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.

Hellblade, Owlboy, Ys Origin, more added to Xbox Store

Posted on April 11, 2018 by John Scalzo

Several critically-acclaimed games have a new home on the Xbox One thanks to today’s Xbox Games Store update.

Ninja Theory will bring Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, their “Indie AAA” action game, to the Xbox One today. It’ll share space on the digital storefront with D-Pad Studio’s side-scrolling adventure, Owlboy, and Nihon Falcom’s RPG prequel, Ys Origin.

Also available to download today is Iron Galaxy’s ogre-hunting game, Extinction, and Freejam’s multiplayer robot battler, Robocraft Infinity.

You can learn more about these games, and the rest of today’s additions to the Xbox Games Store, after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Winnipeg Jets will triumph over the Boston Bruins in NHL 18’s Stanley Cup prediction

Posted on April 11, 2018 by John Scalzo

Real life rarely plays along with EA Sports’s annual Stanley Cup prediction, but that hasn’t stopped the publisher from trying once more with NHL 18. This year, the hockey simulation has predicted the Winnipeg Jets will hoist the Stanley Cup after toppling the Boston Bruins in the NHL Finals.

It would be an historic win for the Winnipeg Jets, as no Canadian franchise has won the Stanley Cup in more than two decades. A few other interesting tidbits from NHL 18’s Stanley Cup simulation can be found at the game’s official website:

Patrik Laine took home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after recording 15 goals and 24 points along route to the Jets’ Stanley Cup victory. Laine, along with Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, and captain Blake Wheeler were four of the top scorers throughout the entire Stanley Cup Playoffs. Mathieu Perreault was the unsung hero for the Jets after he recorded 15 points and was a catalyst on the Jets’ power play.

The Winnipeg Jets Stanley Cup victory made them the first Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup since 1993, ending a 25 year Stanley Cup drought in Canada.

NHL 18 is currently available for the PS4 and Xbox One, and the Stanley Cup playoffs begin tonight with three first round matchups.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Klei launches Closed Beta for Hot Lava

Posted on April 11, 2018 by John Scalzo

Klei Entertainment has launched a Closed Beta for Hot Lava, their acrobatic first-person platformer that was absolutely inspired by the game we all played as kids. But rather than ask players to imagine the floor is covered in molten magma, Klei’s Hot Lava makes that scenario very literal across locales like a suburban house, a high school, and (what looks like) the bowels of Hell.

Players can sign up for Hot Lava’s Closed Beta at beta.PlayHotLava.com, and those selected to participate will receive instant access to the playtest until April 17. You can also find more information about the Closed Beta on the game’s Steam page:

These last few months our team has been busily working away in our secret volcano lair in preparation to unleash Hot Lava to the public. While, the official launch is still a ways off, we’re happy to announce that we’ll be rolling out our first stress test on April 10th through the 17th.

Players who signed up on the initial beta registration will have first priority in order according to when they signed up. The first wave of participants will be admitted on April 3rd. About 2,000 players will be allowed in. Future, larger waves of Beta players will follow in additional beta phases.

As of now, Hot Lava doesn’t have an announced release date, and its launch is “still a ways off.”

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Owlboy, Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality, Super Daryl Deluxe, more coming to PS Store this week

Posted on April 11, 2018 by John Scalzo

A handful of side-scrollers, a dimension-hopping VR adventure, and a game where you hunt giant ogres that look a little like Shrek top this week’s PlayStation Store update.

Owlboy was in development at D-Pad Studio for almost ten years before its PC debut in 2016, and now it’s coming to the PS4. Another colorful side-scroller, Super Daryl Deluxe, a hand-drawn beat ’em up/RPGvania, is also now available to download for Sony’s home console.

If you’re looking to give your PlayStation VR headset a workout this week, Owlchemy Labs will release Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality for the PS4.

And finally, Iron Galaxy (the creators of the Killer Instinct reboot) will bring their ogre-hunting adventure game, Extinction, to the PS4.

You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the PlayStation Store after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Vita | Tagged ,

GameStop CEO predicts “strong” 2018 for the Switch because “many” unannounced games will be released this year

Posted on April 10, 2018 by John Scalzo

GameStop’s CEO, Mike Mauler, had some nice words for the Nintendo Switch (and it’s fans) during the Q&A portion of the retailer’s most recent quarterly report.

When asked if the console’s momentum will continue into 2018, Mauler predicted that the Nintendo Switch should have a great year thanks to a “very, very strong” slate of upcoming games, “many of which haven’t been announced yet”:

So, last year was a tremendous year for their software as well as hardware, between Zelda and Mario Odyssey and all the games that they had, it really drove a lot of hardware sales as well as software. I think, this year, when we look at the slate of titles… many of which haven’t been announced yet… this year looks also very, very strong. So, I think, at least for 2018, we’ll continue to see the strong software slate drive additional install based on the hardware and increase attach rate.

It’s hard to guess which games Mauler could be referring to, because Nintendo’s star-studded lineup already includes Super Smash Bros. Switch, Fire Emblem Switch, Pokemon Switch, Yoshi, and two Nintendo Labo kits. Presumably we’ll find out more about Nintendo’s 2018 plans during the E3 Expo in June.

Posted in News, Switch |

Yoko Taro wants to create a third game in the Nier universe

Posted on April 10, 2018 by John Scalzo

Square Enix celebrated the first anniversary of Nier: Automata‘s launch over the weekend by hosting the rather appropriately-named Nier: Automata – One Year Anniversary Celebration panel at PAX East. But Game Director Yoko Taro took it a step further and confirmed that he would like to release a third game in the Nier franchise.

Speaking to the crowd during a Q&A session, Taro said, “I do think that we might actually be able to open another door in the Nier universe.” However, he also tempered expectations by adding, “I don’t know how long it might take, but I do want you guys to look forward to that.”

Seven years passed between the original Nier and the release of Automata, so we might be in for a long wait. In the meantime, you can watch a replay of the panel on the “PAX2” Twitch channel.

Posted in News | Tagged

Mega Man X Legacy Collection and Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2 will be released on July 24

Posted on April 10, 2018 by John Scalzo

As expected, Capcom will split the eight games from the Mega Man X franchise across two “Legacy Collections” for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. But don’t worry, both bundles will be available on the same date.

Earlier today, the publisher confirmed that Mega Man X Legacy Collection (with X, X2, X3, and X4) and Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 (with X5, X6, X7, and X8) will be available to download (for $19.99 apiece) beginning on July 24. A special Retail Edition bundle containing both Legacy Collections (priced at $39.99) will also be available for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

According to the Capcom-Unity blog, each Mega Man X Legacy Collection will also feature a Musuem Mode packed with bonus content including galleries for concept art, trailers, and tie-in products. A music library and The Day of Σ prequel film will also be included:

Included with both collections is The Day of Σ, a video originally included with Maverick Hunter X that explores the origins of series antagonist Sigma and the rise of Mavericks while shedding additional light on the events leading up to Mega Man X. You’ll also be able to check out vintage trailers for every Mega man X game, a museum full of art, and view a variety of goodies including toys, trading cards, music collection packages, keychains, and plenty more featuring the cast of characters from the Mega Man X games over the years.

Players will also get to compete in the X Challenge, a new mode that pits X against two Mavericks at the same time:

X Challenge! Have you ever laid awake in bed dreaming of what it’s like to fight both Chill Penguin and Frost Walrus at the same time? You won’t have to wonder much longer, as this brand new mode for Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 and 2 will pit you against pairs of classic Mavericks. Take three weapons with you into battle, or defy the odds with a buster only run! Even the most die-hard X fans will have their skills put to the test, and even the least threatening Mavericks can surprise you when they’re teamed up together. Are you an S-Class Maverick hunter? With additional leaderboard support, you’ll be able to compare your best time and see how you stack up!

An extensive new trailer focusing on all these features has been embedded above.

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

Viz Media will release Nier: Automata novel adaptations in North America

Posted on April 9, 2018 by John Scalzo

Viz Media has announced plans to bring Square Enix’s novel adaptations of Nier: Automata to North America for the first time.

Both novels were written by Jun Eishima, and were based on Game Director Yoko Taro’s original story for the game. Nier: Automata: Long Story Short (Volume 1) will be published this Fall and Nier: Automata: Short Story Long (Volume 2) will be available in Spring 2019:

When alien forces invade with an army of Machines, the remnants of humanity must depend on Androids of their own design – the placid 2B and the excitable 9S – to survive.

The publisher will reveal more details about both novels at a later date.

Posted in Etcetera, News, PC, PS4 | Tagged