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A guide to Castlevania in 2021: Part 2 – the “Igavanias”

September 29, 2021

castlevania/Features/Major Feature/Retro

Feature by Harvard L. Yesterday we published the first in a guide to the Castlevania series, looking at the classic roots of the series. Inspired by the GBA Castlevania collection that just released last week (which we all cannot stop playing!), we wanted to give people a primer to the…

Mary Skelter Finale: This fanservicey JRPG is smarter than many will claim

September 28, 2021

dungeon crawl/Idea Factory/JRPG/Mary Skelter/Video/Video review

Video by Matt S. Mary Skelter Finale is the third and final chapter of one of the most fanservicey dungeon crawler JRPGs of all. This one is so fanservicey it was banned in Australia. So naturally, I’ve played it. Here are my top-line thoughts on the game (no spoilers, promise!…

Review: Mary Skelter Finale (Nintendo Switch)

September 28, 2021

dungeon crawl/Idea Factory/Idea Factory International/JRPG/Mary Skelter/Nintendo Switch/Reviews/Switch Review

Review by Matt S. Georges Bataille once wrote of Marquis de Sade that his intention was to “release dangerous movements and be their first victims.” The overtly fetishistic tone of Mary Skelter Finale is obvious within seconds of starting, and much like Sade, it proved too much for “polite society.”…

Review: Lost in Random (Nintendo Switch)

September 28, 2021

EA/Nintendo Switch/Reviews/Switch Review

Review by Alex Kidman. Lost in Random loves a fantasy storytelling trope. Utterly adores them, in fact, because so very much of its narrative attraction lies in the way it tells what is otherwise a pretty standard tale. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Evil queen. Dark magics…

A guide to Castlevania in 2021: Part 1 – the “Classicvanias”

September 28, 2021

castlevania/Features/Guide/Major Feature/Retro

Feature by Harvard L. For anyone interested in gaming’s history, it’s often daunting to tackle some of the longer running series. We’re interested in accessibility and availability, as well as where the best entry point might be for someone new to the franchise. In the lead-up to October’s spooky season,…

Interesting games on itch.io: September 27

September 27, 2021

Art Game/Indie/itch/itch.io/list/Top 10/top 5

List by Matt S. I’m a big fan of itch.io for the freedom and open platform that it allows for developers to be creative, experimental, and directly canvas the audience for feedback for games that are not yet ready for primetime on Steam and its ilk. In addition, itch.io allows…

Inscryption: Horror + Card Game = Gold

September 27, 2021

PC/PC Preview/Preview/Video/Video review

Preview by Harvard L. Inscryption is a new horror-themed card game that just had a demo land. In this little Let’s Play, Harvard walks you through how the game plays and what to expect from it. Needless to say, we’re keen! This could be quite the sleeper hit when it…

Preview: Inscryption (PC)

September 27, 2021

card game/Horror/Indie/PC/PC Preview/Previews

Preview by Harvard L. I’m surprised that more developers don’t take a systemic approach to horror – we get lots of games that lean away from game mechanics and skill-based interactions, but there’s a richness to be explored within the language of game systems too. Having played Shephy, I’m all…

The catch-up coffee: Monday, September 27, 2021

September 26, 2021

catch-up coffee/News

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)! Here’s…

Review: The Plane Effect (Nintendo Switch)

September 24, 2021

Art Game/Indie/Nintendo Switch/PQube/Reviews/Switch Review

Review by Matt S. Making a game that is critical of what we take for granted in capitalism seems like a Sisyphean effort, given that, more than any other art form, the entire industry is slavishly and unquestioningly devoted to capitalism. This same week people are out there buying a…

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