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)!
One new trailer, five new commercials are here for Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
As we rapidly approach the launch of the latest Big Brain Academy game, Nintendo is seriously ramping up its media presence. It has released a new Japanese overview trailer for Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain, as well as five new Japanese commercials. The commercials focus on intuition, memory, analysis, mathematics, and perception. Here is the overview trailer:
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is designed to for players to battle each other to see how is the smartest. The real smart thing here though is that every player (up to four) can be on their own difficulty setting, so kids can have a chance against adults. Players can boost their skills by practicing activities such as guiding a train to its goal or memorising a series of numbers. There is also a Ghost Clash mode to compete against other users’ data.
Developed and published by Nintendo, Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain will be released worldwide on December 3, exclusively for Nintendo Switch (no surprise there). The series has been beloved since its original Japanese launch for Nintendo DS in 2005; it launched worldwide in 2006. Being beloved is really saying something considering Brain vs. Brain is only its third title. (Big Brain Academy is not to be confused with another similar series, also by Nintendo: Brain Age, or Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training.)
Meet a young detective in this trailer for Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One
Frogwares has been through one heck of a journey with regards to past game rights, but it’s time to push that drama aside to prepare for its next title, Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. We’ve gone back in time to a young Sherlock, although he is still eccentric and intolerant so not much changed as he aged. The game is an origin story, as Sherlock investigates a mystery in the Mediterranean after his mother dies.
The game holds the player’s hand less than the past ones did; essential clues can be missed and the game won’t stop the player from leaving the scene. There’s a fun new gameplay tactic that involves using a disguise when locals refuse to talk; intuition will have to be what guides the player to the correct outfits for each situation. Holmes now has the ability to present any piece of evidence to any person via a pinning system. My favourite part of past titles is back, the Mind Palace. It’s where players string together theories; this time though, it won’t stop players from making the wrong choice. This game actually sounds like it might be pretty tough!
Developed by 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 will be released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One later this year. The title is the ninth (yet the oldest time-wise, being a prequel) in Frogwares’ main Sherlock Holmes series that began with Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy in 2002. It is the 13th if you include the point-and-click Sherlock Holmes titles the developer also created.
The Waylanders is delayed, but here’s a look at its advanced classes
I’ve been following The Waylanders’ progress for about three years now, ever since the developer launched a Kickstarter campaign for the title. The RPG was set to launch this year, but unfortunately it’s been announced that it will instead be released in February 2022. I’ve always said I’d rather a game is delayed and polished than on time and a mess, and I feel no differently this time around. There’s good news, though: the developer has released a trailer showing off the game’s advanced classes. Take a look:
When players begin the game, they will create a character with one of six base classes: Warrior, Guardian, Rogue, Ranger, Sorceror, Healer. When they reach level nine, advanced classes open up. Each base class has three options to branch into, each with a different mix of warrior, magic, and ranged abilities. Warrrior classes are Berserker, Gladiator, and Mana Warlord (oooh I like the sound of that). Guardian classes are Vanguard, Blacksmith, and Chieftan. Rogue classes are Brawler, Assassin, and Storm Druid. Ranger classes are Hunter, Saboteur, and Draconic Master (another one I like the sound of). Sorceror classes are Frost Druid, Pyromancer, and Necromancer. Finally, Healer classes are Blood Shaman, Jester, and Tidal Druid.
Developed and published by Spain-based Gato Salvaje Studio, The Waylanders will now launch for PC via Steam on February 2, 2022. Early Access players will continue to receive content updates until that point, include improvements on The Cave of Eternity and the Fomorian World in The Corrupted Cave.
More Cotton is on the way!
Harvard wrote two great reviews for DDnet earlier this week, one for Cotton 100% and one for Panorama Cotton. Both games were recently released for Nintendo Switch after not really leaving Japan since the 90s launches. The SHMUPs are in the original format, so don’t expect anything super fancy, graphics-wise. For something more contemporary, player will want to get their hands on Cotton Rock’n’Roll, coming to Japan next month. This week, ININ games announced it would release the title in the west, titling it Cotton Fantasy.
Cotton Fantasy includes features of the Cotton series, but also of other SHMUP titled by the same developer, including Sanvein’s time system and Psyvariar’s BUZZ system. The traditional comical approach to the world remains at the heart of the game. Not only can players take on the roll of Cotton characters, there will be characters from other series available too. Each character has different actions. The game contains 16 scrolling stages (vertical, horizontal, and 3D).
Developed by Success, Cotton Rock’n’Roll will be released on December 23 for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. A PC version will launch at a later date. In the west, Cotton Fantasy will be released in Q1 of 2022. It will have both digital and physical releases, with physical copies being sold through the publisher’s sister company, Strictly Limited Games. Pre-orders open on November 13 for the physical edition.
