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)!
KeyWe has a publisher, to be released this year
This is easily one of the cutest games I’ve seen in a while. KeyWe is a co-op mail delivery game developed by Stonewheat & Sons, and it has been announced that it will be published sometime in 2021 by Sold Out. It will be available for PC via Steam, and can be added to wishlists now. The KeyWe section of Sold Out’s website also lists PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch (with both physical and digital versions), Xbox One, and XBox Series. Here’s the announcement trailer:
Jeff and Debra (which I permanently pronounce as De-bore-ah thanks to Drag Race) are two kiwi birds working in a post office. But how, you may ask, when they have no hands? Why, they jump, flap, peck, and even butt-slam, of course. They’ll have to type telegrams, send urgent messages, ship packages, and in general just keep the main flowing. With changes in the seasons comes changing in the weather, so expect things like thunderstorms to get in the way – but don’t let them stop the kiwis from doing their job!
KeyWe is, at heart, a co-op game. Play with friends either locally or online. Solo players aren’t left out though, as they can control both birds with one controller to enjoy their mail sorting adventure alone.
Dry Drowning is coming to Switch next week
Currently available on PC via Steam/GOG/Utomik/itch.io, visual novel Dry Drowning is ready for its first console release. Developed by Studio V and published by VLG Publishing, it will launch for Nintendo Switch on February 22. The game’s Steam reviews are “very positive” while its critical reviews via Metacritic are mixed at best. Regardless, I find its visuals rather pleasing thanks to the combination of colours and black-and-white. Here’s a trailer from December:
Dry Drowning is a psychological investigative thriller set in the near-future when dark forces are in power. Mordred Foley is a private detective. As it happens, he also has a rather shady history. He needs to discover the truth behind a serial killer, but his own past may get in the way.
There are over 150 story branches that can lead to three very different endings. Moral choices will impact character relationships. When it comes to investigation, learn through dialogue, evidence, items, and character biographies. The Living Nightmare system can be used to discover the truth from people wearing masks of deception.
Shattered leaves Early Access
Redlock Studios’ Shattered – Tale of the Forgotten King has now left Early Access and is available in full for PC via Steam. Early Access began last June and seems to have had a successful run on its way to its complete launch. Redlock Studios partially funded the Square Enix Collective-approved game via Kickstarter; the campaign launched way back in late 2016. And yes, yes I did back it, because, well, look at it!
The action RPG is set in a world that is unrecognizable following the disappearance of its king. The player takes on the role of a Wanderer whose goal is to piece together bits of reality to retrace the fall of civilisation. To do this, the Wanderer must defeat enemies while exploring the ruined continent, a semi-open world with branching paths. Each zone has its own story to tell.
The developer promises precision-based combat and 2.5D platforming; there are also 3D aspects, such as battles, which are transitioned to seamlessly. The Wanderer can use either close-combat fighting or long-distance spells. Not everyone they meet is trustworthy; some are actually quite selfish. The choices made will impact the world. The Wanderer can become more skilled through both combat and exploration, but resources are finite so they may have to choose raising their stats or discovering the truth to a secret.
Dandy Ace’s PC release date coming up fast
Described as over-the-top, fast-paced, part action RPG, and part roguelite, Dandy Ace has a magician passing through a cursed mirror, with each new visit different from the last. Here’s the launch date announcement trailer:
The magician’s name, of course, is Dandy Ace. His goal is to use his magical cards while fighting his way to Lele, the Green-Eyed Illusionist who trapped Dandy in a cursed mirror. Dandy will combine different cards to create his desired effect, often to defeat enemies. As it is with roguelites, expect to die repeatedly and keep beginning anew in the ever-changing palace. Permanent upgrades will make Dandy stronger, and finding new cards will fill out his skills quite nicely.
Dandy Ace will be launching for PC via Steam on March 25. For console players, it will be released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One later this year. It is developed by Mad Mimic; the company’s COO states in a press release, “Dandy Ace has been a labor of love from the start. We’re thrilled to be finally showing off every trick Ace has up his sleeve this March, and we’ll be revealing plans for downloadable content in the near future!”
