It’s Over! Click Here to See the Winner!
With its spreadsheets, massive drafting guides, and heavy emphasis on statistics, your average Fantasy Football league is run more like a role-playing game than a sports contest. So as we were putting together our Fall gaming preview, we thought, why not combine the two? And thus was born… the Video Game Fantasy League.
Warp Zoned’s staff got together and “drafted” eight games from this Fall’s release schedule in hopes of creating the best-reviewed team of games. The rules are simple. Each staff member was required to draft a PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Wii U game. The final two positions were reserved for a handheld game (3DS or Vita) and a Wild Card slot that could be filled with a game from any platform. Points are scored based on how well-reviewed each game is and points are locked in based on a game’s Metacritic average a month after a game has been released. Any game delayed into 2015 will receive a big fat zero.
Our draft, and the games we’re most looking forward to this Fall, looks a little something like this…
Round 1
1. John Scalzo, Editor-In-Chief – Super Smash Bros. For Wii U
2. Nicole Kline, Senior Editor – Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
3. Mike Ryan, Staff Writer – Hyrule Warriors
4. Andrew Rainnie, UK Correspondent – Assassin’s Creed: Unity
5. Allen Jenkins, Contributor – Lords of the Fallen
Wii U exclusives are thin on the ground, so it’s unsurprising that two would be taken in the first round. Nintendo has heavily ramped up promotion for Super Smash Bros. For Wii U and Hyrule Warriors over the last few weeks and both are shaping up to be system sellers for the Wii U. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel may have changed developers, but the spirit of Gearbox’s loot-happy franchise remains. And while it’s not flashy, picking an Assassin’s Creed game early is a smart play as the next-gen exclusive Assassin’s Creed: Unity went fourth. The big surprise is Lords of the Fallen. Bandai Namco’s medieval brawler has got people talking, but no one knows if it can hang with the big boys of the Fall just yet.
Round 2
1. John – Destiny
2. Nicole – LittleBigPlanet 3
3. Mike – Halo: The Master Chief Collection
4. Andrew – Sunset Overdrive
5. Allen – Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby
Gamers definitely know what to expect from Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby, which is why they were both picked in the second round. An Xbox One-exclusive box set of the first four Halo games is something that everybody wants and Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby is a nice stop gap before the next full-fledged Pokemon game. And even though there was a developer switch, LittleBigPlanet 3 is a known commodity as well. It’s Destiny where things get tricky. Bungie’s experiment in “shared-world” gaming doesn’t have a proven track record and critics are already pushing back against it. Sunset Overdrive, on the other hand, seems like a return to form for Insomniac after the dourness of the Resistance franchise.
Round 3
1. John – Alien: Isolation
2. Nicole – Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call
3. Mike – Super Smash Bros. For 3DS
4. Andrew – Bayonetta 2
5. Allen – Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Very few licensed games were in this Fall’s draft pool, but Alien: Isolation has to be the most anticipated. Even after everything Gearbox did to damage the brand, everything gamers have seen from Creative Assembly has been right on the money. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor is less hyped, but it will surely deliver the Lord of the Rings experience that fans are hoping for. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call and Super Smash Bros. For 3DS are two very different games, but both are among a small crop of major 3DS releases for the next four months. If Smash Bros. 3DS lives up to even half the hype, it would be a steal in the middle of the third round. And then there’s Bayonetta 2. Nintendo’s first Wii U-exclusive produced outside their wheelhouse is a curiosity for fans of the first game and it may even bring in plenty of Nintendo fans who missed out on the witch’s first adventure.
Round 4
1. John – Far Cry 4
2. Nicole – Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom
3. Mike – Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
4. Andrew – Assassin’s Creed: Rogue
5. Allen – Pier Solar and the Great Architects HD
Far Cry 4, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and Assassin’s Creed: Rogue. Once again, familiar names dominate this round, which closes out the first half of the draft. Ubisoft is putting some considerable marketing muscle behind Far Cry 4 and it looks just as impressive as the third game, but Activision’s Advanced Warfare comes from the (relatively) untested Sledgehammer Games, and Rogue is a previous-gen game in a next-gen world. Critical reception may not be as kind. Meanwhile, Pier Solar and the Great Architects HD may get a retro bump for its familiar, but wholly original, take on 16-bit RPGs. And Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom might just crack the Adventure Time curse. This series is due for a good game adaptation.
Round 5
1. John – Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
2. Nicole – Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
3. Mike – Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes
4. Andrew – FIFA 15
5. Allen – Dragon Age: Inquisition
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker are clearly the first “sleepers” to be taken in this draft. Neither has a very high profile, but both charmed critics at the Summer game conventions. However, both are still without final release dates and could slip into 2015. That is definitely not the case with Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. Disney’s 2.0 upgrade to their Infinity platform adds Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and is shaping up to be a contender when it comes to the family-friendly crown of WB’s Lego-branded games. Dragon Age: Inquisition should bring in the typical BioWare crowd, and FIFA 15 will do likewise with footie fans.
Round 6
1. John – Escape Dead Island
2. Nicole – Battlefield: Hardline
3. Mike – Civilization: Beyond Earth
4. Andrew – Citizens of Earth
5. Allen – The Evil Within
The sixth round introduces a few of this Fall’s big question marks. Escape Dead Island could be a bizarro trip, but it could also slip and fall from one too many zombie-induced hallucinations. Battlefield: Hardline gives Visceral a shot at the venerable franchise, but will critics feel fatigue after Battlefield 4’s lousy launch? However, The Evil Within is the biggest question of all. The game has looked different every time Bethesda has shown it off, and the final game’s form is still a big what if. But we have to admit, we’re intrigued. It’s a bit of a surprise that Civilization: Beyond Earth fell this far, but it’s also unlike anything Firaxis has done in a long time. That leaves us with Citizens of Earth, which, again, will likely get a retro RPG bump. If nothing else, it looks great.
Round 7
1. John – Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal
2. Nicole – Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
3. Mike – Costume Quest 2
4. Andrew – Freedom Wars
5. Allen – WWE 2K15
Round 8
1. John – Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris
2. Nicole – Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
3. Mike – NBA 2K15
4. Andrew – Forza Horizon 2
5. Allen – Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
The final two rounds went by in a flurry as our writers picked out the remaining major releases with lightning speed. Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris could be the ultimate sleeper pick as the first game in Crystal Dynamics’ puzzle-heavy side-series was so good. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number and Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth are also both great late picks as the first Hotline Miami game has built up a lot of good will for the sequel and Persona Q brings the franchise to the 3DS for the first time.
The drafting brought plenty of surprises, but the Warp Zoned staff is ready for a hard-fought Fall gaming season. You can check back next month for the first scoring update, but until then, it’s time for the trash talk…
John Scalzo
Aside from Destiny, is there any Fall release more hyped up than Super Smash Bros. For Wii U? I guess it’s a good thing I was able to snag both of them, huh? And with Ubisoft banging the drum heavily for Far Cry 4 (now with elephants… now with elephants… now with elephants), it’s sure to be a smash. I have to admit, I’m a bit worried about Alien: Isolation. Even though it’s wholly separate from Colonial Marines, I have my doubts it can escape the stink of that game. But I am not worried at all about Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions or Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris. The previous games in these franchises are beloved, and I think that I’m personally not looking forward to anything this Fall more than either of them. As for Escape Dead Island and Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal, what can I say? I needed to fill two slots and both of them are interesting in different ways.
Nicole Kline
It’s a no-brainer why I chose Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. It’s not only the best game coming out this Fall, I’d argue it’s the best game coming out this year. I’m stoked to play it and you should be, too. The only game that will give it a run for its money as far as I’m concerned is LittleBigPlanet 3. I got to play both of them at PAX Prime and I cannot wait to get my hands on them. Of course, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call is already out, and it’s like the first one, only better, which I didn’t think was possible. And I’ll be the first to admit that Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom was probably not my best call, but I feel like third time’s the charm – this game HAS to be good, right? Right???
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is one of Nintendo’s sneak attack sure-fire winners, like so many others they seem to have up their sleeves at all times. Battlefield: Hardline and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax were two of my safe bets, and I’m fairly certain that my wild card, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, is going to turn heads as fast as the first one did.
Mike Ryan
I went with veterans of the gaming league to guarantee my victory. Even Hyrule Warriors is like two sequels merged into one, which puts it at some kind of number I can’t fathom at this time. After scouting various prospects, I believe my picks have what it takes to destroy the competition. I’ve got my heavy hitters Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and The Master Chief Collection, and backing them up are my stamina-strong players Smash Bros. For 3DS and NBA 2K15. These guys have a proven track record, and I don’t expect anything less than TOTAL DOMINATION! Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes will bring in not only the fan service, but extra profit from merchandising. Civilization: Beyond Earth may be close to retirement, but he’s still got some spring in his step. And after seeing what the first Costume Quest was capable of, I put my faith in Costume Quest 2, and I know I won’t be let down.
Go Team Sequel!
Allen Jenkins
My picks for this year’s Video Game Fantasy league are mostly based on nostalgia– but I was never one to pick based on logic! Always a sucker for High Fantasy, I couldn’t resist Lords of the Fallen, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, nor the continuation of one of my favorite RPGs, Dragon Age: Inquisition. Of course, I couldn’t go wrong by picking Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby. I missed Hoenn the first time around, but I’m planning on picking up a second 3DS this year just so my girlfriend and I (dedicated Pokemon fans) can experience the adventure together. Pier Solar HD was my Wii U pick– how could I pass up a port of one of the most famous homebrew Sega Genesis games? My list is rounded out by an eclectic assortment of games I can’t say I know anything about: The Evil Within, WWE 2K15, and Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth. Honestly, being the last to pick, I was sort of just dealing with what was left over. And I refused to pick Sonic Boom.
UPDATE: The final standings are in:
1. Mike Ryan
PC – Civilization: Beyond Earth (81)
PS3 – Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (74)
PS4 – Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (83)
Xbox 360 – NBA 2K15 (87)
Xbox One – Halo: The Master Chief Collection (86)
Wii U – Hyrule Warriors (75)
3DS/Vita – Super Smash Bros. For 3DS (85)
Wild Card – Costume Quest 2 (67)
TOTAL: 638
2. Allen Jenkins
PC – Dragon Age: Inquisition (89)
PS3 – WWE 2K15 (62)
PS4 – Lords of the Fallen (74)
Xbox 360 – The Evil Within (80)
Xbox One – Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (87)
Wii U – Pier Solar and the Great Architects HD (68)
3DS/Vita – Pokemon Alpha Sapphire/Omega Ruby (83)
Wild Card – Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (85)
TOTAL: 628
3. John Scalzo
PC – Far Cry 4 (85)
PS3 – Escape Dead Island (54)
PS4 – Destiny (76)
Xbox 360 – Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (85)
Xbox One – Alien: Isolation (81)
Wii U – Super Smash Bros. For Wii U (92)
3DS/Vita – Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal (45)
Wild Card – Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris (77)
TOTAL: 595
4. Andrew Rainnie
PC – Citizens of Earth (0)
PS3 – Assassin’s Creed: Rogue (73)
PS4 – Assassin’s Creed: Unity (74)
Xbox 360 – FIFA 15 (82)
Xbox One – Sunset Overdrive (82)
Wii U – Bayonetta 2 (91)
3DS/Vita – Freedom Wars (74)
Wild Card – Forza Horizon 2 (86)
TOTAL: 562
5. Nicole Kline
PC – Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (76)
PS3 – Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (86)
PS4 – LittleBigPlanet 3 (79)
Xbox 360 – Adventure Time: The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom (0)
Xbox One – Battlefield: Hardline (0)
Wii U – Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (81)
3DS/Vita – Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call (82)
Wild Card – Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number (0)
TOTAL: 404
