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)!
Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL announced, coming this year
I’m always up for a cute rhythm game, and Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL is that plus action in one package. It’s space travel-themed and features music-based storytelling. It’s got people with experience behind it, including Lyrebird Ferdinant (Pump It Up, OverRapid) as producer and Sound Souler as sound director. Here’s the announcement trailer, in English:
Become the captain of a science vessel and explore the Sixtar System with the help of Shii, an adorable navigation partner. While visiting colonised planets, they will learn stories through music as well as Shii. The soundtrack includes two types of songs: popular rhythm game titles, and exclusive songs from the composers behind the BEMANI series.
Developed by Lyrebird Studio and Magical Works, and published by CKF, Sixtar Gate: STARTRAIL will be released sometime this year for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Fantasian gets another big update
A couple of weeks ago, Fantasian got a massive update in the form of version 2.0. It included the second (and final) part of the game, which alone takes 40-60 hours to get through. Late last week, the Apple Arcade title got another, surprisingly large update in version 2.5. It includes the Void Realm, as well as New Game+ mode. First, take a gander at an accolades trailer from last month (so prior to the game’s second part launching):
Quick warning: spoilers ahead! The first part of this update is the Void Realm. After Yim sacrifices herself to subdue the Light of God, her heart was corrupted by the Void. Leo and his posse will have to travel to the Void Realm, defeat foes, and return Yim’s heart. The Void Realm is comprised of three floors, each representing one of the three major cities but corrupted by the void. Battling through the Void Realm and defeating the giant Void Crystal won’t be easy, but as players will be doing this post-game they should have the equipment and experience needed to win. New Game+ does what New Game+ typically does: restart the game, but enhanced. After players have reunited with all allies and has all of the Artifacts awakened, and has obtained the Tachyon Medal, New Game+ becomes an option. It allows players to start at the beginning of the game while keeping character levels, skills, and equipment intact.
Fantasian is developed by Mistwalker, led by the creator of Final Fantasy. It is available exclusively for Apple Arcade, and can be played on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. This isn’t your typical mobile game, so trust me when I say it’s definitely worth a playthrough!
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One launch date revealed
I’ve been a fan of Frogwares’ Sherlock Holmes titles for over a decade now, beginning with Sherlock Holmes Versus Jack The Ripper; I came for the true crime references but I stayed a fan for Holmes. The next title in the series, Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, brings us even farther back in time to a young and rather rebellious (shocking, I know) Sherlock who is just dying to prove himself. Here are the two latest videos for the title, one being a launch date announcement trailer and the other being a gameplay deep dive:
Even cocky folks have humble beginnings sometimes, as is the case with young Sherlock Holmes. Of course, he was just as arrogant, but he was also quite naive. He returns to the shore on the Mediterranean where his mother died, thinking it would be quite nice to do the same. That, however, doesn’t happen, and Holmes is drawn into a world of crime and corruption. Players can chose their preferred path to the truth, whether it is using pure physical force or something more mental and subtle. The entire city is there to explore, filled with clues, rumours, and evidence.
Developed and published by Frogwares, Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One will be released on November 16 for PC via Steam/Epic/GOG, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series. It is also due out for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with those versions launching a few weeks later (as of now, no specific date has been announced).
Action RPG WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers announced for 2024
That is not a typo – this is about a game that will be launching in three years. Lots of time to build hype, I suppose? WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is an action RPG set in the final years of the Ming Dynasty. Speaking of lots of time, this trailer is one of the longer reveal trailers I’ve seen, clocking in at approximately 18 minutes. It focuses mainly on gameplay. Take a look:
As I mentioned, the game is set towards the end of the Ming Dynasty in Ancient China. Players will explore beautiful landscapes while battling mysterious forces that turn reality into supernatural horror.
Developed by China-based Leenzee Games, WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is expected to be released sometime in 2024. Available platforms are currently unknown.
