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.

Axiom Verge will be released for Wii U on September 1

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Thomas Happ has revealed that Axiom Verge will be released for the Wii U on September 1. In a new post on the game’s official website, the developer said that Axiom Verge’s 8-bit inspirations made this announcement feel like a homecoming:

The Nintendo games of my childhood are what inspired me to make Axiom Verge. Metroid is probably one of the more obvious influences, but it’s actually a lot more than that. Axiom Verge actually started out as an exercise in game design. I wanted to deconstruct my favorite games from my youth and see what would happen if I took the best elements of each and put them together. The Bionic Commando’s grapple hook and Rygar’s Yo-Yo in the setting of Blaster Master and Shatterhand. I wanted to see what would fit together – and just as importantly what wouldn’t work.

Happ also refers to the Wii U version of the game as “probably the best one” because it’s the only console version to support Leaderboards for Speedrun Mode and includes Wii U GamePad support for Off-TV Play or a dedicated map screen.

Axiom Verge is also in development for the Xbox One, though its release date is still a mystery.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Final Fantasy XV officially delayed to November 29

Over the weekend, rumors began to surface that Square Enix was getting ready to delay Final Fantasy XV‘s September 30 launch. This morning, the publisher confirmed these reports and revealed the RPG will now be released on November 29.

According to Square Enix, the new release date “will allow the development teams time to further polish and conduct quality testing so that the reality of the game can match the expectations of both the fans and the creative teams.”

Hajime Tabata, Final Fantasy XV’s Director, added: “From the moment we joined this project, our vision was to create a level of freedom and realism previously unseen in the series. Regrettably, we need a little bit more time to deliver on this vision and are confident that this new release date will help us achieve this. As the director and lead of this project, I wish to personally apologize for the additional wait. As a team, we want Final Fantasy XV to achieve a level of perfection that our fans deserve. We kindly ask for your understanding.”

More commentary from Tabata about the delay can be found in a video message from the Director, which has been embedded above.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Rumor: Final Fantasy XV has been delayed to November 29

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Kotaku and Gamnesia are reporting that Final Fantasy XV will miss its planned September 30 launch on the PS4 and Xbox One. According to their sources, who work within “the corporate level of the retail chain GameStop,” it looks the game’s release date has been pushed back to November 29.

Final Fantasy XV has been in development for more than a decade, so this latest delay shouldn’t be that much of a surprise to fans. Square Enix is known for wanting every detail just right, and a few more months in the oven could be just the thing it needs.

It’s not known when Square Enix will officially announce the delay, however, their instructions to GameStop’s corporate office said that promotional materials for the new release date are not to be displayed until after Sunday, August 14. So confirmation from the publisher could come as early as tomorrow.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

New Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild trailer reveals a crumbling Temple of Time

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Even though Nintendo revealed an official timeline for the Legend of Zelda franchise in , fans are still obsessed with how new games fit into the over-arching storyline. The newest trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is going to give them a lot to talk about.

In a new post on their Facebook page, Nintendo has uploaded a new Breath of the Wild trailer that depicts the famed Temple of Time from Ocarina of Time:

Instead of the majestic structure visited by a Link from another era, this Temple lies in ruins, much like the rest of Hyrule. Unlocking the secret behind this destruction will drive players in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which will be released sometime next year for the Wii U and NX.

Posted in News, Switch, Wii U | Tagged

Weekly Warp-Up: Let’s Talk About the Nintendo NX Some More…

No, that’s not a typo. Welcome to the Weekly Warp-Up, your weekly wrap-up of the biggest and the best articles posted at Warp Zoned this week…

Earlier this week, Square Enix announced plans to bring Dragon Quest X to the NX in Japan. While we still don’t know any specifics about Nintendo’s next console, the game announcements are starting to pile up. So it only made sense to create The Big List of Nintendo NX Games. I know that this “Big List” technically only includes a few titles so far, but it’s a start.

Elsewhere on Warp Zoned this week, the newest Kickstart This! column took a look at Eliosi’s Hunt, an overhead shooter from Brazilian developer TDZ Games.

Looking for more news from this past week? You can find it after the break. (more…)

Posted in News |

New Retail Releases: Metroid Prime Federation Force, Style Savvy 3, F1 2016, More

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It seems like everyone who talks about Nintendo nowadays wants to talk about the NX, but the consolemaker is still releasing games for the 3DS, including this week’s launch of Metroid Prime: Federation Force and Style Savvy: Fashion Forward.

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a co-op-focused spinoff from the main Metroid series and won’t star intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran. Instead, players will join up with a squad of Galactic Federation Marines as they do battle with Metroids and Space Pirates on a distant planet.

Meanwhile, Style Savvy: Fashion Forward is the third game in Nintendo’s fashion franchise, and it’ll give budding fashionistas the chance to design the perfect outfit with thousands of choices.

Steeping away from Nintendo, Codemasters will release F1 2016 for the PS4 and Xbox One. The latest racing simulation from the British developer follows the FIA Formula One World Championship, and includes 21 tracks and 22 drivers.

Finally this week, Krillbite will release a retail version of Among the Sleep for the PS4. Among the Sleep is a first-person game where players take control of a young toddler investigating the strange noises in his house. Is it the Bogeyman? or is it just a shadow?

The real question is, when you’re a toddler, does it make a difference?

Posted in 3DS, News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged , , ,

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice will be released on September 8

Capcom has confirmed that Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice will be available to download through the 3DS eShop on September 8. The publisher also unveiled a new trailer for the game that’ll introduce fans to the game’s many characters (including the return of an old friend) and their abilities.

This new game’s cast is full of many zany favorites alongside a new ensemble of characters to meet, and today Capcom is announcing several of them, including the return of forensics scientist Ema Skye, who first appeared in the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.

Ema has passed her certification exams and is now a full-fledged forensic investigator. Here she returns to assist Apollo in his defense of the series’ popular magician, Trucy Wright, Phoenix’s adopted daughter. Trucy is famed for her magic tricks and vanishing acts, until she suddenly finds herself mixed up in an unfortunate incident that takes place during one of her magic shows.

With Phoenix away, it’s up to Apollo and Athena to uncover the truth about the tragic death of Mr. Reus, one of Trucy’s co-performers. During this case, players will also meet the brand new character Bonny de Famme, a fledgling magician who appears in Trucy’s show and wants to help Apollo in any way she can, but what will her witness testimony reveal?

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Spirit of Justice will carry a $29.99 price tag when its released, but 3DS owners will also be able to try out a free demo of the game beginning on August 25. The demo will include a court case from the game’s first chapter, which focuses on Spirit of Justice’s brand new Divination Seances feature.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Xbox Store Today: Momentum, Lies of Astaroth

xboxgamesstore-logoThe Xbox Games Store received a pair of new games today… an MMORPG card battler and a physics-based platformer.

Momentum is the physics-based platformer, and it asks players to take control of a ball and navigate it through a variety of 3D environments. Developed by Projectile Entertainment, Momentum combines “zen atmosphere” with “challenging gameplay.” Also available today is Lies of Astaroth, a free-to-play MMORPG card battler that adds a dash of fantasy to an “epic adventure” filled with “humor and suspense.”

More information about both games can be found right here:

Xbox One Games

Lies of Astaroth (Free)
Lies of Astaroth is a free-to-play and highly addictive epic fantasy MMORPG card-battle hybrid! With its simple yet deep battle design, the game has long been championed as the combination of best of both worlds, satisfying both hardcore card game fans for strategy depth and causal players for fantasy RPG gameplay.

Momentum ($9.99)
Experience a new perspective with Momentum, a physics-based platformer. Choose one of many unlockable balls, and then skillfully maneuver it through 3D labyrinths. Race the clock as you rotate labyrinths and use gravity to your advantage. But be careful, because you could easily lose control. Momentum’s zen atmosphere contrasts with its challenging gameplay. The soothing soundtrack and detailed environments combine to create a truly unique, relaxing vibe.

Posted in News, Xbox One |