Digitally Downloaded

PlayStation State of Play recap: March 10, 2022

2022-03-10T10:30:00.007+11:00

News by Lindsay M.
State of Play is what PlayStation's mini press conferences has evolved into (it's Sony's version of the Nintendo Direct); this one focuses on Japanese publishers, so we're cautiously optimistic about what we're about to see! Hopefully it's not a bunch of western-focused games from Japanese publishers (for example, Square Enix) but we are about to find out!

Exoprimal

It is 2043 and there is a dinosaur outbreak. You heard that right, I said dinosaur outbreak. They're coming out of these dark portals in droves. Special suits keep humans safe. Exoprimal, by Capcom, will be released for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in 2023. (It will also release for PC via Steam, Xbox Series, and Xbox One)

Ghostwire: Tokyo

Someone is harvesting human souls to connect this world to another, so of course he must be stopped. Ghostwire: Tokyo features some very creepy smiling spirit enemies. Apparently we'll be hunting for the truth and facing the unknown soon enough: it is available for PlayStation 5 on March 25. The game is developed by Tango Gameworks, a Japanese developer... but it is published by Bethesda, a very much non-Japanese publisher. We're two games deep and Sony has already abandoned the "Japanese publishers" theme.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin demo incoming

It's a really big demo (nearly 40 GB) but it at least should transfer to the full game. Developed by Koei Tecmo and Quare Enix, and published by (yep) Square Enix, Strange of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin will be released on March 15. And I just realised how soon that is!

Forspoken

This trailer shows Frey being pushed to her limit in Athia. Magic-enhanced combat and parkour skills are a must to survive the lurking creatures. Forspoken is developed by Luminous Productions and published by (you guessed it) Square Enix. It was recently delayed to October 11, when it will launch for PlayStation 5. PS5

Gundam Evolution

Gundam Evolution is an online first-person team-based shooter that was first revealed last July. It features multiple modes: Point Capture, Domination, and Destruction. Developed and published by Bandai Namco, Gundam Evolution is coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. It's worth noting it's a free-to-play title, and will also be available for PC, Xbox Series, and Xbox One.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection

Cowabunga, dude! This collection of old-school TMNT games will be released later this year and includes thirteen previously-released games released for arcade, NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, and Gameboy. It is published by Konami and will be released for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 later this year.

GigaBash

A new form of energy has been discovered, calling forth ancient terrors and causing monsters to rise worldwide. This brawler can be played by up to four players, but only one can be king. Play as monsters or heroes while discovering the secrets of their origin. Developed and published by Passion Republic Games, GigaBash will be released for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 later this year. (Technically, Passion Republic Games is Malaysian, not Japanese, but I love to see it included regardless).

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R

Based on the infamous manga series, this is a fan-favourite fighting game's bizarre and beautiful return that featuring 50 playable characters. Assemble the inherited bloodline and show your resolve; basically, beat the crap out of each other. Developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R will be released in Q3 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 (and, unrelated to the State of Play, it will also come to PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One).

Trek to Yomi

A young swordsman vows to his dying master that he will protect his town and the people he loves from any and all threats. He must voyage beyond life and death to decide his path. Developed by Flying Wild Hog and published by Devolver Digital (another very non-Japanese publisher), Treak to Yomi will be released soon for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. (Again, there are more platforms available not mentions since the presentation is PlayStation-branded: it will also come to PC, Xbox Series, and Xbox One.

Returnal - Ascension

Update 3.0 is a free update for Returnal, titled Ascension. It adds a co-op mode and The Tower of Sisyphus, an ascending gauntlet of increasingly difficult phases, each with twenty floors. Developed by Housemarque and published by Sony, Returnal's Ascension update will be available later this month.

The DioField Chronicle

The DioField Chronicle is the first of two brand new games from... Square Enix. Called it. At least there's only four total. (Okay, that's actually pretty bad considering the small number of games featured). It is a new tactical RPG that promises a deep and engaging storyline. There is a new "real time tactical battle" (RTTB) system. We know for sure it is published by Square Enix, and I would guess it is also the developer. The DioField Chronicle will be released for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 later this year. (It is also coming to PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One.)

Valkyrie Elysium

That's right, it's a new entry to the Valkyrie series! A young Valkyrie is trusted with the fate of the world by the highest of gods. She will need to use weapons, magic, and her allies to prevent Ragnarok, AKA the destruction of the world. Developed and published by Square Enix, Valkyrie Elysium will be released for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 later this year. (It is also coming to PC via Steam.)

And that's it for this State of Play! Hopefully everyone saw something that interests them – ironically enough, I'm most interested in a Square Enix title: The DioField Chronicle. I've included any other platforms I could, but there are still some unknowns at time of publishing so there's a good chance most of these games are not PlayStation-exclusive.

- Lindsay M.
News Editor

The catch-up coffee: Thursday, March 10, 2022

2022-03-10T08:00:00.005+11:00

News by Lindsay M.
Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s regular catch-up news feature. With each issue we will bring you the best news that you may have missed. Grab the biggest mug you’ve got, fill it with your favourite brew, and catch up with us (and our favourite news anchor, Dee Dee)!
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Review: Hundred Days (Nintendo Switch)

2022-03-09T23:20:00.004+11:00

Review by Matt S.

Hundred Days is one of those wish fulfilment simulators that I am so glad exists. I love vineyards. I love touring them, tasting their boutique wines, and then staying for an à la carte meal at the vineyard's inevitably pretentious-but-tasty restaurant. The food is always perfectly matched to the wine, naturally. And then I love getting my camera out, because I love the neat rows of vines and the photogenic aesthetics of the space. Vineyard visits are an all-around and genuine cultural experience, in other words, and I have always wanted to run a vineyard of my own.
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A quick Q & A with the developers of King of Fighters XV

2022-03-09T20:35:00.001+11:00

Interview by Matt S.

The most recent instalment in the King of Fighters series, KoF:XV, launched not too long ago. We thought it was a pretty decent effort overall, and certainly the kind of title that competitive fans will enjoy.

We had the chance to get some very (very!) quick questions over to the director, Soranaka Kaito, and creative director, Ogura Eisuke, to collect some of their thoughts about the game and the broader fighting game genre.

You're getting a demo of the Dee Dee: A Week on the Water visual novel this weekend!

2022-03-08T23:33:00.003+11:00

News by Matt S.

While I'm sharing the good news about the goings-on at DDNet, I thought now would be a good time to share this too - the visual novel project which was unfortunately waylaid is back on track! I've been able to rebuild it, and make good progress with getting all the text, art, and interactive bits and pieces back in there (there's a lot, I assure you!). I'm probably only a month or so away from actually having the game finished again, so I wanted to use this opportunity to demonstrate that it's not vapourware and also give you a full taste of what's to come!

The demo will give you the first day (of the in-game week) to play through, which will offer a number of different paths, as well as some of the puzzles and quiz questions. It's probably around an hour's worth (but replayable because, again, a number of paths), and will give you a good idea of what to expect from the rest of the game. You'll also get to enjoy plenty of the high-quality art and music that has gone into the making of this game.

This will be released on our itch.io channel for free (of course - it is a demo, after all). We're super-excited to hear what you think about this game, and the full version won't be far behind it!

- Matt S.
Editor-in-Chief

Find me on Twitter: @mattsainsb

Get the Dee Dee Zine! A monthly magazine filled with features on Japanese art & culture. Love games, film, music, food and travel? We've got you covered. Click here to purchase issues.

The new DigitallyDownloaded.net is coming! Get your first look here!

2022-03-08T20:51:00.000+11:00

News by Matt S.

It has certainly been a process (over 12,000 articles written over 11 years don't move themselves!) but the all-new DigitallyDownloaded.net is almost set for launch. We're actually expecting to flick the switch next Thursday so, unless disaster hits, we've only got a little over a week before we can say "toodles" to this site, and boldly enter the next chapter of the Website's existence.
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Buy 1,000 games for $10, help Ukraine

2022-03-08T12:56:00.001+11:00

News by Matt S.

Itch.io is rapidly becoming a place to go to support good causes. Whenever there's a disaster or nightmare scenario, there tends to be a bundle that pops up on the platform to raise money to support the victims. Itch.io has just launched a massive bundle in support of Ukraine, and even if you don't end up playing any of the 1,000 products that are in this bundle, it is worth supporting both Ukraine and the Itch.io initiative, so that these things continue to happen.
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Review: Babylon's Fall (Sony PlayStation 5)

2022-03-07T20:34:00.003+11:00

Review by Matt S. & Matt R.

Babylon’s Fall is a game that has been designed to be exclusively a “live service” multiplayer game. And so, to do something different with this review, Matt R (of Shindig and regular on DDNet fame) and I buddied up to cruise through a chunk of the game, and now, to review it, we’re going to have a chat about it.
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Interesting games on itch.io: March 7

2022-03-07T16:23:00.002+11:00

List by Matt S.
I'm a big fan of itch.io for the freedom and open platform that it allows for developers to be creative, experimental, and directly canvas the audience for feedback for games that are not yet ready for primetime on Steam and its ilk. In addition, itch.io allows you to be transgressive, subversive, and downright dangerous. It's a true "art gallery" for game ideas and creative developers, and it should be celebrated for that.
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The catch-up coffee: Monday, March 7, 2022

2022-03-07T08:00:00.001+11:00

Review: Chocobo GP (Nintendo Switch)

2022-03-04T16:00:00.002+11:00

Review by Matt S.

Sometimes a game comes along and just wants to be a bright, happy bit of fan service, and to criticise it for that, and not being something that it's not, seems a bit silly. As a bright and happy bit of fan service, Chocobo GP is wholesome, charming, cheerful and executed with precision. It looks great, and plays well enough that the real appeal of the experience, the characters, can shine. It's a character mascot event, in other words, and it does that perfectly.
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Review: Triangle Strategy (Nintendo Switch)

2022-03-04T01:00:00.003+11:00

Review by Matt S.

With its title, Triangle Strategy takes being "on the nose" to whole other level. While that is a weakness because it is difficult not to roll the eyes at it on first impressions alone, the ideas and concept behind it are sound and make more sense the further you delve into its mammoth narrative. You've got to be in a specific mood to really get into what Triangle Strategy is offering, but the rich, evocative narrative and classically entertaining tactics action is elevated to a remarkable degree. Time will tell if this game is remembered as fondly as the mighty Final Fantasy Tactics itself, but it's arguably the most distinctive and interesting example of the genre since that original masterpiece.
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Review: Conan Chop Chop (Nintendo Switch)

2022-03-03T22:39:00.001+11:00

Review by Matt S.

Conan Chop Chop wants to sit somewhere between Gauntlet and Hades. It wants to be an action roguelike with a moreish loot system, but also being orientated heavily towards bringing four friends together for some button-mashing chaos. Unfortunately, it's much too inconsistent to reach the heights of either genre-defining great, but it is good fun. Really, the only outright problem it has is its treatment of the license.
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The catch-up coffee: Thursday, March 3, 2022

2022-03-03T08:00:00.002+11:00

Review: Gran Turismo 7 (Sony PlayStation 5)

2022-03-02T22:01:00.001+11:00

Review by Matt S.

I really wish I loved anything as much as Yamauchi Kazunori loves cars. I'm not even exaggerating about that. He clearly loves cars. Gran Turismo 7 is filled with the kind of longing, slow-panning, romantic camera angles that focus on the bodies of these machines in a way that you would think more typical to a Dead or Alive volleyball game. In the case of DoA, doing that would be slammed by the critics for objectification or whatever, but here, with GT7, that's okay, since the subjects are already objects. What this game offers, first and foremost, is an almost inspiring kind of fan service that will make you just wish that you loved anything as much as "Kaz" loves cars.
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Review: Elex II (Sony PlayStation 5)

2022-03-01T21:00:00.002+11:00

Review by Matt S.

I'm not sure there's ever a precisely right time to release a "Eurojank" RPG, but I certainly don't think that Elex II benefits from being released a few days after Elden Ring and Horizon: Forbidden West. There are going to be people that play one after the other, or any combination of them in parallel, as they do appeal to similar audiences as each is an open world, western-style RPG, but where Elden Ring and Horizon are both polished to an almost inhuman degree, Elex II is... well, it's the precise opposite of that.
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Interesting games on itch.io: March 1

2022-03-01T18:00:00.003+11:00

Not every game has to be made for you

2022-03-01T14:30:00.002+11:00

Opinion by Matt S.

Whenever FromSoftware releases a new game, one thing is guaranteed: the discourse of the week will be about its "difficulty". Elden Ring, much like the Souls series and Sekiro before it, does not have an easy mode. In fact, the game is genuinely challenging. Note: It's not difficult as some claim - it's not like the arcade games of yesteryear which were designed to arbitrarily beat you and force you to pay another coin to play some more. It's challenging like playing a musical instrument is challenging. At first, you'll be overwhelmed just looking at a sheet of music, but with practice and dedication, you'll be playing Mozart. For some people, it takes longer than others, but most people can learn how to play a musical instrument and with dedication and practice most people can, in fact, overcome the challenges of Elden Ring.
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Why I can't review Martha is Dead

2022-03-01T12:00:00.003+11:00

Opinion by Lindsay M.
I don't believe topics should be ignored in games, but I do believe that certain issues need to be handled delicately; things like mental illness, sexual assault, and war are not topics to be taken lightly. LKA is, to me, best known for approaching some very sensitive topics in The Town of Light. So when Martha is Dead was announced, and said to be a psychological horror game set in a time of war, I firmly believed The LKA team could do these issues justice. Set in Italy during World War II, the game follows a young woman in the days following her sister's sudden and shocking death. The game shows true heart and true promise, but unfortunately doesn't go much past that at this point. But I can't review the game at this stage for a single, critical reason. Most of this article will read like a review, and first I'll discuss the game itself as though it is a review, but then I'll delve into the reason why I actually can't give it a proper score.
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Digitally Uploaded! March 2022 Podcast: Elden Ring! Also... spoilers are silly

2022-02-28T20:08:00.002+11:00

Howdy peeps, and welcome to the March edition of the Digitally Uploaded podcast! We've got some great stuff to chat through this month so kick back and enjoy the 2-hour ride!

First, we run through all the stuff releasing in the month ahead (it's a staggering line-up of games). Then we talk about Elden Ring - a game that is surely going to be turning heads for many years to come (and with good reason). Finally, we talk about spoiler culture, and just how much our obsession with spoilers is letting the art form down.

Enjoy the show, let us know what you think, and we'll see you next month for more!

The podcast is completely free, and there are a couple of ways that you can listen in:

1) Download the free Podbean application, and subscribe to the Digitally Uploaded podcast there (Just search "Digitally Uploaded"). Alternatively, you can find us through our Feed RSS, here: http://digitallydownloaded.podbean.com/feed/

2) Simply head on over to the Digitally Uploaded mini-website and follow us there. You'll be able to download episodes that way too to listen to them offline: http://digitallydownloaded.podbean.com/

3) Simply click on the player below to tune in as you browse DDNet!

4) We're also on iTunes podcasts, which you can find here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/digitally-uploaded/id1183658342. Or Google Podcasts, which you can reach by clicking right here!

Enjoy, and as always, please do let us know if you've got any feedback or would like for us to discuss a particular topic on an upcoming show.

Sade: A My Time With Dee Dee Game by DigitallyDownloaded.net

Tokyo Game Show is back with a physical event! I'm so happy I could cry

2022-02-28T15:46:00.007+11:00

News by Matt S.

After two years where COVID-19 forced the event to go digital-only, Tokyo Game Show is once again holding a physical event in 2022. It will be held from September 15 to 18, and it's going to be so good finally being able to get feet on the ground again.
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I was on a podcast to rip capitalism in video games a new one

2022-02-28T15:19:00.001+11:00

News by Matt S.

It's no secret that I absolutely hate the way that video games have led the charge in dragging the art world into late-stage capitalism. From borrowing increasingly heavily from the tactics that gambling companies use, to the embrace of subscriptions services (which, contrary to what the suits want you to believe, only benefit the suits), and on to the consolidation that is running rampant through the sector, the capitulation to toxic capitalism by this industry, and the way the audience actually cheers it on is grotesque.
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The catch-up coffee: Monday, February 28, 2022

2022-02-28T08:00:00.012+11:00

A chat with the developers behind Devolver Digital's next indie hit

2022-02-25T13:40:00.003+11:00

Interview by Matt S.

As was announced last night, the Australian-developed Cult Of The Lamb, being published by Devolver Digital, will release across consoles this year. It's a charming and amusing-looking thing, very much in line with the kind of thing we know Devolver likes to support... and Devolver's support is reason enough to get behind this one. We might not have seen much by way of gameplay yet, but Devolver rarely picks duds.

We had the opportunity to fire off some quick questions to Julian Wilton, Creative Director at Massive Monster, about what the team was looking to achieve with this game.
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Devolver Digital and Aussie studio bringing Cult of the Lamb to console

2022-02-25T03:00:00.002+11:00

News by Matt S.

This is a short piece of news, but since it involved the local Australian games industry, I feel compelled to write about it. The Aussie-made (Massive Monster development studio) Cult of the Lamb is going to be getting a release on consoles.
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