Warp Zoned Presents
Most Recent: Switch
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare repeats as the best-selling game of November 2019
Not even the combined might of two new Pokemon games could stop Call of Duty: Modern Warfare from holding on to its position as the best-selling game of November 2019… but Nintendo and Game Freak certainly made it interesting.
According to The NPD Group’s Mat Piscatella (via Twitter), three Pokemon games actually managed to crack the top five last month. Pokemon Sword sliced its way to #3, while Pokemon Shield built a stronghold at #5. Sandwiched in the middle at #4 was the Pokemon Sword + Pokemon Shield Double Pack, which was counted as a separate game by the tracking firm.
If you were wondering what would have happened if all three games were combined onto a single line, Piscatella said that the combined sales of Sword, Shield, and the Double Pack would have landed at #2 for the month (though who knows what the sales charts would have looked like if Nintendo contributed eShop sales to the dataset). Even with that caveat, new releases dominated last month’s ranking, with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (#2), Death Stranding (#7), and Need For Speed Heat (#9) in the top ten. Going further down the list, you’ll also find Just Dance 2020 at #14.
Overall, the game industry collected $2.3 billion in sales last month, a 19% drop from November of 2018. Unsurprisingly, the Nintendo Switch was once again the best-selling console during the month, and it remains the best-selling console for all of 2019.
You can find the full list of best-selling games from November 2019 after the break. (more…)
Tetris 99 adds Team Battle Mode ahead of this weekend’s 10th Maximus Cup
Nintendo has a big surprise in store for Tetris 99 players ahead of the puzzler’s 10th Maximus Cup event. The consolemaker announced today that Team Battle Mode has been added to Tetris 99, which will allow friends and strangers to compete together as comrades-in-arms:
In Team Battle Mode, players choose their favorite of four teams at the start of each game. Some teams may end up with many more members, but smaller teams receive a boost in attack power when being attacked, adding an unexpected element to each match. As players get eliminated through the course of battle, the final team standing with at least one player remaining wins. And even better, all members of the winning team can share in the victory! Players who are KO’d early in the game will go into Spectator Mode and can send “Likes” to cheer on their teammates. Players will want to stick around until their team has obtained a rank to receive their XP points. Or, if Team Battle is the active mode for a Maximus Cup event, stay for their event points.
As you might have guessed, Team Battle Mode will be the focus of this weekend’s Maximus Cup, which begins in just a few days on Friday, December 13, at 2:00 AM (Eastern Time). The contest will continue until Tuesday, December 17, at 2:00 AM (Eastern Time), and the 999 players who earn the most Event Points will receive 999 Gold Points (the equivalent of $10) to spend in the eShop.
In addition to Team Battle Mode, this update will also give Tetris 99 players the chance to unlock some of the in-game Themes that were only available through previous Maximus Cup events. The Tetris for Game Boy, Splatoon, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Super Kirby Clash Themes are all available to purchase through the Customize menu for 30 Tickets apiece.
So, where we dropping?
Jamestown+ Review: Get Your Bum to Mars
Final Form Games is a small developer based out of Philadelphia, and they originally released Jamestown, a vertically-scrolling “neoclassical” shooter, for the PC in 2011. Three years later, they brought their game to the PS4 as Jamestown+, adding a pair of bonus levels and several new ships.
But here we are in 2019 and it looks like the game is finally ready to reach its “final form” (or rather, how the developer “originally intended” to release it). That’s because the development team will bring Jamestown+ to the Switch this week with even more updates and improvements. (more…)
Bethesda will bring John Romero’s Sigil and Final Doom to Doom and Doom II on consoles
Bethesda has promised that Doom and Doom II will soon become a little bit more complete on consoles and mobile ddvices. Yesterday, the publisher hosted a 26th Anniversary Celebration for the seminal first persona shooter on Twitch, and they confirmed during the livestream that four of the franchise’s more famous fan-made expansions will soon be available to download on the PS4, Switch, Xbox One, iOS, and Android.
These expansions will be available to download, for free, through a brand new Add-Ons tab in both games. According to Bethesda, the list of “curated” add-ons will initially include Sigil, which was released just this year as the unofficial “Fifth Episode” for Doom by co-creator John Romero, and No Rest For the Living, a Doom II expansion that made its debut on the Xbox 360 in 2010.
Final Doom, a 1996 retail repackaging of TnT: Evilution and The Plutonia Experiment, will also be available to download in Doom and Doom II as part of the update. Best of all, Bethesda confirmed that more add-ons will be added to both games at a later date.
On top of all that, Bethesda is also planning a few quality of life updates for the shooters, including bumping the graphics to 60 FPS and adding options for additional aspect ratios.
It’s currently unknown when the add-on update or the quality of life update will be available, but Bethesda said that it’ll be “soon.”
Axiom Verge 2 will come to the Nintendo Switch in Fall 2020
Nintendo highlighted more than a dozen new indie games earlier today during a brand new Indie World video, and the consolemaker confirmed that they’ll all be making their way to the Switch sometime in 2020. The biggest announcement was, without a doubt, Axiom Verge 2.
Once again developed by Thomas Happ, Axiom Verge 2 takes place in Antarctica, but players will also be forced to explore a breach in reality that leads to “an ancient, alternate Earth, complete with mountains, lakes, deserts, and the ruins of a civilization.” That’s quite the mystery, but here’s what else the developer was willing to share so far:
You may think you already know the world of Axiom Verge. Think again.
Indra alone can navigate the breach. She fights for her life, empowered by the same microscopic machines that are gradually consuming her humanity. Life. Afterlife. Real. Virtual. Dream. Nightmare. It’s a thin line. It’s Axiom Verge 2.
An Announcement Trailer for Axiom Verge 2 has been embedded above, and the game will make its Switch debut in Fall 2020. The developer also said that fans can expect details on “additional platforms” for the game in the future, so it looks like Axiom Verge 2 won’t be exclusive to the Switch.
Super Crush KO will bring pastel punches to the PC and Switch on January 16, 2020
Vertex Pop has announced that Super Crush KO, their upcoming ultra-colorful brawler, will be released for the PC and Switch on January 16, 2020. If you’re unfamiliar with Super Crush KO, the development team also sent over this handy primer for the game’s pastel post-apocalypse:
Combining beat ’em up and run and gun action, Super Crush KO, has players take control of Karen, a tough and fashionable brawler in a colorful world overrun by frantic robot enemies. Karen must wipe them out using punches, kicks and long-range combat in fluid combos on the way to save her cat Chubbz and (while she’s at it) humanity. Featuring delightful hand-drawn graphics, a pastel color palette and a catchy soundtrack, this is a feel-good action game complemented with bright and stylish aesthetics.
“We are very excited to announce that Super Crush KO will soon be available on Nintendo Switch and Steam, packing fast-paced thrilling fights, intuitive controls and colorful aesthetic,” said Game Designer Mobeen Fikree. ”Super Crush KO is easy to pick up yet hard to master, but no matter the player level, everyone will have a great time smashing hordes of robot enemies in style.”
To celebrate the release date announcement, Vertex Pop also unveiled a brand new Gameplay Trailer, which has been embedded above.
Posted in News, PC, Switch
Tagged Super Crush KO
Nintendo to add Star Fox 2, Super Punch-Out!!, and more to Switch Online’s retro catalog
After a short hiatus, Nintendo has announced plans to add more games to the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System apps available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
The big news is that Star Fox 2 is coming to the Switch after making its worldwide debut as part of the Super NES Classic Edition microconsole in 2017. Development on Star Fox 2 was originally completed back in 1995, but the game was shelved due to Nintendo’s worry that it’s “primitive graphics” would reflect poorly on the then-upcoming Nintendo 64. Thankfully, the consolemaker came to their senses and now more Nintendo fans will be able to try out the long-lost sequel to Star Fox. Three other Super NES games will also be added to the app (bringing the total to 24), including Super Punch-Out!!, Kirby Super Star, and Breath of Fire II.
The Nintendo Entertainment System app will receive its 73rd and 74th games, as Nintendo confirmed that Switch Online subscribers will be able to play Crystalis (which is also available as part of the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection) and Journey to Silius next week.
More information about the latest additions can be found right here:
Super NES
- Star Fox 2 – This 3D rail-shooter and second installment of the Star Fox series was first designed for Super NES, but went unreleased until it appeared on the Super NES Classic Edition system in 2017. This time, Emperor Andross is on a crusade to conquer the Lylat system and the Star Fox team itself. After a long wait, Star Fox is back in action.
- Super Punch-Out!! – Featuring the tight gameplay and humor the series is known for, this sequel to the NES classic sees Little Mac return to the ring with the World Video Boxing Association belt once again at stake.
- Kirby Super Star – That awful King Dedede is at it again – he’s stolen all the food in Dream Land. It’s up to Kirby to get it back and ultimately save Popstar from being taken over. There’s never a dull moment as Kirby dashes, flies, and fights!
- Breath of Fire II – Set 500 years after the original, take on the role of Ryu, the last member of the Dragon Clan. A cast of unusual and exciting companions join you in your adventures across a wondrous land full of magic and mystery.
NES
- Crystalis – An epic story for action-RPG fans is ready to unfold. Set in a world where civilization lies in ruins, the young protagonist awakes from cryogenic sleep and the adventure begins. Collect the Sword of Wind and venture into the unknown.
- Journey to Silius – Join Jay on his run-and-gun mission to take down the mechanical army responsible for his father’s death. Defeat endless waves of attack robots and fulfill his father’s dream of developing a space colony in the Silius Solar System.
A short trailer featuring all six games has been embedded above, and they’ll be available to play beginning on December 12.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Star Fox 2
Kickstart This! Radical Chess, Guinea Pig Parkour, and Endless Memories
Kickstarter is like a devil’s playground of goodies just waiting to be funded. I’m currently toying with the idea of spending $1,000 on the Raine One Electric Scooter, if only for its glowing wheels and similar name to my own.
But the crowdfunding site is also one of the best ways for solo developers and small indie studios to present their project to an audience directly, which is what I love about it. Make a trailer that oozes passion and originality for a game that also looks cool, and I will throw my money at you like I’m in a strip joint.
So which games have caught my eye recently? In this edition of Kickstart This!, I will face off with Radical Chess, roll and jump in the 2D platformer Guinea Pig Parkour, and battle my way through the 2D action adventure Endless Memories. (more…)