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.

FOUR new trailers highlight For Honor’s Faction War mode, single-player campaign, and upcoming Closed Beta

Posted on December 15, 2016 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft wants players to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day in 2017 with For Honor, a game devoted to the eternal feud between Knights, Samurai, and Vikings. It’s an absolutely silly premise, but the publisher is building a plot-heavy single-player campaign around the conflict, which is on display in the brand new trailer embedded above:

Three legendary warrior factions – The noble Knights of the Iron Legion, the deadly Samurai of the Dawn Empire, and ferocious Vikings of the Warborn clans – are under threat from a mysterious and bloodthirsty warlord named Apollyon. Storm castles, defeat invading armies, and win epic duels as you battle for the survival of your people.

In addition to the single-player campaign, Ubisoft revealed a bit more about For Honor’s Faction War contest, which appears to be patterned after Mortal Kombat X‘s similarly-named metagame. In For Honor’s Faction War, players will choose a side and earn War Assets after competing in multiplayer matches. Players can use these War Assets to help other players fight for territory, and members of each faction will receive rewards based on their performance during each ten-week season.

Prospective players will get a taste of the Faction War metagame during For Honor’s Closed Beta, which will take place in January, and registration for a chance to join is now available at ForHonorGame.com/war.

Finally, Ubisoft wants to help with your faction decision by unveiling three new trailers (available after the break) that focus on a prominent Knight, Samurai, and Viking:

  • The Peacekeeper: Selected from the desperate, the humbled or the devoted, they are sworn to secrecy by unbreakable oaths. Quick and lethal, they fight with a short sword in one hand and a dagger in the other. Peacekeepers are the deadliest duelists of all Assassins, capable of winning a fight before their enemy even knows they are here.
  • The Shugoki: Once the guardians of the Samurai, they have become as family. Massive and fierce, their weapon of choice is the kanabo, a huge stick that they only can wield efficiently. The Shugoki might not have the same agility as the other Samurai, but their rock-like resistance and demon-like strength make them an unavoidable force on the battlefield.
  • The Warlord: Warlord is a name from an ancient Viking tradition, a name that is earned by only the true leaders in combat, those who are ready to spend their whole life servicing all who need it. Warlords’ shields are as versatile as they are strong and their sword, while simple in design, is sharp and deadly.

For Honor will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on February 14. (more…)

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

Link snowboards and wishes fans a “Happy Holidays” in new Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild mini-trailer

Posted on December 15, 2016 by John Scalzo

After the strong sales of 1080 Snowboarding, Nintendo embraced their extreme sports success and pushed out a sequel, 1080 Avalanche, for the GameCube. More than 13 years later, the consolemaker hasn’t shown any interest in revisiting their surprise hit.

And yet, it’s hard not to be reminded of the 1080 franchise after watching Link shred some powder in this brand new mini-trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The hero wants to wish fans a “Happy Holidays” and tear down a mountain with reckless abandon on his shield. The epic music is also a nice touch.

In addition to the new mini-trailer, Nintendo is trotting out a series of new Breath of the Wild screenshots on Facebook that will “explore the Hyrulean landscape.”

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be released for the Nintendo Switch and the Wii U sometime in 2017.

Posted in News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Super Mario Run, Picross E7, Excitebots, more

Posted on December 15, 2016 by John Scalzo

This Spring’s Miitomo was a fun experiment, but Nintendo is truly kicking off their mobile push today with the launch of Super Mario Run. The “one-handed” platformer will include dozens of levels, a multiplayer versus mode, and a Kingdom Builder mode for players interested in creating their own Mushroom Kingdom.

Also available to download this week on the Wii U is Excitebots: Trick Racing, which was originally released for the Wii in 2009. Swapping out motorcycles for customizable robots, Excitebots features 25 different courses and a huge selection of stunts.

Finally this week, the seventh Picross E game is now available to download through the 3DS eShop. Picross E7 is the latest game in the “Picture Crossword Puzzle” series and the first with 20×15 “Mega Picross” puzzles.

More information on all of these games can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, Mobile, News, Wii U | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Bastion, Stardew Valley, Batman: Episode 5, more

Posted on December 14, 2016 by John Scalzo

A big batch of new games is now available to download through the Xbox Games Store, starting with a re-release of one of the first big hits for the digital storefront.

Bastion was originally released for the Xbox 360 by Supergiant Games back in 2011. The action RPG included an omniscient narrator was absolutely groundbreaking at the time, and now it’s available to download for the Xbox One with new Achievements and the Stranger’s Dream expansion. Best of all, if you purchased Bastion on the Xbox 360, you can grab a free download of the Xbox One edition until January 1st.

Also available to download this week is Stardew Valley, an RPG for the Xbox One that asks players to manage a farm and, eventually, restore the surrounding community. And speaking of a crusader for the community, Telltale’s Batman saga will come to an end this week with the release of Batman: The Telltale Series – Episode 5: City of Light for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Finally this week, Microsoft is celebrating the career of Hironobu Sakaguchi and the Xbox One Backwards Compatibility program with a brand new digital launch for Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon. Originally released for the Xbox 360 more than seven years ago, neither game has been available to download through the Xbox Games Store until now. Not only that, but players interested in downloading Lost Odyssey will be able to do so for free until December 31st.

More information on all of today’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

See a teaser trailer for the Nintendo Switch exclusive Seasons of Heaven

Posted on December 14, 2016 by John Scalzo

A lush forest… Glowing blue and green glyphs… Easter Island heads… A samurai sword… A massive tower rising out of the distance… A small child with a backpack…

Prospective players were introduced to the mysterious world of the Switch-exclusive game Seasons of Heaven today in a brand new teaser trailer. Currently in development at AnyAnts Productions, and announced earlier this week, Seasons of Heaven is an exploration game based on a novel by Nico Augusto:

Seasons of Heaven will take you from deep inside of a mystical forest at the beginning of time all the way through to the twenty-first century and the fall of civilization. It will take you on a journey with Yann, a young boy with Asperger’s Syndrome and his faithful companion, Ani, a French bulldog who Yann is able to communicate with through telepathy. As you follow along on their journey you’ll have the opportunity to meet the rest of the major players and bear witness to the enlightenment of some and the demise of others. This story will allow you to experience the awe of discovering the most beautiful, magical place that ever existed while at the same time staying only one step ahead of the dark and vile underbelly of the human race.

If you’re intrigued by this fleeting glimpse of the game, you might be interested to know that a full trailer for Seasons of Heaven will be unveiled on Monday, December 19, at midnight (Eastern Time).

Posted in News | Tagged ,

Rumor: Rime is coming to the PS4 in 2017… and the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC

Posted on December 14, 2016 by John Scalzo

Originally announced in 2013 as a PS4 exclusive, Tequila Works has been steadily working on Rime, a cel-shaded “adventure platformer,” ever since. Last year, the developer reacquired the publishing rights to the game, and many fans assumed that Rime would eventually make its way to the PS4 (and maybe additional platforms) when it launched in 2017. Now it looks like that might be happening.

A now-deleted rating (spotted by Eurogamer) on the Brazilian Ratings Board for Rime lists the game as in development for the PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Though Rime has been in the works for over three years, it’s still mostly shrouded in mystery:

Rime is a single-player puzzle adventure game about a young boy shipwrecked on a mysterious island after a torrential storm. Players must use their wits to decipher the challenges and secrets of an expansive world strewn with rugged terrain, wild creatures and the crumbling ruins of a long-forgotten civilization. With subtle narrative, colorful artwork and a sweeping score, Rime offers players a meaningful journey filled with discovery.

But a notice on the game’s official website has promised that we’ll hear more about it early next year.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , ,

Xbox One Backwards Compatibility list reaches 300 titles; 50% of Xbox One owners use it

Posted on December 14, 2016 by John Scalzo

Yesterday, Microsoft added BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite to the Xbox One’s growing Backwards Compatibility list. Believe it or not, with the addition of these three games, more than 300 Xbox 360 games that are now playable on the Xbox One.

While a number of incredibly high-profile titles are now playable on the Xbox One, you might be wondering how many people actually bother with Backwards Compatibility. According to Phil Spencer, the Head of Microsoft’s Xbox Division, more than 50% of Xbox One owners use the program:

You can find a complete list of all Xbox 360 titles that are playable on the Xbox One through the Backwards Compatibility program at Xbox.com.

Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

Stardew Valley, DriveDriveDrive, I Expect You to Die, more added to PS Store

Posted on December 14, 2016 by John Scalzo

Even though an extended cold snap will make the northeast and midwest a chilly place this week, PlayStation fans are thinking about the joys of planting season in Stardew Valley. Available to download now for the PS4, players will inherit their grandfather’s old plot of land and attempt to build a thriving farm with just a few coins and a dream.

Also available for the PS4 this week is DriveDriveDrive, a racing game that asks players to control multiple cars and multiple tracks. If that’s not weird enough, I Expect You to Die is a PS4 game that wants to hear your best Goldfinger impression. OK, that’s not entirely accurate, but it is a PlayStation VR-exclusive that puts players “in the well-polished shoes of an elite secret agent” as they escape from deadly death traps using only their wits and their telekinesis powers.

Finally this week, Batman: The Telltale Series comes to an end with the release of its fifth, and final, episode on the PS4 and PS3.

More information on all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. A complete look at this week’s new add-ons and discounts is available at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PS4 | Tagged ,