Stuart, Author at Thumb Culture

25Apr

By StuartNo Comments

Darkwater – PC Preview

Recently released in early access on the PC, Darkwater aims to deliver something new to what some may call an overcrowded survival genre. Targon Studios has opted to take some of the best features of a number of similar games, jiggle them all into a nice pie, then bake it for 20 minutes at 180 degrees. With the hope that a nice pudding comes out. Were they successful? To find out I assembled some other members of the Thumb Culture team to hold my hand fill all the crew spots. Watch Out For The Darkness So, are you a fan of this genre? The Steam page lists a number of genres, action, adventure, casual, indie, RPG and strategy all feature. How would you describe Darkwater? Let us know, once you've read the review of course. Gameplay Starting up the game for the first time, you are asked ...

25Apr

By StuartNo Comments

VR Reviews

Beatable – Quest 3 Review

You may have heard of XR Games. You may even be familiar with their work—Zombieland VR: Headshot Fever, Jurassic World Aftermath, even ForeVR Cornhole to name a few. Now, however, they venture into rhythm games with Beatable. Released on the Quest at the start of April, we were lucky enough to get some hands-on time. Literally. Un-BEATABLE Put down your controllers, get those hands warmed up, it's time to start tapping your desk! Although please remember to be considerate of your neighbours. This game gets rowdy. Gameplay When you first fire up Beatable you get the option to play through a very brief tutorial. It's worth it. The game isn't rich in depth when it comes to what you need to do, but does have a massive learning curve. Thankfully, tapping on the desk is something I do regula...

24Apr

By StuartNo Comments

Hardware & Tech

RIG 900 MAX HS Headset Review

The RIG Headset range from Nacon has always been about pushing boundaries. That is exactly what they are trying to do with the RIG 900 MAX HS headset. We were lucky enough to be sent a set to try out. So we unboxed it, fired up the headset, and away we went. Big RIG So, what do you look for in a headset? Is comfort the most important factor, or do you prefer to have deep, rich bass notes? Well, we will try to let you know just what makes the RIG 900 MAX HS worth your time. Design The RIG 900 MAX HS features the same aesthetic as the majority of the RIG headset line-up. A minimalist but futuristic headband featuring cut-out sections. As well as the lift-to-mute microphone. It looks like something out of Minority Report. Coming in a black colourway, the headset features a nice, comfortab...

17Apr

By Stuart1 Comment

Hardware & Tech

Thrustmaster Sol-R 2 Hosas Duo Review

Thrustmaster has been releasing flight sticks since its first launch in 1991. And as each year passes, the sticks got better and better. With some absolutely heavy-hitting sticks, such as the Warthog and the Viper, it was only a matter of time until space exploration was at the forefront. With the Sol-R you get exactly that. A stick specifically designed with space in mind. Let's see what it's all about, then, shall we! Space, But Not As You Know It Now, don't get me wrong, it isn't a cheap setup, retailing at £299.99 for the duo, or £159.99 for a solo stick. At this price point you are going to have to be an avid flight sim or space sim gamer. It's an investment, though, right? Getting a decent flight stick is the same as spending money on a brilliant GPU. Invest in your setup and it wi...

16Apr

By StuartNo Comments

VR Reviews

Mythic Realms – Quest 3 Review

Developed and published in partnership with Meta Oculus Publishing, Mythic Realms aims to bridge the gap between a full VR experience and a Mixed Reality world. Released in mid-March, the game scratches the itch of gamers wanting to experience a D&D-esque experience. Does it deliver? Let's find out. Roll For Initiative There are a lot of games out there on the Quest platform. What makes Mythic Realms worth your money? Gameplay Starting up the game, you step into the boots of your hero. Getting ready to play out an epic adventure of mythical proportions. You journey to new realms, choosing your own path as you try to build up your own town. Using a portal, you head into the mixed reality world to battle skeletons, dragons, and other enemies. It isn't all about killing enemies, th...

Train Sim World 5 DLC – Expanding Tracks

13Apr

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews

Train Sim World 5 DLC – Expanding Tracks

Train Sim World 5 is constantly getting new DLC packs added. Just take a look at all the ones I've reviewed! Improving the amount of track that you can cover. All while giving you more trains to drive. In this article, we're going to take a look at a couple of the latest packs to let you know just how this amazingly immersive game is expanding. Track Your Success Now I'm not a train spotter, but working on the railway for the last 15 years gives me an appreciation for these incredible machines. So let's check out our first pack in the Train Sim World 5 DLC. Cardiff City Network - 18th March 2025 Starting off in South Wales, you embark on Cardiff's city network, which features over 20 stations, each accurately modelled. These include stations such as Radyr, Coryton, Penarth, and Cardiff...

Electrician Simulator VR – Quest 3 Review

11Apr

By StuartNo Comments

VR Reviews

Electrician Simulator VR – Quest 3 Review

Electric circuits can be a dangerous gig. Thankfully, Take It Studio! has created a game that gives you a glimpse into the world of a spark. In Electrician Simulator VR you get to know the basics, without the danger associated with playing with electricity. I Lied On My CV To Get This Job Having been previously released on the PC, the VR version was built from the ground up. Aiming to replicate what real-life electricians would get up to. Does it pass the judgment of TC's resident VR Sim expert? Let's find out Gameplay You start the game by being thrust into a nice little tutorial. It takes you through the basics that you need for your gameplay. That includes repairing outlets and switches, running new cables, as well as connecting electrical appliances. This tutorial is actually se...

Train Sim World 5: Thomas & Friends – PC Review

11Apr

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews

Train Sim World 5: Thomas & Friends – PC Review

As a train lover, I grew up with Thomas the Tank Engine. So when Dovetail Games announced a Thomas & Friends pack, I was excited. No, that doesn't do it justice. I was over the moon. My head derailed with a million different thoughts of what could be. Thankfully, now we have the Train Sim World 5: Thomas & Friends DLC. How Does Thomas Eat? He Chew-Chews While you might be hoping to journey around Sodor, unfortunately, that isn't the case. Which brings us onto something to be aware of. You MUST own the West Somerset Railway pack to be able to utilise the Thomas & Friends pack. Now we've got that out of the way, let's get down to business. Gameplay Thomas and his friends, Diesel, Annie and Clarabel have travelled to West Somerset. After Sir Topham Hatt receives an invitation,...

10Apr

By StuartNo Comments

VR Reviews

Maestro Doom Bound DLC – Quest 3 Review

Ok, so it's no secret that I adore Maestro. We covered the main game back when it released in October last year. Giving it the TC Platinum Award in the process. We then covered the Secret Sorcery DLC pack as well. Handing out another TC Platinum Award. Can you guess where this article is going to end? Like a trip to Mount Doom it'll end with something shiny. I present the Doom Bound DLC to you! Join Us In Kings Landing So just what is new in the Doom Bound DLC? Read on to find out. And when you're done head to the Meta Store to pick it up. Gameplay Starting up Maestro again is like coming home to a familiar face. This time though, it was to sample the incredible music of The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Heading into the game, I checked out the track list to start with. And in...

9Apr

By StuartNo Comments

PC Reviews

Game Over A Musical RPG?? – PC Review

You may be reading the title and wondering just what this is. A Musical RPG, I hear you ask. Why yes, that is indeed the title, Game Over A Musical RPG??. Releasing on 11 April on Steam the game is developed and published by solo dev Jake Houston. This might just become your new favourite rhythm game. That's right, RPG now stands for Rhythm Playing Game! The Rhythm Might Just Get You I considered myself quite a musical person. However, once playing through this, I knew that I might have bitten off more than I could chew. I pressed on and managed to get somewhere. Let's go and check out more of the game. Gameplay Having been developed over a 8 year period, Game Over A Musical RPG?? has a lot of gameplay to it. The first thing that I found incredibly impressive was the use of sound. I kn...