Mike Differ, Author at Thumb Culture

Eggcelerate! Review – Make It Or Break It On The Track!

19Apr

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Eggcelerate! Review – Make It Or Break It On The Track!

If you have ever wondered what an egg & spoon race with cars would be like then Eggcelerate! is the game for you. A light-hearted racing game where the goal is crossing the finish line with your egg intact. It may sound simple but this indie game will keep you on your toes. Think Trials Fusion but in a car and the added challenge of an egg in an open-top container. Eggcelerate! was developed and published by Tim Beaudet in his video game debut and is available now on PC. Eggcelerate! - Learn first hand why not to put all your eggs in one basket I had a lot of fun playing Eggcelerate! and hopefully, you did too. The Thumb Culture team and I would like to hear what you thought. Why not leave a comment below on what you thought too. Gameplay Eggcelerate! is a straight forward time...

Nanotale Review – Big Story Not So Small Package

31Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Nanotale Review – Big Story Not So Small Package

Nanotale is a single-player fantasy RPG from developer Fishing Cactus. Fishing Cactus also published the game alongside PID & 2PGames. Nanotale is among a handful of games where real-time typing is the main gameplay mechanic with action and combat. It is also the second game in the Typing Chronicles franchise, Epistory being the first. Aside from Typing of the Dead, this is my first game where typing is as prevalent when playing. As an RPG fan, I was interested to play this one, especially as a keyboard and mouse amateur. Nanotale - The Story And World Can Be As Big As You Want To Make It Nanotale has been made very inclusive with 11 different languages available. The game also supports all kinds of keyboard layouts including Azerty & Dvorak and all keys are re-bindable. I especi...

24Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Accessibility In Gaming

Visual Impairment And Accessible Gaming

I am embarrassed but readily admit that I know very little about the struggle that exists. And I don’t always consider how difficult it can be for people not able sighted. Growing up playing video games, the name says it all, as to how prevalent the visuals are when playing. For nearsighted people, it is relatively easy to play games. For those who have low vision or are blind, I found that different ways have been found to still be able to play such as responding to audio cues. However, this is still far from ideal for visual impairment gaming and people within the visual impaired (VI) community. Listen out for how games can work for you I listened recently to The Tale of the Winter Sun, an audio play from Fowk Productions. I have included the YouTube link below. The team at Fowk h...

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos Review – Dungeon Crawl With Friends

24Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos Review – Dungeon Crawl With Friends

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos is an old-school adventure RPG from developer Heliocentric Studio (Magnetta, Gran Vitreous) & published by Team17 (King of Seas, Worms Rumble). Heliocentric is a team of two with Joshua Gump and Brandon Weatherbee and Rogue Heroes their biggest title to date. Inspired by classic Zelda and Stardew Valley with some rogue-like elements for good measure. Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos - I Need A Rogue Hero! Looking to reclaim the land of Tasos, heroes are called on to prevent the return of the various monsters & creatures and build your community. I played on PC via Steam but Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos is also available now on Nintendo Switch. Any thoughts and opinions, feel free to leave a comment below. All of us here at Thumb Culture and excited to hea...

Cyanide & Happiness – Freakpocalypse – And The Freaks Shall Inherit The Earth

16Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Cyanide & Happiness – Freakpocalypse – And The Freaks Shall Inherit The Earth

The latest addition to the Cyanide & Happiness franchise is the episodic video game Cyanide & Happiness - Freakpocalypse. This review is for the PC version of Part 1: Hall Pass To Hell. Developed by Explosm who created Cyanide & Happiness as well as Skeleton Crew Studios (Grave Chase) and published by Serenity Forge (Half Past Fate). Inspired by games such as South Park: The Stick of Truth branch out into making this dark comedy adventure RPG. Explosm building their franchise from their webcomic to card and tabletop games, and even a previous PC game Rapture Rejects. After a very successful Kickstarter, Freakpocalypse was released with such rewards as the titular online short character Shark Dad making an appearance. The game doesn't shy away from the mature content of t...

Under the Jolly Roger Review – It’s A Pirate’s Life For Me

9Mar

By Mike DifferNo Comments

Xbox Reviews

Under the Jolly Roger Review – It’s A Pirate’s Life For Me

Under the Jolly Roger is an open-world action-adventure/RPG where you are a pirate captain making your way in the world. Published by HeroCraft and published by Lion's Shade. Set in a world much like Pirates of the Caribbean you do what you need to survive and thrive. Freedom to sail isn't easy, however, with cut-throat pirates and the royal navy with their own agenda and purpose. Previously released on PS4 which also makes it playable on PS5 & also on Nintendo Switch, Under the Jolly Roger is now available on Xbox One and Xbox series S/X. A previous incarnation can also be found on Steam under the name Tempest released in 2016. Under The Jolly Roger - Get ready to sail the seven seas Who among us didn't want to be a pirate at some point? I am very excited to play Under the Jo...

Dry Drowning Review – Dive Into This Neo-Noir Thriller

22Feb

By Mike Differ1 Comment

Switch Reviews

Dry Drowning Review – Dive Into This Neo-Noir Thriller

Dry Drowning is a noir psychological thriller video game delivered as an interactive visual novel. I was glad the drowning is metaphorical, alluding to surviving in this dystopian metropolis. This the debut title for developers Studio V in partnership with publishers VLG & Badland Publishing. Dry Drowning puts you into the (gum) shoes of Mordred Foley, a disgraced police officer turned private detective. A case turned sour and left Hera as his only remaining friend and support. The city of Nova Polemos I found is in a dystopian future which has devolved following an extreme political party being elected. Said party seeking to remove "unwanted" people including Mordred's partner Hera. It is set in the year 2066 so is a not-so-distant version of a possible future. The political...

When The Past Was Around Review – Better To Have Loved Than Lost

24Dec

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

When The Past Was Around Review – Better To Have Loved Than Lost

When The Past Was Around is a point and click game and a bittersweet love story following the end of a relationship. We are with Eda as she remembers key moments in her relationship with Owl and just how much they influenced each other's lives. When The Past Was Around is the latest release from Mojiken Studio & Toge Productions in partnership with publisher Chorus Worldwide. I hope you enjoy my When The Past Was Around review and are excited to play like I was. You can get the game on PC, PS4, X-Box One and Nintendo Switch right now. When The Past Was Around Review - Than To Never Have Loved At All I'm not ashamed to admit I enjoy a good love story, and maybe you do too. If you are also anything like me then When The Past Was Around will tug at your heartstrings at times. Gamep...

Poker Club Review – Play Your Cards Right

30Nov

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Poker Club Review – Play Your Cards Right

I'm an okay poker player at best but Poker Club led me to go all-in on playing it. Look forward to many other poker-related puns throughout this review. A poker simulator using the Texas Hold 'Em version of poker along with other players online. Developed & published by Liverpool based independent company Ripstone. They publish games as well as develop some and have released other simulator games such as PureHold'em. Poker Club is now available on PS4 & PS5, X-box One & X-box series X/S & PC with a planned Nintendo Switch release in 2021. You can also check out a gameplay preview & first thoughts here. Let's jump in and find out what the deal is in this Poker Club review. Deal Me In Next for Poker Club I am excited to play Poker Club and not just because there is no r...

Visage Review – Time To Face Some Ghosts

25Nov

By Mike DifferNo Comments

PC Reviews

Visage Review – Time To Face Some Ghosts

I like to think of myself as someone who doesn't scare easily and I'm a fan of the horror genre. However, this game really had me spooked and that was when I was playing during the day. Visage is a survival horror game and is the first release from Quebec based independent developer SadSquare Studios. Inspired by horror media like PT and The Grudge, the team at SadSquare developed and published the game. The influence of other games, notably PT & Amnesia, shows but is a unique addition to the genre. Beginning in 2016, production began after a very successful Kickstarter. The overall funding saw Visage was released on PC, PS4 & Xbox One as well as getting VR support. Let's dive into this Visage horror game review! Is Visage A Must For Horror Fans? As a big horror fan, I was very e...