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.

Nintendo adds Super Mario Galaxy 2 to Wii U eShop with more Wii games to follow

Posted on January 15, 2015 by John Scalzo

goty-supermariogalaxy2The Wii U eShop is about to get a whole lot more interesting as Nintendo has announced that they have begun adding Wii games to their downloadable.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 will be the first Wii game added to the Wii U eShop and it is available to download right now. It will joined shortly by the excellent Punch-Out!! (January 22) and the ultra-rare Metroid Prime Trilogy (January 29). All three titles have been priced at $19.99 apiece, but Nintendo will offer them at a heavy discount ($9.99) during each game’s first week of availability.

All Wii games sold through the Wii U eShop will require a Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo, though games that originally included Wii Classic Controller support will be playable with the Wii U GamePad.

Posted in News, Wii, Wii U | Tagged ,

Get your first glimpse at Kung Lao (and Kitana!) in the latest Mortal Kombat X trailer

Posted on January 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

As promised by Ed Boon yesterday, a new Mortal Kombat X trailer starring Kung Lao was unleashed upon the world today. While the man with the razor-rimmed hat got plenty of screen time, an appearance by Kitana and her razor-rimmed fan blades raised just as many eyebrows. Or the developers at NetherRealm really like razor-rimmed weapons, I can’t decide.

Kitana looks quite similar to her previous appearances, with a veil covering her face and blue bikini armor (barely) covering the rest of her. Like Kung Lao, it’s currently unknown how the Princess of Edenia/Outworld survived her apparent death at the end of 2011’s Mortal Kombat. Perhaps we’ll learn more about her backstory for Mortal Kombat X, and her three character variations, in a future update from NetherRealm Studios.

Mortal Kombat X will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on April 14.

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

Xbox Store Today: Monopoly Plus, Monopoly Deal

Posted on January 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

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You Have Won Second Prize in a Beauty Contest… Collect $10

OK, not really, but it’s Monopoly Day in today’s Xbox Games Store update as Ubisoft has added Monopoly Plus and Monopoly Deal to the Xbox 360 storefront.

Monopoly Plus is the same great game you played for hours (and hours and hours) with a few moderns twists including a 3D city at the center of the board, an adaptable set of rules, and a “Speed Die” for faster games. Meanwhile, Monopoly Deal translates the classic board game into a fast-paced card game.

More information on both games can be found right here:

Xbox 360 Games

Monopoly Plus ($9.99)
It’s Monopoly for a new era! Play the classic game and watch the board come to life! A full 3D city at the center of the board lives and evolves as you play. Play the way you want, change the rules and adapt them to your playing style. Use the Speed Die for a faster game or select from a catalogue of the top six House Rules. Win or lose, the game allows you to take and display photos at key moments for an amplified social gaming experience. Monopoly Plus raises the classic game to a new level!

Monopoly Deal ($4.99)
Everything great about Monopoly, now a fast paced, delightfully addictive card game! Compete online against your friends or the community in this frantic card-game: steal sets of cards, collect debts and be the first to collect three complete property sets of different colors. Build your real estate empire in a new and faster way! Keeps everything you love about Monopoly but packs it into a fast burst of fun.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 |

Nintendo announces more Amiibos including Wave 4 (with Pac-Man!) and Super Mario series

Posted on January 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Are you ready for even more Amiibo figures? While I’ll probably never get my hands on a Little Mac, Nintendo has gone ahead and announced a fourth wave of the popular toys as well as a special Super Mario series.

Wave 4 will be available sometime this Spring and will be comprised of six figures (Robin, Lucina, Pac-Man, Wario, Ness, and Charizard). Meanwhile, the special Super Mario series will launch on March 20 and include new figures for Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, and Bowser. The series will also include Toad, who will be making his Amiibo debut.

All of these Amiibo figures will be compatible with Super Smash Bros. For Wii U and some will work with other Wii U games such as Mario Party 10 and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker.

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged , ,

Nintendo has officially announced the next Fire Emblem game

Posted on January 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

It’s been three long years since Fire Emblem: Awakening first graced our 3DS systems. Today, during their latest Nintendo Direct presentation, the consolemaker has confirmed that the series will return to the 3DS in a game that’s currently known as “The Latest in the Fire Emblem Series.”

Known in Japan as Fire Emblem If, the game will be developed by the same team that worked on Awakening and promises a “new adventure [that] adds challenges never before seen in the series” and asks players “to make decisions that will affect the game’s world in new ways.”

“The Latest in the Fire Emblem Series” will be the 12th game in Fire Emblem’s main series and it might be a while before we can play it. Nintendo did not reveal a release date to go along with their game announcement.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will launch for New 3DS in April

Posted on January 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Nintendo has announced that Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will be released for the 3DS in April. Due to the size and complexity of the game, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will be exclusively available for Nintendo’s New 3DS XL handheld, which will launch on February 13.

In addition to including a handheld version of the original Wii game, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D will include maps and character stats on the bottom screen as well as a 3D character model viewer and a music player to listen to the game’ soundtrack.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged

Puzzle & Dragons Z + Super Mario Bros. Edition bundle will be released in May 2015

Posted on January 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

There’s been a whole lot of Puzzle & Dragons news over the last few days. Today, during their latest Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo has delivered the final word on the franchise’s future on the 3DS.

Released separately in Japan, Nintendo of America has confirmed that Puzzle & Dragons Z and Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition will be released in a special combined package sometime this May.

The first trailer for the bundle has been embedded above.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged ,

New 3DS XL, Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate all launching on February 13

Posted on January 14, 2015 by John Scalzo

February 13 is going to be a big day for Nintendo and their 3DS handheld. On that day, which is also Friday the 13th, Nintendo will release their New 3DS XL handheld in America along with several hotly-anticipated 3DS games.

The New 3DS XL includes a bevy of new features such as expanded control options (a C-Stick and ZL/ZR buttons), enhanced 3D viewing thanks to face-tracking technology, and built-in NFC functionality for Amiibo figures. Four different versions of the handheld will be released including the system-only New Red and New Black packages (priced at $199.99 each). A New 3DS XL featuring artwork based on The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D will also be available for $199.99. Finally, a bundle pack that includes the handheld and a copy of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will be released for $229.99.

As you might have guessed from the bundle options, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate will also be released on February 13. They’ll be joined on store shelves on February 13 by a third new 3DS game… Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy+, the latest game in the dogfighting simulation series.

Nintendo wants to be sure that no one feels unlucky on this Friday the 13th.

Posted in 3DS, News | Tagged , ,