Poison Ivy delivers the kiss of death in her Injustice 2 trailer

Posted on April 18, 2017 by John Scalzo

In a fun little nod to Batman & Robin, NetherRealm Studios pitted Poison Ivy against Bane and Robin in the newest Injustice 2 trailer.

Dr. Pamela Isley’s affinity for plants has always given her skin a healthy green glow, but the supervillain actually has a pair of extra appendages in the upcoming fighting game. The two venus fly traps that frame her face probably aren’t an angel and devil on her shoulders, but they can be used as a makeshift or to fling a noxious gas cloud at her opponent.

Injustice 2 will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 16. And in case you missed any of the previous “Introducing…” trailers, now’s a great to look back at Scarecrow, The Flash, Captain Cold, Catwoman, Cheetah, Firestorm, Doctor Fate, and all the rest.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Play Mac classics in your browser with Internet Archive’s Apple Macintosh Software Library

Posted on April 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

When it first began, the Internet Archive collected millions of webpages in an effort to create an historical map charting the growth of the World Wide Web. More recently, they’re just as well known for their massive digitization projects that provide in-browser access to games and software previously released for consoles such as the Atari 2600, the Odyssey 2, and the Sega Genesis, as well as computer platforms like MS-DOS and Windows 3.1.

But today, the Internet Archive may have outdone itself with the launch of the Apple Macintosh Software Library.

Players can transport themselves back to the 80s with the Apple Macintosh Software Library, and many of us will be able to relive our school days with the system’s monochromatic GUI. The Apple Macintosh Software Library currently offers dozens of options for in-browser including fan favorites such as Lode Runner, Brickles, and Dark Castle.

If you’re interested in learning more about this software collection, Jason Scott of the Internet Archive has published a nice overview at the Internet Archive Blog.

Posted in News, PC |

All PC and Xbox One owners will get the chance to purchase Halo Wars: Definitive Edition on April 20

Posted on April 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

Microsoft and 343 Industries released Halo Wars 2 earlier this year, and players who pre-ordered it also received early access to Halo Wars: Definitive Edition, a revamped version of the first game in the RTS series. But starting April 20, all PC and Xbox One owners will have the chance to purchase the remaster as a standalone download.

In addition to improved graphics, which are on display in the new trailer embedded above, 343 added additional Achievements to Halo Wars: Definitive Edition, and bundled in both downloadable expansions (Strategic Options and Historic Battles).

Like Halo Wars 2, Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and players who purchase will receive access to the game on the Xbox One and Windows 10.

Posted in News, PC, Xbox One | Tagged

Bread Machine Games releases a Launch Trailer for Deathstate

Posted on April 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

Deathstate, the first game from Bread Machine Games, will be available to download for the PS4 beginning next week. The game was originally released for the PC in 2015, but its new home has given the developer the chance to deliver a brand new Launch Trailer for the retro-styled shooter.

Unlike a traditional twin-stick shooter, Deathstate is a “single-stick shooter” that asks players to evade a barrage of projectiles and fight back against the game’s Lovecraftian horrors:

In Deathstate you collect organs instead of armor, explore fractured realities instead of dungeons, and fight Lovecraftian horrors instead of goblins (you actually might fight some goblins too). The weird worlds of Binding of Isaac, Dark Souls, and the Hellraiser movies inspired Deathstate’s otherworldly setting and synthed-out soundtrack.

Deathstate will be priced at $9.99 when it launches for the PS4 on April 25.

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged

NHL 17 predicts the Nashville Predators will win their first Stanley Cup this year

Posted on April 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Nashville Predators joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1998… and if NHL 17‘s playoff simulation is correct, they’ll win their first Stanley Cup this year.

According to the prediction from EA Sports, the Predators will beat the Montreal Canadiens in seven games in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals:

It all came down to one game. P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators against Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. It was a back-and-forth game that featured stellar saves and highlight reel goals until Viktor Arvidsson scored with 17:37 left in the third period to give the Predators a 3-2 lead. Ryan Johansen would tack on an empty net goal late in the third period securing the first Stanley Cup in Nashville Predators franchise history.

As of today, the real-life Predators have a 2-0 series lead over the Chicago Blackhawks in their first round matchup. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are leading the New York Rangers two games to one.

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NBA 2K17 predicts a Cavs-Warriors rematch (and a Warriors win) in 2017 NBA Finals

Posted on April 17, 2017 by John Scalzo

The 2017 NBA Playoffs kicked off late last week, and 2K’s NBA 2K17 was there to provide a simulation of this year’s bracket.

If you’ll recall, last year, Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors blew a 3-1 lead in the 2016 NBA Finals to the Cleveland Cavaliers. They eventually lost the series in Game 7, and LeBron James was able to hoist his third NBA Championship.

But if NBA 2K17’s simulation comes to pass, this year’s NBA Finals will end in a rematch that once again goes the distance… and this time the Warriors will emerge victorious in Game 7.

So how do we get from here to there? According to the simulation, the Warriors will easily roll over their opponents in the first three rounds with wins over the Portland Trail Blazers (4-0), Los Angeles Clippers (4-1), and Houston Rockets (4-1). The Cavaliers will have a tougher time to reach the Finals, ultimately pushing past the Indiana Pacers in five games, the Toronto Raptors in six games, and the Washington Wizards in seven games. Cleveland’s more brutal schedule might be the reason behind their eventual defeat in the Finals.

In the real world, the Warriors and the Cavaliers are both doing their part to accurately reflect the action in NBA 2K17s crystal ball, as each team won their first playoff game this weekend. But we’ll have to wait until June 1st, and the start of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, to see if the game’s full simulation is on the mark.

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

Weekly Warp-Up: Good News (Star Wars: Battlefront II Announced) and Bad News (Nintendo Discontinued the NES Classic)

Posted on April 16, 2017 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…

This was a bad week for video game fans everywhere as Nintendo announced they’re discontinuing the NES Classic Edition. The microconsole was originally released in November, and its been hard to find ever since, so this is a particularly big blow to retro gaming fans. Hopefully, the upcoming launch of the Virtual Console on Nintendo’s Switch will help us forget this strange decision.

But there was also good news this week as EA unveiled the first trailer for Star Wars: Battlefront II, which showcased the game’s single-player campaign and confirmed a November 17 release date.

Elsewhere on Warp Zoned this week, the latest edition of Kickstart This! focuses on the retro-styled Cowgirls Vs Cthonimon, and the newest Scientifically Proven Best Video Games of All Time essay delves into the weird world of the ridiculously popular The Sims.

More news from the week that was can be found after the break.

Press Start to Continue →

Posted in News |

New Retail Releases: Dark Souls III Fire Fades Edition, The Silver Case, Deformers, More

Posted on April 16, 2017 by John Scalzo

It looks like the Easter Bunny is skipping over your favorite retail establishment… just a handful of new games will be available on store shelves this week.

Starting things off is Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition, a re-release of the trilogy-capping action RPG for the PS4 and Xbox One. Originally released last year, the Fire Fades Edition will add both downloadable expansions (Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City) to the package.

Another re-release will make its way to store shelves this week, as NIS America launches The Silver Case for the PS4. The Silver Case was the first game developed by Goichi “Suda51” Suda’s Grasshopper Manufacture, and it was originally released in Japan in 1999. The adventure game made its North American debut last year on Steam, but this PS4 re-release is the first time console players will get the chance to play it.

Elsewhere, GameStop’s GameTrust label will team up with Ready At Dawn to launch another exclusive game for the retailer this week. Deformers is a multiplayer brawler that’ll be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Finally this week, ATV Renegades is a new off-road racing game for the PS4 and Xbox One from Nighthawk Interactive.

That’s it for this week’s New Retail Releases report, but we’ll be back with an update or two on several high-profile new games that’ll be available to download soon through the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

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