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.

Project Guard becomes Star Fox Guard and it’ll be released on April 22

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

Nintendo and Shigeru Miyamoto first unveiled Project Guard during E3 2014. As one of the famed developer’s more experimental projects, Project Guard tasked players with positioning cameras around a castle to take out encroaching waves of enemies, similar to a tower defense game. Today, the game was re-revealed as Star Fox Guard, though players will still jump from camera-to-camera to stop hostile invaders:

Players set up 12 cameras to find and defeat enemies who are attacking the mining site of Slippy Toad’s uncle, Grippy Toad. The game includes about 100 stages, but players can also create their own stages by editing the placement of enemies and uploading their levels online.

Star Fox Guard will be released for the Wii U on April 22, and players who purchase Star Fox Zero (for $59.99) will receive it for free. However, it’ll also be available as a standalone download through the Wii U eShop for $14.99.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged ,

The Force is with the latest Star Fox Zero trailer

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m definitely sensing a Star Wars influence buried deep in the latest trailer for Star Fox Zero. But there’s also another influence here that’s much closer to the surface and that’s Star Fox 64.

Players who step into an Arwing in Star Fox Zero will get to blast away at Andross’s forces and tangle with Star Wolf while also exploring the galaxy through a number of different branching paths, so no two playthroughs will be the same. A two-player co-op mode where one player pilots the Arwing while another mans the gunner’s seat also got a few seconds of screen time.

As part of today’s Nintendo Direct presentation, Shigeru Miyamoto took the stage to talk a bit more about the game, as well as revealing that tapping a Star Fox Amiibo figure will unlock the original Arwing from 1993’s Star Fox.

Jointly developed by Nintendo and Platinum Games, Star Fox Zero will be released exclusively for the Wii U on April 22.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo launches a Super NES Virtual Console exclusively for the New 3DS XL

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

nintendologo

Nintendo is bringing a handful of Super NES games from their Virtual Console service to the 3DS… but only if you own the more powerful New 3DS XL.

Announced during the consolemaker’s latest Nintendo Direct presentation, three Super NES classics are already available to download on the New 3DS XL: Super Mario World, F-Zero, and Pilotwings. If you’re old enough, you might remember that trio of titles as the original launch lineup for the Super NES back in 1991.

Nintendo will further fill out the digital store shelves for the Super NES Virtual Console on the New 3DS XL with a number of additional releases throughout the Spring including Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario Kart, and EarthBound on March 24. They’ll later be joined by The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Metroid, and Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Quest on April 14.

According to Nintendo, the New 3DS XL handheld enables “Perfect Pixel Mode” for Super NES games, which gives players the option to display the downloadable titles in their original resolution.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

No Man’s Sky will be released for PC, PS4 on June 21

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

nomanssky-header

After years of toil, a flood of biblical proportions, and a chat with Mr. Stephen Colbert, Hello Games is finally ready to announce that No Man’s Sky will be released for the PC and PS4 on June 21.

While the developer doesn’t have a new trailer to mark the occasion, they did reveal that No Man’s Sky will be available to purchase for the PC (as a digital download) and the PS4 (as a digital download through the PlayStation Store and as a Blu-ray disc at your game store). They also confirmed that players will interact with aliens throughout the course of the game, and will even need to decipher several alien languages to advance.

Managing Director Sean Murray stopped by the PlayStation Blog and spoke to SCEE Blog Manager Fred Dutton about this rather unexpected new feature:

In short, here’s how it works. As you travel around the universe you’ll encounter individuals from several distinct races. As with everything else in the game, how they look and what they say is procedurally generated based on a set of variables defined by the Hello Games team.

You’ll be able to trade with them, gain upgrades, learn more about the game’s lore, forge alliances and so forth. Sound straightforward? Well, not so fast.

[…]

“With NPCs in No Man’s Sky, you actually have to learn their language; they speak to you in their native tongue. The more you travel around the universe, the more you learn their language, and the more you can communicate with them.”

Murray used the remainder of the post to reveal a lot more about the game’s many alien languages and how players will interact with the various factions in the No Man’s Sky universe. I think it’s well worth your time.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged

Dead Island: Definitive Collection will be released for PS4, Xbox One on May 31

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

We still don’t know if Dead Island 2 will be ready for its planned 2016 launch, but Deep Silver hasn’t given up on their undead franchise.

The publisher announced today that Dead Island: Definitive Collection, which includes Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide, will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 31. The remastered compilation will give both games a complete visual overhaul courtesy of several fancy graphical tricks that weren’t possible before:

  • Higher Quality Textures – Game textures have been redone in a higher resolution and the level of quality has been improved across the board.
  • Photorealistic New Lighting System – The lighting system in the game has been vastly improved, providing a much more realistic look to the beautiful sunny tropical setting.
  • Physically Based Shading – The introduction of new physically based shading techniques due to the latest iteration of the Chrome Engine means a higher quality look to the game models and objects as they react in a more realistic way to various lighting conditions.
  • Image Quality Enhancements Via Anti-Aliasing – The addition of more sophisticated anti-aliasing means that console players can now experience Dead Island without unsightly “jaggies“ – meaning a much cleaner look throughout.
  • Improved-Quality Game Models and Geometry Assets – All major geometry assets (for example, NPCs and character models) highlight a marked quality increase.
  • HBAO and Motion Blur Effects – The introduction of Horizon-Based Ambient Occlusion adds an extra layer of depth and realism to the world. Through a better implementation of object shadows, while the all-new motion blur effects will provide a much more cinematic feel to the game experience.
  • Updated Game UI – Providing a more consistent look between both Dead Island and Dead Island: Riptide. Increase to equal quality level for seamless game experience.

Both games in the Dead Island: Definitive Collection will include all of the previously released downloadable expansions, as well as new features like online four-player co-op, streaming, and recording. PlayStation 4 owners will also be able to take advantage of PS Vita Remote Play and Share Play. Players will also get the chance to test out the “Power Fists” powerup, a fan favorite mod.

Finally, the Dead Island: Definitive Collection will include Dead Island: Retro Revenge, a side-scrolling endless runner that will be exclusive to the retail package.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Nintendo Download… Zelda: Twilight Princess HD, Pac-Man 2, Chasing Dead, more

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

The dual GameCube/Wii launch for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess always made it feel like a game without a home. But ten years on, it’s become one of the most beloved entries in the Zelda franchise, so it’s fitting that Nintendo is once again offering it to fans as The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess HD. The Wii U remake will be available to download through the Nintendo eShop beginning tomorrow and it’ll include improved graphics, a brand new Hero Mode, and a number of other tweaks.

Also available this week on the Wii U eShop is Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures, a bizarre point-and-click adventure game that was originally released for the Super NES back in 1994. If that doesn’t thrill you, there’s always Chasing Dead, a zombie-filled first person shooter from 2020 Venture.

More information on all of these games (and a few other new release) can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged

Bethesda wants you to help choose Doom’s alternate cover

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

doom-header

The Internet had a bit of a meltdown when Bethesda revealed the official boxart for Doom last month. The rather generic-looking space marine and the garish yellow background didn’t provide the thrill that most longtime Doom fans were expecting. Especially since we grew up with this image.

Thankfully, Bethesda and id Software have seen the error of their ways and will offer an alternate cover on the reverse side of the sleeve. Fans will even get the chance to vote for their favorite in a Twitter poll that’ll be open until Monday, March 7. Option A depicts the dreaded Icon of Sin from Doom II: Hell On Earth, while Option B is a new take on the original Doom‘s cover:

So what are you waiting for? Vote now:

Doom will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on May 13. And don’t forget, if you pre-order Soom through the Xbox Games Store, you’ll receive the first two games in the series for free.

UPDATE: Voting has closed and the people have overwhelmingly picked Option B!

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

Next Forza game (with the Lamborghini Centenario on the cover) will debut at E3 2016

Posted on March 3, 2016 by John Scalzo

Microsoft and Lamborghini have revealed that the Lamborghini Centenario will be splashed all over the cover of the next Forza game. We don’t know yet if Micorosoft and Turn 10 are working on Forza Motorsport 7, Forza Horizon 3, or something else entirely, but we do know it’ll make its debut at this year’s E3 Expo.

“We’re excited to continue our long history of working with Lamborghini and to be part of their 100-year anniversary by celebrating the Centenario as the featured cover car of the next Forza game,” said Phil Spencer, the Head of Microsoft’s Xbox Division. “It’s an honor to announce our partnership at [the Geneva International Motor Show], one of the world’s biggest automotive shows, and we look forward to unveiling the game at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo.”

According to Lamborghini, the Centenario uses a V12 architecture, and “the Centenario’s naturally aspirated engine produces 770 hp and powers from 0-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds, and from 0-300 km/h in 23.5 seconds with a top speed of more than 350 km/h.” That’s impressive and all, but I’m just happy it has scissor doors like most of Lamborghini’s vehicles.

And if you’re still addicted to Forza Motorsport 6, Microsoft and Turn 10 recently added a new Lamborghini-centered “Rivals” event to the game. And depending upon how well you perform in this event, you might earn an exclusive 2015 Huracan Super Trofeo in-game and be invited to the second round of competition.

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged ,