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.

Weekly Warp-Up: IndieCade East 2014 Wrap-Up Edition

Posted on February 23, 2014 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…

It was a very fruitful week for video game news this week. But first, you’ll want to check out Nicole Kline’s coverage of last weekend’s IndieCade East expo. She braved the show floor to bring you her impressions on some of the indie games that the world will be talking about in a few months: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. Warp Zoned’s Mike Ryan also reviewed the PS4 version of Outlast and he thinks you should play it ASAP. Especially with all the lights out and the sound up.

What else do you need to know from this week, well…

  • Take-Two closed Irrational Games as Ken Levine has decided to move on to a smaller team within the corporation.
  • Bethesda announced that Wolfenstein: The New Order will be released on May 20. Pre-orders will include beta access to Doom 4.
  • Bethesda also confirmed that any Fallout 4 announcement won’t be happening anytime soon.
  • Cliff Bleszinski told the media that he will never make another disc-based game again and that any future games he may work on will likely be released for the PC.
  • Telltale Games announced that the second episode of The Walking Dead Season 2 will be released in early March.
  • In an interview with IGN, Kiefer Sutherland said that he’s involved with Mortal Kombat 10. WB Games is, so far, not commenting.

The rest of the Weekly Warp-Up, in a new format we’re trying out, can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News |

New Releases: Thief, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, Layton: Azran Legacy, More

Posted on February 23, 2014 by John Scalzo

thief-header

Square Enix Montreal will attempt to go two-for-two in the reboot department this week with the release of Thief for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. After masterfully resurrecting the Deus Ex franchise a few years ago with Deus Ex: Human Revolution, gamers are optimistic about the first Thief game in a decade.

Also available this week is Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360), the concluding chapter in the “Lords of Shadow” saga. Know one knows what’s next for the Castlevania franchise, but its future looks bright on home consoles once again. Over in the handheld realm, another final chapter will be written as Nintendo and Level-5 will release Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy for the 3DS. The Layton series will live on, but Azran Legacy will be the last game to star the good Professor himself.

Jumping from lasts to firsts, PopCap Games will release their first shooter game this week, the Xbox One/Xbox 360-exclusive Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare. Finally this week, a pair of classic game collections will be available to purchase with your gaming dollar, both from Bandai Namco: Tales of Symphonia Chronicles (PS3) and Pac-Man Museum (PC, PS3, Xbox 360).

A complete list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)

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

Kiefer Sutherland claims he’ll star in the next Mortal Kombat game

Posted on February 22, 2014 by John Scalzo

metalgearsolidv-kiefer

It caused a bit of an Internet brouhaha when Konami confirmed that Kiefer Sutherland would be voicing Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain instead of original voice actor David Hayter. But according to Sutherland, he’s about to insert himself into another long-running series: NetherRealm’s Mortal Kombat saga. Speaking to IGN, the actor compared his work on Phantom Pain to another “huge” game he did recently, the next (and currently unannounced) Mortal Kombat game:

Sutherland said, “I did Mortal Kombat, and that’s such a huge game, but it’s so not like [MGS5].”

Sutherland’s been working on Metal Gear Solid for over a year, but said he completed Mortal Kombat “pretty quickly compared to [MGS5].” He did not specify his role.

Given his work on 24, Sutherland could easily slide into the role of Mortal Kombat’s resident supercop, Kurtis Stryker. Or perhaps NetherRealm is looking to put a new spin on a beloved character. Maybe Raiden will exhort the EarthRealm warriors to defeat Shao Kahn “or millions of people will die!” Or possibly they’ve decided that Scorpion should remind everyone of his hellbound fate (“Dammit!”) at every turn. Of course, there’s always the possibility that Sutherland will play a new character considering the events of 2011’s Mortal Kombat reboot.

NetherRealm’s Ed Boon previously confirmed that development on the next Mortal Kombat game began in 2011.

Posted in News | Tagged

Get out! The Mario Brothers and Toad reimagined as the cast of Seinfeld

Posted on February 21, 2014 by John Scalzo

“You’re Player 1.”
“But I don’t wanna be Player 1.”

While most Mario mashups are interesting, it takes something truly special to bring it to the next level. And that’s what we get with Esquirebob’s “Mario Seinfeld.” Mario, naturally, slides into Jerry’s spot as the leader of the group. A befuddled (but wise) Luigi stands in for Kramer. And a absolutely bitter Toad takes the place of the long-suffering George Costanza.

If you were ever a fan of Seinfeld, this short is definitely worth a watch. And I demand a sequel featuring Bowser as Newman…

Posted in Etcetera, News |

XBL Store Today: Takedown: Red Sabre, Deathsmiles, El Chavo Kart

Posted on February 21, 2014 by John Scalzo

xboxlivelogomajornelsonsaleMicrosoft’s Ultimate Games Sale will continue all weekend, but if you’re looking for something new, a trio of games were added to the Xbox Live Store today. If you’ve ever wanted to play a tactical shooter, a cult classic Japanese sidescroller, or a kart racer based on a popular Mexican cartoon, now’s your chance:

Takedown: Red Sabre ($14.99)
Fight smart in lethal close-quarter tactical combat. Non-linear environments mean engagements change every time you play. Tactics and realism rule the day.

Deathsmiles ($14.99)
Gothic horror and shoot-em-up action collide in Deathsmiles! Face wave upon wave of monstrous creatures intent on your destruction as you turn your skills to the defense of the besieged world of Gilverado. If your trigger finger’s itchy, Deathsmiles is the only way to scratch it.

El Chavo Kart ($39.99)
El Chavo Kart is a kart racing game for up to four players in which you can go head-to-head with your friends and family. Choose from your favorite characters such as El Chavo, Quico, Popis, Don Ramón or Sr. Barriga and start competing. There are 10 original race tracks inspired by the animated series for you to discover. Take your kart out for a race in Chavoltepec, Acapulco and Tangamandapio, or take it all the way to Brazil and into space!

Posted in News, Xbox 360 |

The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 2 will be available in March

Posted on February 21, 2014 by John Scalzo

walkingdead-season2-header

For those anxiously awaiting the second of Telltale’s The Walking Dead Season 2, you’re in luck. The developer has confirmed that the story will continue in a few weeks:

As you can see, there’s also a new screenshot to gawk at as well. The currently untitled The Walking Dead Season 2: Episode 2 will be available in early March through a variety of PC digital download shops as well as the PlayStation Store (PS3), Xbox Live Arcade, and iOS App Store.

Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze, Weapon Shop De Omasse, more

Posted on February 20, 2014 by John Scalzo

donkeykongcountrytropicalfreeze-header

Even though Sochi is in the middle of a heatwave, this week’s Nintendo Download is packed with ice and snow.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze for the Wii U leads this week’s new releases. The most famous gorilla in gaming has escaped the jungle and will be climbing snow-capped mountains in his latest adventure. And the entire Kong family (including Diddy, Dixie, and Cranky) is along for the ride.

Also available for the Wii U this week is a true NES classic, Ice Hockey. The American women may have missed out on the Gold Medal game in this year’s Winter Olympics, but it’s always a good time for Ice Hockey.

Over on the 3DS eShop, four new games are now available to download this week. Level-5’s Weapon Shop De Omasse, the last game in the “Guild01” collection to make it to America, leads the way. If taking on the responsibilities of a rhythmic weaponsmith doesn’t appeal to you, this week’s new releases also include Kung Fu Rabbit (a side-scrolling platformer), Quell Reflect (a puzzle game), and Sky Kid (another NES classic).

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

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

XBL Store Today: Strider, Earth Defense Force 2025, The Lego Movie, Rayman Legends

Posted on February 19, 2014 by John Scalzo

earthdefenseforce2025-header

Five games were added to the Xbox Live Game Store today, though one of them appeared on both the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One.

The game doing double duty is Capcom’s reboot of Strider. The side-scrolling ninja game is available in both current-gen and next-gen versions, though both carry the same $14.99 price tag.

Also available this week is Earth Defense Force 2025, D3 Publisher’s latest sequel to the cult favorite Earth Defense Force 2017 and Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon. Original developer Sandlot is back for this entry, which brings an online campaign, and a lot of new bugs, to the series. Finally this week, the Xbox 360 adaptation of The Lego Movie and an Xbox One port of Rayman Legends are new to the store.

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

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