Digitally Downloaded – Page 720 – Your specialist source of news and reviews for games, anime, manga, film and literature

Hatsune Miku and sex; let’s talk ethics

February 17, 2017

Augmented Reality/DDNet Premium/Game Theory/Hatsune Miku/sex/Virtual Reality

Game Theory by Matt S. It’s going to happen. The technology’s already there. The expectation is that sex robots will be commonplace within a few decades. Alternatively, advances in virtual reality or augmented reality, coupled with haptics technology feedback, will allow much the same effect, no robot needed. From there…

Review: Halo Wars 2 (Microsoft Xbox One)

February 17, 2017

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Review by Brad L. Halo Wars was an experiment in expanding upon a universe entirely viewed in first person. Though Bungie originally wanted Halo to be a real time strategy, some could argue that Microsoft caught lightning in a bottle when the company convinced Bungie to shift the focus over…

Review: Double Dragon IV (Sony PlayStation 4)

February 16, 2017

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Review by Brad L. Philosopher George Santayana once mused “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” I swear Santayana somehow predicted Double Dragon IV. A myriad of games looking to replicate the glory days of the Nintendo Entertainment System have come and come again, like a…

Retro reflections: On Al-Qadim: The Genie’s Curse and the wonders of fantasy Arabia

February 16, 2017

Al-Qadim/DDNet Premium/Retro/Retro Reflections/RPG

Retro reflections by Matt S. As most readers know by now, I’m a great fan of the fantasy Middle East. One of the first games I played that really captured the exotic magic of that setting was Al-Qadim: Genie’s Curse, and to this day, with a setting as criminally underused…

Going hands-on with Card Quest; this is one game to watch

February 16, 2017

Card Quest/Early Access/Indie/PC Preview/Preview/Retro/RPG

Preview by Harvard L. Here’s a PSA to all game designers and people with an interest in balancing game systems – play Card Quest. It’s a humble little Early Access card battle/strategy RPG combat game with some immensely elegant mechanics that lend themselves to compulsive, satisfying play sessions. I really…

The catch-up coffee: Thursday, February 16, 2017

February 15, 2017

catch-up coffee/DLC/Fatal Twelve/News/Sekai Project/Senran Kagura: Estival Versus/The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Vikings - Wolves of Midgard/XSEED

News by Britta S. and Trent P. 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…

Review: Uncanny Valley (Sony Playstation 4)

February 15, 2017

Cowardly Creations/Horror/Indie/indie games/pixel art/PS4/PS4 Review/Reviews/Sony PlayStation 4/Survival Horror

Review by Matt C. It may not look it at a glance, but Uncanny Valley is a very ambitious game. It’s a survival horror, but instead of waiting for you to drive it forward, the story just rolls on, with or without you. It’s up to you how much you…

Review: Franchise Hockey Manager 3 (PC)

February 15, 2017

Franchise Hockey Manager 3/ice hockey/management/Out of the Park Developments/PC/PC Review/Reviews/simulation

Review by Nick H. Hockey is one of the fastest sports out there, so a title that focuses on the strategy over on-ice action might seem a strange fit. That being said, Franchise Hockey Manager 3 manages to nail so many aspects of team management that the combination works really…

Review: Firefighters: The Simulation (Sony Playstation 4)

February 14, 2017

Indie Game/PS4 Review/Reviews/simulation/Sony PlayStation 4/United Independent Entertainment/VIS Games

Review by Matt C. I must admit, I didn’t have high hopes going into Firefighters: The Simulation. When my first in-game day consisted entirely if driving around in a van, putting out literal garbage fires with a handheld extinguisher, I was ready to make some jokes. “How premonitory! Putting out…

Final Fantasy and determinism; even the oldest games have depth

February 14, 2017

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Game Theory by Matt S. Final Fantasy isn’t a game that people generally cite as an example of philosophical depth. Indeed, most people don’t see it as much of anything; it’s rarely considered a “great” Final Fantasy game, and very rarely played except by the purists and franchise historians. And…

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