Author: John Scalzo

John Scalzo is Warp Zoned's Editor-In-Chief and resident retro gaming expert. You can email him at john AT warpzoned DOT com.

Gears of War franchise goes turn-based in the upcoming Gears Tactics

Posted on June 15, 2018 by John Scalzo

The 2018 E3 Expo may be over, but we’re still digging through all the huge announcements and trailers that dropped during the big show… like Microsoft’s announcement of Gears Tactics.

The Coalition’s Rod Fergusson got on stage at Microsoft’s E3 Briefing to talk about the turn-based strategy game, which is currently in development exclusively for the PC:

I’m excited to also announce a true Gears of War PC experience in a completely different genre, Gears Tactics. You create a whole new squad, 12 years before Gears of War 1, as they hunt the Locust monster-maker responsible for destroying whole cities. It’s our take on the classic turn-based strategy genre with a character-driven story, faster [and] more aggressive gameplay, a customizable squad and equipment, and of course, it wouldn’t be a Gears game without massive boss battles.

Gears Tactics is currently in development at Splash Damage, and Microsoft plans to announce more details about the game at a later date. The short teaser trailer from the Microsoft E3 Briefing has been embedded above.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged ,

Nier: Automata is coming to the Xbox One on June 26

Posted on June 14, 2018 by John Scalzo

In case you missed it, Square Enix and Microsoft will bring Nier: Automata to the Xbox One on June 26 as Nier: Automata – Become As Gods Edition.

Invaders from another world attack without warning – unleashing the machine lifeforms. To break the deadlock, a new breed of android infantry is sent into the fray: the YoRHa squad. Highly-acclaimed and award-winning Nier: Automata is a fresh take on the action role-playing game (RPG) genre that gracefully blends mesmerizing action with a captivating story.

The Become As Gods Edition will include the original game and all previously-released downloadable content. This includes the 3C3C1D119440927 expansion with three additional sub-quests, as well as several cosmetic in-game items (“Grimoire Weiss Pod,” “Retro Grey Pod Skin,” “Retro Red Pod Skin,” “Cardboard Pod Skin,” and “Machine Mask Accessory”).

A trailer for the Nier: Automata – Become As Gods Edition has been embedded above.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Soul Calibur VI will burn up the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on October 19

Posted on June 14, 2018 by John Scalzo

The soul still burns…

Bandai Namco has announced that Soul Calibur VI will bring its tale of souls and swords to the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on October 19. They also used this year’s E3 Expo to unveil a Story Trailer for the game, as well as a brand new character named GrØh:

Taking place in the 16th century, Soul Calibur VI sets players on a voyage of discovery as they uncover events from the original Soul Calibur to learn hidden truths. The game will also feature a diverse line-up of new and returning characters with their unique fighting styles and weapons including series mainstays; Mitsurugi and Sophitia and newcomers such as special guest-character, Geralt of Rivia, from CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher series and [a new character named] GrØh, who was recently announced.

In addition to the new trailer, Bandai Namco also revealed the first details of Soul Calibur VI’s two special editions, both of which will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One. The Deluxe Edition ($99.99) will feature a Metal Case with a built-in Soundbox, a Soundtrack CD, and the Season Pass. The Collector’s Edition ($149.99) will include everything from the Deluxe Edition, as well as a Collector’s Edition Box, a 12” Sophitia Figure, and a 120-page Art Book.

More information about both special editions can be found at Bandai Namco’s official website.

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

Things get pretty freaky in Call of Cthulhu’s E3 2018 Trailer

Posted on June 14, 2018 by John Scalzo

Cyanide Studio is still plugging away at their video game adaptation Chaosium’s pen-and-paper RPG, Call of Cthulhu. Based on H.P. Lovecraft’s tale of “cosmic horrors, creeping madness, and shrouded Old Gods,” the E3 2018 Trailer for the game looks appropriately insane:

1924. Private Investigator Edward Pierce is sent to look into the tragic death of the Hawkins family in their imposing mansion on the isolated Darkwater Island, off the shores of Boston. Between unfriendly locals and dubious police reports, it becomes clear there’s more to the case than meets the eye. Soon enough, Pierce is plunged into a terrifying world of conspiracies, cultists, and cosmic horrors…

In this world, nothing is as it seems. Sanity is an irregular bedfellow, all too often replaced by the whisperings in the dark. Strange creatures, weird science, and shadowy cults dominate the Cthulhu Mythos, intent on realizing their mad schemes to bring about the end of everything. Your mind will suffer – balancing a razor-thin line between sanity and madness, your senses will be disrupted until you question the reality of everything around you. Trust no one. Creeping shadows hide lurking figures… and all the while, the Great Dreamer prepares for his awakening.

Call of Cthulhu is currently in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One, and it’s expected to launch sometime this year.

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

Double Fine will bring Grim Fandango and Broken Age to the Nintendo Switch

Posted on June 14, 2018 by John Scalzo

During a live reading of Grim Fandango in celebration of the game’s 20th anniversary at the E3 Coliseum, Double Fine’s Tim Schafer announced that Grim Fandango Remastered and Broken Age will be released for the Nintendo Switch “in the next few months.”

Grim Fandango is one of the most acclaimed adventure games of all time, with unforgettable characters and a unique combination of film noir and Mexican folklore. Players jump in as Manny Calavera, travel agent at the Department of Death to help untangle him from a conspiracy that threatens his very salvation. The story has been remastered to look, sound, and control even better.

Broken Age is a timeless coming-of-age story of barfing trees and talking spoons. Vella Tartine and Shay Volta are two teenagers in strangely similar situations, but radically different worlds. Players can freely switch between the characters and their individual stories, helping them take control of their own lives, and dealing with the unexpected adventures that follow. The game also features an original orchestral soundtrack plus an all-star vocal cast, including Elijah Wood, Jennifer Hale, and Jack Black.

In case you missed it, the live reading of Grim Fandango (with a special appearance by Jack Black) has been embedded above.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged , ,

Telltale is working with Netflix to create a Stranger Things game; Minecraft: Story Mode “interactive adventure” coming to Netflix app

Posted on June 14, 2018 by John Scalzo

You might say I’m upside down with excitement, but Telltale Games has announced they’re working with Netflix to create a Stranger Things game adaptation for PC and consoles.

The announcement was made yesterday in a pair of tweets (1, 2) on the developer’s official account. No other details were revealed, but it will presumably follow the episodic structure of Telltale’s recent releases:

[W]e’re thrilled to confirm that Telltale is developing a game based on Stranger Things that we’ll publish to consoles and computers at a later date.

Our partnership with Netflix is something we’re incredibly proud of, and while we don’t have anything more to share right now, we’re excited to reveal details on these projects later in the year.

In a separate tweet, Telltale also confirmed that they’re converting Minecraft: Story Mode into an “interactive adventure” that will be playable through Netflix’s streaming service. It should be available sometime this Fall.

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

Jurassic World: Evolution, Super Bomberman R, Lego The Incredibles, more coming to Xbox Store this week

Posted on June 13, 2018 by John Scalzo

It’s E3 Week, but if you want to take some time out from gawking at what comes next, you can take a look at what’s available now. And that includes the four new games that were added to the Xbox Games Store this week…

Frontier Developments’s Jurassic World: Evolution… uh… finds a way to the Xbox One this week. Players are tasked with building the best dinosaur-themed amusement park they can, but they’ve also got to make sure the guests don’t get eaten. Thankfully, Jeff Goldblum, Bryce Dallas Howard, and B.D. Wong are around to offer advice (though I’m not sure I’d trust Dr. Wu).

Also available this week is Lego The Incredibles, the latest “Lego-ization” of a popular film series from WB Games and TT Games. Two players will battle supervillains from The Incredibles and Incredibles 2 in “action-packed” story levels and an “epic” hub world.

And speaking of epic, Konami will bring Super Bomberman R to the Xbox One this week and players will be able to play as Bomber Master Chief in the game’s multiplayer mode.

Finally this week, Omega Strike is a new a MetroidVania-style game for the Xbox One where players will have to overcome deadly enemies and learn new abilities to survive.

You can learn more about all of these games after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

Disgaea 1 Complete gets an October 9 release date and an E3 Trailer

Posted on June 13, 2018 by John Scalzo

NIS America has announced that Disgaea 1 Complete, a remastered re-release of the beloved strategy RPG, will make its PS4 and Switch debut on October 9.

The publisher also used the occasion to unveil a brand new E3 Trailer for the game and reintroduce fans to old friends such as Laharl, Etna, Flonne, and Prinny. Referred to as the “Badass-est RPG” of all time in the clip, Disgaea 1 Complete will feature high definition visuals and the story-altering Etna Mode previously found in other re-releases of the game.

Posted in News, PS4, Switch | Tagged ,