Author: Brittney Williams

When Brittney Williams isn't playing with her two sons or frantically attempting to clear out her video game backlog, you can find her posting news and opinions here at Warp Zoned or managing her retro gaming business. You can find her on Twitter at @The_Arkayde.

Weekend Pipeline: 3/31/17 – It’s A Good Day To Be A PC Gamer

It’s a good day to be a PC gamer, or a good weekend, to be more specific. The deals for PC games are massive this week, and with many of them ending soon, now is the best time to swoop in and snag all the glorious video game goodies. But that’s not all that’s happening this weekend. PC gamers are also being treated to exclusive free-play events, taking place over the next few days.

While PC gamers are seeing a lot of love this weekend, so are console gamers, in the form of sales, conventions, and a free-play weekend of their own. So if you haven’t had the luxury of planning out your game-related activities for the weekend, here are a few suggestions to help point you in the right direction. (more…)

Posted in News |

New trailer and screenshots reveal Akiba’s Beat will be released for PS4, Vita on May 16

XSEED Games has finally revealed an official release date for Akiba’s Beat, their spiritual successor to Akiba’s Trip: Undead and Undressed. While Akiba’s Trip was a Matured-focused title that centered on a vampire infestation taking place in Japan’s Akihabara district (the vampires could only be thwarted by stripping the deadly denizens of the night and exposing their bare bodies to sunlight), Akiba’s Beat takes a more traditional JRPG route while remaining in the same locale.

Akiba’s Beat is described by XSEED as a satirical take on the JRPG genre, however it sticks closely to the traditional formula by tasking players with navigating a town setting and speaking with NPCs for information, as well as transitioning to battling monsters known as “Delusions” in fantasy-themed settings called “Delusionscapes.”

Akiba’s Beat is rated T for Teen and will be released for the PlayStation 4 ($49.99) and PlayStation Vita ($39.99) on May 16. Players who opt to pre-order the game will also receive a 3.5” tall plush of Pinkun, the mascot of Akiba’s Beat.

In the meantime, feel free to check out the trailer embedded above and a few screenshots after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Vita |

See the Opening Movie from Disgaea 5 Complete right here

If you’ve already purchased a Nintendo Switch and have been on the lookout for new games, then Disgaea 5 Complete might be worth checking out. To further entice you, NIS America has also unveiled a new trailer showcasing the game’s Opening Movie.

Disgaea 5 focuses on the demon protagonist, Killia, and his companions, on their mission to thwart the malicious plans of the new overlord Void Dark, who is trying to enslave the Netherworld.

The strategy RPG was originally released back in October 2015 for the PlayStation 4, under the name Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance. So if you bought the game once before, then you might want to sit this new version out. However, Disgaea 5 Complete sets itself apart from its previous iteration by including all of the previously-released DLC including four fan-favorite characters, three character classes, and eight additional scenarios.

Disgaea 5 Complete will be released on the Nintendo Switch in both physical and digital formats on May 23 in North America and May 26 in Europe.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Disorganization Leads to Criticism At Halo World Championship 2017 Finals

Fans and competitors alike were dismayed by the organizational failures at the Halo World Championship 2017 Finals this weekend. While esports events are still a fairly new phenomenon, they are an important subsect of the gaming community, and are gradually being recognized as such. That’s what made the current state of the Championship so dissatisfying for some of those in attendance.

Much of the issue lies with the subpar venue. In comparison to last year’s location at Raleigh Studios Hollywood, this year’s venue, the ESL American Campus, was a massive step down in the eyes of some. Just take a look at last year’s Halo World Championship tournament in contrast to this year’s event: (more…)

Posted in Opinions, Top Story, Xbox One | Tagged

Weekend Pipeline: 3/24/17 – Crazy Sales and Awesome Cons

Weekends can be a real drag if you neglect to schedule in some well-deserved rest and relaxation. But with the hustle and bustle of the work week, all too often news of current events, you know, the ones we actually care about, sometimes escapes us.

Don’t let the usual drudgery tie you down when there’s so much more that you could be doing. Here’s what’s going on in the world of video games, and why you might want to take a few hours out of your weekend to check some of them out. (more…)

Posted in News |

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory announced for Early 2018 release

Digimon fans will be ecstatic to hear that a new entry in the Digimon Story franchise is on the horizon and slated for a sooner release than some of us may have initially expected. Bandia Namco has announced that Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory will be released for both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in European territories in Early 2018. There is no definitive release date for the game as of yet in North America.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory picks up from the previous game, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, challenging players to uncover the truth about mysteries first revealed in the aforementioned title. Hacker’s Memory will put players in the shoes of protagonist Keisuke Amazawa, a young man falsely accused of a crime, who must team up with a band of hackers and enter the Digital World to investigate and clear his name. The game will also feature over 300 different Digimon, and players will be able to utilize a wide range of battle strategies, compatibilities, combos, and skills to use their Digimon to their fullest potential.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory will be available in both physical and digital formats for the PlayStation 4, but it’ll be digital-only on the PlayStation Vita.

In the meantime, check out some new screenshots showcasing the main protagonist, a few Digimon, and some of the settings players can expect to explore in the upcoming game after the break. Also, be sure to watch the Japanese-language trailer embedded above. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Vita | Tagged

Square Enix offers Spring 2017 Surprise Box featuring five PC games

Is your Steam library looking a little thin? Do you need some new PC games to play that might be worth playing? Good news… Square Enix wants to help.

Today, the publisher announced they have begun taking pre-orders for the “Spring 2017” edition of the Square Enix Surprise Box. The Spring 2017 Surprise Box retails for $9.99, but will include “over $80 worth” of content, and players who purchase the bundle will receive five PC games through Steam, five Square Enix Rewards Points, plus some form of exclusive promotional deal that is “too good to miss out on.”

As for which games players will receive, well, that remains a mystery. However, Square Enix claims they’ll be “exciting” titles. If you’d prefer to hold out on making your purchase until Square Enix announces the contents of the Spring 2017 Surprise Box, I’m sad to inform you that won’t be possible. Square Enix will officially announce the Spring 2017 Surprise Box contents on March 30, at 7:00 AM (Eastern Time), however, they’re closing pre-orders on March 29, at 7:00 AM (Eastern Time). So if you want to take the gamble, be sure to do so before it’s too late.

As with any blind purchase, there’s a chance that you’ll receive something that you don’t actually want. But for $9.99, there’s not much risk involved. So if you’re looking to replace your scheduled Spring cleaning with some Spring gaming, this might be a surprise worth getting excited for.

Posted in News, PC |

Capcom announces Disney Afternoon Collection bundle of six classic NES titles

Were you a huge fan of those quirky Disney cartoons from the 80s and 90s, like say, TaleSpin or DuckTales? Well, if you were, then you’ll probably be happy to hear that Capcom has announced they will be releasing a collection of Disney NES adaptations known as The Disney Afternoon Collection.

The Disney Afternoon Collection will include Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers, Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers 2, Darkwing Duck, DuckTales, DuckTales 2, and TaleSpin. And the bundle will be available to download next month, April 18, for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in both North America ($19.99) and Europe (£15.99).

What’s extra special about this bundle is that The Disney Afternoon Collection will not only include fan favorite Disney titles, but also those hard-to-find titles, often coveted by retro gaming enthusiasts. As of right now, a loose copy of DuckTales 2 could cost $155 for a collector. And a loose copy of Chip ‘N Dale Rescue Rangers 2 can run you on the average of $220.

The Disney Afternoon Collection has full HD support, with all games running at 1080p resolution. The actual graphics themselves have been upscaled, slapping a fresh face on our old favorites. But for retro purists, The Disney Afternoon Collection also offers various modes that implement filters so that players can enjoy the games with an authentic retro feel, minus all the drawbacks.

Keeping newcomers in mind, Capcom also added in a few other noteworthy options including a Rewind feature which curves the signature difficulty of the original NES titles by allowing players to rewind time and undo costly gameplay mistakes. The Disney Afternoon Collection also includes a Boss Attack Mode where players can consecutively battle difficult bosses and a Time Attack Mode that encourages speedy gameplay. An in-game Disney Museum is also featured, for players interested in learning more about the game’s original releases.

The first trailer for The Disney Afternoon Collection is embedded above, and fans who are planning to attend WonderCon at the end of March will be able to try it out by visiting Capcom’s booth (#1137).

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged