Thumb Bandits

On a boozy Friday night edition of Thumb Bandits, the team dives into gaming’s biggest battles and boldest releases. Ian revisits Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, sparking debate over how it stacks up against Metal Gear Solid, while the console wars heat up between the Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, and PlayStation 2. Reviews spotlight Soul Reaver 2, Vampire Night, and Maximo: Ghosts to Glory, with a nostalgic nod to Elite and a look at Sony’s robotic dog, the Sony AIBO.

On a winter-warming edition of Thumb Bandits, the team hails the UK launch of the Xbox with a passionate deep dive into its killer app, Halo: Combat Evolved, praising its smart AI, epic ringworld setting, and chaotic co-op combat. The news desk covers PlayStation 2 online trials featuring Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, a military game deal from Andy McNab, and a Tomb Raider-themed ride at Kings Island. Reviews spotlight strategy title Battle Realms, while a retro throwback revisits the console clash between the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Master System. In the jury’s sports showdown, Pro Evolution Soccer beats out NBA Live 2002 and Cricket 2002, while previews tease Mike Tyson Heavyweight Boxing and high-speed racer Wreckless: The Yakuza Missions.

On a festive edition of Thumb Bandits, the team unwraps the dark arts of console marketing, tracing the evolution of PlayStation advertising from subversive ’90s cool to the slick campaigns of the PlayStation 2 and Game Boy Advance, while eyeing the hype machines behind the Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. Reviews come thick and fast: wrestling spectacle WWF SmackDown! divides opinion, shooter showdown HeadHunter takes the jury’s crown over Time Crisis II and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, and futuristic racer New York Race is slammed for style over substance. In the news, the demise of SNK and the fading fortunes of the Dreamcast prompt a bittersweet retro countdown featuring Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi and Resident Evil Code: Veronica. Previews tease surf sim TransWorld Surf, ogre-powered platformer Shrek, and comic-book caper Batman: Dark Tomorrow—before the hosts sign off in typically chaotic, booze-fuelled fashion.

On a chaotic Christmas special of Thumb Bandits, the team unwrap festive fun, fierce reviews and next-gen hype. A novelty snowboard controller is put through its paces with Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder, while Ian dives into the colourful platform adventure Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, praising its vast, Nintendo-style world. The jury tackles comedy titles including Worms Blast and Polaroid Pete, before Ian delivers a tongue-in-cheek verdict on James Bond 007: Agent Under Fire. Meanwhile, Alex heads to the UK unveiling of the Xbox, where early hands-on impressions and buzz around Halo: Combat Evolved hint at the coming console war. Previews of Johnny Mosley's Mad Trix and Luigi's Mansion round out the show, before the hosts abandon gaming altogether for an off-key rendition of “Silent Night.”

On another anarchic outing of Thumb Bandits, Ian dives into the dark, futuristic online world of Neocron, praising its mutant-blasting missions, player-driven community and refreshingly elf-free sci-fi setting. The news desk tackles the rise of in-game advertising—from Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec to football sponsorship tie-ins—asking whether product placement will make games cheaper or just more intrusive. In the review arena, aerial combat heats up as Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies takes on Dropship: United Peace Force and cartoon racer Looney Tunes: Space Race, while Super Monkey Ball earns a rapturous, booze-fuelled celebration ahead of its Nintendo GameCube launch. Elsewhere, a retro arcade collector showcases classics like Space Invaders and Pac-Man, and previews tease Hitman 2: Silent Assassin and Gunmetal.

On another irreverent ride through gaming culture, Thumb Bandits blasts into hyperspace with a deep dive into Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader on the Nintendo GameCube, praising its stunning space battles while cursing its punishing controls. Ian hits the slopes with Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding on the Xbox, celebrating its open mountains and massive soundtrack, while the review jury serves up a tennis special—crowning Tennis Masters Series 2003 over Cosmic Smash and Centre Court: Hard Hitter. Elsewhere, there’s UK release news on Final Fantasy X, a look back at cult consoles like the PC Engine and the ill-fated Virtual Boy, plus a feature on artists turning classic games into modern installations—before the hosts descend into the usual chaotic sign-off.