Nintendo will bring Yoshi’s Crafted World to the Switch on March 29

Posted on January 9, 2019 by John Scalzo

Nintendo first unveiled the cardboard-and-paper-styled “Yoshi” at E3 2017, and fans were excited to get the chance to play the platformer sometime in 2018. Obviously, that didn’t happen. But just a week into 2019 the consolemaker has confirmed that Yoshi’s Crafted World will be released for the Switch on March 29.

In the game, you play as an adorable Yoshi exploring a big world crafted from household items like boxes and paper cups, journeying through each themed stage to solve puzzles and find hidden treasures. On the flip side, stages can be played backward, providing new perspectives to explore and the challenge to find Poochy-Pups that are hiding around the course. You can even join up with a friend to play through the game in two-player co-op.

In addition to a release date, Nintendo also unveiled a ridiculously adorable new Story Trailer for Yoshi’s Crafted World, and it’s been embedded above.

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Kirby’s Epic Yarn will make its way to the 3DS on March 8

Posted on January 9, 2019 by John Scalzo

Kirby’s Epic Yarn was originally released for the Wii in the waning days of 2010… but it’s about to get a whole bigger (and slightly shrink down) this Spring. Nintendo has announced that they’ll bring Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn to the 3DS on March 8.

The enhanced re-release retains the original game’s unique yarn-based graphical style, but now Kirby will be able to use Ravel Abilities to complete the game’s challenges and tackle an even harder version of the game known as Devilish Mode:

In this enhanced version of the acclaimed Kirby’s Epic Yarn game that originally launched for the Wii system, Kirby is transported into a world made of cloth and yarn to unravel enemies, unzip secret passageways and transform into powerful vehicles. Every stage in the original Wii version is stitched in, but this Nintendo 3DS version has some new features, like Ravel Abilities that power up Kirby in fun ways, new mini-games featuring familiar faces King Dedede and Meta Knight, new furniture to personalize and decorate Kirby’s Pad, and a new Devilish Mode that adds an extra layer of challenge to each stage.

Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn will also include Amiibo support, giving players the chance to tap compatible Kirby Series figures to unlock a variety of hats and abilities.

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Warp Zoned’s 2018 Golden Pixel Awards: Our Favorite Games From Last Year

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Warp Zoned Staff

2018 was an absolutely astounding year for video games, and while we might not have gotten the chance to play everything we wanted, the Warp Zoned staff was definitely able to add a big batch of new games to our “Favorites” pile.

This year’s selection of standout titles offered something for everybody… Insomniac’s Spider-Man let us soar above Manhattan as the webslinger like never before… The mountainous milieu of Matt Thorson’s Celeste challenged our thumbs and our hearts… Capcom’s Mega Man 11 brought the Blue Bomber back for the first time in almost a decade… And those three games were just the tip of the iceberg.

The Golden Pixel Awards aren’t the “Best Games” from 2018, but these are the titles we plan to return to again and again in 2019 (and beyond). We hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

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Nominees for the 2019 Writers Guild Award for Videogame Writing have been announced

Posted on January 8, 2019 by John Scalzo

The Writers Guild of America has announced the nominees for this year’s “Writers Guild Award for Videogame Writing.”

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Telltale’s Batman: The Enemy Within – Episode 5: Same Stitch, Sony’s God of War, Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, and Insomniac’s Spider-Man will all be competing for the honor, and the winner will be revealed on February 17.

The complete list of nominated writers can be found after the break.

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FoxNext officially announces Alien: Blackout as a mobile strategy game

Posted on January 7, 2019 by John Scalzo

It’s no secret that 20th Century Fox has big plans for the Alien franchise in 2019. We’re not getting a new movie anytime soon, but the film studio has confirmed that Cold Iron Studios is currently developing an untitled Alien shooter for release sometime this year, while Dark Horse Comics will publish a comic sequel to Alien: Isolation later this month.

This morning, they added a second Alien game to their schedule with the announcement of Alien: Blackout. Unrelated to Cold Iron’s shooter, Alien: Blackout is a mobile strategy game that will follow Isolation’s Amanda Ripley (the daughter of Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen) as she explores a crippled Weyland-Yutani space station:

The terror of Alien is brought to life in Alien: Blackout. Try to stay alive while trapped aboard a crippled Weyland-Yutani space station carrying a deadly Xenomorph as it tirelessly hunts you and the crew. Outsmart the perfect hunter by making perilous choices. Players must rely on the damaged controls of the space station or risk sacrificing crew members to avoid deadly contact, permanently altering the outcome of the game.

Survive seven fear-inducing levels by remotely guiding Amanda Ripley’s crew through increasingly challenging tasks using only the station’s emergency systems. The uncertainty and unpredictability of both the alien and her crew can impose total defeat for Amanda and the entire station.

Alien: Blackout is a unique fear-inducing horror mobile game experience that will test the inner nerves of both Alien and horror fans alike, where life can end in an instant.

Taking control of the space station’s central operating computer, players will need to operate a holographic map, surveillance cameras, and motion tracker as they attempt to guide Amanda and her crew to safety.

Alien: Blackout will be available to download through the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store on January 24. The game’s first trailer has been embedded above.

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New Retail Releases: New Super Mario Bros. U, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Tales of Vesperia, More

Posted on January 7, 2019 by John Scalzo

2019 promises to be a big year for video games (and possibly the last hurrah for the PS4 and Xbox One), and it looks like we’re starting things off with a trio of major re-releases.

Nintendo leads things off with a Switch re-release of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which originally launched for the Wii U in 2012. This new version will include new playable characters (Toadette and Nabbit), as well as the New Super Luigi U expansion.

The 3DS will also receive a classic Nintendo re-release this week in the form of Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey. The RPG relaunches the 2009 game with Amiibo support and the brand new “Bowser Jr.’s Journey” adventure.

The last re-release of the week comes from Bandai Namco, who will bring Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition to the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One (the game will also be available to download for the PC). The Definitive Edition will include the original game, as well as “beautifully remastered HD graphics, new musitc tracks, exciting minigames, bosses, and a collection of previously unreleased costume DLC.”

Finally this week, you might have missed it, but Nintendo snuck Fitness Boxing onto the Switch last week. Fitness Boxing features a wide variety of boxing-based rhythmic exercises and personalized workout options for everyone interested in getting a jump on their New Year’s Resolutions.

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back later this week with a look at the new additions coming to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

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Hitman HD Enhanced Collection will bring Absolution and Blood Money to PS4 and Xbox One next week

Posted on January 5, 2019 by John Scalzo

IO Interactive has never been content to sit on their laurels, and the prolific developer is kicking off 2019 with a new project… the Hitman HD Enhanced Collection.

Set to launch for the PS4 and Xbox One next week, the compilation will package together Hitman: Blood Money and Hitman: Absolution with enhanced visuals (4K Resolution and 60FPS) and updated control options. More details about the specific upgrades can be found at IO’s official website:

In Hitman: Blood Money you experience a globe-trotting adventure from the vineyards of Chile, to the Paris Opera House and even the White House itself in a face-off against a group of assassins known as “The Franchise”. When assassins from his contract agency, the ICA, are systematically eliminated in a series of hits, Agent 47 suspects that a larger, more powerful agency has entered the fray. As he suddenly loses contact with the ICA, Agent 47 senses that he may be the next target, so our merciless contract killer travels to America to take care of business himself…

Rediscover Hitman: Absolution and experience the deep and personal story of Agent 47 as he pursues redemption across 20 intense missions. Enjoy a distinctive art style that combines with rich dialogue and performances by an impressive Hollywood cast to create a unique gameplay experience.

“We’re very happy with this collection and how we were able to update and remaster two of our classic Hitman titles for modern consoles,” said Hakan Abrak, the CEO of IO Interactive. “Hitman: Blood Money and Hitman: Absolution have helped us on our journey to where we are today, and we’re looking forward to players enjoying them in 4K and 60 FPS.”

The Hitman HD Enhanced Collection will be available to download on January 11.

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Red Dead Redemption 2 leads the way with 7 nominations at 2019 GDC Awards

Posted on January 4, 2019 by John Scalzo

gdcawardsIt looks like Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man, and God of War will be taking over another awards show, as the three games lead the way at the 2019 Game Developers Choice Awards. Rockstar’s “Cowboy Game” secured the most nominations with seven, but Sony’s Spider-Man and God of War were close behind with six apiece.

As you might have guessed, all three games are in the running for the coveted “Game of the Year” trophy, and they’ll be competing against Lucas Pope’s Return of the Obra Dinn and Matt Makes Games’s Celeste.

A handful of other games will attempt to push their way into the spotlight at this year’s GDC Awards, including Mountains’s Florence (four nominations), Enhance’s Tetris Effect (three nominations), and Nomada Studio’s Gris (two nominations).

In addition to the main awards ceremony, the GDC Awards will also present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Amy Hennig, the creator of Naughty Dog’s Uncharted franchise.

The 2019 GDC Awards ceremony will take place on on Wednesday, March 20, at 6:30 PM (Pacific Time). The full list of nominees, and all the Honorable Mentions, can be found after the break.

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