Shantae: Half-Genie Hero update will add Hard Core Mode, PS TV support, more on March 6

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Brittney Williams

XSEED Games has announced that Shante: Half-Genie Hero will be receiving its first update on March 6, 2017. Update 1.01 focuses mostly on fixing bugs and adding PlayStation TV support for the PlayStation Vita version of the game.

But Update 1.01 also offers a host of other changes, most notably among them being Hard Core Mode. Hard Core Mode offers harder hitting enemies, faster scroll speeds, faster enemy patterns, rebalanced magic items, remixed enemy locations, additional enemy locations, new boss stats and patterns, and limited use of healing items.

Matt Bozon, the Creative Director at WayForward and Creator of the Shantae series, wants everyone to play nice with Half-Genie Hero’s first big update:

“Thank you for your ongoing support, and for waiting patiently while we continue production of Shantae: Half-Genie Hero. And also thanks to everyone on Twitch, YouTube, and other social media for helping us make the game even better with this update. We hope you’ll enjoy Hard Core Mode while you wait for the bigger DLC packs to arrive. Remember, no throwing controllers, and please keep your hair-whipping in the game where it belongs!”

WayForward has been collecting a list of Half-Genie Hero’s “known issues” on their official forums, so hopefully that means the developer has found solutions for some of the peskier bugs, such as audio corruption and save file issues.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is rated T For Teen and is currently available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, PC, Wii U, and Xbox One.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Vita, Wii U, Xbox One | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Zelda Breath of the Wild, Shovel Knight, Super Bomberman R, more

Posted on March 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Nintendo Switch is here!

Nintendo’s next gaming machine, a hybrid console/handheld, will go on sale in just a little over three hours. That’s also when Nintendo will swing the doors open on the Switch’s eShop and give early adopters the chance to purchase nearly a dozen different launch titles.

The biggest name in the Switch’s launch lineup, by far, is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Also available to download on the Wii U, Breath of the Wild will offer a wide-open world for Link to explore and new puzzles to solve.

However, if you’re looking to celebrate the system’s launch with a big party, you’ll have several options. There’s 1-2-Switch, a wild minigame collection where players are encouraged to look at each other instead of the screen. There’s also Snipperclips: Cut It Out Together!, a co-op puzzle adventure starring two pieces of paper. And Ubisoft will bring the popular Just Dance series to the Switch with Just Dance 2017.

Prospective Switch players who want to be on the move might want to look into FAST RMX, a new futuristic racer from Shin’en Multimedia.

Finally, retro gaming fans will have plenty of options on the Switch’s first day including Yacht Club’s new platformer, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, as well as the Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, which includes Specter of Torment and the first two campaigns. Konami’s Super Bomberman R brings the lovable Bombers back for the first time in almost a decade. And I Am Setsuna, from Square Enix, is an original RPG inspired by Chrono Trigger.

If you’re taking a wait and see approach to the Switch, never fear, 3DS owners will still have something new to play this week. Marvelous Entertainment’s Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns is the latest entry in the popular farming simulation series and, as you might have guessed, players will be able to visit three towns this time around.

You can learn more about all of these games after the break.

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Overwatch is “Game of the Year” at the 2017 GDC Awards

Posted on March 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

gdcawardsOverwatch continues to rack up year-end awards for Blizzard Entertainment, and it picked up two more statuettes last night during the Game Developers Choice Awards. After more than a month of deliberations, the GDC committee choose to bestow “Game of the Year” status on the team-based shooter, as well as “Best Design” for its colorful world.

Two other games collected multiple awards at last night’s GDC Awards. Playdead’s platformer, Inside, earned “Best Audio” and “Best Visual Art.” And later in the night, Campo Santo’s Firewatch was selected as “Best Debut” and its story was honored with “Best Narrative.”

“This year’s amazing slate of winners is a testament to the diversity of experiences in games,” said Meggan Scavio, General Manager of the Game Developers Conference.

Scavio added: “Pokemon Go [“Best Mobile/Handheld Game”] took gaming outdoors using AR, while Job Simulator [“Best VR/AR Game”] showed how lo-fi aesthetics could meet cutting edge tech for a winning VR experience. Overwatch once again proved Blizzard’s uncanny ability to make a perfectly balanced multiplayer game, and Inside delved deep into our dark psyches to unearth our scariest nightmares. These nominees speak to the strength of games as a medium, but also show the various textures and possible creative outlets that interactive entertainment can provide. Congrats to all of the winners and nominees for following their visions and thanks to all developers who strive to make amazing games for us day in and day out.”

The full list of winners from the 2017 Game Developers Choice Awards can be found after the break.

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Quadrilateral Cowboy won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the 2017 IGF Awards

Posted on March 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

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Quadrilateral Cowboy, Blendo’s hacking-based heist game, took home the “Seumas McNally Grand Prize” last night during the 2017 Independent Games Festival Awards. Its 1980s-inspired world also helped Quadrilateral Cowboy capture the “Excellence in Design” category.

The other big winner last night was Heart Machine’s Hyper Light Drifter, which was also the recipient of two statuettes. The action RPG’s glitchy 16-bit graphics were rewarded with a win in the “Excellence In Visual Art” category, and its mass appeal ensured an “Audience Award” victory.

The Independent Games Festival Awards are awarded annually in conjunction with the Game Developers Conference, and you can view a replay of the entire ceremony through the GDC’s Twitch channel.

But if you’re in a hurry, a list of all the winners can be found after the break.

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The Games of March 2017

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Warp Zoned Staff

Well, it’s no surprise that here at Warp Zoned, we’re all talking about the same thing: Nintendo’s Switch! Nicole didn’t manage to snag a pre-order because she is some kind of newbie, but everyone else got one. Read on to see what they’ll be playing as soon as they pick up their Switch consoles!

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Posted in Features, Top Story |

Orisa, a robotic Tank, will be the next character added to Overwatch

Posted on March 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

Every good hero needs a name… which is why “OR-15” wasn’t a worthy moniker for the latest creation from robotics prodigy Efi Oladele. Instead, she rechristened her new companion as “Orisa,” and the robotic Tank will be the next playable character added to Overwatch.

Orisa is now available for testing in the game’s Public Test Region, and will be added to the full game at a later date. But in the meantime, you can learn more about the character at PlayOverwatch.com:

Orisa serves as the central anchor of her team, and defends her teammates from the frontline with a protective barrier. She can attack from long range, fortify her own defenses, launch graviton charges to slow and move enemies, and deploy a Supercharger to boost the damage output of multiple allies at once.

Overwatch’s Game Director, Jeff Kaplan, further delved into what makes Orisa tick in a new Developer Update video, which can be found after the break.

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Daily Scoop: March 2, 2017 – Sunless Sea on sale at Humble Store

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Nicole Kline

The Nintendo Switch comes out tomorrow! All my buddies here at Warp Zoned are getting one. For once, I’m the odd one out! I didn’t get a pre-order in time and I feel really bummed out. Maybe I’ll order one once I’m done school, as a graduation gift to myself! I guess we’ll just have to see!

Anyway, let’s talk about deals! There are some good sales happening right now at the Humble Store. Vikings – Wolves of Midgard is $33.99, Hyperdimension Neptunia U: Action Unleashed is $7.49, and the Daily Deal is Sunless Sea, which is just $6.26.

The Weekend Deal at Steam is early access to 7 Days to Die. Get the game for $10 or get a two pack for $16. The Daily Deal is the virtual reality game SportsBar VR, which is on sale for $13.99.

Just three shirts today, but they’re all awesome!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

NetherRealm adds some magic to Injustice 2 with addition of Doctor Fate to game’s roster

Posted on March 2, 2017 by John Scalzo

NetherRealm Studios continues to dig deep for new additions to Injustice 2, and today’s announcement that Doctor Fate will be joining the roster of playable characters is just further proof of their quest to explore the darker corners of the DC Universe.

Doctor Fate is actually Kent Nelson, a young archaeologist who learned the arcane secrets of sorcery from Nabu the Wise. You can watch him deliver a magical beatdown on Superman in the trailer embedded above.

Injustice 2 will offer a wide variety of character customization options thanks to its brand new Gear System, and NetherRealm showed it off to Sid Shuman of the PlayStation Blog at this week’s Game Developers Conference. If you’ve ever wanted to build Batman’s anti-Superman suit, Injustice 2 might just give you the chance:

Gear revolves around four main body parts — head, chest, arms, and legs — plus an “accessory” (think Harley Quinn’s pistols). Most gear you collect will buff at least one of your four base stats: Strength and Ability determine the offensive power of basic attacks and special moves, while Defense and Health dictate how much damage your superhero can absorb.

More exotic effects — resistance to environmental damage, earning XP more quickly — come via “augmentations” found on some higher-tier items. Full gear sets, such as Batman’s kryptonite-infused outfit, are likely to be especially prized because they can grant dramatic bonuses when fully assembled.

After playing dress-up, you can apply shaders to alter your hero’s color schemes in some striking ways. A purple-clad Superman? Why not! I’m expecting to see some seriously creative designs here come May.

Injustice 2 will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on May 16.

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