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.

THQ Nordic announces release dates for Battle Chasers, ELEX, and SpellForce 3

Posted on June 4, 2017 by John Scalzo

THQ Nordic has announced release dates for three of their upcoming games. Battle Chasers: Nightwar and ELEX will make their debut on the PC and consoles in October, while PC-exclusive SpellForce 3 will follow in December:

  • First will be Battle Chasers: Nightwar on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch console on October 3rd, 2017.
  • Next up is ELEX, the new open world RPG from Piranha Bytes will hit PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on October 17th, 2017.
  • Last but not least, SpellForce 3 – the unique mix between RPG and RTS – will be out exclusively on PC on December 7th, 2017.

THQ Nordic is expected to showcase all three of these games at this month’s E3 Expo. So we should learn more about Battle Chasers: Nightwar, ELEX, and SpellForce 3 in about a week and a half.

And in addition to announcing a trio of release dates, the publisher also unveiled a brand new trailer for ELEX. You can find it after the break. (more…)

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

N++ is finally coming to the Xbox One this Summer

Posted on June 4, 2017 by John Scalzo

N++ made its debut on the PS4 in 2015, and a Steam release followed a year later. The massive platformer continued to gain fans throughout 2016, and just this past April, it was upgraded to an Ultimate Edition on both platforms with the addition of new levels, color schemes, and a Hardcore Mode.

But there’s still more work to be done at Metanet Software, as the developer announced that N++ will finally make an appearance on the Xbox One this Summer. The game will launch on Microsoft’s console in its Ultimate Edition form, complete with all 60 color schemes and 4,340 “hand-crafted” levels.

More information about N++’s Xbox One launch will be announced at a later date.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Tekken 7, SpeedRunners, The Culling, Metal Slug 2

Posted on June 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s the first Friday in June, and four new Xbox One games are now available to download through the Xbox Games Store, including a new Games With Gold freebie…

But first, let’s talk about Tekken 7. Bandai Namco’s multi-generational saga of corporate intrigue and demonic possession comes to an end in this latest entry, and players will get to experience all the “attitude, competitiveness, and showmanship rooted in its arcade DNA.”

Also available to download today is SpeedRunners, a multiplayer platforming race from DoubleDutch Games. SpeedRunners is a free download this month through Microsoft’s Games With Gold program, and players will be able to blast away at the competition with grappling hooks, power-ups, and interactive environments in hopes of winning its side-scrolling race. Multiplayer competition is also at the heart of The Culling, an arena combat game from Xaviant Games.

Finally today, Hamster Corporation will bring the popular NeoGeo shooter Metal Slug 2 to the Xbox One.

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

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

EA taps into Fast and the Furious’s DNA for this November’s Need For Speed Payback

Posted on June 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

No one said the word “Family,” but I felt a very distinct Fast and the Furious vibe during the first trailer for EA’s Need For Speed Payback. The racing game’s debut trailer has been embedded above, but we’ll learn more about it at this year’s E3 Expo.

Players will be in pursuit of the “perfect ride” in Need For Speed Payback, and their search will take them through “intense heist missions, high stakes car battles, epic cop pursuits, and jaw dropping set pieces” as they customize and race a whole fleet of vehicles:

Set in the underworld of Fortune Valley, players will drive as three distinct characters reunited by a quest for vengeance against The House, a nefarious cartel that rules the city’s casinos, criminals, and cops. They will take on a variety of challenges and events as Tyler, the Racer; Mac, the Showman; and Jess, the Wheelman to earn the respect of the underground. Featuring the deepest customization from the series, players can truly craft a personalized and unique ride, or spend hours finding and tuning an abandoned derelict into a supercar. They can then push their cars to the limit and raise the stakes by betting on their own performance, where they can either multiply their winnings or risk losing it all.

Players who pre-order Need For Speed Payback will also receive the Platinum Car Pack, a downloadable content pack that contains five bonus vehicles (2008 Nissan 350Z, 1967 Chevrolet Camaro SS, 1969 Dodge Charger R/T, 2016 Ford F-150 Raptor, and 2016 Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport).

Need For Speed Payback is in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One at Ghost Games, and it’ll be released on November 10. But fans who opt for the Deluxe Edition (which also includes the Platinum Car Pack, exclusive customization items, in-game discounts, Rep bonuses, and more) will be able to play it three days early.

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

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s Director says it takes place “long after” the rest of the games in the series

Posted on June 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

With its mixture of high technology and decaying Hylian ruins, it’s obvious that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes place in some kind of post-apocalyptic future, and many fans believe it should replace Zelda II: The Adventure of Link as the chronologically last game in the official timeline. But while Nintendo has previously been mum about where the game sits on the timeline, this theory gained some considerable support earlier this week when Game Rant spoke with Breath of the Wild’s Director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi.

In a short interview, Fujibayashi confirmed that Breath of the Wild does indeed take place “long after” the other games in the franchise:

It takes place in an age long, long after any of the titles released to date. It is the most recent age. And because of this we believe players will be able to easily immerse themselves in the game. Of course, regardless of the time period, the story does unfold in Hyrule so for those who’ve played other titles in the series there will be a lot of recognizable places to enjoy.

Fujibayashi’s comments confirm what many fans already believe, but it’s also important to remember that the franchise’s chronology splits into three distinct branches after the events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. So while we now know that Breath of the Wild is set “long after” the rest of the games in the series, we still have no idea which branch it sits on.

So we got an answer… but we also got more questions. At this point, I expect nothing less from Nintendo.

Posted in News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo details Switch online service and Netflix-like subscription for classic games

Posted on June 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

Late last night, Nintendo unveiled the first concrete of the Switch’s online service… which will be known as Nintendo Switch Online.

Set to launch sometime in 2018, Nintendo Switch Online’s main purpose is to give Switch owners the ability to play online multiplayer matches against other people. But until Nintendo Switch Online launches, the consoles’s online multiplayer options will be available for free.

However, Nintendo will also offer a variety of eShop Deals to Switch Online subscribers, as well as access to the Classic Game Selection, a Netflix-like selection of downloadable classics. The first batch of games will include Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight, and Dr. Mario, and Switch owners will also be able to play Classic Game Selection titles online with their friends. More titles will be added to the service after it launches.

Nintendo later clarified to Kotaku that Switch owners will have “ongoing access” to the retro titles in the Classic Game Selection, and that, “Users can play as many of the games as they want, as often as they like, as long as they have an active subscription.”

Voice chat and friend list features for the Nintendo Switch Online will be handled through a dedicated mobile app. Switch owners will be able to try out a “limited version” of Nintendo’s new communication tool this Summer.

If this all sounds very similar to Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus, I’m sure that’s by design. But Nintendo’s Switch Online service will be considerably cheaper. Players will be able to sign up for a full year for $19.99, and short-term tiers offering one month ($3.99) or three months ($7.99) of service will also be available.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Farming Simulator 18, Last Resort, more

Posted on June 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s Thursday, and that means Nintendo has updated the Nintendo eShop with this week’s new releases…

First up, Hamster Corporation has brought another NeoGeo re-release to the Switch. Last Resort is a side-scrolling shooter that was originally released in 1992. The game includes multiple weapon types, several very big bosses, and local multiplayer.

And coming up this Tuesday, June 6, Focus Home Interactive and Giants Software will release Farming Simulator 18 for the 3DS. Players will be able to simulate all aspects of the farming life on Nintendo’s handheld with the option to raise livestock or plant crops, as well as operate more than 50 farming vehicles.

You can learn more about both of these games (and a few other new releases) after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Switch, Wii U |

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War delayed by WB Games; October 10 is the new release date

Posted on June 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

In a post on the game’s official forums earlier today, Monolith Community Manager Andy Salisbury revealed that Middle-Earth: Shadow of War has officially been delayed. Originally scheduled to launch on August 22, the development team has decided to push back the game’s release to ensure they can deliver “the highest quality experience”:

Salisbury also confirmed that publisher WB Games will have Middle-Earth: Shadow of War on display at this year’s E3 Expo, and you can read his full statement right here:

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War will now launch worldwide on Oct. 10, 2017**.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War expands gameplay in every dimension, including the massive open world, the story, the RPG systems, and personal player stories of the Nemesis System. As with Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Monolith is committed to delivering the highest quality experience. In order to do this, we have made the difficult decision to move our launch date to ensure that Middle-Earth: Shadow of War will deliver on that promise.

We understand that it might be disappointing to have to wait a little longer for the release and are sorry for the delay, but we are working hard to make an amazing game. We’re excited to show more at E3.

– The Middle-Earth: Shadow of War Team

**Some territories such as Australia, New Zealand and Japan will have a different release date.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War will now be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on October 10.

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