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.

Capcom announces Ace Attorney 6 in Japan; US release confirmed

phoenixwright

Unless you have an objection, Capcom has announced that Ace Attorney 6 is in development for the 3DS. The game will be playable at this year’s Tokyo Game Show and the publisher has already gone ahead and confirmed that a North American release is in the works:

Ace Attorney 6 will be the first game released in the franchise’s “main series” since Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies in 2011. However, that doesn’t mean the Ace Attorney crew has been idle all this time. A crossover game, Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney, was released for the 3DS last year. More recently, The Great Ace Attorney, a spinoff set in the 19th century, was released exclusively in Japan just a few weeks ago. Even though the main character hobnobs with Sherlock Holmes and helps the famous detective solve a case, an American release for The Great Ace Attorney has yet to be announced.

The 2015 Tokyo Game Show kicks off in two weeks, so expect to hear more about Ace Attorney 6 then.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged ,

Transformers: Devastation gets pre-order bonuses, new trailer, Peter Cullen BTS video

As Summer transforms into Fall, Activision has released a ton of new information and gameplay footage about Transformers: Devastation, the Platinum-developed brawler that’ll be available for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on October 6.

Let’s start with a pair of pre-order bonus packs, which the publisher announced recently. All players who pre-order the game will receive a trio of Character Skins (Nemesis Prime, Red Alert, and Goldfire) alongside several side several powerful weapons:

  • Dark Star Sabre: A fearsome sword which radiates waves of dark energy with every swing.
  • Photon Disruptor: A cannon for huge damage at short range.
  • Golden Hunter: Twin blaster pistols, which causes enemies to drop credits when attacked.

I have no idea if these weapons are on display in Devastation’s latest gameplay trailer, but it has been embedded above for your viewing pleasure… especially if you’re interested in the combo-heavy combat that Platinum is preparing for the game. Finally, a behind-the-scenes interview with Peter Cullen (the one-and-only voice of Optimus Prime) is available after the break. Only an unfeeling Decepticon can ignore the pride he feels for the character, even after portraying him for three decades. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Xbox One Elite Bundle with 1TB Hybrid Drive, Elite Controller coming this November

xboxoneelite

Microsoft will add another option to their growing number of Xbox One bundles this November with the Xbox One Elite Bundle. The Elite Bundle will include several upgrades over a standard Xbox One package including a 1TB Solid State Hybrid Hard Drive and and an Elite Controller.

According to Major Nelson, the Solid State Hybrid Hard Drive “stores frequently-accessed files on a solid state partition and optimizes system performance,” so players will be able to get to their games quicker. The Elite Controller is Microsoft’s latest redesign of the stock Xbox One controller, offering “interchangeable paddles, Hair Trigger Locks, and high-performance construction.”

As you might have guessed, including these items will slightly inflate the price of the Xbox One Elite Bundle. The package will retail for $499 (a $100 premium over a standard Xbox One bundle) and it’ll be available exclusively through the Microsoft Store and GameStop on November 3.

In the more immediate future, Major Nelson also revealed the Lunar White Wireless Controller this week. With a white body and gold-colored D-Pad and Triggers, the controller has a swanky style fit for a supervillain. You can pick it up exclusively at GameStop in “late September” for $64.99.

Posted in News, Xbox One |

Xbox Store Today: MGS5: The Phantom Pain, Mad, Max, Disney Infinity Star Wars, more

metalgearsolidvthephantompain-header

If you’ve already perused this week’s PlayStation Store offerings, the Xbox Games Store update is going to sound very familiar to you…

The biggest name this week is most definitely Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, (presumably) the final game in the franchise developed by Hideo Kojima. Kojima and Konami still have yet to make an official announcement concerning his future with the company, but it looks like Kojima got to go out on his terms with another epic military stealth shooter for the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Speaking of the word “epic,” also available this week is Mad Max (Xbox One), Avalanche’s open world adaptation of George Miller’s post-apocalyptic hero. Players will be able to find gas, explore the Wastleand, and stare down War Boys as they attempt to rebuild Max’s beloved car. It’ll probably be less exciting than Mad Max: Fury Road, but nearly everything else you can think of is less exciting than Mad Max: Fury Road.

But for the kids out there, the idea of adding Star Wars characters to the Disney Infinity formula surely ranks pretty high on the “epic” scale. So I guess it’s a good thing that Disney Interactive released Disney Infinity: Star Wars for the Xbox One and Xbox 360 earlier this week. Obviously, Disney Infinity figures are sold separately.

If you’re looking for something that you can only find on a Microsoft machine, there’s The Deer God, “a breathtaking 3D pixel art adventure that will challenge your religion and your platforming skills.” That’s sounds pretty heady for a platformer, but the artwork does look fantastic. And its available as a free download for Games With Gold subscribers.

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

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

Extreme Exorcism busts its way to release on September 23

Ripstone Publishing and Golden Ruby Games have announced that Extreme Exorcism will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, and Xbox One on September 23.

The retro-styled side-scroller follows ghostbuster Mae Barrons as she ventures into a haunted house to clean up a band of offending spirits. Armed only with her unique expertise (and a huge arsenal of guns), Mae will have to dodge ghosts that mimic her own movements from the previous round. According to the developer, “players are their own worst enemy and the longer they survive, the more chaotic the game becomes.”

In addition to Extreme Exorcism’s single-player Story Mode, the game will include a Challenge Mode with 50 challenge and local multiplayer (both Co-Op and Deathmatch) for up to four players. The game’s latest trailer has been embedded above.

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

MGS5: The Phantom Pain, Mad Max, Disney Infinity Star Wars, more added to PS Store

metalgearsolidvthephantompain-header

The Fall gaming season has arrived on the PlayStation Store as Sony added more than a dozen games to their digital storefront yesterday. The biggest name is most definitely Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, (presumably) the final game in the franchise developed by Hideo Kojima. Kojima and Konami still have yet to make an official announcement concerning his future with the company, but it looks like Kojima got to go out on his terms with another epic military stealth shooter for the PS3 and PS4.

Speaking of the word “epic,” also available this week is Mad Max (PS4), Avalanche’s open world adaptation of George Miller’s post-apocalyptic hero. Players will be able to find gas, explore the Wastleand, and stare down War Boys as they attempt to rebuild Max’s beloved car. It’ll probably be less exciting than Mad Max: Fury Road, but nearly everything else you can think of is less exciting than Mad Max: Fury Road.

But for the kids out there, the idea of adding Star Wars characters to the Disney Infinity formula surely ranks pretty high on the “epic” scale. So I guess it’s a good thing that Disney Interactive released Disney Infinity: Star Wars for the PS3 and PS4 earlier this week. Obviously, Disney Infinity figures are sold separately.

Finally this week, a number of smaller releases are now available to download including Armello, a tabletop-style game for the PS4; Super Time Force Ultra, a side-scrolling shooter that lets players rewind time for the PS4 and Vita (Cross-Buy); and Xeodrifter, a metroidvania from Renegade Kid for the PS4 and Vita (also a Cross-Buy title).

More information on all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. And, as always, a complete rundown of this week’s new game add-ons and discounts can be found at the PlayStation Blog. (more…)

Posted in News, PS3, PS4, Vita | Tagged , , ,

Deadpool breaks the fourth wall on the PS4, Xbox One this November

deadpool-header

Possibly in an attempt to capitalize on this Winter’s upcoming movie with Ryan Reynolds, Activision will bring Deadpool to the PS4 and Xbox One on November 17.

Announced by GameStop (via their Twitter account), the new-generation port will be developed by High Moon Studios, the same team behind the original PS3/Xbox 360 game. It’s unknown if Deadpool will look any prettier on the PS4 and Xbox One, but the developer plans to include all of the game’s downloadable content (two bonus levels and two alternate costumes) as part of the PS4/Xbox One package.

Finally, GameStop confirmed that the re-release will retail for $49.99, so be prepared to pay a premium to play as Deadpool on your new-generation console of choice.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Non-XL New 3DS comes to US on September 25 in Animal Crossing Bundle

animalcrossingnew3dsNintendo’s New 3DS XL, which includes a second analog stick and built-in NFC support, received a North American launch in February. Fans were immediately smitten with the redesigned handheld, but were slightly disappointed that American gamers could only purchase the bulkier XL model and not the standard size New 3DS model.

That all changes this September with the release of the Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer system bundle on September 25. The package, which will retail for $219.99, includes the more compact New 3DS, a digital copy of the game, two cover plates, and one Amiibo Card.

In other 3DS news, Nintendo will release a “Hyrule Edition New 3DS XL” on October 30. Priced at $199.99, the handheld features a gold chassis with an intricate Hylian Crest design on the front. The handheld’s design is inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, which will be released on October 23, but it won’t include a copy of the game. For emphasis, let me repeat that… the “Hyrule Edition New 3DS XL” WILL NOT include a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes.

Worldwide, Nintendo has sold more than 53 million systems in the 3DS family of handhelds since it first became available in 2011. Even though most gamers already own one, a new design or two is never bad for Nintendo’s bottom line.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged ,