Warp Zoned Presents
Video Game Canon- Silent Hill, Dragon Quest, Skyrim, and More Announced as Finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Has Another Big Night and Wins “Game of the Year” at the 2025-2026 DICE Awards
- 2025 GOTY Scoreboard: In Progress
- The Game Awards: All the Winners from 2003 to Today
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Racks Up Nine Wins, Including “Game of the Year”, at the 2025 Game Awards
Warp Zoned Presents
- Video Game Research Library
- We Pitched a Museum a 1993 Game Hint Line (And They Actually Said Yes) – Yarn Spinner (2026)
- The History Of The Word “Metroidvania” And How It Spread – A Critical Hit (2025)
- Creator of Hit Game Shovel Knight Is at a ‘Make or Break’ Moment – Bloomberg (2025)
- Shadow of the Colossus: An oral history – Design Room (2025)
- In 2005, games started rewiring our brains – The AV Club (2025)
Most Recent: Wii U
Nintendo Direct News: New Mario 3D World trailer, Kirby 3DS announced, more
Just when everyone had ruled them out, last week’s Nintendo Direct announcement showed the company still has the fiery fighting spirit that has kept them going since the days of the NES, showing their plans for the remainder of 2013 and beyond.
The biggest knockout blow was the new trailer for Super Mario 3D World (which you can view above). While Nintendo had already teased one new power-up, the Cat Suit, during its E3 video presentation, it turns out this was just the tip of the ice-berg. As well as the welcome return of the Tanooki suit from Super Mario Bros 3, Mario now has access to a Hammer Bros. Suit, a Bullet Bill Suit, and uses items like soccer balls and baseballs to strike enemies. He can ever carry knocked out enemies, such as Pete the Piranha Plant. But the most interesting of these new suits was the Cherry Clone item, which made a duplicate Mario. Later in the trailer, there are three Marios, all moving in sync. How this will work in the game remains to be seen, but it seems Nintendo may have another sterling system seller on its hands.
In more Mario news, the company unveiled two new Wii remote Plus designs based on the infamous Bros. One will be Mario Red and sport an ‘M’ on the central speaker, while the other will be Luigi Green and have a similar ‘L’ adorning it. The company also announced new downloadable content and mission mode stages for Pikmin 3 for the reasonable price of $1.99, although the British and European prices are almost double at £1.99 and €1.99 respectively. Finally, Nintendo unveiled ambitious plans for the online multiplayer elements of Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. While the majority of events will focused on localised multiplayer, four of these will be playable against gamers around the globe, with points going towards that player’s country tally if they win. In essence, players will be able to compete for their contry online.
Looking forward to 2014, it was also announced that Nintendo’s bubblegum pink mascot Kirby will be getting a new platformer game on 3DS. And games will be able to enjoy the Square Enix RPG Bravely Default in early 2014. However, European 3DS owners will see the game on this side of Christmas when its released on December 6 across the Atlantic.
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Bravely Default: Where the Fairy Flies, Kirby: Triple Deluxe, Pikmin 3, Super Mario 3D World
New Shovel Knight trailer heralds Winter 2013 release
Yacht Club Games has released a new trailer for Shovel Knight, their upcoming side-scrolling action title that features a level select style similar to Mega Man. The trailer is very similar to the game’s reveal trailer, which was released a few months ago, but I’m happy whenever we get new Shovel Knight information.
The developer has also confirmed that the game’s official release date is “Winter 2013” and a pre-order page for the PC/Steam version is now available at their official website. The game will also be released for the 3DS and Wii U but, obviously, you can’t pre-order it yet.
And if you’re at this year’s IndieCade, which concludes today, be on the lookout for Shovel Knight at the Nintendo booth.
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, Wii U
Tagged Shovel Knight
New Releases: Beyond: Two Souls, Pokemon X/Y, Just Dance 2014, More
All you Pokemaniacs can rejoice, for it is time. Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, the first “main series” Pokemon games for the 3DS, will be released this week.
If you’d prefer something a little more out there (and you own a PS3), there’s Quantic Dream’s latest action/adventure game, Beyond: Two Souls. The supernatural Saga of Jodie (played by Ellen Page) and her doctor (played by Willem Dafoe) is sure to feature plenty of the developer’s signature weirdness and grandeur.
And if you want to go REALLY out there, NIS America will release Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness for the PS3. The latest game in the insane strategy RPG franchise is a direct sequel to the to the first game in the series, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, which should please its many fans.
This week’s last “new” releases is Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2014. The dancing franchise will boogie its way (again) onto the PS3, Wii, Wii U, and Xbox 360 this week. PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game are set to be released in November.
Finally, a trio of re-releases should keep budget hunters happy as 2K Games/Gearbox will release Borderlands 2: Game of the Year Edition, Bethesda/Arkane will release Dishonored: Game of the Year Edition, and Capcom will release the Capcom Essentials collection (which contains Dead Rising 2, Devil May Cry 4, Mega Man 10, Resident Evil 6, and Super Street Fighter IV).
A complete list of this week’s new releases can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, News, PC, PS3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360
Tagged Beyond: Two Souls, Borderlands 2, Disgaea Dimension 2, Dishonored, Just Dance 2014, Pokemon X/Y
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Review: Amazing At Any Resolution
Nintendo is no stranger to remakes and reimaginings. Super Mario Bros. Metroid. Mario Kart. Donkey Kong. In fact, most of the company’s key franchises have been recycled with every console generation. And yet, somehow, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD feels different. Perhaps it is because the Wii U is under intense pressure to pick up sales, and needs a knockout game. Or maybe it is the fact that certain critics see Nintendo’s stable of characters as stale and overused, relying too much on the charity of nostalgic gamers. Or it could just be that it is the first Zelda game in high definition.
Whatever made Nintendo decide to re-release this title, it has proven to be a brilliant choice. It’s like meeting an old friend after a ten-year gap. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Wii U
Tagged The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Learn more about “Squads” in this Call of Duty: Ghosts trailer
Activision has released a new trailer detailing the “Squads” feature of Call of Duty: Ghosts‘ multiplayer. Check it out:
Squads introduces a whole new level of competition to Call of Duty: Ghosts. Combining the unrivaled Multiplayer experience with cutting edge AI, Squads lets you play a variety of new game modes with your customized squad-mates. Play solo against another player and their squad, or cooperatively with friends, competing versus an AI-controlled squad. Best of all, the XP earned in Squads is directly connected to your Multiplayer progress!
Call of Duty: Ghosts will be released for the PC, PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 on November 15. A PS4 edition will follow on November 15 and an Xbox One version will be available on November 22.
Nintendo Download: Picross E3, Just Dance 2014 (Tuesday), more
Get your dancing shoes on for this week’s Nintendo Download as Just Dance 2014 will be able to download this Tuesday, October 8, on the Wii U eShop. If bustin’ a move to the “Ghostbusters Theme” (among others) isn’t your style, there’s a bunch of other new releases on Nintendo’s download services today:
- TNT Racers: Nitro Machines Edition (Wii U), an overhead racer.
- Family Bowling 3D (3DS), a bowling game.
- Halloween: Trick or Treat 2 (3DS), a hidden object game.
- Happy Circus (3DS), a minigame compilation for kids.
- Picross E3 (3DS), the latest game in Nintendo’s long-running picture puzzle series.
- Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure (3DS), a rhythm game.
- Jewel Quest 5: The Sleepless Star (DSi), a “match-3” puzzle game.
More details on all of these titles can be found after the break. (more…)
Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Just Dance 2014
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut will be released on October 22
The Square Enix name has taken an undeniable hit in credibility over the last few years. A significant amount of the company’s titles are simply re-releases of much older games (Final Fantasy VII for PC, Final Fantasy III for PSP, etc.). In amongst all of these titles was a game developed by Square’s Eidos Montreal studio, Deus Ex: Human Revolution. The game received widespread critical acclaim and spawned a number of extended universe installments in other media (such as books, comics, action figures, and a mobile game called Deus Ex: The Fall). CBS Films has even acquired the rights to create a film adaptation of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Of course, true to form, an improved version of the game is being re-released later this month: Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut.
Originally announced as a Wii U exclusive title, it was revealed ahead of the game’s originally release date (May 2013) that the Director’s Cut would go multiplatform for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 as well. The Director’s Cut will feature updated visuals, overhauled boss fights, refined game balance and combat, and over eight hours of developer commentary. Additionally, the bonus content, “Tong’s Rescue” mission and the entire “Missing Link” chapter, has been integrated seamlessly into the narrative flow of the Director’s Cut. The game will also offer a great deal of exclusive second screen features for the Wii U GamePad, Microsoft’s SmartGlass, and the PlayStation Vita.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution – Director’s Cut will hit shelves on October 22nd, and it’s quite clear that Square Enix hopes the game can recreate its original success.
Sonic the Hedgehog, Toon Link join Super Smash Bros. 4
Nintendo has added two new characters to Super Smash Bros. 4 on the 3DS and Wii U and they’re sure to make fans very happy.
First up is Toon Link, the cel-shaded version of Link that was previously seen in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Toon Link will wield his sword, a bow, and the Wind Waker wand as he does battle with the rest of Smash Bros. 4’s combatants (including regular Link).
But the big news is that Sonic the Hedgehog will be back for a second round of smashing in Super Smash Bros. 4. The blue speedster’s Spin Dash will make a powerful and makes Sonic a natural rival with Samus Aran and her Morph Ball.
New screenshots of both characters (Toon Link and Sonic the Hedgehog) can be found at the official Smash Bros. site.
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U