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.

See how much faster Mario Kart 8 is about to get in these 200cc vs 150cc videos

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

Mario Kart 8 is about to get a lot faster with the pending release of the 200cc Class update. But just how much faster is it than 150cc Class? Quite a bit, actually. And we can see for ourselves in a pair of side-by-side comparison videos recently released by Nintendo UK.

The video above showcases a single lap in Piranha Plant Pipeway. In 150cc, Mario zooms around the entire track in about 50 seconds. That’s a pretty respectable time, but in 200cc, it’s possible to do it in about 35 seconds. The difference is just as pronounced in the Dolphin Shoals video, which has been embedded after the break.

Are you ready for 200cc? Is your braking technique solid? We’ll all find out together when it’s released as a free update for Mario Kart 8 on April 23. (more…)

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, Pokemon Rumble World, more

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

xenobladechronicles-header

It’s a big week for the Nintendo eShop as Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is available to download for the 3DS. But remember, not just any 3DS system can handle Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. You’ll need a New 3DS XL in order to play Nintendo’s beautiful remake of the Wii hit. But if you’ve got one, you’ll be able to download the game through the 3DS eShop on April 10 (AKA tomorrow).

If you’re looking for something on the 3DS eShop today, you’ve got a few options. Atlus has released Etrian Mystery Dungeon, a procedurally-generated dungeon-crawler that merges the Etrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon franchises. Also available today is Pokemon Rumble World, a free-to-play arena brawler starring all 700 of your favorite Pokemon.

Over on the Wii U eShop, players will be able to download a pair of DS games through the Virtual Console and Affordable Space Adventures. Affordable Space Adventures offers exactly what it says on the tin… a space simulator on the Wii U that is completely affordable by the average person. And players with a love for the DS will want to know that minigame collection WarioWare: Touched! and stylus-based platformer Yoshi Touch & Go are both now available to download.

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

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged

First Call of Duty 2015 teaser confirms CoD: Black Ops 3 reveal on April 26

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

After two days worth of teaser teasing, Activision and Treyarch have delivered a teaser trailer that all but confirms the next Call of Duty game as Call of Duty: Black Ops III.

There are a few clues in the trippy video above that point to a third Black Ops game. For example, dialogue from both Black Ops games, some of which references “Mason,” the franchise’s main protagonist, is peppered throughout the video. And at one point, the swirling letters morph into a perfect replica of the box art from Call of Duty: Black Ops. Oh, and the trailer ends with giant roman numerals that spell out “III.” It’s subtle, but I think I’ve cracked their code.

The trailer closes by promising that a “World Reveal” of Call of Duty: Black Ops III will take place on April 26.

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

Move over Skylanders… Lego Dimensions enters the toys-to-life game on September 27

Posted on April 9, 2015 by John Scalzo

Who knew that Activision’s “toys-to-life” initiative with Skylanders would lead to multiple franchises and multiple toy lines that meld little figurines and video games? In the immortal (and paraphrased) words of Chief Brody… we’re going to need a bigger toy aisle.

That’s because WB Games and The Lego Group have announced Lego Dimensions, a game that brings specially-designed Lego sets into a game that mashes together different Lego universes such as DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, The Lego Movie, The Wizard of Oz, Lego Ninjago, and Back to the Future. As expected, TT Games will develop the dimension-hopping game, which will be released on September 27 for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U. The Starter Pack will include three minifigs (Batman, Gandalf, and Wyldstyle), a Lego Toy Pad to bring the figures into the game, and 269 Legos for fans to customize their own Lego Gateway.

A variety of expansion packs will also be available this Fall that will add “new buildable characters, vehicles, tools and gadgets, as well as compelling game content with new mission-based levels and unique in-game abilities” to Lego Dimensions. The first wave of expansions (though more will be announced and even more are coming in 2016) include:

  • Back to the Future Level Pack with Lego Marty McFly
  • Lego Ninjago Team Pack with Kai and Cole
  • Lego Ninjago Fun Pack #1 with Jay
  • Lego Ninjago Fun Pack #2 with Nya
  • Lego Ninjago Fun Pack #3 with Zane
  • DC Comics Fun Pack #1 with Wonder Woman
  • DC Comics Fun Pack #2 with Cyborg
  • The Lord of the Rings Fun Pack #1 with Lego Gollum
  • The Lord of the Rings Fun Pack #2 with Lego Gimli
  • The Lord of the Rings Fun Pack #3 with Lego Legolas
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #1 with Emmet
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #2 with Bad Cop
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #3 with Benny
  • The Lego Movie Fun Pack #4 with Unikitty
  • The Wizard of Oz Fun Pack with Lego Wicked Witch of the West

“When kids play with Lego bricks, they build beyond the singular brands, intermixing all of their favorite characters and universes, and we have come up with a way for players to experience that in games,” said Jon Burton, the Founder and Creative Director of TT Games. “Now for the first time in a videogame, Lego fans can play in the virtual world and in the real world – combining everything without restrictions. Imagine putting Lego Gollum from The Lord of the Rings behind the wheel of the Lego DeLorean Time Machine in New Ninjago City – the creative play is endless.”

If Lego Dimensions has piqued your interest, be prepared to open your wallet real wide, the Starter Pack has been priced at $99.99.

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

Insert Quarterly: The Best Game Writing of Winter 2015

Posted on April 8, 2015 by John Scalzo

insertquarterly-header

Maybe it was the blanket of snow that covered the world over the last three months, but Insert Quarter took it slow in Winter 2015. But that doesn’t mean our showcase of the best and most interesting writing about video games on the Internet came to a complete standstill. Have you ever wondered why Sony chose X-Circle-Square-Triangle for the face buttons on the PlayStation controller? Or maybe you’re worried that Batman: Arkham Knight killed the Teen rating?

The answers to those questions (and a few others) can be found in this edition of Insert Quarterly, which catalogs our favorite game writing from the last three months. (more…)

Posted in Features, Insert Quarter, Top Story |

Meet the protagonist of Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight in this new trailer

Posted on April 8, 2015 by John Scalzo

Who is the Fafnir Knight? After watching a new trailer dedicated to the titular protagonist of Atlus’s Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight, I have to admit I’m still not sure.

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold is a remake of Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard, which was originally released for the DS in 2008. In addition to enhanced graphics and new dungeon layouts, this remake will include a special Story Mode “that explores the relationship between Princess Arianna and the Fafnir Knight”:

The next entry of the Etrian Odyssey Untold series is essentially two games in one — the first, a Nintendo 3DS update to Etrian Odyssey 2: Heroes of Lagaard (released on Nintendo DS) with new dungeon layouts, new graphics, and system improvements from the recent Etrian Odyssey Untold.

The second is the Untold portion — a brand new story mode with a fixed party, voiced dialogue, and animated cutscenes that follows the bittersweet tale of the Fafnir Knight, Princess Arianna, Flavio— another hero of the Midgard Library— and the two adventurers, Bertrand and Chole. The five meet while exploring the Ginnugagap ruins, and then after the misfortune unfolds, they venture back and forth between the Yggdrasil Labyrinth and Ginnungagap, slowly working their way to discovering the origins of the Fafnir Knight.

Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight will be released exclusivelt fort he 3DS this Summer.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

The first trailer for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is four minutes of cyberpunk chaos

Posted on April 8, 2015 by John Scalzo

After three days, Square Enix’s “Can’t Kill Progress” livestream has ended with the announcement we all expected (even before Game Informer spilled the beans)… a sequel to Deus Ex: Human Revolution is in development at Eidos Montreal. I admit, I didn’t watch very much of the stream, but the nearly four-minute announcement trailer that Square Enix just revealed for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is its opposite in every way. I’m sure a lot of people would say the hype event was sleep-inducing, but this trailer is anything but. Adam Jensen is back and his “super-augmented” skills are on display the entire time.

But underneath all the cyberpunk-style chaos, Eidos Montreal also wants to push the Deus Ex story in new directions:

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided takes place in 2029, two years after the events of Human Revolution and the infamous “Aug Incident” in Panchaea that resulted in the death of millions at the hands of those who had installed augmentations. This event has created a huge divide between those who have augmentations, and those who do not. Amongst this emotional turmoil are various factions looking to manipulate the public by twisting public opinion of augmentation to further their own agenda and hide the truth of what really happened.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided also continues the story of Adam Jensen, a former biotech company security chief turned super-augmented, anti-terrorist agent playing by his own rules. Jensen has been empowered with all new augmentations, enabling him and the player a greater sense of self-control as they explore all new locations in-game. As social and political tensions reach a major turning point, Jensen and conspiracies surrounding the Illuminati continue toward an inevitable crossroads … and possibly, an epic showdown.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is in development for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. A release date will be announced “at a later date.”

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

Xbox Store Today: Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin

Posted on April 8, 2015 by John Scalzo

darksoulsii-header

The first Xbox Games Store update of the week is complete with a single new title now available for Xbox One owners. But this lone game is Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, an Xbox One re-release of one of 2014’s most-acclaimed titles. Upgraded graphics, new story bits, rearranged enemy placement, and all three downloadable expansions are just some of the new features Xbox One owners will get to try out starting today.

Here’s more information on Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin straight from Bandai Namco:

Xbox One Games

Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin ($59.99)
The definitive edition of Dark Souls II, including all the Dark Souls II content released to-date in one package and much more. Enemy placement has been overhauled, resulting in a completely different play dynamic than experienced before. The safe zones that some players remembered are no longer safe!

Posted in News, Xbox One | Tagged