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 3 “Fenix Rising” map pack announced

Posted on December 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

Hot on the heels of the release of “RAAM’s Shadow,” Microsoft has announced the next Gears of War 3 expansion will be available on January 17. Titled “Fenix Rising” and priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), the DLC pack will include five new maps, four new character skins, and new “Re-Up” level progression bonuses.

The “Re-Up” system will allow players who’ve reached level 100 to sign up for another tour of duty in the Locust War. By completing a second, third, and fourth march to level 100, players will be able to unlock exclusive weapons (Re-Up Plasma, Re-Up Omen, and Re-Up Electric) and exclusive rank colors (Red, Green, and Gold).

Hit the jump for an in-depth detailing on all five new maps and all four new character skins. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Official Zelda timeline released by Nintendo

Posted on December 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has gone all out for The Legend of Zelda’s 25th anniversary. In addition to the concert tour and multiple new game releases, the company has released a commemorative art book in Japan titled Hyrule Historia. Apparently, it also contains an official Zelda timeline sanctioned by Nintendo!

According to a fan translation at Kotaku, the timeline is actually comprised of three parallel universes, all of which are created due to Link’s actions during and after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Are you ready to think fourth dimensionally?

If Link fails in his quest to defeat Ganon, the events of A Link to the Past come to pass. However, if Link wins the day, the timeline splits in two distinct ways. The Wind Waker branches off from the future timeline where Ganon ruled for seven years while Majora’s Mask follows on from OoT’s ending of Link back in his boyhood village.

So, when its all mapped out, the official timeline looks like this… (more…)

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Transformers: Fall of Cybertron timeline hints at future games in series

Posted on December 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

Activision has released a very cool timeline for their original Transformers games, War For Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron. The timeline reveals that Fall of Cybertron will center on the creation of a Space Bridge and the battle between the Autobots and Decepticons as they travel to Earth in search of Energon.

But a mysterious fourth section, titled “The Journey,” shows that there is at least one untold tale in this version of the neverending war between the factions:

Did the Autobots and Decepticons fly directly to Earth? Or did they bounce from one corner of the galaxy to the another before meeting their destiny? These questions remain a mystery as they illustrate an unwritten chapter of the lore.

If that’s not confirmation that there’s another original Transformers game in the pipeline, I don’t know what is.

[Source: Kotaku]

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

PS Store Today: Trine 2, Sonic CD, L.A. Noire, a lot more

Posted on December 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

Merry Christmas from Sony! Sure, you have to pay for all of this week’s PlayStation Store goodies. But Sony Claus has been very good to us all the same.

This week sees the release of (deep breath now) Trine 2, Sonic CD, Apples To Apples, L.A. Noire, NCAA Football 12, Just Cause 2, Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, Centipede (a PSone Classic), and Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 for the PSP. Whew! Now that’s how you do a PlayStation Store update!

More information on all of these titles can be found after the break. And a complete list of all of this week’s game add-ons can be found at the PlayStation.Blog. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PSP | Tagged , , ,

Original Dante rides again in Devil May Cry HD Collection on April 3

Posted on December 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

Capcom plans to give Dante a reboot in 2012 with the Ninja Theory-developed origin story DMC: Devil May Cry. But the original Dante from the days of yore (by which I mean the PS2 years of 2001-2005) is still alive and kicking. He’ll be making a reappearance on store shelves next year with the Devil May Cry HD Collection, which is due out April 3, 2012.

The HD Collection brings together Devil May Cry, Devil May Cry 2, and Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening Special Edition all in one package. In addition to an HD overhaul, the compilation will also include bonus content and support for Achievements/Trophies.

The Devil May Cry HD Collection carries a nice $39.99 retail price.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Kingdom Hearts 3D coming to US in 2012

Posted on December 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

We all knew it was going to happen eventually, but today, Square Enix officially announced that Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance will be released in the US in 2012.

The 3DS exclusive title brings Sora and Riku together as playable characters in the Mark of Mastery exam as well as introduces new Disney worlds like The Hunchback of Notre Dame:

King Mickey and Yen Sid prepare for an impending threat by putting Sora and Riku through the Mark of Mastery exam. Sora and Riku are sent into the Sleeping Worlds, where they will face enemies and allies that have never been seen before. If they can successfully complete the task they are given, they will be deemed true Keyblade Masters.

According to series creator Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts 3D is the beginning of the end of “the current Kingdom Hearts saga.” Nomura also said, “The story of this game will serve as the opening chapter of the final conflict, and, as always, will be full of surprises. This title will not only be a bold, exhilarating tale of adventure, but also a first look into the future form of the Kingdom Hearts series.”

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Sony sells 321,000 Vita handhelds in two days

Posted on December 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

The PlayStation Vita is now available in Japan and, according to a Famitsu report (via Andriasang), Sony has sold 321,407 Vita handhelds in two days. Officially, those two days are considered the Vita’s first “week” of sales by tracking firm Enterbrain.

For comparison’s sake, 371,326 3DS systems were sold during its first “week” (February 26 and 27 of this year), while the PSP pushed 166,074 units in its first “week” (actually, a single day in 2004).

The Vita will make its North American debut on February 22, 2012 (or February 15 if you sprung for the First Edition pre-order bundle).

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Alan Wake’s American Nightmare story details, arcade mode revealed

Posted on December 19, 2011 by John Scalzo

A week after officially unveiling Alan Wake’s American Nightmare at the 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards, Remedy has unveiled the first story details for the downloadable title. Staying true to their promise that it’s not Alan Wake 2, the developer confirmed that American Nightmare actually takes place in “Night Springs,” the fictional TV show from Alan Wake. And due to its “fictional” nature, the story is going to be taking a pulpy turn:

The main story mode in Alan Wake’s American Nightmare is part of the “Night Springs” TV show fiction and offers an exaggerated pulp action adventure where the horrors of reality have the all too easy habit of coming true. Alan Wake finds himself stuck in an altered reality filled with dangerous shadows; he must leap into action and pursue his evil doppelganger, Mr. Scratch, across the Arizona mesa towards the town of Night Springs. Scratch, a supernatural serial killer, has his evil plans set on Wake’s wife, Alice. Wake must learn to control reality itself and unravel the secret to Mr. Scratch’s demise while using the power of light to put an end to the darkness.

Remedy also announced the Fight Til Dawn arcade mode today. In Fight Til Dawn, players must “survive a full night of enemy onslaughts while racking up their score.” By loading up on weapons and using safe zones, players will have to survive the night and destroy as many demons as possible to write the highest score possible onto the game’s leaderboards.

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare will be available exclusively as an Xbox Live Arcade download in early 2012.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged