Mike, Author at Thumb Culture

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

16Mar

By MikeNo Comments

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 MikeNo 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 Mike1 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 MikeNo 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 MikeNo 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 MikeNo 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...

Solasta: Crown of the Magister – A Roll Of The Dice

11Nov

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Solasta: Crown of the Magister – A Roll Of The Dice

Developed and published by Tactical Adventures, Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a third-person turned-based fantasy RPG. Like the Divinity:Original Sin series it uses an isometric viewpoint with the adventuring party. Solasta is their first game and made possible by a successful Kickstarter campaign. 1000 years after the Cataclysm, you become part of a group tasked with keeping the uneasy peace. Using Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition you create your party to make the game your own from skills and abilities to character personalities. Still in early access so with more to come from Tactical Adventures. "Roll for initiative, take attacks of opportunity, manage player location and the verticality of the battlefield in this Turn-Based Tactical RPG. In Solasta, you make the choices, dice...

30Oct

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews

Going Under – Add Monster Slayer To Your CV

Taking inspiration from their own experiences in Seattle, Aggro Crab with a team of six people made Going Under. Inspired by their own experiences living in Seattle and the tech industry. The game revolves an unpaid intern named Jackie on their first day at Fizzle and parent company Cubicle. Quickly unfolding as a beat-em-up rogue as Jackie explores the ruins of business start-ups in the basement. The present day setting and satirical plot makes for a unique rogue dungeon crawler as Jackie swaps her marketing degree for melee weapons. This review was based on the PC version of the game but Going Under is also available on Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch. "Going Under is a satirical dungeon crawler about exploring the cursed ruins of failed tech startups. As an unpaid intern in the ...

Swords ‘N Magic and Stuff – Skyrim Meets Minecraft

8Sep

By MikeNo Comments

PC Reviews, Previews & Early Access

Swords ‘N Magic and Stuff – Skyrim Meets Minecraft

Developed and published by Kindred Games comes Swords 'N Magic and Stuff. Made over two years by just three people; following Kindred's vision and made possible with a very successful Kickstarter campaign. Kindred set out to make the kind of video game that could be enjoyed with people of all ages. Inspired by open-world fantasy RPGs like the Elder Scrolls series and sandbox games like Minecraft. Swords 'N Magic and Stuff blends these elements and, like the title suggests, offers many options with how to play from slaying goblins to treasure-seeking. Swords 'N Magic and Stuff is still in alpha early access and so not everything was available. "Discover ancient ruins, hunt for treasure, defeat bosses and decorate your house in this immersive, handcrafted, casual online RPG." The game ...

25Aug

By MikeNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Descenders – Let’s Ride Those Ramps!

Descenders is a third-person cycling game where you complete tracks of different designs and layouts, doing it in style with numerous tricks available. Developed by Ragesquid and published by No More Robots. You hop right into a game which takes inspiration from previous sports games such as the Trials and the Tony Hawk's series. "Descenders is extreme downhill freeriding for the modern era, with procedurally generated worlds, and where mistakes have real consequences. Will you lead your team to glory and become the next legendary Descender?" Descenders is already available on PC and Xbox One and very soon on PS4 with a release date of the 25th of August. Gameplay Descenders puts you in the shoes of a BMX cyclist and after a short tutorial section puts you right into the thick of ...