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.

New Releases: Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris, Final Fantasy XIII-2 for PC

Posted on December 7, 2014 by John Scalzo

laracroftandthetempleofosiris

Yup, the 2014 video game release calendar is definitely winding down. We got our first look at some of 2015’s most anticipated games during this weekend’s PlayStation Experience and the 2014 Game Awards, but only two games will see a retail release this week. And realistically, both of them skate by on a technicality.

First up, isometric multiplayer puzzler Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris will receive a boxed version this week for the PC and PS4. However, the box won’t contain a game disc. Instead, Square Enix has packed in a download code for the full game and access to the game’s Season Pass. Xbox One owners will be able to download Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris through the Xbox Games Store on Tuesday.

Also available this week is the PC launch of Final Fantasy XIII-2. But again, don’t expect to find a retail disc as the game will only be available through digital storefronts.

Posted in News, PC, PS4 | Tagged ,

Shovel Knight will pledge fealty to PS3, PS4, Vita in 2015

Posted on December 6, 2014 by John Scalzo

Shovel Knight was one of this year’s best surprises and now the world’s weirdest knight is making the move to PlayStation platforms. At the PlayStation Experience today, Yacht Club Games announced that Shovel Knight will be released for the PS3, PS4, and Vita sometime in 2015.

With new platforms comes new features and the retro-inspired side-scrolling game will receive a variety of platform-specific features including back touchscreen implementation, Twitch TV integration, cross-save, and more. But all three PlayStation versions of the game will be home to Kratos, the God of War. Before he takes his new-generation bow in the just-announced God of War 4, Kratos will battle Shovel Knight as either the boss of his own castle or as one of the game’s Wandering Knights.

So… Shovel Knight on PlayStation platforms, can you dig it?

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

Cory Barlog confirms God of War 4 at PlayStation Experience

Posted on December 6, 2014 by John Scalzo

godofwarkratosSony has a ton of presentations planned for this weekend as part of their PlayStation Experience and not all of today’s big news was dished out at the Keynote. Cory Barlog just dropped a major announcement at the end of the God of War Retrospective panel. The God of War II director got up on stage and said, “Yes, we are making another God of War.”

The news was then gleefully confirmed for the rest of us via Sony Santa Monica’s Twitter account. However, the news was quickly pulled and replaced by this tweet:

Too late Cory, the cat’s out of the bag. We know that God of War 4 (or whatever it ends up being called) is in development and its coming to the PS4. Hopefully we’ll learn more about Kratos’ next game soon.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged ,

Two new trailers show off Supermassive’s slasher simulator Until Dawn

Posted on December 6, 2014 by John Scalzo

Friday the 13th (with Purple Tracksuit Jason!) was released for the NES in 1989 and it was one of the last video games to dabble in the slasher subgenre. Thankfully, the maniacs are back as no less than three slasher simulators are slowly working their way towards consoles and PCs. Sony is doing their part by teaming up with Supermassive Games to release Until Dawn for the PS4 in 2015.

Until Dawn stars Hayden Panettiere as Samantha and you can watch her look scared in a new trailer for the game released during today’s opening act of the PlayStation Experience. And if you’re in a particularly sadistic mood, you can watch her be menaced by a deranged clown in the brand new Game Awards 2014 “World Premiere” trailer after the break.

Between her bloody end in Scream 4 and all the times Sylar went after her on Heroes, Panettiere likely feels right at home in both trailers. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged , ,

Star Fox Wii U will be released before Zelda Wii U and after Majora’s Mask 3D

Posted on December 6, 2014 by John Scalzo

starfoxwiiuAs Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma were showcasing The Legend of Zelda Wii U during yesterday’s Games Awards, Aonuma casually turned to Miyamoto and asked him about Star Fox Wii U. Miyamoto, never one to lose his cool, pulled off a great Pretend Surprise Face and quickly discussed his secretive space shooter:

“What? Star Fox? You’re asking me that now? No worries about Star Fox. Star Fox will arrive before the Legend of Zelda [Wii U] next year. The way it uses the GamePad is really starting to feel good.”

Aonuma added that Star Fox Wii U will be released after The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, which is currently scheduled to launch in the Spring. So we’ll likely get Star Fox Wii U in the Summer and The Legend of Zelda Wii U in the Fall.

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

First gameplay footage of The Legend of Zelda Wii U unveiled at 2014 Game Awards

Posted on December 6, 2014 by John Scalzo

In this stage of Shigeru Miyamoto’s career, the legendary developer has morphed into a sort of kindly uncle figure for the video game world. And when he gets together with Eiji Aonuma, the Director of the Zelda franchise, the two of them get into a calming groove like a pair of old friends.

This genial relationship is at the center of the first gameplay video for The Legend of Zelda Wii U, which was unveiled during last night’s Game Awards. The two developers chatted while showing gamers just a taste of the game’s massive open world. Thankfully, Link is equipped with the Sailcloth (from Skyward Sword) and is able to call on Epona for assistance. Epona is now smart enough to find her own path through the world, deftly avoiding trees and allowing Link to aim and fire his bow from the saddle. And when its time to explore, Link has added a cool slow-motion dismount to his repertoire.

The Legend of Zelda Wii U will be released next year, likely towards the end of 2015.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged ,

Robotoki’s Human Element makes its debut at 2014 Game Awards

Posted on December 6, 2014 by John Scalzo

Human Element, the first game from Robert Bowling’s Robotoki studio, is barreling towards its November 2015 release date, which is now less than a year away. In honor of the inaugural Game Awards show, Bowling debuted the first trailer from the PC, PS4, and Xbox One first person shooter last night.

Set 35 years after a zombie apocalypse caused the fall of society, survivors group together in warring factions to fight zombies (and each other) for the last remaining supplies in the world.

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

Mario Maker adds Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World styles

Posted on December 6, 2014 by John Scalzo

Nintendo made a big splash at last night’s Game Awards with four wins and a bunch of new trailers including a new look at Mario Maker.

Mario Maker allows players to use the Wii U GamePad to create their own courses and some of the examples featured in the trailer above are phenomenal. The consolemaker has also confirmed that players will be able to choose from two additional graphical styles in the game based on Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. These two palettes join the Super Mario Bros. and New Super Mario Bros. U styles revealed during the game’s initial announcement at E3.

Mario Maker will be available exclusively for the Wii U in 2015.

Posted in News, Wii U | Tagged ,