Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Mike Gutierrez
Pac-Man and Galaga reimagined for 3DS
Namco Bandai announced yesterday that two of their most legendary franchises will see new treatments taking advantage of some of the Nintendo 3DS’ more distinctive features. No specific release date was mentioned, but sometime this year the publisher will release Pac-Man and Galaga Dimensions, one package including the new Pac-Man Tilt and Galaga 3D Impact. Both games heavily utilize the 3DS’ gyroscope; Pac-Man Tilt has players, you guessed it, tilting their 3DS from side to side to work Pac-Man through 2D platforming levels while Galaga 3D Impact has you play from the seat of a turret, moving around to locate and shoot down the Galaga forces coming at you.
Both games seem to deviate greatly from from the formulas we’ve all grown accustomed to, but it’s definitely a cool thing to see them make new gameplay types using all the 3DS has to offer, instead of just giving us the same game from the 80’s in 3D.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions
Pink Knight coming to PSN Castle Crashers February 8, XBL later
The Behemoth announced that the most requested playable character will soon be joining Castle Crashers – the pink knight. She (or he) comes bundled with a lollipop and four other new weapons to form the Pink Knight pack, which will be available for $1.99 (ok, not so cool) from the PlayStation Store. All sales will be donated to Breast Cancer Research (ok, this is actually pretty cool). The DLC hits PSN on February 8th and XBL at a later date.
It’s great to see this game making waves, even three years after its initial release. Senior Editor Nicole Kline and I have been eagerly waiting throw down on some co-op in this beat ’em up ever since the PSN version was announced, but for some reason we never took the plunge. I’d be willing to bet money (and possibly my life) this announcement is more than enough to push her over the edge, as The Behemoth properly noted “Warning: Adorable.”
Posted in News
Tagged Castle Crashers
Dirt 3 getting global release May 24
Codemasters announced via Facebook today that the latest entry in their acclaimed rally racing franchise, Dirt 3, will be launching in all regions on May 24, 2011. The franchise previously went by the title Colin McRae: Dirt in European countires, but this is the first game in the series to completely drop McRae, the Scottish racer who died in 2007, from the title.
Dirt 3 will feature split screen, cockpit view, and a new racing mode, gymkhana. The game will be available on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
Rumored Halo: Combat Evolved remake materializing November 15, 2011
In an act of miraculous prescience, Joystiq is claiming to have learned that some kind of “sort of full remake, but not really” is underway for Halo: Combat Evolved. To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the franchise, New Jersey native (woo!) and developer of TimeShift (boo!) Saber Interactive is executing the project. Features claimed to be hashed out include 1080p, 3D television support, more modern control configurations, and the series’ trademark online co-op. The unannounced remake even supposedly has an unannounced release date: November 15, 2011.
The game will be more than just an HD upgrade, with all new art assets but created with an different engine from the one used in Halo: Reach. The audio is expected to remain unaltered, and I have no idea why.
It’s good to see Microsoft finally getting on the HD-remake bandwagon, and there’s certainly no better time to do it for their flagship franchise than its 10th anniversary. Still, this is essentially the fourth Halo game in a span of three years.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Halo: Combat Evolved
Special unlock for early purchasers of Pokemon Black & White
Nintendo is on a mission: to make sure Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White Version have as big of a launch as possible. To do it, they have announced today that anyone who purchases the fifth generation of Pokemon games from its March 6 release date up until April 10, 2011 will receive a Liberty Pass through Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The pass allows them to catch the cute little guy pictured to the left (throwing up the V for Victory), the Mythical Pokemon Victini. The Victory Pokemon Victini is allegedly the first to be both Psychic and Fire-based (two of my favorite varieties in one) and has the Victory Star ability, which increases the accuracy of itself and other Pokemon the trainer is using in battle. This is actually a pretty great ace to have for some of the three-member battles being introduced in Pokemon Black & White.
Pokemon Black & White Versions add more than 150 new pocket monsters to the Pokedex and will be available in the U.S. on March 6, 2011 for $34.99 on the Nintendo DS.
Posted in DS
Tagged Pokemon Black/White
Dragon Age II demo coming February 22
Bioware and EA have announced today that a special demo for the highly anticipated Dragon Age II will be coming to PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on February 22, 2011. Players will choose one of three classes and play through the prologue, learning more about the new protagonist Hawke. The demo then progresses to the new location of Kirkwall where they will meet the deadly smuggler and potential love interest Isabella. Completing the demo will unlock Hayder’s Razor, which grants additional health, mana, and combat abilities in the full retail version of the game. This seems to be a new promotional tool by EA, as the Bulletstorm demo also included unlocks for the full retail version upon completion.
Seems like a pretty sweet deal – sample the game and if you like it, here’s a bonus to use in the retail version. Dragon Age II is set to release on the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on March 11, 2011.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Tagged Dragon Age II
Killzone 3 Retro Map Pack revealed, public multiplayer beta begins today
Pre-orders at participating retailers for Killzone 3 were revealed to include not only access to the multiplayer beta for SOCOM 4, but the mysterious Retro Map Pack, which was to include two fan favorite multiplayer maps from the previous game, Killzone 2. Guerilla Games finally revealed yesterday on the PlayStation Blog what those maps would be – Salamun Market (a market district in between high-rises and the winding alleyways running through them) and Blood Gracht (slums adjacent to a canal). Both maps are a little different this time, as they both take place during the day. Also, Helghan’s wild vegetation has started to overrun Blood Gracht while the mechs from the Killzone universe, now available in multiplayer, will be up for grabs on the Salamun Market map. Salamun Market was particularly great for large scale skirmishes, while Blood Gracht was arguably perfect for four-on-four matches. The map pack comes free for those who pre-ordered the game at select retailers (again, only Gamestop, Best Buy, and Amazon are listed) and will be available for purchase from the PlayStation Store.
I’m very, very surprised the maps weren’t Radec Academy and Pyrrhus Rise. Killzone 2 still has tons of servers running 24/7 Radec Academy Body Count games (re: Team Deathmatch) and Pyrrhus Rise was always the favorite for the full seven rounds of Warzone. The two maps here are pleasantly surprising and excellent choices, though, especially with the changes Guerilla introduced. Also, be sure to check the PlayStation Store at 10:00am Pacific Time (1:00pm here on the East Coast) for the public multiplayer beta of Killzone 3. You’ll also be able to win a super exclusive Limited Helghast Edition of Killzone 3 if you play this weekend from Friday to Sunday.
Posted in PS3
Tagged Killzone 3
Demo for Yakuza 4 coming to PlayStation Store
Sega’s European and American divisions announced today that the latest entry in Japan’s answer to Grand Theft Auto, Yakuza 4, will have a downloadable demo coming to the PlayStation Store. The demo will come early for PlayStation Plus subscribers on February 16, 2011, and a week later for all PSN users on February 23. One unique aspect Yakuza 4 brought to the series was the inclusion of four playable characters, and you’ll be able to try out all of them when the demo hits.
Yakuza 3 and 4 on the PlayStation 3 were those kind of rare gems from the East no one really expected to eventually make their way to American shores. These games coming over is proof that Sega still does a few things incredibly right.