Thumb Bandits
★ 6.5 · 2001 · 25m · Documentary · News
Thumb Bandits was a British video game television series. It aired on Channel 4 in 2001. The program was presented by Iain Lee and Aleks Krotoski, but only ran for thirteen episodes before being dropped.
Episodes
1. Episode 125m · 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.
2. Episode 2On 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.
3. Episode 3On 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.
4. Episode 4On 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.”
5. Episode 525m · 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.
6. Episode 625m · 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.
7. Episode 725m · The team dives into the latest gaming hits, industry shake-ups and retro nostalgia. Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee on Xbox impresses visually but divides opinion on gameplay, while news covers the European launch of the Nintendo GameCube and Amstrad’s surprise return.
A feature explores the powerful link between music and games, from Orbital’s work on Wipeout to modern soundtrack culture. In reviews, light-gun shooters battle it out, and Retro Lane revisits handheld history with the Game Boy and Tetris.
8. Episode 825m · In the final episode of Thumb Bandits, the team signs off with gore, gimmicks and a heavy dose of gaming chaos.
The news desk covers the global craze surrounding Pikmin, Japan’s RoboDeX 2002 robot expo, and the 20th anniversary re-release of Tron, before diving into a full review of Pikmin on the Nintendo GameCube—a charming but lightweight strategy title that doesn’t quite reach classic status.
The jury then ranks Dead or Alive 3, Shadow Man 2: The Second Coming and Super Smash Bros. Melee, crowning Melee the winner. A feature explores shock marketing in the wake of campaigns for Grand Theft Auto, while the hosts name their series favourites—including Halo: Combat Evolved and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty—before one last look at upcoming titles and a typically anarchic farewell.
9. Episode 925m · This week on Thumb Bandits, the team explores high-end simulation—from a £37k driving rig to a £750k ship simulator—showing VR’s thrills (and seasickness). On games, Wipeout Fusion hits PS2 with speed and 45 tracks, PaRappa 2 returns for musical mayhem, and the Olympus Eye-Trek headset offers immersive experiments. News covers post-9/11 release sensitivities, US Army-backed games, and movie tie-ins, with Batman: Vengeance winning the review. Previews include Star Wars: Obi-Wan, Maximo, and Wave Race: Blue Storm.
10. Episode 1025m · Thumb Bandits launches with anarchic flair as the team throws an unofficial UK party for the next generation of consoles, previewing the Xbox and GameCube while Brits wait for their turn. There’s hands-on chaos with explosive shooters like Max Payne, extreme sports showdowns featuring SSX Tricky and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, and a gleefully violent deep dive into Grand Theft Auto III. Add mobile gaming madness, online office distractions, strategy game obsessives, and a look ahead to trippy curios like Pikmin and Rez, and you’ve got a loud, rude, and proudly irreverent celebration of gaming culture.
11. Episode 1125m · On this irreverent episode of Thumb Bandits, the gang dive headfirst into the haunting beauty of Ico, praising its breathtaking visuals while nitpicking its camera angles. There’s snowy chaos as the jury tackles winter sports titles including Salt Lake 2002, Johnny Mosley's Mad Trix and Dark Summit, plus a blast through Nazi-infested corridors in Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Add in industry news, a look at life as a professional games tester, retro love for the ZX Spectrum, and the usual viewer banter, and you’ve got another loud, cheeky celebration of gaming culture.▶12. Episode 12
13. Episode 1325m · On this irreverent episode of Thumb Bandits, the gang dive headfirst into gaming’s weird and wonderful side. There’s industry gossip on piracy-busting tech in Operation Flashpoint, rumors of Dreamcast games on the Xbox, and wizarding hype with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
A scream-prone review of Silent Hill 2 pits psychological horror against patience, while Ian hits the booze-soaked BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, rubbing shoulders with winners like Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec and Black & White.
Elsewhere, the team test-drive the bruiseless brawling gadget Thrustmaster Fighting Arena, put musical management sims through their paces, slam the familiarity of Crash Bandicoot: Warped, and preview incoming heavyweights including Eternal Darkness, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, and the stunt-filled thrills of Stuntman.
Chaotic, cheeky, and gloriously unfiltered, it’s gaming news with a wicked grin.
14. Episode 1425m · On this outrageous episode of Thumb Bandits, the team review the graffiti-fuelled rush of Jet Set Radio Future, pit Shrek, Luigi's Mansion and Herdy Gerdy against each other in the jury, and storm the beaches in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. There’s bizarre gaming tech in the news, a no-holds-barred street vox pop, and a candid interview with Argonaut founder Jez San—plus the usual dose of rude jokes, console wars and chaos.
15. Episode 1525m · The anarchic final episode of Thumb Bandits goes out with a bang. The crew dive into Pikmin, debate the merits of Dead or Alive 3, Super Smash Bros. Melee and Shadow Man 2, and revisit favorites like Halo and Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. There’s news on the ultra-violent Resident Evil, a look at outrageous games marketing, and a chaotic tour-bus gaming session with metal icons Slipknot—plus competitions, upcoming releases and the usual rude send-off.More Like This
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