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)!
The next FMV game from Good Gate Media will be a murder mystery
As far as studios I trust with FMV games by proven track record, there are two: D’Avekki Studios (The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, The Shapeshifting Detective, Dark Nights with Poe and Munro) and Good Gate Media (The Complex, Five Dates). Good Gate Media actually blew my mind with Five Dates, as it was made entirely during pandemic-related quarantine by sending the actors phones to capture their scenes. This next title, Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? follows a similar style, as all the actors are in different places and their conversations take place over video calls. Here’s the announcement trailer:
Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? is an eccentric FMV murder mystery. During an annual family quiz, someone attempts murder on old Uncle Marcus. But whodunnit? The game stars Andy Buckley (The Office), Robbie Kay (Pinocchio), Al Weaver (who was quite loveable in The Complex), and Georgia Small (the gem of Five Dates).
Developed by Good Gate Media and published by Wales Interactive, Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus? will be released for PC, PlayStation 5, mobile devices (iOS/Android), Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series. You can bet that I’m sitting over here whining that it’s not coming to PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, because those are my preferred way of playing games.
Apathy: Narugami Gakuen Nana Fushigi coming to Nintendo Switch
A horror visual novel, Apathy: Narugami Gakuen Nana Fushigi has been announced for a Nintendo Switch release. It is created by writer Takiya Iijima, and is his largest story to date (there are two million characters… two million!). The character design is by Mani Kurama. Here’s the announcement trailer:
Shuichi Sakagami is first-year student. A member of the newspaper club, he listens to scary stories by seven storytellers that are brought together to produced a feature for the newspaper. Here’s the catch: when he enters the room, only six people are there and there is a disturbing atmosphere. It makes me think that Sakagami may in fact be the seventh storyteller…
Developed by Mebius, Apathy: Narugami Gakuen Nana Fushigi will be released for Nintendo Switch during Q2 or Q3 2022 in Japan.
Shantae and the Seven Sirens gets a pretty big update
This is quite an update for Shantae and the Seven Sirens: the Spectacular Superstar update adds four news modes (Definitive, Full Deck, Rule Breaker, Beginner), extra story content, and optional convenience features. There’s more “enhancements,” too, including improved dialogue, map objectives, and game hints. Here is the update trailer:
Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a the latest platformer in the Shantae series. Shantae is trying to discover the secrets of an islan by hair-whipping and dangling her way to answers. She also has to deal with Risky Boots, a woman pirate. The former game, as it was, is now available through Legacy Mode. Definitive Mode is a challenging director’s cut with classic difficulty but rebalances item drops and magic consumption; it also features more intense boss fights. Full Deck Mode is basically Definitive Mode, but players start with all 50 Monster Cards. Rule Breaker Mode is again basically Definitive Mode, but this time all 50 cards can be equipped at once for ultimate power. Beginning Mode is a simpler version of Definitive Mode, making it impossible to lose; this is a great option for those who just want to experience the story.
Developed and published by WayForward, the Spectacular Superstar update for Shantae and the Seven Sirens is available now. The game first launched for Apple Arcade in 2019, and is now also available on PC via Steam/GOG/Humble, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. It will soon be coming to PlayStation 5 as well.
Former PS exclusive Where the Heart Leads coming to PC next year
A touching narrative experience, Where the Heart Leads is a surreal journey through one person’s past. Players shape the life of Whit Anderson, a family man with the chance to make changes. It’s all about choices, so there are hundreds of them that will lead to dozens of possible endings. The game is currently a PlayStation 4 exclusive, but that will end next year when it comes to PC. Here’s the PC announcement trailer:Text1
Each decision has a ripple effect on the town of Carthage and its characters, not just Whit. It’s about young love, the uncertainty of parenthood, and what is left behind when we depart our bodies. The PC version of the game adds more choices, too, making it more difficult than ever to navigate your ideal path through life. There are additional and expanded lore objects. Volumetric fog is available to enhance the dreamlike watercolour art. The new version also includes settings for colour-blindness, and the UI has been updated.
Developed and published by Armature Studio (it’s surprising a game of this nature comes from the same studio that made Resident Evil 4 VR), Where the Heart Leads will launch for PC via Steam/Epic sometime next year. It is currently available (and 40% off as part of the PlayStation Indies sale) for PlayStation 4.
