Geek Culture Reviews

Rob reviews Witch Rise on PlayStation 5… It seems like every week indie powerhouse Ratalaika Games brings a new indie title to console store fronts. Where January seems to be a quiet month for AAA titles, it is the perfect time to sample some indie delights. With price points that don’t necessarily break those post-Christmas bank balances, it’s no big loss if the title in question is a done-in-one to never return.  Witch Rise is one of those titles.  Don’t get me wrong, Witch Rise does have some charming features to it, but it’s one that’s probably only going to be played for those of us who like those illusive platinum trophies. Coming in with a playtime that can be done in a little under 90 minutes with 12 simple unmissable trophies, Witch Rise is one that’ll be done and dusted pretty quick.  Taking inspiration from the likes of  DOOM , Witch Rise is a colourful pixel art romp through a strange world featuring four unique biomes. As you progress through this world you’ll encounter

Rob reviews DreadOut 2 on Nintendo Switch… I’m a fan of horror titles, and anything from fighting ghostly apparitions, to hiding from a seemingly unstoppable monsters are a big hit in my book. Horror games are done well when they make the player unsettled, but give them enough rope to come back for more. A good example of this is Alien Isolation - which I think is a title that’s still not been beat in terms of making you feel truly trapped in a nightmare. The same can also be said for the 2001 PlayStation 2 title Project Zero (Fatal Frame if you’re not in Europe or Australia). Project Zero cast you as Miku Hinasaki who only armed with a camera had to battle supernatural forces whilst attempting to save her brother. The dark corridors were unsettling enough - and that’s before you used the camera to realise you weren’t alone.  DreadOut 2 is very much like these two horror heavyweights. And it’s a title that I’m glad to have experienced. Even if it’s on the Nintendo Switch.  Sadly, I’

Rob (and Grace) review Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic on Xbox Series X… Back when Grace was a wee toddler we’d always have fun looking through those hidden object books. From the brain teasers of Where’s Wally (Waldo for you Americans), to the likes of Meerkat’s, Wookiee’s, and Penguins, we’ve hunted for them all. Some times we’d be successful, and other times we’d give up. But we’d always have a fun time looking at the crazy goings on that adorn each page. Now that she’s 14 it’s very rare that Grace wants to do anything with her old man that doesn’t involve Overwatch 2. So it did come as a surprise when she wanted to sit down with me and hunt some inanimate objects across various historical locations Where Hidden Through Time 2 is a recent title for the Xbox, it has been available on PC and Mac for a few months. It’s a casual game that’s perfect for any age group, and any ability. It’s gorgeous hand drawn art draws you into the page, and the sheer amount of maps and hidden

“Avengers: Twilight throws us into a world that’s lost its heroes and villains of old, where technology runs supreme, social injustice is simply swept under the rug…” Since its initial tease last year, I’ve been pretty excited to get my hands on Avengers: Twilight - an “what-if” tale based in a world where the hero’s we know are either missing or altered in some way. Captain America has been replaced by a younger version of himself, Luke Cage is essentially confined to a wheelchair, and Matt Murdock is stuck behind his desk. It’s a world that’s very different from what we’re used to, and it’s one I’m still all to eager to explore.  Reading Avengers: Twilight #1 feels much like reading Captain America: Man out of Time . Here we follow an aged Steve Rogers as he adjusts to a world that no longer needs him. New York is now a bustling city bathed within neon lights, and holograms, while totalitarian rules stop anyone from breaking the rules. The differences from our present day are furth

The sins of the past reign supreme on the frozen world of LV-695… We’re heading into the third act of Declan Shalvey’s Alien, and the tension is really ramping up to a fever pitch. As the salvage of the U.S.C.S.S. Boreas gets underway within the frozen waters of LV-695, Zasha comes face to face with a face from her past - Dayton. Their reunion is short lived as Jun Yutani makes a confession of his own.  The narrative mystery starts to unravel during this issue as each sub-plot makes headway to their conclusions. Chief amongst this is why Jun Yutani is interested in salvaging the Boreas, and why we keep getting flashbacks to a past encounter with the Xenomorph. It’s a very clever reveal and it’s one that I didn’t predict way back in issue #1. While it doesn’t necessarily tie into Zasha’s own reasonings, it’ll certainly make re-reading Thaw extremely interesting.  Anyway, while the family reunion is cut short, the remaining salvage team get ready to hoist the stricken Boreas back into or

Garth Ennis heads back to WW2 with Battle Action Vol. 2… Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys) returns to Battle Action and brings a roster of writers and artists to help him resurrect characters from the classic UK comics Battle and Action. From air ace Johnny Red to the daring Nina Petrova, and from lethal British agent Dredger to the louche Major Eazy. Battle Picture Weekly was where the revolution in British comics began. Created in 1975 by writers and editors Pat Mills and John Wagner, it introduced new grittiness into comics with its cast of anti-heroes and misfits. Its bombast and energy sparked a sea-change in what comics could do, leading to Mills’ creation of the controversial Action and the globally influential 2000 AD. In total this collection includes 12 action-packed stories from some of the most popular writers in modern comics; John Wagner (Judge Dredd), Torunn Grønbekk (Thor, Star Wars), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad) and Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy), and features ar

Avengers #9 heads to comic book stores this Wednesday, and you can check out the official preview from Marvel Comics below… The Avengers battle the Twilight Court…for the sake of Kang the Conqueror? The Twilight Court wishes to bring Kang to justice, but the Avengers still have need of the comatose conqueror. Which side can claim to truly be just? Avengers #9 will be available to buy from Wednesday 9th January.

Toby Maguire’s Black Suit is set to receive a six scale deluxe collectable statue courtesy of Hot Toys. The figure - as depicted in Sam Rami’s Spider-Man 3 features the likeness of Toby Maguire, who comes complete with an exquisitely detailed symbiote companion. Priced at $330, this collectible is the perfect choice for fans of the Web-Slinger, and the Venom symbiote.  But enough about that. Let’s look at the pictures!  Carefully crafted based on the appearance of Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man / Peter Parker wearing Black Suit from Spider-Man 3, the one-sixth scale figure features a newly developed head sculpt with separate rolling eyeball system, an interchangeable masked head; a greatly-poseable body for dynamic poses; faithful recreation of the black suit with raised silver webbing patterns; accessories such as alien symbiote arms and head with protruding tongue, Spider-Man mask, assorted spider-web webbing accessories, and a themed display base. A Special Edition available in selecte

Inspired by the variant cover by DC artist David Finch of the seventh issue of the mini-series The Batman Who Laughs, the artists over at Prime 1 Studio have brought to life the battle between the Caped Crusader and the Joker Toxin-infected supervillain of the Dark Multiverse. This dark and gritty Batman collectible diorama stands over 26 inches tall and features the two Batmans aiming for each other’s throats; one fights for justice and order as the other fights for chaos and mayhem. The Batman Who Laughs’ slimmer physique is accentuated by a form-fitting leather-like tunic, the belts, buckles, and spikes add a touch of brutality and emphasize the darker and more twisted nature of the character. His distinctive and unsettling grin stands out prominently against the dark cowl – promoting a sense of madness and giving off a nightmarish effect, taunting his adversary as the razor-sharp claws slice through space. The Batman, on the receiving end, confronts this manic and utterly disturbin