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.

Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2, The Banner Saga 3, more coming to PS Store this week

Posted on July 25, 2018 by John Scalzo

Travel to a far-flung future and a distant past in this week’s PlayStation Store update.

If you’re a fan of side-scrolling platformers, you’ll definitely want to look ahead to 20XX and this week’s release of Mega Man X Legacy Collection and Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2. Available for the PS4 separately or as a bundle, the Legacy Collection compilations include all eight games in the Mega Man X series, as well as a wealth of behind-the-scenes material in the Museum Mode and the brand new X Challenge Mode, which pits players in a battle against two different bosses at the same time.

Also available for the PS4 this week is The Banner Saga 3, the finale to Stoic’s trilogy of strategic RPG series. Things are not looking bright for our Viking heroes, as the developer asks, “As the world continues to crumble around you, who can you trust, how will you protect your allies, and what choices will you make as the Darkness draws near?”

You can learn more about the rest of this week’s additions to the PlayStation Store after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Vita | Tagged ,

Blizzard will team up with Titan Comics to release Diablo comic miniseries later this year

Posted on July 24, 2018 by John Scalzo

We missed this one during Comic-Con last week, but it looks like Blizzard and Titan Comics will team up to produce a brand new miniseries based on the Diablo franchise. Set to launch this Fall, the four-part comic saga will be written by Marv Wolfman (Crisis on Infinite Earths) and illustrated by Piotr Kowalski (Wolfenstein):

The [Diablo] comics will follow a group of zealous scholars and crusaders as they discover the true origins of humanity. Will their faith survive these shocking revelations?

For those keeping score at home, Titan’s untitled Diablo series will actually be the third comic adaptation of Blizzard’s battle between the angelic Nephalem and the hordes of Hell. The developer worked with Dark Horse to publish Diablo: Tales of Sanctuary in 2001, and partnered with DC Comics ten years later to produce Diablo: Sword of Justice in 2011.

More information about the Diablo miniseries (and presumably, a collected edition) will be announced soon. But for now, you can take a gander at a pair of teaser images from Kowalski after the break. (more…)

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

2K Games will publish NBA Playgrounds 2 this Fall as NBA 2K Playgrounds 2

Posted on July 24, 2018 by John Scalzo

Way back in May, Saber Interactive indefinitely (and mysteriously) postponed the release of NBA Playgrounds 2 just days before it was scheduled to launch for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One. And now, like Lebron James and Kawhi Leonard, it’ll be playing for a new team this Fall.

That’s because 2K Games announced earlier today that they’ve picked up the publishing rights to NBA Playgrounds 2. First things first, the publisher rebranded the over-the-top basketball game as NBA 2K Playgrounds 2.

“The original NBA Playgrounds was a fantastic throwback to the glory days of arcade-action sports,” said Greg Thomas, the President of Visual Concepts. “The new NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 will step up this energy and attitude big time – with a bit of added NBA 2K flair – giving fans of both franchises an exciting new way to game with friends around the world.”

“No one is more committed to bringing fans a great basketball experience than 2K. We can’t wait to share more on how we’re teaming up to make NBA 2K Playgrounds 2’s incredible arcade action bigger and better than ever for players,” said Saber Interactive’s CEO, Matt Karch.

It’s unknown how 2K Games and Visual Concepts plan to change NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, but we’ll likely learn more about the future of the game soon.

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

Bethesda will take fans on a “deeper dive” into Doom Eternal and Fallout 76 at QuakeCon 2018

Posted on July 23, 2018 by John Scalzo

Bethesda has announced that we’ll learn a lot more about Doom Eternal and Fallout 76 at QuakeCon 2018. (This is my shocked face.)

While there was never much doubt that QuakeCon attendees (and those of us watching at home through Twitch) would get an updated look at two of Bethesda’s biggest upcoming titles, the publisher put out an official schedule of events for the convention earlier today:

Keynote Address, Featuring the Reveal of Doom Eternal
Friday, August 10th @ 11:00 AM (Central Time)
QuakeCon’s Keynote Address returns, with updates planned for Quake Champions, Rage 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, and, of course, the savage gameplay reveal of Doom Eternal with Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin from id Software.

Fallout 76 Panel and Fan Q&A
Saturday, August 11 @ 11:00 AM (Central Time)
Todd Howard and others from Bethesda Game Studios will take fans through a deeper dive into the character system and Perks coming in Fallout 76, followed by a Q&A with the team to address fans’ most pressing questions.

Additional panels and esports events promoting Rage 2, Quake Champions, The Elder Scrolls: Legends, and Prey are also in the works, and they’ll be added to the schedule soon:

Panels
This year’s QuakeCon will see the return of official and community-run panels, including inside looks and discussions with Bethesda developers about games like Doom Eternal, Rage 2, Quake Champions, and Prey. The panel schedule and details will be revealed alongside the full list of activities prior to QuakeCon.

The Elder Scrolls: Legends Masters Series
Thursday, August 9 – Friday, August 10
The Elder Scrolls: Legends Masters Series qualifiers are underway and set to culminate with two days of competition and finals at QuakeCon. Sixteen of the best Legends players in the world will convene at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center to battle for their share of a $50,000 prize pool.

Quake Champions QuakeCon Open
Friday, August 10 – Sunday, August 12
The next Major event for Quake Champions will take place at QuakeCon 2018. The QuakeCon Open will bring some of the best esports players in the world to battle it out in 2v2 for their share of a $175,000 prize pool. And, as a bonus – players from the top eight 2v2 teams will move on to compete solo in a 1v1, winner-take-all Duel showdown for a shot at ultimate glory and $25,000.

QuakeCon 2018 will kick off on August 9th at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Tickets are now available at QuakeCon.org.

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

New Retail Releases: Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2, The Banner Saga Trilogy, No Man’s Sky, More

Posted on July 23, 2018 by John Scalzo

Two big collections and a new home for one of 2016’s biggest games highlight this week’s New Retail Releases report…

Capcom will bring all eight Mega Man X games to the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One this week with the launch of Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2. The compilation will also include a Museum Mode with “rare production art, catalogs of classic merchandise, a playlist of nostalgic commercials, and more,” as well as an animated prequel and a two-against-one X Challenge Mode.

Stoic is also set to release a compilation of their own this week, but they’re looking back to the past instead of springing forward to the unknown future of 20XX. The Banner Saga Trilogy will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One, and it’ll include The Banner Saga, The Banner Saga 2, and the never-before-released The Banner Saga 3. The package also includes a “Best of” Soundtrack, a Mini Art Book, a Collectible Poster, and a Horn of Lichbaen in-game item.

Finally this week, Hello Games will blast off for uncharted space with the Xbox One launch of No Man’s Sky. The Xbox One version of No Man’s Sky will come with all the previous updates to the game as well as the coveted Next expansion, which adds online multiplayer to the space exploration title.

You can find the rest of this week’s new releases after the break. (more…)

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

See the first 15 minutes from The Walking Dead: The Final Season

Posted on July 21, 2018 by John Scalzo

As promised, Telltale Games has uploaded a Gameplay Demo of the first episode of The Walking Dead: The Final Season from the their Comic-Con on Thursday.

The video includes footage from the first fifteen minutes of the game, so if you want to remain spoiler-free, it’s better if you don’t press that Play button. But for everyone else, have a look at the start of Clementine’s final adventure…

Clementine, now a fierce and capable survivor, has reached the final chapter in her journey. After years on the road facing threats both living and dead, a secluded school might finally be her chance for a home. But protecting it will mean sacrifice. Clem must build a life and become a leader while still watching over AJ, an orphaned boy and the closest thing to family she has left. In this gripping, emotional final season, you will define your relationships, fight the undead, and determine how Clementine’s story ends.

The first episode of The Walking Dead: The Final Season will be available to download for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on August 14.

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

Nintendo adds Link’s tunic from Zelda: Breath of the Wild and the Master Cycle Zero to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Posted on July 20, 2018 by John Scalzo

A few days ago, Nintendo confirmed that “further updates” were coming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Late last night, the consolemaker returned to tell us all about the brand new Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC Pack for the game.

The free update is available to download now, and it includes a “Champion’s Tunic” costume for Link, as well as the Master Cycle Zero bike, Ancient Tyres, and a Paraglider.

Nintendo hasn’t said if further “further updates” are in the works for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, or if this will be the game’s final update.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged

Sega unveils Team Sonic Racing comic and final episode of Sonic Mania Adventures at Comic-Con 2018

Posted on July 20, 2018 by John Scalzo

Earlier this week, we were promised that Sega had several Sonic-related announcements to make at the mascot’s San Diego Comic-Con panel, “Sonic the Hedgehog’s Way Past Cool Panel.”

In addition to releasing the final mini-episode of Sonic Mania Adventures (which you can find after the break), Sega and IDW Publishing announced that a special Team Sonic Racing comic will be released this October. According to IDW’s official website, the one-shot story will be written by Caleb Goellner (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), with art by longtime Sonic the Hedgehog artist Adam Bryce Thomas:

Sonic and his teammates Knuckles and Tails journey to a new planet and enter a race unlike any other! With a little help from friends like Amy Rose, Big the Cat, and a few other familiar faces, Sonic must race to prevent an old foe from obtaining a powerful new technology in this story by writer Caleb Goellner (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) and longtime Sonic The Hedgehog artist Adam Bryce Thomas.

“I’m so stoked to write Sonic! It’s been a dream of mine ever since my dad surprised me with my first Sonic comic in ’92, so I can’t wait for fans to take this issue for a Spin Dash,” says Caleb Goellner. “It’s been an honor to be on a team working to deliver an issue that’s as fun to read as Team Sonic Racing is to play.”

The Team Sonic Racing game will be available for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One sometime this Fall/Winter. And Sonic Mania Plus is available now for the same four platforms. (more…)

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