Mike, Author at Thumb Culture

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante Review

15Feb

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante Review

The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante is the debut game from developer Sever Studio while working with publisher 101XP. You play as the titular character in this single-player narrative-driven RPG. The game takes place in the fantasy fictional world of Magra, part of the Arknian Empire. The setting is akin to Victorian London with class issues, religion and even persecution of magic users being major driving forces of the story. Set out on a challenging lifetime journey, where every choice entails consequences. Each decision determines the path you go down so choose wisely. Sir Brante was released on PC last year but is available now on PlayStation & Xbox consoles with my review based on the PS5 version. And if you want to read more on the game, check out Gareth discussing news on it...

26Jan

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews

Startup Panic Review

Startup Panic is a life sim game from the Indonesian indie developer Algorocks and published by Tinybuild. The game begins with the protagonist quitting their soul-crushing job to start their own company from scratch. Starting off humbly in the characters home with a dream of building an online platform company like WordPress or Squarespace. Soon you go to renting office space, hiring employees and even becoming rivals with the head of a giant corporation. In this single-player sim, even the game tells you success is unlikely but odds are meant to be beaten. Startup Panic is Algorocks debut game and is available now on PC as well as Android & iOS. Startup Panic - If it were easy being the boss then everybody would do it I have played some games in the same genre so I was excit...

17Jan

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews

Rescue Party: Live! Review

Rescue Party: Live! is a sim game from Scottish based developer Tag Studios (Pocket Mortys, Prison Architect Mobile) in partnership with publisher 505 Games. Thrown into the deep end as a firefighter on your first day as various disasters occur. You and your team travel across the city to help the numerous citizens in danger. Whether solo or local and online coop work to complete tasks, very much like Overcooked but instead of cooking meals you are evacuating people. You can play Rescue Party: Live! anytime as it is available now on Steam. Rescue Party: Live! - I'm a firefighter, professional firefighter It isn't often a game comes where up and I can step into the shoes of a firefighter, watching Fireman Sam when little likely to blame. I was excited to play Rescue Party: Live! an...

16Dec

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Noble Fates Preview

Noble Fates is a 3D kingdom builder sim game developed and published by Xobermon LLC. Set in a world where a pantheon of gods tries to bring order to the chaos of mortal kind. And opposing them are demons & devils who thrive on the chaos. You play as a Kontra, a type of demi-god with this ability and is keen to prove themself by building a kingdom that will last the ages. This means making decisions to influence their fate. Seeing the kingdom grow with everyone doing their part and expanding within its own borders and relationships with others. With great power comes great responsibility. So will you be remembered as a benevolent, kind ruler or a cold, cruel one? I played Noble Fates on PC where it is available now on Steam early access. In The Great Game Can We Achieve Noble F...

6Dec

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Dolmen Preview

Dolmen is a horror action RPG set in the far future in a distant part of the galaxy. Previously having made Tap Hitz on mobile, this is the first major release for Brazilian developer Massive Work Studio. Massive Work made the game in partnership with publisher Prime Matter. And was made possible after a successful Kickstarter campaign. The titular Dolmen is a mysterious mineral whose discovery led to being able to cross into parallel universes. As you may expect this doesn't go well and various monsters and creatures enter our universe. You play as the unnamed protagonist tasked to find out what happened on Revion Prime and recover the mineral. I was able to play this preview version with a full release on PC during 2022 and later planned to be released on PS4 & Xbox One. Slay the...

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Review

22Nov

By MikeNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Review

After almost exactly 18 years Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR) has come to the current generation of consoles. It is an RPG based in the sci-fi & fantasy universe of Star Wars. Developer & publisher Aspyr Media has brought a port of the original 2003 game made by developer Bioware and publisher Lucas Arts. The original KotOR was a great success, critically acclaimed and very popular even today. And of course having sequels and expansions, even comics and novels based on the setting. Taking place 4000 years before the Skywalker saga, the old republic is under threat from the sith and Jedi are on the brink. The player character wakes up without their memories and is pulled into the centre of the conflict. However, the choice of whether you save the galaxy or seek ult...

16Nov

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews

Fantasy Town Regional Manager Review

Fantasy Town Regional Manager (FTRM) is a town builder sim developed and published by Caps Collective. Caps Collective are an Australian company with FTRM as their debut game available now on PC. I quickly learned that the title hits the nail on the head as a description. The game begins with you as the unwitting person in charge of building a town on the ruins of the old. Set in a fantasy world, the town and people are plagued by various monsters and potential disasters. As your town expands however you will gather more residents and adventurers to avert these disasters. Each day brings new challenges and so new choices from focussing resources to diplomatic decisions with the goal of literally avoiding ruin. Fantasy Town Regional Manager - If You Build It, They Will Come I was excited ...

2Nov

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews

Hermitage: Strange Cases Files Review

Hermitage: Strange Cases Files is a paranormal horror mystery game delivered as a visual interactive novel. From developer Arrowiz and publisher Giiku Games. The game puts you in the shoes of the unnamed manager of Hermitage, a lesser-known specialist book store in Japan. Told over multiple chapters with each bringing new characters with their own stories with a dark narrative at their core. The store manager and his allies & friends work to solve these mysteries and stop the dark forces at work. Previously released in China on PC in 2018, it is available worldwide now on PC, Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. If you enjoyed this review then why not check out my review of Youtubers Life 2 right here. Hermitage: Strange Cases Files - The Truth Is Out There! There is nothing quite like ...

19Oct

By Mike1 Comment

PC Reviews

Youtubers Life 2 Review

Youtubers Life 2 is a single-player life simulator from Spanish developer U-Play Online & Raiser Games. U-Play also made 2017's Youtubers Life and also brought us Esports Life Tycoon. After character creation, the game starts with an invitation to live in the fictional NewTube City. Home to a community of YouTubers, you choose which type of content you want to create and record your way to the top. Youtubers Life 2 is similar to the original game and the world expands outside the character's home. I and my drone companion could take photos and film vlogs outside too. There are also quite a few pop culture references and some tongue-in-cheek humour to be found. Interacting with the other residents of NewTube City is a major part of the game. I even ended up meeting real-life YouTuber...

9Oct

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews

Broken Blades Review

Broken Blades is the debut game from developer Pirates Game Studio and is published by Golden Eggs Studios & West Wind Games. It is a 2D rogue-like platformer set in a fantasy dungeon full of various creatures and monsters. After the tutorial, I learned the game doesn't waste time. Right away I was in control of the protagonist in a world deep underground but with no understanding of who I am and how I got there. Fighting various monsters along the way as well as dodging the various traps, I only know hopefully there is a way out. Broken Blades - The Sword Is Definitely A Fixer-Upper From my first-hand experience and the general opinion of other players, Broken Blades is very difficult so bear that in mind. You can pick the game up on PC where it is available now. Platformers aren't ...