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.

Square Enix offers a quick look at new features in Secret of Mana Collection

Posted on May 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

Square Enix’s Seiken Densetsu Collection (also known as the Secret of Mana Collection) will be available exclusively for the Switch on June 1st. Unfortunately, the publisher has yet to announce if the compilation will launch outside of Japan, and as of right now, it seems unlikely that English-speaking audiences will never get a chance to play it.

However, with just one month before its Japanese launch, Square Enix has released a trio of short videos showcasing some of the Seiken Densetsu Collection’s new features.

With “Screen Change Mode,” players will be able to customize the screen setting to their liking, as well as add Super Game Boy color palettes to the first game in the series, Final Fantasy Adventure. Players will also have a “Quick Save” option to pause the action and return to the game at a later date. Finally, a “Music Mode” will let players listen to each game’s soundtrack right from the title screen.

You can view all three videos after the break, and don’t forget to let Square Enix and Square Enix Europe know if you want to see the Secret of Mana Collection released outside of Japan. (more…)

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Shovel Knight: Official Design Works officially announced by Udon Entertainment

Posted on May 1, 2017 by John Scalzo

It looks like the rumors are true… Udon Entertainment will release a Shovel Knight artbook this August.

Shovel Knight: Official Design Works will include an in-depth look at the early concept art that allowed Shovel Knight to become a Kickstarter darling and indie sensation, as well an exclusive interview with the development team:

Udon has worked very closely with developer Yacht Club Games to ensure that Shovel Knight: Official Design Works is every bit the definitive Shovel Knight art book that fans deserve. Within its pages you’ll find character art, developer commentary, rough illustrations and concept art, background development images, comprehensive sprite sheets, full-page promotional illustrations, and more – including an exclusive interview with the game’s development team!

The 184-page book will also include content from the game’s first expansion, Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows.

If you can’t wait until August, you can view a selection of preview pages at the the publishing company’s official website right now.

Posted in 3DS, Etcetera, Mobile, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Switch, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged ,

New Retail Releases: Prey, Guardians of the Galaxy Season Pass Disc, FlatOut 4

Posted on April 30, 2017 by John Scalzo

We’ve got three new games for the last Retail Release Report in April 2017…

Even though the new Prey has nothing to do with Human Head’s bizarre first person shooter from 2006 or its canceled sequel, Bethesda will release a new entry in the franchise this week for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Players will assume the role of Morgan Yu, a crew member on the Talo I space station. The the aliens show up and humanity becomes the “prey” of the title.

Also also available on store shelves this week is the Season Pass Disc for Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy adaptation. Just in time for the theatrical opening of Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, the PS4 and Xbox One disc will include the game’s first episode, Tangled Up In Blue, and downloadable access to all four upcoming episodes.

Finally this week, developer Kylotonn will bring back the destruction-heavy FlatOut franchise with FlatOut 4: Total Insanity for the PS4 and Xbox One.

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back soon with a look at this week’s new additions to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

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

Xbox Store Today: Little Nightmares, Alpha Mission II, Lost Grimoires

Posted on April 28, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s almost quitting time on this nifty Friday afternoon, and Microsoft has updated the Xbox Games Store ahead of the weekend.

Little Nightmares, Bandai Namco’s spooky puzzle platformer about “corrupted souls looking for their next meal” aboard a mysterious vessel, leads things off on the Xbox One today. Xbox One owners will also be able to download Alpha Mission II, an overhead shooter originally released for the NeoGeo in 1991; and Lost Grimoires: Stolen Kingdom, another hidden object game from Artifex Mundi.

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

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged

Get your first look at The Joker and Darkseid in these new trailers for Injustice 2

Posted on April 28, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Joker is sporting a completely new look for his Injustice 2 debut, but the supervillain’s fighting style should look familiar to anyone who played Injustice: Gods Among Us. The real question is… how is he still alive? The “Introducing Joker” trailer (available after the break) doesn’t have an answer, but we did get to see the Clown Prince of Crime deliver a beatdown on Robin with a crowbar and smack Superman in the face with a canister of Joker Venom.

The Joker is joined by a new trailer for Darkseid, Injustice 2’s first downloadable character. Players who pre-order the game will receive access to the ruler of Apokolips for free, but everyone can enjoy his “Introducing” trailer after the break.

Injustice 2 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 16. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 rated by Korean rating board

Posted on April 28, 2017 by John Scalzo

Mega Man Legacy Collection included the first six games from the “Mega Man Classic” franchise when it launched in 2015. While Capcom left out the four most recent entries, using the Blue Bomber’s NES appearance as the demarcation line was probably for the best. But naturally, the publisher is planning to give the rest of the franchise the Legacy Collection treatment in the not-too-distant future.

According to the South Korean Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC), Capcom is currently hard at work on Mega Man Legacy Collection 2. According to the description included with the rating, Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 will include Mega Man 7 (which was originally released for the Super NES), Mega Man 8 (which was originally released for the PlayStation and Saturn), and the Inti Creates-developed, NES-styled Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10.

There’s currently no word on if any of Mega Man’s many spinoffs will be part of Legacy Collection 2, such as Mega Man & Bass, which was released only in Japan for the Super NES, before making its way stateside on the Game Boy Advance many years later.

Capcom has yet to officially announce Mega Man Legacy Collection 2, so it’s possible the GRAC is mistaken. But I have a hunch the compilation actually is in development and it’ll likely be announced soon.

Posted in News | Tagged

Bandai Namco will bring Gundam Versus to the PS4 this Fall

Posted on April 28, 2017 by John Scalzo

North American fans haven’t received any new games based on Mobile Suit Gundam in quite a long time, but Bandai Namco plans to change that this Fall with the release of Gundam Versus. Gundam Versus gives players the chance to compete in 2v2 and 3v3 team battles, and pilot more than 90 Mobile Suits from the franchise’s entire history.

“For more than 35 years the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has fostered a highly engaged and energetic community,” said Eric Hartness, the Vice President of Marketing for Bandai Namco. “We are excited to release Gundam Verus to those fans eager for more Mobile Suit Gundam releases in the West, as well as introducing the franchise to a brand new expanded audience.”

Gundam Versus will be available exclusively for the PS4 this Fall, and you can learn a lot more about the game’s giant robot battles by viewing the extended announcement trailer after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

Nintendo will release New 2DS XL handheld on July 28

Posted on April 27, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s 11:00, do you know what Nintendo is doing? The answer, of course, is that NO ONE ever knows what Nintendo is doing.

In the middle of the night (though to be fair, it’s only 8:00 PM on the west coast), Nintendo has decided to announce a new addition to their handheld line… the New 2DS XL. The New 2DS XL includes all the improvements that Nintendo added to the XL line (the C-Stick, built-in Amiibo functionality, XL screens, more processing power, a slicker overall presentation), but removed the glasses-free 3D that originally gave the handheld its name. The new handheld is still a few months away, but all this will be available for just $149.99 on July 28.

Also on July 28, Nintendo has announced plans to launch two new 2DS/3DS games… Hey! Pikmin and Miitopia:

Hey! Pikmin – In this brand-new style of Pikmin game, players guide Captain Olimar through 2D side-scrolling levels and collect Sparklium to refuel his crashed ship, the S.S. Dolphin 2, so he can escape the planet. The touch-screen controls let players choose the right Pikmin to toss at enemies and objects, which is critical to defeating foes and solving the many puzzles Olimar encounters during his adventure.

Miitopia – Band together with your Mii and Mii friends to explore your own personalized world of Miitopia. Cast Mii characters into various roles and watch hilarious scenes unfold as they work together to defeat the Dark Lord who has stolen the faces of townspeople of Miitopia. Players can bring in their created Mii characters from the Miitomo or Tomodachi Life games, or create their own Mii team in the game. This game has a lighthearted tone with traditional and strategic RPG-like elements, including customization, relationship building and team management.

You can get a closer look at the New 2DS XL in the trailer embedded above.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged ,