Vinno, Author at Thumb Culture

26Apr

By VinnoNo Comments

Cassette Beasts – PC Review

Originally announced in October 2021, today sees the release of the Creature Collector-JRPG Cassette Beasts, developed by UK-based Bytten Studio, and published by Sweden-based Raw Fury. Cassette Beasts is available today for Steam and Windows, and will be released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and the Nintendo Switch in late Spring 2023. Today we will be looking at the PC version, which will cost £16.75/$19.99 or can be played via PC Game Pass and will require 2GB of space. Gotta Record 'em All? Now, if there is one thing I'm certain of, it's that this game will no doubt have "Pokémon clone" thrown around alongside it. And while yes, it is a creature-collecting, monster-battling, turn-based JRPG, I feel like calling it a Pokémon clone would be doing it a disservice. Of course, there...

19Apr

By VinnoNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Papertris – Switch Review

Papertris is a match 3 game from Germany-based Father and 2 sons developer Paper Games. It is available for the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. Today we will be looking at the Nintendo Switch version which will set you back £4.49/$4.99 at the time of writing and will require 346MB of storage. Not Quite Tetris in Name, Not Quite Tetris in Nature Everything from the name and the looks of the game tells you this is going to be something akin to Tetris. But no, not quite. It does feature falling blocks and you do have to make them disappear. But that's about where the similarities end. Gameplay Papertris is a match 3 game. You know the sort, make 3 or more of the same block touch and poof! Bye-bye, blocks! It features power-up blocks that I never quite worked out how they work. Th...

Formula Retro Racing – World Tour – PC Review

31Mar

By VinnoNo Comments

PC Reviews

Formula Retro Racing – World Tour – PC Review

Developed by British-based Repixel8 and published by also British-based CGA Studio, today we'll be looking at a fun little Arcade Racer that promises to evoke the feeling of Arcade Racers of the past, Formula Retro Racing - World Tour. Available for the Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC from March 31st, and PlayStation from April 21st, we'll be taking a look at the PC version, which will require 666 MB storage. If You Ain't First, You're Last! Formula Retro Racing - World Tour is a sequel to Repixel8's Arcade Racer Formula Retro Racing. It sticks with the low poly aesthetics of the original game but brings new cars and tracks for you to enjoy. There are 18 tracks for you to race around, either by yourself, online with friends or in up to 4-player split screen. There are also 10 cars for yo...

14Mar

By VinnoNo Comments

Switch Reviews

Meg’s Monster – Switch Review

Coming to us from Japanese developer Odencat is a JRPG with a twist. Meg's Monster will pull at your heartstrings and make you ask, who is the real monster? Meg's Monster is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Today we'll be looking at the Switch version, which comes in at £12.79/$14.99 Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Some Are Huge Indestructible Monsters Named Roy. Meg's Monster centres around a little girl named Meg, who falls into the Underworld, a place filled with monsters. While the premise may sound similar to Undertale, Meg's Monster offers a fresh take on the formula, with unique gameplay mechanics and a heartwarming storyline. The game starts with Meg stumbling upon two monsters, Golan and Roy. Golan, initially planning to eat Meg, realises t...

8Mar

By VinnoNo Comments

PC Reviews

Like a Dragon: Ishin! – PC Review

This one is kind of a special one for me. Before the pandemic, I had never played any Yakuza/Like a Dragon titles. I played through most of them during the pandemic and Kamurocho became a somewhat home away from home. I was heavily invested in the internal conflicts and power struggles of the Tojo Clans' top brass. In some of the most isolated moments of the lockdown, I could always count on a "Kiryu-chan!" to cheer me up. So when the opportunity to take a look at Like a Dragon: Ishin! arose, I just had to jump at it! Today we'll be looking at the PC version, which costs £54.99/$59.99 on Steam at the time of writing. It will require 60GB of space. All Around Me are Familiar Faces! When I told a friend I was taking a look at Like a Dragon: Ishin! they asked: "does it involve time t...

Startup Company: Console Edition – PS5 Review

21Feb

By VinnoNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

Startup Company: Console Edition – PS5 Review

Be the ethically questionable CEO that you've always dreamt of being in Startup Company: Console Edition. From Danish developer Hovgaard Games and Spanish Publisher 2Awesome Studio who handled the console port, today we'll be looking at the PS5 version. Startup Company was released on 26th Jan and will cost £9.99/$12.99 on the PlayStation store. Prove you have what it takes to be a CEO, without the risk of losing your life savings! Startup Company is a solid and honestly pretty addictive business management simulator that will have you hooked for hours. You are the CEO of a tech startup. You will need to manage everything from the development and maintenance of your website to marketing and monetisation. The game's concept is simple but well-executed. But don't be fooled by its see...

13Feb

By VinnoNo Comments

PC Reviews

Hi-Fi Rush – PC Review

Coming from Japanese developer Tango Gameworks and American publisher Bethesda, don't miss a beat with Hi-Fi Rush. Hi-Fi Rush threw us all for a loop when it was shadow-dropped on 25th Jan. Available for Xbox Series X|S and PC, today we'll be looking at the PC version. Hi-Fi Rush is included with Gamepass and will require 20GB of space. For those who wish to purchase it, it will cost £29.99/$29.99 on the Microsoft Store. All of your trebles are dead and gone! Hi-Fi Rush was a massive departure for developer Tango Gameworks who are usually known for their more spooky titles, such as The Evil Within and Ghostwire Tokyo. All things considered, the question has to be asked why they didn't do it sooner. Seriously, this game is brilliant! At this point, the combat rhythm game isn't a...

1Feb

By VinnoNo Comments

PC Reviews

PC Building Simulator 2 – PC Review

Today we’ll be looking at PC Building Simulator 2, which comes to us from Spiral House and is published by Epic Games. It was released Oct 2022 and is the follow-up to 2017’s PC Building Simulator. It is available on PC via the Epic Game Store for £19.99/$24.99 and will require ~26GB storage. It’s like LEGO, but for grown-ups! Okay, let’s ignore the fact that plenty of adults (myself included) enjoy LEGO for a second. PC building is something of a hobby of mine, and “LEGO for grown-ups” is my go-to descriptor when people ask me if it’s complicated. I’ve advised many people on how to build a PC, and PC Building Simulator was one thing I recommended a lot to people who wanted to grasp the basics of PC building. It was a useful tool to help people grasp the basics as it was a pretty a...

Deadpool is coming to Marvel’s Midnight Suns

19Jan

By VinnoNo Comments

News & Updates

Deadpool is coming to Marvel’s Midnight Suns

Marvel’s Midnight Suns have announced that the Merc with a Mouth will soon be available in your quest to protect the world against Lilith and HYDRAs nefarious deeds. It’s time to get out the Chimichangas, Deadpool is making his way to Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Coming from Publisher 2k, and developed by XCOM developer Firaxis Games, the hit tactical RPG Midnight Suns has announced that Deadpool will soon be making his presence known, with the anticipated announcement of the first DLC. After the official reveal, we now know what to expect from the upcoming DLC, which features everyone’s favourite fourth-wall-breaking merc. I hope those HYDRA grunts have their brown pants ready! Midnights Suns have announced that Deadpool will soon be joining your party in the first DLC titled “The G...

18Jan

By VinnoNo Comments

PC Reviews

Scrap Riders – PC Review

Scrap Riders comes to us from Spanish developer Games For Tutti and is published by the French publisher Microids. Scrap Riders which was released on 9th Jan is available for PC via Steam and the Nintendo Switch. We’ll be looking at the PC version, which comes in at £14.99/$17.99 and will require 4 GB storage. It’s the end of the world as we know it. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, surrounding a cyberpunk-styled city “Uber City”, Scrap Riders is a pixel art adventure game which combines beat ‘em up and point ‘n click style gameplay, a Monkey Island meets Streets of Rage if you will, to offer a fun and witty title. That is when it’s not beating you over the head with its references. You play as Rast, a member of the titular Scrap Riders. An outlaw biker gang of misfits. You sta...