements of sci-fi exploring sims Subnautica but firmly on dry land. The Invincible is available now on PS4 & PS5, Xbox S/X and Windows. The Invincible holds its own in this sci-fi adventure I wasn't fa...

12Oct

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

The Fabulous Fear Machine – PC Review

The Fabulous Fear Machine (TFFM) comes from developer Fictiorama Studios (Do Not Feed the Monkeys) and is published by AMC Games & Shudder. TFFM is an indie outbreak sim horror game with a fresh spin on the genre. Not your typical outbreak though, fear is what is spread through the machinations of the titular machine. The game is set across 3 distinct campaigns where each character makes a wish to Kirlian, a sentient fortune teller carnival-style machine. We're all cogs in The Fabulous Fear Machine TFFM tells its stories in comic book format, panels and all, reminding me of classic comics and pulp fiction horror. In return for helping them achieve their wish, Kirlian takes the character's life story for mysterious reasons. Through spreading fear, each character manipulates stock mark...

Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake) Separate Ways DLC – PC Review

3Oct

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Resident Evil 4 (2023 Remake) Separate Ways DLC – PC Review

Much like the original Resident Evil 4, 2023's remake (RE4R) also has the Separate Ways DLC. Capcom has developed and published quality content here and the DLC is a great addition to the franchise. We experience Ada Wong's side of the story and how it weaves and intersects with Leon Kennedy & Ashley Graham's in some surprising ways. We also see how the femme fatale of the series operates in shades of grey but possibly changed after meeting Leon and the events of RE2. There is also the addition of Ada and Wesker to Mercenaries as an excellent addition alongside the DLC. I'm especially glad this content came out following the backlash against Ada's voice actress Lily Gao. I enjoyed her performance and some others disagree which is natural of course. I think we can all agree that the ...

Video Games Celebrating The LGBTQIA+ Community

23Aug

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Features

Video Games Celebrating The LGBTQIA+ Community

Following Pride Month 2023, Tyler and I felt inspired to write a TC feature about some great LGBTQIA+ representation in video games. We put our heads together and came up with the following games and characters. The list is done in no particular order so please don't be offended. We did focus on characters written as queer rather than chosen in character creation or player choices. Narrowing down the many games with LGBTQIA+ romantic options wasn't easy. Especially with game series from The Sims to Saints Row, RPGs like Fallout and Mass Effect and more. Being given the choice during gameplay has come leaps and bounds in video game history. Of the many examples of LGBTQIA+ characters, hopefully, the ones you expect are here. It was difficult to narrow it down but I hope you agree with th...

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Switch Review

27Jun

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Switch Reviews

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Switch Review

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the latest game in the Zelda series and the much-anticipated sequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild (BotW). It is a single-player fantasy open-world RPG developed & published by Nintendo. Having been teased since E3 2019, fans have been chomping at the bit for Tears of the Kingdom (TotK). The game has sold over 10 million copies 3 days after release and even had the knock-on effect of BotW being a top seller again too. There were some strong opinions among players about Tears of the Kingdom being too similar to BotW but I feel fans won't be disappointed. I certainly wasn't as I found TotK is Breath of the Wild cranked up to 11 with its design and mechanics and the return of many familiar faces. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is...

18May

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Solasta: Palace of Ice – PC Preview

Palace of Ice is the latest DLC for Solasta and is a direct follow-up to Crown of the Magister. I was kindly invited to play with a few of the game's developers & publishers at Tactical Adventures. Solasta is their debut game and I was thrilled to be able to see their passion for it. The hour-long preview showcased 3 new regions with the return of the Soraks and new enemies demons & devils. The new campaign comes to PC on May 25th, almost exactly two years after Crown of the Magister. Fans of the base game will undoubtedly enjoy the 25+ hours of this high fantasy non-linear story. I also had the pleasure of reviewing previous Solasta content which I've linked below. Solasta: Palace of Ice - the cold never bothered me anyway I've had a great time playing past Solasta content an...

15Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Aces & Adventures – PC Review

Aces & Adventures is the latest release from Yogscast Games (Golfie) alongside indie publisher Triple B Games. The game is a deckbuilding fantasy RPG where combat is powered by poker. Luckily for me, you only need to know the main combinations of hands available. The closest comparison I've played is Slay the Spire but Aces & Adventures definitely is making its mark on the deckbuilding genre. Aces & Adventures is available now on Windows PC. Aces & Adventures up's the ante in this high-stakes fantasy game I was excited to play Aces & Adventures as I'm a fan of the genre and Yogscast Games. If you're enjoying the game or excited to please leave a comment below about what you think. Gameplay Aces & Adventures takes place in Cardrasil, a fantasy land home t...

Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator – PC Review

6Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator – PC Review

From developer Cyanide Studio (Styx: Master of Shadows) and publisher Nacon (Steel Rising) is Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator. Much like the title suggests, Chef Life is a third-person management sim like Two Point Campus. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, you begin with all the responsibilities of the manager and head chef of a new restaurant. Thanks to your partner Kassim and several other NPCs hopefully you rise and earn that first Michelin star. Chef Life is available now on PC as well as Switch, Xbox and PlayStation consoles. Can you stand the heat in Chef Life or should you get out of the kitchen? Gordon Ramsay, I am not but I had a very good time playing Chef Life. I only wish actual cooking was as easy. I'd love to hear what you think of the game so comment below. G...

15Feb

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

The Art of War: Card Game – PC Preview

The Art of War: Card Game is the newest release from publisher and developer Brightdawn Entertainment (A Walk in the Woods VR). It is a non-collectable deck builder card game set in a fantasy world with Game of thrones style machinations. I immediately felt the similarities to Gwent: The Witcher Card Game so I wasn't surprised when Brightdawn cited Gwent as inspiration. As well as bringing what they felt the genre was missing and a social game like Gwent, Magic: The Gathering or Yu-Gi-Oh! The Art of War is available now on PC but still in early access. There is also the upcoming tabletop version later in 2023. Sun Tzu who? There's a new The Art of War in town I'd love to hear what anyone of you think of The Art of War: Card Game so feel free to comment below. Gameplay The Art of Wa...

12Dec

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Sable – PS5 Review

Sable is the debut game from developer Shedworks, a 2 man team from London partnered with publisher Raw Fury (Flat Eye, Cassette Beasts). The game is a sci-fi open-world adventure with the single player experience uncovered through exploring and solving puzzles. The titular character is a young woman undergoing a rite of passage which involves travelling across the desert planet Midden. Previously released on Windows, Xbox One & Xbox Series S/X last year, Sable is now also available on PS5. The journey matters more than the destination in Sable I wasn't aware of Sable at its original release but I was pleased to get the chance to review it on PS5. I had a very good time playing and so I would love to hear your thought. If you have played before or are thinking about it, feel free...