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.

First Darkness II gameplay trailer is 4X as awesome as anything else

Posted on June 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

2K Games is very proud of the new quad-wielding gameplay mechanic found in The Darkness II. And with the releases of the sequel’s first gameplay trailer, it looks like they have a lot to be pround of. watch as main character Jackie Estacado holds a pistol in his left hand, a machine gun in his and uses the demonic tentactles known as The Darkness to impale a mobster with a pool cue while throwing another one down a hallway. Also be on the lookout for Jackie using The Darkness to throw a fan blade at a different mobster, naturally chopping him in half. Whoa!

The Darkness II will be on display at next week’s E3 Expo and will be released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on October 4.

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Come get the Duke Nukem Forever launch trailer

Posted on June 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

The man may have stolen all of Ash’s catchphrases, but Duke Nukem is still one of the biggest badasses in video games. And After 14 years, he plans to prove it on June 14 when Duke Nukem Forever is released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. 2K Games wants to get gamers excited for that momentous date by unveiling the game’s launch trailer. It’s hilariously NOT SAFE FOR WORK, but it’s also hilariously awesome too.

I’d hit it too, Duke, I’d hit it too.

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UFC Undisputed 3 enters the octagon in January 2012

Posted on June 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

Just like they said during their quarterly financial report, THQ has officially announced that UFC Undisputed 3 is in development. The third game in the MMA fighting series is due for release in January 2012 on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

UFC Undisputed 3 will add a huge number of new modes to the franchise’s already packed feature list. The biggest addition is definitely Pride Mode, which features the more brutal style of fighting found in the now defunct promotion. Pride fights include “soccer-style kicks, head stomps and ground knees to the head,” all of which are barred in typical MMA fights.

Besides Pride Mode, the entire game is being rebuilt with an emphasis on making the series more accessible. UFC 3 will include “devastating new moves, responsive striking controls, refined visual presentation and the introduction of a brand new submission system” as well as the option of using traditional or simplified control options. Two new weight classes, featherweight and bantamweight, and more than 150 playable fighters round out the new features.

“We are excited to launch UFC Undisputed 3 in January 2012 and expect it to be the best version yet,” UFC President Dana White said. “We’ve added two new weight classes and several new features to the game that will bring UFC fans closer to the Octagon than ever before.”

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PlayStation Store back online with 17 new games; “Welcome Back” details coming

Posted on June 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

It missed Sony’s “end of May” promise by one day, but as of late last night, the PlayStation Store is now back online! However, there’s still no word on the “Welcome Back” offers and Sony would only say that more details would be coming soon.

The consolemaker plans to push out multiple updates a week to get the store back up to speed and today’s update is rather huge (though quite lacking in anything really noteworthy):

Downloadable PS3 Games

  • Alien Crush ($5.99)
  • Bonk’s Adventure ($5.99)
  • Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls ($14.99)
  • Sega Rally Online Arcade ($9.99)
  • Star Raiders ($9.99)
  • Red Johnson’s Chronicles ($12.99)
  • Under Siege ($19.99)
  • Back To The Future: The Game – Episode 3 (Free With Season Pass)
  • Dragon’s Lair II: Time Warp ($9.99)
  • Bomberman ’94 ($5.99)
  • Learning With The Pooyoos: Episode 1 ($8.99)

PSone Classics

  • Missile Command ($5.99)

Downloadable PSP Games

  • Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean ($29.99)
  • Alien Crush ($5.99)
  • Bonk’s Adventure ($5.99)
  • Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars ($29.99)
  • Bomberman ’94 ($5.99)

More information on all of this week’s new games, demos, add-ons, themes and videos can be found at the PlayStation.Blog. The next PlayStation Store update will occur on Friday, June 3. Sony also has special E3-themed updates planned for next week.

Posted in News, PS3, PSP | Tagged ,

Make your Mama pround with Majesco’s E3 lineup

Posted on June 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

Mama wants to pay attention as Majesco has a hefty slate of games lined up for next week’s E3 Expo.

Not surprisingly, the company’s E3 lineup is lead by two new games starring Mama: Cooking Mama 4: Kitchen Magic for the 3DS and Camping Mama: Outdoor Adventures for the DS. They also plan to showcase the side-scrolling vampire slaying in BloodRayne: Betrayal (PSN, XBLA) and a sequel to their latest exergaming hit, Zumba Fitness 2 (Wii).

Check out the rest of the E3 lineup from Majesco after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , ,

Natsume’s E3 lineup includes new Rune Factory, Harvest Moon games

Posted on June 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

Natsume has announced their E3 lineup and, predictably, it includes new games in the Rune Factory and Harvest Moon franchises. Rune Factory: Tides of Destiny will be coming to the PS3 and Wii while Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns will get a dual release on two dual screen handhelds, the DS and 3DS.

“We have a lineup of top-notch titles this year!” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “We’ve got dancing, fishing, and exciting new entries in the Rune Factory and Harvest Moon series. No matter your age or tastes, we have a game for you!”

Hit the jump for full details on Natsume’s entire E3 lineup. (more…)

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THQ officially announces Darksiders II

Posted on June 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

THQ confirmed that Vigil Games had begun work on Darksiders II a few days after the first Darksiders hit store shelves. Now, nearly 18 months later, the publisher has officially announced that Darksiders II will be released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 sometime in 2012.

Darksiders II takes place concurrently with the first game, this time following Death during Earth’s final hours. While searching for War in the midst of the Apocalypse, Death will encounter “a dramatically larger world […] as well as bigger and more challenging dungeons and [a] vast array of new enemies and bosses.” In the end, humanity may not need a hero to save them, but Death.

Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President of Core Games, commented: “We have taken the best parts of Darksiders and improved on them with a host of new mechanics and features. You will see great things from this epic game.”

THQ also revealed that Darksiders II will grace the cover of the July issue of Game Informer. Check out the exclusive art from Vigil’s Joe Madureira. It is pretty awesome.

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Catwoman slinks into Batman: Arkham City as a playable character

Posted on June 1, 2011 by John Scalzo

We all knew that Catwoman would be appearing in this Fall’s Batman: Arkham City, but Rocksteady has now told GameSpot that the femme fatale feline-phile will also be a playable character in the game’s single-player story.

As you might expect from Selina Kyle, her attacks are more acrobatic and graceful than Batman’s. She’ll wield her trademark whip and a bolo for ranged attacks as well as razor sharp claws on her gloves.

Check it all out in the trailer above. And remember, today’s word of the day is “slinky.” You’ll understand why after you watch the video.

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