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)!
Jackie and Daria update coming to Spiritfarer next week
Spiritfarer, the cozy management game about dying, will be getting its biggest update to date next week. The game follows Stella, ferrymaster to the dead. She builds a boat to explore the world before befriending spirits and eventually releasing them into the afterlife. There’s farming, mining, fishing, harvesting, cooking, and crafting aspects. The game is actually quite relaxing, despite the heavy thread of death and how to grieve. There’s also two-player co-op available, with the second player taking on the role of Daffodil the cat. Now that we know the basics, here’s the update trailer:
The Jackie and Daria update will also be Spiritfarer’s last free update (which implies more is to come, but via paid DLC instead). Stella will sail to a new island where she finds a dilapidated hospital and two spirits, caretaker Jackie and his patient Daria. Stella will help bring the facility back to its former glory. The update also adds a new platforming event and new ferry upgrades. In a press release, Creative Director Nicolas Guérin writes, “The Jackie and Daria Update is a lovely curtain call for Spiritfarer as well as a great show of gratitude to the fans who’ve supported us since the day we announced the project . We hope they enjoy taking one final voyage with us!”
Developed and published by Thunder Lotus, Spiritfarer is currently available for PC via Steam/Epic/GOG, PlayStation 4, Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. The Jackie and Daria update will launch on December 13 as a free download for everyone that owns the game (or has Xbox Game Pass).
Ankake Spa announces Touhou Choushinsei
Touhou Choushinsei (translation: Supernova) is a new Touhou Project fan game set in the mountains of Japan, is a land called Gensokyo. It has been untouched from the world in 130 years due to some sort of barrier. Here is the announcement trailer, which features two playable characters.
Reimu Hakurei and Marisa Kirisame (the aforementioned two playable characters) lived a peaceful life in Gensokyo until a strange occurrence blows them outside the barrier. They find an unfamiliar city, and there meet a girl named Touko. Touko has supernatural powers and all she wants is to be part of Gensokyo. Gameplay-wise, players will use skills to make them stronger via the skill panel. There is a blacksmith’s shop to repair equipment, but that will randomly change its performance. There is also something called Nitori’s Machine, a special strengthening capsule. By collecting stones, characters can be strengthened.
Developed by Ankake Spa (Touhou Project), Touhou Choushinsei is set to be released sometime next year in Japan. Platforms have not been announced as of writing.
Gal Gun: Double Peace is finally coming to Switch
It’s been five years since Gal Gun: Double Peace launched in the west, so now seems like a great time to revisit the rail shooter slash dating sim. It will be releasing worldwide in March 2022 for Nintendo Switch. It is a port of the previous versions, but with a new opening movie and nearly all DLC costumes. Players who have Gal Gun 2 or Gal Gun Returns save data will have access to “additional elements,” but those are currently a mystery. Here is the announcement trailer:
In the game, Houdai is shot by a Cupid angel and becomes irresistible to every girl at school. Unfortunately, being popular can also be a curse, as the love letters, shouts, and kisses coming toward him drain his energy. That’s not even the worst part: if he doesn’t find his true love by the end of the day, he will be cursed and alone forever. In story mode, the goal is to successfully confess love. By choosing Houdai’s love interest, players will influence the story and the path it takes. There is also a score attack mode where specific levels can be replayed to get high scores.
Developed by Into Creates and published by PQube in the west (self-published in Japan), Gal Gun: Double Peace will be released for Nintendo Switch on March 17, 2022. The game originally launched over six years ago in Japan for PS Vita and PlayStation 4. It later launched in Europe and North America on the same platforms, then for PC via Steam worldwide.
OneShot coming to consoles
It has been years since the original release of OneShot on PC. Almost exactly five years, actually. But OneShot is finally set to come to consoles next year. The console port’s specific features and currently unknown, but we do know that available languages will be English, Japanese, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Russian. Here’s the console teaser trailer:
The game follows Niko, a child who needs to return light to a world shrouded in darkness. It is a top-down puzzle-adventure that promises unique gameplay that goes beyond the game window. It gives players this weird feeling that they’re missing something and not quite looking in the right places. The soundtrack is original and designed to enhance that haunting feeling.
Developed by Future Cat and published by DANGEN Entertainment, One Shot will be released for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One in 2022. It is currently available for PC via Steam.
– Lindsay M.
News Editor