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)!
The Caligula Effect 2 is coming West later this year
DDnet’s editor-in-chief, Matt S., has been all over The Caligula Effect, from its beginnings on the PS Vita to its “enhanced” version for the Nintendo Switch. Well, there’s good news for him and other fans, as the sequel is set to come to North America and Europe this (Northern) fall courtesy of NIS America. It will launch for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch in Japan on June 24. The Japanese version is published by FuRyu, and alongside the developer it launched the game’s first official trailer last week:
Regret, a virtuadoll, created the world named Redo to save people from their regrets by keeping them in a simulation. A virtual idol breaks into this virtual world and returns a high school student’s real-world memories. They begin a resistance group, the Go-Home Club, that will need to fight against Regret and her Obbligato Musicians to find their way back to reality. The Western version of the game will have English text with Japanese voice-overs.
The Caligula Effect 2 will launch digitally and physically. The physical version is a limited edition, and currently available on the NIS America store. This edition includes a copy of the game for PlayStation 4 or Nintendo Switch, a hardcover art book, a two-disc soundtrack, a Tatefushi Academy school bag, a Tatefushi Academy student ID, and a collector’s box. It also comes with a “Regret and χ Vocal Collection” digital download. The limited edition includes three exclusive tracks in-game.
Three “new” Pokémon titles are on the way
Any Pokémon fan knows that the game’s mainstream titles are always launched in pairs, each featuring exclusive creatures. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company also have a longstanding tradition of rereleasing earlier titles from past console generations. And that brings me to the three “new” titles. At a Pokémon-focused Nintendo Direct last week, the companies announced that it is remaking Pokémon Diamond and Pokémon Pearl for the Nintendo Switch, under the subtitles of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The third title announced is actually new, though; it is an action RPG that looks more like a contemporary Zelda title than other Pokémon titles. Take a gander at the announcement trailer for Pokémon Legends: Arceus below.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus returns players to the very familiar Sinnoh region. It’s no coincidence that this is also the location in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. Trainers will explore while capturing Pokémon, but these battles look a bit different than what we’re used to. Players can watch the Pokémon from afar before sneaking up behind them and tossing Pokéballs. Players have three starter Pokémon to choose from: Rowlet (grass/flying), Cyndaquil (fire), and Oshawott (water). The Alpha Pokémon is Arceus, who is said to have shaped everything in the world. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is expected launch early next year.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl (trailer here) promises that fans will be able to experience the story of Diamond/Pearl in a fresh way. The sense of scale and locations have been preserved, making most of it familiar to fans of the original titles. Players have three starter Pokémon to choose from: Turtwig (grass), Chimchar (fire), and Piplup (water). The legendary Pokémon is Dialga in Brilliant Diamond and Palkia in Shining Pearl. Dialga is an ancient deity that can control time; legend has it that time began with it was born. Palkia is also a mythical deity, this time with the ability to distort space; rumour has it, it lives in the gap in the spatial dimension parallel to ours. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl originally launched for Nintendo DS back in 2006. The remakes will be released late this year.
Nippon Ichi bringing Maiden & Spell to Switch
Developer mino_dev has announced its bullet hell magical girl battle game, Maiden & Spell, will be released digitally for the Nintendo Switch. It was originally released for PC via Steam about a year ago. No release date has been announced for the new version yet, but it shouldn’t be too long before we know what the target it. It will be published by Nippon Ichi Software. Here is a trailer for its original launch:
The developer describes the game as a “bullet hell-based, one-versus-one battle game.” It is inspired by Japanese shoot ’em ups and doujin games, and features an all-woman cast fighting against each other. There are local 1v1 matches available in addition to a Story Mode with unique boss fights. There are literally no attacks outside of magic bullets, no melee battles, no blocking. Players will have to avoid their opponent’s patterns while throwing our their own.
Maiden & Spell follows a group of adventures who have plunged into the most dangerous dungeon in the world, The Great Circle, in search of a mysterious jewel. There aren’t really any monsters hanging about the ruins of the Kingdom of Stars inside, but as they get deeper things become far less peaceful. The goal is to get that jewel while also learning the Kingdom’s secret.
This chill, tranquil action adventure title launches this summer
I always struggle with whether to writer (Northern) summer or (Southern) winter, as I’m in Canada but in Australia it will be winter. Long story short, when I say “summer,” I mean it for the North, so the game will likely launch between June and September. But I’m already off-track, as I haven’t even stated what I’m speaking about. Stonefly, described as a “chill and tranquil action adventure” game, will be released later this year. It is developed by Flight School Studio (Creature in the Well) and published by MWM Interactive, and coming to PC (Steam/Epic), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One. Here’s the announcement trailer:
Annika Stonefly is a brilliant, albeit naïve, inventor looking to recover a lost family heirloom. She’ll need all of her smarts and strategy to achieve this goal. The tranquil gameplay has her gliding among flora and fauna, confronting bugs, having adventures, and meeting memorable characters. The narrative covers themes of self-discovery, family, legacy, and belonging.
Bugs are the enemies, and Stonefly will have her fair share to get rid of. She will also steal their loot, because nobody needs it now! She can craft new abilities for her mech, customising it to the player’s preferences. The handcrafted art if inspired by the natural world, of course, but also by mid-century modern design – what a fascinating combination!
