Jordan Rooker, Author at Thumb Culture

13May

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

TerraTech Legion – PC Review

TerraTech Legion is a vehicular combat roguelite by Payload Studios (TerraTech). Battle your way through endless bot swarms while improving your tech. Take on missions to complete your contracts or just survive for the highest score. You can pick up the game, with publishing by Mythwright (TerraTech, Thronefall), on Steam, Epic Games, and Xbox Series X|S. Tech on Tech... Legions of Tech Back again with another roguelite. It wouldn't be a new month without a new one to explore. I spent a lot of time playing with LEGOs when I was a kid, so TerraTech Legion looks right up my alley. So how did it play out? Check out my review below. Gameplay TerraTech Legion is a bullet hell style roguelite. Much like in TerraTech and TerraTech Worlds, this version also puts you in the seat of a modula...

5May

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PlayStation Reviews

ICARUS: Console Edition – PS5 Review

ICARUS: Console Edition is now available on Xbox X|S and PlayStation 5. The console port of the popular PC survival game, originally developed by RocketWerkz, has been in development by Grip Studios. Though the PC version has been around since December of 2021, this version just became available at the end of March this year. It contains all the crafting, survival, and challenges that the game is well known for. Perhaps ICARUS is too close to the sun on Console... It's nice when developers keep multiple platforms in mind during early game design. This generally makes for a better consistency, but of course there are always some games that play better on console than their computer counterparts. Knowing how long ICARUS has been around on PC, I was curious to check how it translates over t...

29Apr

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Morbid Metal – PC Early Access Preview

Morbid Metal, a third-person action roguelite by SCREEN JUICE is available now in early access. With publishing by Ubisoft, become an agent of destruction while shifting between characters mid-combat, combining attacks and abilities to overcome sectors of machine foes. You can currently check it out only on Steam. Metal Meets Metal in this Hack 'n Slash Roguelite This game originally caught my eye a few years ago. I added it to my wishlist after finding it, but believe I must have removed it after not seeing much news on development so I didn't notice the news ramp back up over the last year. I think StarRupture was the last game I had a similar wishlist experience with. Was I just as impressed with the re-emergence of Morbid Metal? Find out below! Gameplay Morbid Metal is a third-...

Gray Zone Warfare – PC Early Access Preview

17Apr

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Gray Zone Warfare – PC Early Access Preview

Gray Zone Warfare is a tactical FPS in early access by MADFINGER Games. Take on missions solo or with a squad of your own as you explore a persistent, remote Southeast Asian island in both PvE and PvPvE combat. The game is only available on Steam. Tactics are Needed in the Gray Zone I'm no stranger to first-person shooter games. My most consistently played series over the years is without a doubt Battlefield. They provide a nice blend of ground and vehicle combat that I think draws me, alongside the steady paced action. Gray Zone Warfare is one that I've seen but not really taken a look at as far as FPS games go. I was guessing it would be a mixture of Rainbow Six Siege and Squad from the tactical standpoint. Let me share what I found thus far in my time with the game below. Gamepla...

Don’t Lose Aggro – PC Early Access Preview

14Apr

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Don’t Lose Aggro – PC Early Access Preview

Don't Lose Aggro is an action roguelite where you are the tank. Oren Koren, the developer, has taken the role and created a roguelite game loop around doing just that. It will be available in Early Access only on Steam. Tanking Can Be Slow... I bet you didn't expect me to be writing about another roguelike game, did you? Oh wait... yeah you probably aren't surprised. I'm not either at this point and I enjoy seeing the different flavors that are out there. Check out my thoughts on the early access build of Don't Lose Aggro below. Gameplay The "holy trinity" of player roles, damage-per-second (DPS), healer and tank, are commonly found in multiplayer games. Don't Lose Aggro extracts the tank role and puts it into a solo player experience where your task remains the same - get your par...

13Apr

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Animalkind – PC Early Access Preview

Animalkind is a cozy crafting co-op now available in early access on PC. Play as a small, lovable quadruped summoned to a mysterious island with development and publishing by Uncommon Games. Explore the open world with the assistance of an ancient mech and develop a growing community, alone or with a trio of friends. It's only available now in early access through Steam. Animalkind of Adorable I should really have shown this game to my daughter first to see her reaction. She loves games with animals as well as crafting games like Minecraft. Just the sight of the critters I'm sure will excite her to play. But anyhow, Animalkind looks pretty cute to me too so I thought I'd check it out. Let me tell you about it below. Gameplay Animalkind is an open world co-op crafting adventure wher...

8Apr

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Grind Survivors – PC Review

Grind Survivors is a new top-down action roguelike, bullet hell mashup by Pushka Studios. Survive your way through endless swarms of demons in fast-paced biomes, gaining experience and stacking different bonuses to enhance your weapon. Pick up loot, boost your passives, and come back gunning. With publishing by Assemble Entertainment (Sticky Business, Endzone - A World Apart), the game is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, Epic, and GOG. Grind Those Demons! Here I am at it again. Yet another roguelite/roguelike on my plate. Thankfully, I seem to keep coming up with a fresh appetite. It's pretty likely now that anything with "Survivors" in the title gives the average gamer an idea of what's on the menu at least. Does Grind Survivors hold true? Check out my ...

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike – PC Review

31Mar

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike – PC Review

RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike is a strategy arcade roguelite releasing March 31st on PC. With publishing by Playstack (Abiotic Factor, Balatro), developer Doraccoon brings coin pushing to a digital scale with a plethora of unique bits and bobs. You can pick it up only over on Steam. Like at the Carnival, But Better! I was always curious around the coin pusher games at the carnival. Mostly because I wanted the free tokens that would randomly fall. These days I see one on occasion at the gas station or travel center, and usually toss in a quarter or two if I have one on me. RACCOIN looks to be a more manageable for my wallet. So how does it play? Well check out the review below and I'll let you know my thoughts! Gameplay RACCOIN: Coin Pusher Roguelike is a coin pushing strategy arca...

23Mar

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

PC Reviews

Marathon – PC Review

Marathon is the latest IP from the creators of Halo and Destiny. Bungie joins the extraction shooter genre with this FPS, PvPvE style addition set in a failed human colony of the future. It is available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox X|S. Shells Will Crack in Marathon Destiny 2 is one of my top games on Steam, Though I haven't been playing for a few expansions now. But my familiarity with worlds by Bungie have me looking forward to what Marathon has to offer. Especially since that whole artwork ordeal was settled. Now that it is here, how is it? Take a look at my thoughts in the review below. Gameplay Marathon is a first-person extraction shooter set in a futuristic timeline beyond humanity's attempt to colonize the planet of Tau Ceti IV. As a runner, your consciousness inhabits a synthe...

12Mar

By Jordan RookerNo Comments

Previews & Early Access

Rogue Point – PC Early Access Preview

Rogue Point is a new tactical roguelite FPS from the creators of Black Mesa, Crowbar Collective. With publishing by Team17 (a lot of games), this solo or co-op experience is available now in Early Access. You can pick it up only on Steam. Go Roguelite on that FPS Rogue Point certainly gives off a unique vibe. A cross between a tactical FPS and a roguelite was enough to interest me. But can it hit the best points of each genre? Find out in this early access look below. Gameplay A co-op, tactical roguelite FPS is the best way I can categorize Rogue Point. It combines aspects from several genres and blends them nicely into a stand-out product. With up to 3 others, start up a campaign, select your loadout and drop into various different missions against a band of thugs for hire. Rog...