Warp Zoned Presents
Author: Mike Ryan
PictoParty Review: Drawing Up Good Times
To say that the Wii had a wealth of party games would be an understatement. Nintendo’s motion-controlled system stood out as as a veritable Mecca for games that required a large group of people to play. Unfortunately, as the Wii aged and software sales dried up, so did the party games. That, coupled with the rather unsatisfying sales of the Wii U, meant that those types of games became a rare commodity on the system. But a few party games, including the recently-released PictoParty, do still make it onto the Wii U through the eShop. It’s a lone survivor in a wasteland of long-forgotten party games, and a title billed as “fun for the whole family.” And after playing it with the family, I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. (more…)
Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Wii U
Tagged PictoParty
I Am Bread Review: Toasty!
Every year, video game companies spend thousands of hours and millions of dollars creating the next big title. Press conferences are held long before a launch date is announced, trailerss are produced showcasing the various features, and huge events are planned for the eventual midnight release. Fans cosplay as the game’s main character at conventions, while others upload artwork to their favorite forums. Downloadable content is planned to keep new content coming for years. Books are written expanding the universe, movies are released, and people take the day off of work just to buy the next exciting installment in the game’s story.
And then there’s the game where you play as a piece of bread. (more…)
Posted in PC, PS4, Reviews, Top Story
Tagged I Am Bread
Lego Jurassic World Review: Spared (Mostly) No Expense
Jurassic Park holds a very special place in my heart. When I first read the novel at 12 years old, I remember closing it and saying to myself, “This needs to be made into a movie.” Little did I know that Stephen Spielberg was already filming the movie as I was reading it. And when the movie came out, it was an amazing experience. After seeing it in the theater, I remember being scared to death as I was riding my bike home, thinking that every noise was a Dilophosaurus hunting me down. Weeks later, I saved my Chuck E. Cheese tickets just to get a raptor stuffed animal and collected Jurassic Park trading cards. I even supersized my Extra Value Meals at McDonalds in order to get the collector’s cups. I was fully engulfed in the dino-mania that was sweeping the globe. Everything about Jurassic Park was amazing, with one exception… the video games.
The Jurassic Park games for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis were completely different, but unfortunately, neither hit that high standard set by the book and movie. I rented Jurassic Park for the Super Nintendo and found the mixture of overhead exploration and first-person shooter to be quite shallow. My friend had the Sega Genesis game, and while I did enjoy the graphics, animation, and 2D style, I found it too difficult to enjoy. Since then, I haven’t really found a Jurassic Park game that I enjoyed – that is, until Lego Jurassic World. Playing it brought back fond memories of growing up watching these movies, and while it isn’t perfect, Lego Jurassic World is still a fun romp. (more…)
Nintendo announces Samus-less Metroid Prime: Federation Force
Another announcement you might have missed during Nintendo’s E3 Digital Event was Metroid Prime: Federation Force. The game, which retains the Prime series’ first-person adventure style, places a heavy emphasis on co-op missions. You and up to three teammates will work to eliminate enemies and complete missions.
When you’re done with your alien genocide, you can relax and play a game of “Blast Ball,” a three-on-three competitive game that requires players to blast balls into each others’ goals. Kind of like soccer with a giant ball. And arm cannons.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is set to invade 3DS systems in 2016.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged E3 2015, Metroid Prime: Federation Force
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes brings a triple threat
During their E3 Digital Event, Nintendo announced the newest entry in the Zelda franchise: The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes. The game, which comes to the 3DS this Fall, retains the same birds-eye view seen in classic titles and, more recently, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Cooperative gameplay is a focus here, as each player controls one of three differently-colored Links. You’ll need to rely on teamwork, as all three Links share the same health. The Links can also hop on each others’ shoulders to create a Totem pole in order to reach inaccessible areas and solve puzzles.
Outfits will also play a role in the game. You’ll need to equip Link with different costumes in order to utilize their abilities. The Lucky Loungewear, for example, increases your odds of not taking damage after getting hit. Additionally, the Big Bomb Outfit allows you to carry and toss large bombs as if they were their smaller counterparts.
Tri Force Heroes is set to hit the 3DS this fall.
Posted in 3DS, News
Tagged E3 2015, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
Street Fighter V: Here comes a new challenger! And another!
The 2015 E3 Expo might be over, but we’re still digging through everything we saw. For example, during Sony’s E3 Press Conference, Capcom announced the addition of two more fighters to the Street Fighter V lineup. Cammie, who first appeared in Super Street Fighter II, and Birdie, who we haven’t seen since Street Fighter Alpha, will be mixing it up with the already-announced Ryu, Chun-Li, Charlie, and M. Bison.
Additionally, the PlayStation 4-exclusive online beta program will roll out from July 23rd to July 28th. The only way to get access to this online beta is to pre-order the game through select retailers or through the PlayStation Network. But there will be more beta programs taking place throughout the year, so stay tuned!
Street Fighter V will hit the PS4 and PC in Spring 2016.
Posted in News, PC, PS4
Tagged E3 2015, Street Fighter V
“Have yourself a time” with South Park: The Fractured But Whole announcement trailer
One of the biggest surprises out of this year’s E3 came from Ubisoft. South Park: The Fractured But Whole, the sequel to the award-winning RPG title South Park: The Stick of Truth was announced during Ubisoft’s press conference.
Instead of donning their Game of Thrones-inspired garb, the boys of South Park will take on their superhero alter-egos, as seen in the “Coon and Friends” trilogy of episodes from 2010. The game will retain the turn-based RPG elements, and is once again being written by series creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. However, Stick of Truth developer Obsidian Entertainment has handed the development reins over to Ubisoft San Francisco.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole will be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. No release date was given, but let’s hope that that game doesn’t experience the same turbulent development history that the first one did.
EA unveils Survival Missions for Star Wars: Battlefront with new trailer
Worried that the only way to play Star Wars: Battlefront is to do so competitively? Well, worry no further! At E3, EA announced Survival Missions, which are challenges set on several planets in the Star Wars universe. Your goal, as with any survival mission, is to make it out alive. These missions will be playable cooperatively both on-and-offline, so if you and a friend would rather take on waves of AI-controlled Stormtroopers, you’re set.
Star Wars: Battlefront hits the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on November 11th. Until then, enjoy the latest (gorgeous) trailer, which explores a Survival Mission on Tattooine.