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.

Meet the fighters from Arms in two new English-language trailers

Posted on March 22, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nearly six weeks ago, Nintendo Japan released two trailers for Arms that pitted the strengths and weaknesses of its fighters against each other, as well as offering a glimpse at the game’s fighting mechanics.

More recently, Nintendo of America translated those trailers into English, and we can finally understand what the tale of the tape says about Spring Man, Ribbon Girl, Ninjara, Master Mummy, and Mechanica. Once again, the second trailer focuses on Arms’s fighting mechanics and the different gloves each fighter can use.

You can find both trailers after the break, and Arms will be released exclusively for the Switch in Spring 2017. (more…)

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

CoD: Modern Warfare Remastered’s Variety Map Pack is now available for the PS4

Posted on March 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

As promised, PS4 players can download the Variety Map Pack in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered beginning today.

Priced at $14.99, the Variety Map Pack includes the four multiplayer maps that were originally released as downloadable content for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare back in 2008. Players who purchase the expansion will receive 10 Rare Supply Drops.

To go along with today’s launch, Activision also released a brand new trailer showcasing the improved visuals in the Variety Map Pack’s four maps:

Multiplayer Maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered’s Variety Map Pack

  • Broadcast: Based on the TV station from the campaign mission “Charlie Don’t Surf,” this map provides a unique blend of confined corridors and wide-open spaces. Outside the station, the parking lot contains long sightlines, but once inside, cramped hallways and a computer-cluttered broadcast room provide ample close-range combat opportunities.

  • Chinatown: Set in a foggy downtown district, this nighttime map is lit up by flickering neon signs and a full moon. A re-imagining of the original Call of Duty multiplayer map “Carentan,” players will need to be careful on these streets, as almost every building in the map can be occupied, providing perfect cover for enemies waiting for a chance to line you up in their sights.

  • Creek: Set in a wide-open village ravaged by combat where concealment is the difference between life and death, a gaping ravine divides this map into two. Open clearings with sheer cliff faces and ample forested cover make this map ideal for snipers and long-range firefights.

  • Killhouse: A small training warehouse filled with various building mock ups that feature soft and hard cover points. Expect fast-paced and fierce firefights for maximum close-quarters chaos.

PC and Xbox One players will likely be able to download Call of Duty: Mordern Warfare Remastered’s Variety Map Pack sometime in April.

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

Play as Orisa in Overwatch beginning today

Posted on March 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

Overwatch players can now choose from 24 different Heroes before each match, as Blizzard added Orisa to the game on all platforms earlier today. According to her profile on PlayOverwatch.com, Orisa is a robotic centaur with a defensive-minded play style, but don’t worry, her attacks also pack a wallop:

Orisa’s Abilities

  • Fusion Driver: Orisa’s automatic projectile cannon delivers sustained damage, but slows her movement while she fires it.
  • Fortify: Orisa temporarily reduces damage she takes, and cannot be affected by action-impairing effects.
  • Halt!: Orisa launches a graviton charge which she can detonate, slowing nearby enemies and pulling them towards the explosion.
  • Protective Barrier: Orisa throws out a stationary barrier that can protect her and her allies from enemy fire.
  • Supercharger: Orisa deploys a device to increase damage inflicted by allies within her line of sight.

Blizzard also released a new trailer for Overwatch featuring Orisa, and it’s been embedded above for your viewing pleasure.

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

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is officially coming to the Nintendo Switch

Posted on March 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

We’ve expected this announcement for quite some time, but Koji “Iga” Igarashi confirmed today that Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is coming to the Nintendo Switch.

This also means that Kickstarter backers hoping to play Bloodstained on the Wii U are out of luck, as Iga and his team had to cancel development of the project for Nintendo’s former console. Backers interested in switching their pre-order to the Switch can do so though the same survey link they received previously, though Wii U backers can also opt to receive the game on the PC, PS4, Vita, or Xbox One. And if you were only interested in playing Bloodstained on the Wii U, you can request a full refund from now until April 20, 2017.

Iga further explained the situation to fans in a new Kickstarter update:

Hello, this is IGA.

Thank you for always supporting us. I would like to give a message to the backers who pledged for the Wii U version of Bloodstained.

During our Kickstarter campaign, the Wii U was at the height of its popularity, but the situation has drastically changed after the release of Nintendo Switch.

This change made it difficult to receive the necessary support from the hardware maker, which has led us to drop the Wii U development and shift the development to Nintendo Switch.

We are very sorry that it has come to this after all your support, but we hope you will understand. We would like to respond by preparing options for our backers, such as moving your pledge to another version or requesting a refund if you don’t want any other version.

We hope you will continue to support us.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is currently on track to be released sometime in 2018.

Posted in News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

Square Enix will release a Switch-exclusive Secret of Mana Collection in Japan this June

Posted on March 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

Yesterday, Square Enix teased fans with a short video showing Seiken Densetsu 3/Secret of Mana 2 being played on a Switch. Today, the publisher confirmed that a Seiken Densetsu Collection will be released exclusively for the Switch in Japan this Summer.

In addition to featuring the third entry in the franchise, the compilation will also include Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (released in America for the Game Boy as Final Fantasy Adventure) and Seiken Densetsu 2 (released in America for the Super NES as Secret of Mana). All three games will retain their original graphics, but with added portability thanks to the Nintendo Switch.

The Seiken Densetsu Collection will be released in Japan on June 1, but Square Enix has yet to announce if it’ll be released in North America. Though it’s important to note, the Switch is region free, so as long as you can read Japanese, you’ll be able to play it anywhere in the world.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

New Story Trailer and Limited Edition revealed for Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia

Posted on March 21, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo will release Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia in North America on May 19, and it’s been a long time coming. Previously only available in Japan for the NES (as Fire Emblem Gaiden), Shadows of Valentia is one of the “lost” Fire Emblem games, and is finally making its North American debut (on the 3DS) after 25 years.

Naturally, Nintendo wants to give fans a package worthy of this formerly forgotten game, and they’ll do that with a special Limited Edition. Priced at $59.99, the Limited Edition will include several goodies that should be of interest to Fire Emblem fans:

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Limited Edition

  • Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia Gamecard
  • Hardcover Valentia Artbook
  • Sound Selection CD
  • Pin Set (Alm, Celica, and Marth)
  • Reversible Cover Sheet (Based on the Packaging for the Original Famicom Game)

Nintendo also announced that an Amiibo Two-Pack featuring Alm and Celica will also be released on May 19. Not available separately, the Amiibo figures will unlock their own exclusive dungeons, “allowing heroes to earn items and level up their armies further by defeating bosses.” Tapping these figures in battle will also allow players to summon a computer-controlled Illusory Hero, which acts as an ally for a single turn.

Finally, Nintendo unveiled a brand new Story Trailer that’ll give fans a history lesson on the two armies in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, and “their differing quests attempt to achieve the unified goal of bringing peace to the land of Valentia.”

A closer look at the contents of the Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia’s Limited Edition can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Game Freak is hiring for a console-bound Pokemon game

Posted on March 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Pokemon’s upcoming debut on the Nintendo Switch is a constantly evolving story, but another missing piece fell into place today, and it’s looking more and more likely that a “main series” game will be released for the console.

Back in September, The Pokemon Company confirmed that a new game in the franchise was in development for the Switch. However, there was no indication of who was making it, and all signs pointed to yet another spinoff. However, late in the year, a rumor cropped up that said Game Freak was developing an enhanced remake of Pokemon Sun and Moon for the Switch. This game was believed to be in development under the working title of “Pokemon Stars.”

Fast forward to today, and the news that Game Freak is currently hiring at least one developer to work on a console-bound entry in a “long-running” and “globally popular RPG series” starring “people and monsters.”

We could pretend to treat this as another rumor, but where’s the fun in that? Game Freak is clearly hiring developers to work on a new Pokemon game for the Nintendo Switch. The only questions left are… Is it Pokemon Stars? Or is it a brand new game in the franchise (that could still turn out to be a spinoff)?

The 2017 E3 Expo is just a few months away, so we’ll probably learn more about Game Freak’s next Pokemon game sooner rather than later.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Square Enix Japan showed a video of Secret of Mana 2 being played on a Switch

Posted on March 20, 2017 by John Scalzo

Originally released in 1995, Secret of Mana 2 (also known as Seiken Densetsu 3) is one of the only games in the series to never receive a North American localization. However, it looks like Square Enix is planning to bring the critically-acclaimed action RPG to the Nintendo Switch sometime soon… though possibly only in Japan.

Earlier today, Square Enix posted a short video of two developers playing Secret of Mana 2/Seiken Densetsu 3 on a Switch to the official Twitter account for the franchise. The only other information in the tweet was a Japanese hashtag for #Mana, so it’s unknown if this is some kind of a prank, or possibly a sly tease for a future Virtual Console re-release.

However, Square Enix is also in the middle of celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Mana series, so now would definitely be a fine time to re-release the game for modern audiences. The Mana series began in 1991 with the release of Final Fantasy Adventure, and I’m sure fans of old school action RPGs would be thrilled to finally receive a fully-sanctioned English translation of the third entry.

But until Square Enix makes an official announcement, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged