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.

WB Games spared no expense when hiring the voice cast for Lego Dimensions

Posted on September 15, 2015 by John Scalzo

If Richard Attenborough were still alive, I think WB Games would have hired him to gleefully exclaim that the publisher spared no expense when assembling the voice cast for Lego Dimensions. Unfortunately, the great actor passed away last year. But just try to picture the giant sacks of money it must have required to secure the services of this talented ensemble anyway…

Michael J. Fox (as Marty McFly) and Christopher Lloyd (as Doc Brown) will reprise their roles from the Back to the Future trilogy. Several actors from another 1980s favorite, Ghostbusters, will also get a chance to cross the streams and interact with the rest of the cast. And speaking of g-g-ghosts, Matthew Lillard (as Shaggy) will ride with Scooby-Doo in the Mystery Machine.

Chris Pratt will pull double duty in the game as Emmet from The Lego Movie and Owen Grady from Jurassic World. He’ll be joined by Elizabeth Banks (as Wyldstyle), Alison Brie (as Unikitty), and Charlie Day (as Benny) from The Lego Movie, but don’t think his Jurassic World co-stars turned down this chance. Bryce Dallas Howard (as Claire Dearing), Irrfan Khan (as Simon Masrani), Nick Robinson (as Zach, one of the kids), and Ty Simpkins (as Gray, the other kid) will fight dinosaurs one more time.

“Who” else could be joining the game? How about Peter Capaldi (as the Twelfth Doctor), Jenna Coleman (as Clara Oswald), and Michelle Gomez (as Missy) from Doctor Who… Best of all, they’re not coming alone. Every actor who has played the Doctor (including David Tenant, Matt Smith, Christopher Eccleston, Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, Peter Davison, Tom Baker, Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton, and William Hartnell) will lend his voice (or archival audio for the deceased actors) to Lego Dimensions.

The DC Universe will be represented by Troy Baker (as Batman), Tara Strong (as Harley Quinn), Laura Bailey (as Wonder Woman), and Travis Willingham (as Superman). Meanwhile, WB Games has recruited two members of the Fellowship from The Lord of the Rings: Tom Kane (as Gandalf) and Sean Astin (as Samwise Gamgee). Several cast members from The Simpsons will also drop by as part of the game’s trip to Springfield.

Lego Dimensions includes a lot of portals, so Stephen Merchant (as Wheatley), Ellen McLain (as GLaDOS), and J.K. Simmons (as Cave Johnson) from Portal 2 should fit right in. Nolan North is also around (in a currently unknown role) because you can’t assemble a video game voice cast in 2015 without including Nolan North. I think it’s a union rule or something…

Finally, two original characters, Joel McHale (as your robotic guide, X-PO) and Gary Oldman (as the villainous Lord Vortech), will help propel the plot of Lego Dimensions forward.

Lego Dimensions will be released for the PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on September 27.

Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Umbrella Corps, a team-based shooter set in the Resident Evil universe, unveiled at TGS

Posted on September 15, 2015 by John Scalzo

Capcom has announced plans to expand the Resident Evil universe once more with Umbrella Corps, a team-based shooter in development for the PC and PS4. Announced today at the 2015 Tokyo Game Show, Umbrella Corps features “quick, intense matches” that take place within arenas that resemble historic Resident Evil locales. Though Resident Evil lore says the titular corporation was brought down years ago, its villainous spirit lives on in a gladiatorial series of shootouts between rival mercenary squads:

Umbrella Corporation, a ruthless international pharmaceutical company, had been known for its genetic experiments and biological weaponry that led to worldwide devastation including the infamous Raccoon City incident . Although the organization was brought down in 2003, its legacy of bio-terrorism continued. In the present day, corporations with nebulous interests in bio-weaponry have hired squads of special forces for experimental battles in restricted virus-infected areas against other mercenaries.

Umbrella Corps will feature high-intensity team-based matches where players can compete online in a variety of unique close quarter battle modes. Each adrenaline-fueled match will be short and brutal and is designed for quick and engaging play. The game will feature an analog aim and cover system, allowing for more precise control when firing from cover.

The game will feature a variety of game modes, including One Life Match. In One Life Match, players will be tasked with obliterating the other team without having the ability to respawn. Matches are further complicated by the shuffling undead hordes that populate each map. Players can take out these ghouls, or they can use them strategically against the opposing team. But when you add zombies to the mix, you need the right tools to dispatch them and Umbrella Corps delivers with the Brainer (a powerful melee axe which goes straight into the skull), the Tactical Shield (an arm-mounted guard allowing players to utilize a zombie as cover), Terrain Spikes (boot-mounted spikes for trampling the enemy), and the Zombie Jammer (a device which repels zombies only when active).

Umbrella Corps will be released as a budget-priced ($29.99) digital download for the PC and PS4 in early 2016. Its debut trailer has been embedded above.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged ,

Prepare for Fallout 4 with a S.P.E.C.I.A.L. instructional video series… S is for Strength

Posted on September 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

“Following total atomic annihilation, the rebuilding of this great nation of ours may fall to you. Study these materials carefully to ensure your survival and to discover what makes you S.P.E.C.I.A.L.”

Bethesda has always made great use of the Fallout franchise’s retro-futuristic aesthetic, and the first entry in a new series of 1950s-inspired educational videos for Fallout 4 is just the latest bit of proof. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. series serves as a handy tutorial to give players all the skills they’ll need to survive in The Wasteland. These attributes (Strength, Perception, Endurance, Charisma, Intelligence, Agility, and Luck) will play an important part in the game… especially if you don’t want to be killed horribly by a marauding mutant or deranged survivor.

Proudly produced by Vault-Tec (the in-universe company that created Fallout’s many Vaults), the video for “Strength” has been embedded above. Fallout 4 will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on November 10.

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

Follow Harmonix down to see the final batch of Rock Band 4 tracks (featuring Gin Blossoms, R.E.M., Mumford & Sons, more)

Posted on September 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

Harmonix has announced the final batch of songs for Rock Band 4, and it should make fans of 80s alternative (R.E.M.), 90s alternative (Gin Blossoms), and 2010s alternative (Mumford & Sons) very happy:

  • Brad Paisley (Featuring Keith Urban) – “Start A Band”
  • Brandi Carlile – “Mainstream Kid”
  • Dark Wheels – “V-Bomb”
  • Gary Clark Jr. – “Ain’t Messin ‘Round”
  • Gin Blossoms – “Follow You Down”
  • Grouplove – “Tongue Tied”
  • Imagine Dragons – “I Bet My Life”
  • Jeff Allen (Featuring Noelle LeBlanc and Naoko Takamoto) – “Recession”
  • Johnny Blazes and the Pretty Boys – “Cold Clear Light”
  • Lynyrd Skynyrd – “That Smell”
  • Mumford & Sons – “The Wolf”
  • R.E.M. – “The One I Love”
  • The Warning – “Free Falling”

The fan-favorite music franchise will be resurrected for the PS4 and Xbox One on October 6 with 63 songs on the disc and thousands more available through the Rock Band Store. The remainder of Rock Band 4’s on-disc setlist is available after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void will launch on Nov. 10… watch the opening cinematic now

Posted on September 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

Blizzard has announced that StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void, the standalone final chapter in the StarCraft II “trilogy,” will be released exclusively for the PC on November 10:

In the expansive new Protoss-focused campaign, players will take command of the mighty Spear of Adun — a magnificent Protoss arkship capable of altering the course of battle from above. Players will guide Protoss legends Artanis and Zeratul as they fight to unite the Protoss race, take back their homeworld, and vanquish the ancient evil that threatens the universe. In addition to determining the Protoss’s destiny, players will also bear witness to the ultimate fates of Terran hero Jim Raynor, the former marshal turned rebel leader, and Kerrigan, the Zerg Queen of Blades.

“Legacy of the Void provides an epic conclusion to a story more than 17 years in the making,” said Mike Morhaime, Blizzard’s CEO. “It also brings tremendous enhancements to StarCraft II’s definitive real-time strategy gameplay, with new units, automated tournaments, collaborative game modes, and more. We can’t wait for players to experience it all this November.”

Players interested in pre-ordering StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void will have plenty of options. More details on the add-ons and bonuses found in the game’s three pre-order packages can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

The wind-controlling Rashid is the second new character to be added to Street Fighter V

Posted on September 13, 2015 by John Scalzo

After revealing Necalli, Street Fighter V‘s first original fighter, Capcom promised that three additional new characters would be part of the game’s final roster. Yesterday, the second original character, Rashid, made his debut at the Games 15 event in Dubai.

Introduced by Street Fighter Series Producer Yoshinori Ono, Rashid is a Middle Eastern character who can control punishing gusts of wind. He is also said to have “an affinity for technology” and a “casual” fighting style. You can take a look at Rashid’s parkour-inspired moves in the trailer embedded, while the Capcom-Unity blog has revealed a bit more about the character, including his V-Skills and V-Triggers:

About Rashid
Joining the series from the Middle East, Rashid is an easy going and laid back character that has a very keen interest in technology and the latest gadgets on the market. His fighting style takes cues from parkour and he mixes it up with his unique ability to harness the power of wind. Always first in line to buy new tech, he uses these devices to research and create his fast-paced acrobatic moves, leaving his opponents in the dust and wondering what’s coming next.

V-Skill 1 (MP+MK): Front Flip
Rashid performs a high flying flip over the opponent. Pressing kick during the Front Flip results in Rashid performing a divekick.

V-Skill 2 (Down+MP+MK): Rolling Assault
Rashid closes the gap between himself and the opponent with a quick front roll. Pressing kick during Rolling Assault results in Rashid kicking upward at the opponent.

V-Trigger (HP+HK): Ysaar
Rashid throws out a slow moving whirlwind that closes in on the opponent and causes damage to them if they touch it. While the whirlwind is out, Rashid can use it to increase his movement on any attack that propels him forward.

Capcom previously announced plans to include 16 characters in Street Fighter V when its released for the PC and PS4 in Spring 2016. Rashid is the 12th character announced so far, after Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Cammy, Vega, M. Bison, Birdie, Charlie Nash, Necalli, R. Mika, and Blanka (who remains officially unannounced, though he was all but confirmed two months ago). So that means there’s still four more character reveals to come, including two more brand new fighters.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged

Weekly Warp-Up: Under the Weather Edition

Posted on September 13, 2015 by John Scalzo

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…

I could make some grand statement about the changing weather of the season and correlate it with the general under-the-weatherness that the Warp Zoned staff has been going through for the past few days, but I just don’t have the energy. Instead, I’m just going to say I’m sorry that we haven’t written more recently. But some pretty neat things have been happening this week, so let’s talk about them.

Apple finally did what everyone expected them to do a long time ago and revealed the gaming-capable All New Apple TV this week. It’ll be out in late October and support console-style controllers like the SteelSeries Nimbus.

Also, Shigeru Miyamoto surprised everybody by saying that Pikmin 4 is “very close to completion.” The game was first discussed by Nintendo executives last year, but we hadn’t heard anything else about it since then. So to find out that it’s almost done is pretty exciting.

However, one game that’s not close to being completed is Kingdom Hearts III. Director Tetsuya Nomura said this week that development on the “basic systems” is done, but the rest game is very far from finished.

More news from this past week (again, a lot of which is very neat) can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News |

New Releases: Destiny: The Taken King, Forza 6, Skylanders SuperChargers, More

Posted on September 13, 2015 by John Scalzo

newreleases091515

We’ve got a lot of ground to cover in this week’s new release report, so let’s get right to it…

Destiny’s “Year One” slate of content will come to a close as Activision and Bungie will release the last major update Destiny: The Taken King for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, and Xbox 360. The expansion will add a variety of missions and tweaks to the team-based shooter, but the biggest is likely Nolan North’s replacement of Peter Dinklage as the voice of Ghost.

Microsoft and Turn 10 will release their latest automotive simulator, Forza Motorsport 6, for the Xbox One. It astounds me that while Sony continues to struggle with DriveClub and the seemingly non-existent Gran Turismo 7, Microsoft has developed and published two critically-acclaimed Forza games.

If you’re looking for something for the kids, Activision will release Skylanders SuperChargers this week. The popular game franchise has a racing theme this time out for the Wii U, PS4, Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360… and dozens of new Skylanders action figures have begun appearing on store shelves. A Dark Edition will also be released and a spinoff game, Skylanders SuperChargers Racing, will be available for the 3DS and Wii U (complete with an exclusive Skylanders/Amiibo hybrid figure for each platform).

To close out the week in new games, a pair of popular sports simulations will also be available. EA Sports will bring NHL 16 to the PS4 and Xbox One (and NHL: Legacy Edition to the PS3 and Xbox 360), while Konami will publish Pro Evolution Soccer 2016 for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Finally this week, a number of new console bundles will be released. Sony will launch a 500GB PS4 + Destiny: The Taken King Limited Edition Bundle, while Microsoft is prepping a 1TB Xbox One + Forza Motorsport 6 Limited Edition Bundle. Both feature custom case designs (the Forza Blue color scheme is particularly nifty), one controller, and bonus downloadable content for their respective games. A 1TB Xbox One + FIFA 16 Bundle will also be available, but it doesn’t feature a custom paint job.

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

Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged , , , , ,