Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Mike Ryan
Sony @ E3 2015: Horizon: Zero Dawn from Guerrilla Games announced
After the announcement of The Last Guardian, Hermen Hulst from Guerrilla Games took the stage at Sony’s E3 Press Conference to show off their newest game, Horizon: Zero Dawn.
After some unknown cataclysm darkened the cities of humanity, a female warrior was shown hunting cybernetic animals before being chased by a menacing, robotic Tyrannosaurus Rex. After a lengthy fight, She tethered the creature to the ground with grappling hooks before delivering the deathblow. From this short bit, Horizon: Zero Dawn looks great, almost like a futuristic version of Monster Hunter.
Horizon: Zero Dawn is in development for the PS4, and will be released sometime in 2016.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged E3 2015, Horizon: Zero Dawn
Sony @ E3 2015: The Last Guardian re-announced for PS4!
Sony started off their 2015 E3 Press Conference with a bang as their first announcement was the re-announcement of The Last Guardian! First shown over seven years ago, and once thought cancelled, the game has been resurrected, and even has a release window!
A new gameplay video showed off the game’s protagonist and his giant, eagle/dog companion interacting with the environment. The game definitely has an Ico/Shadow of the Colossus feel to it, with (what appears to be) a heavy emphasis on exploration and environmental puzzle-solving.
The Last Guardian is set to release for the PS4 next year.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged E3 2015, The Last Guardian
Splatoon Global Testfire Impressions: Painting the Town Red… or Green… or Purple
I have to admit, I didn’t pay much attention to Splatoon when it was first announced. It’s not that the game looked bad, it’s just that the competitive gamer in me went into hibernation a while back. I understood the concept of the game, and I thought it looked great, but there was nothing that really drew me in. Not even the thought of adding more Amiibo figuress to my ever-growing collection was enough to warrant a second look. But after having an opportunity to play Splatoon during Nintendo’s open beta this past weekend, I must say it has my attention now. (more…)
White Night Review: This Old House
I’m a real sucker for horror games. Ever since I played Shadowgate for the NES, scary and macabre games really struck a chord with me. One of the things I love most about horror games is that there is so much variety. I can paint a wall with zombie brains in one game, outrun a silent killer in the woods in another, and avoid an unstoppable space creature in a third. In the case of the recently-released downloadable title White Night, I found myself in one of my favorite horror settings: the haunted house. Nothing spooks me more than being stalked by an unseen entity. Add in a dark, decrepit mansion and an ever-dwindling supply of light, and you’ve got all the makings of a real fright fest. But where White Night shines in style, the substance makes you feel a bit like you’ve been left in the dark. (more…)
Axiom Verge Review: Hack to the Future
Each generation of video game consoles has that one defining characteristic, that one aspect that changes the paradigm of gaming as we know it. The Nintendo 64 / PlayStation era introduced us to the analog stick and disc-based media. The joys of online play were introduced in the Xbox / PS2 era. And the Xbox 360 / PS3 generation expanded on what it meant to be an “entertainment system.” That, and we were subjected to microtransactions galore. Well, some distinctions are better than others.
I believe it’s fair to say that the significant shift in this current generation is the quality of indie titles, games made by small groups of talented developers who understand that a game doesn’t have to be a Michael Bay-esque explosion-fest in order to be enjoyed. Granted, there were a lot of fantastic indie games last gen, but the scene has grown tremendously over the past few years. These dedicated folks make games that they themselves want to play. And we love them for it, because the love and enthusiasm poured into these games are evident in both the art and quality. Additionally, they offer a breath of fresh air to otherwise stagnant genres. And every so often, a game is released that’s pieced together so lovingly it reminds even the most jaded gamer why they got into this hobby in the first place. Axiom Verge is one of those games; a true masterpiece. (more…)
Posted in PC, PS4, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged Axiom Verge
Another clue points to Tom Nook, Pikmin Amiibos
My wife is currently volunteering at my son’s school book fair. While setting up, she snapped a picture of one of the Nintendo posters available for sale.
Notice anything different? Animal Crossing‘s Tom Nook and Pikmin‘s, well, Pikmin, are front-and-center on this Amiibo poster. That’s quite odd, as Nintendo hasn’t made any official announcements regarding any additional Amiibo releases outside of the Super Smash Bros. and Mario Party 10 lines. Does this mean these two characters are still in the cards as future Amiibos? And does this mean they’ll be announced soon?
Now, don’t go thinking that this poster acts as of these figures. Actually, the art is the same as this GameStop poster (via Reddit) first seen back in December. But with the final design of the new Mario Party 10 Mario figure added to the mix, one can’t help but wonder why these other characters haven’t been taken out of the image. As with any Nintendo-related rumors, take this one with the ol’ grain of salt until you hear it straight from the Big N, but I like my chances of picking up Tom Nook and Pikmin Amiibo figures someday.
Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U
Tagged Mario Party 10, Super Smash Bros. For 3DS, Super Smash Bros. For Wii U
Alien: Isolation Review: A Beautiful, Beautiful Butterfly
I consider myself quite the survival horror veteran. I was fifteen when I cut my teeth on Resident Evil. In college, my roommate and I had to take turns playing Silent Hill, and Clock Tower has me wary of all things scissors-related to this day. More recently, I tried Dead Space with the lights off… for about the first two chapters. Point being, while most of these games scared the bejesus out of me (and yes, bejesus is a word – I looked it up), they put more of an emphasis on the “horror” aspect of the game than the “survival.” By the time I reached the end of some of these games, I had enough weaponry and ammo to mow my way through countless legions of evil. When I first heard about Alien: Isolation, I thought I was in for another familiar romp through the annals of the survival horror genre. Boy, was I wrong.
And I wasn’t just wrong, but wrong wrong. The kind of wrong that bludgeoned me over the head with its wrongicity (not a word). Like the kind of wrong I was when I thought Green Lantern would be a fantastic movie. Yes, I was that misguided. And quite honestly, I couldn’t be any happier to be wrong about my preconceptions of Alien: Isolation. Because not only is this an amazing adventure, but it also truly redefines what it means to be a survival horror game. (more…)
The Walking Dead Season 2: No Going Back Review: Darling Clementine
The two adaptations of The Walking Dead produced by Telltale have been nothing short of amazing. Some of the best storytelling I’ve ever experienced in a video game has come from these titles. That’s why it makes the finale of Season 2 so bittersweet… it means I’ll have to wait another year (at least) to see what happens in Season 3.
Last season, this wasn’t much of a problem: I purchased the full season when it was on sale, but it stayed in my backlog until Season 2 was announced. Then, I blazed through the first set of episodes in a five-day emotional rollercoaster. Once it was completed, I only had to wait a few months for the next chapter in Clementine’s struggle for survival.
But for now, I must wait. And it will be excruciating. Because chapter five of Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead Season 2, No Going Back, marks the conclusion of one of the greatest games I’ve ever played. (more…)