Warp Zoned Presents
All Articles: E3 2017
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is even crazier than we all thought it would be
I’m not sure what was weirder, seeing Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot brandishing guns on stage at Ubisoft’s E3 Press Conference, or seeing Mario wield the same futuristic weaponry in the trailer for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.
While I chew over that question, let’s look at what we finally know for sure about the worst-kept-secret in all of gaming. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a turn-based tactical RPG that takes place on the battlefields of the Mushroom Kingdom. Players will attempt to outflank the enemy and deliver a victorious blast using advanced “combat tactics” and a “cover system”:
Mario and his friends will use hundreds of never-before-seen weapons to strategically take out enemies in true Rabbids style – with the occasional well-timed misfire. Players will use turn-based combat to strategically move their heroes across the battlefield to gain higher ground, utilize the pipe system and destructible environments, and receive a friendly boost from their teammates to get into their optimal firing position. Utilizing combat tactics and the cover system, players will explore the four unique worlds with their team of heroes defeating foes, gathering collectibles and solving puzzles along their quest.
In the main campaign for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, players will form a team of three unique characters, customizing their abilities via each character’s dedicated skill tree to form the perfect trio. In the game’s additional co-op challenges, players team up with a friend in local multiplayer, where they’ll play three levels of difficulty, taking on adversaries as a team. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will take advantage of the ability of Nintendo Switch to be played anywhere, anytime and is fully functioning on the go for both solo and co-op players.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will be available exclusively for the Switch on August 29. Players will be able to pick up the game-only Standard Edition, or opt for the more opulent Collector’s Edition, which will include the game, a Rabbid Mario figurine by Ubicollectibles, a set of collector cards, and a soundtrack CD. And everyone who pre-orders the game will receive a code to download an exclusive set of eight in-game weapons with unique stats.
Finally, Ubisoft also released a behind-the-scenes video with the developers of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and you can find it after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged E3 2017, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Ubisoft arrr-nnounced Skull and Bones at E3 2017 with two trailers
Travel back with me to the year 2013, and Ubisoft’s launch of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. The then-newest game in the franchise featured a very popular pirate theme, and many fans asked Ubisoft to produce a full game about buccaneers sailing the seven seas.
Today, at the 2017 E3 Expo, they delivered with a debut Cinematic Trailer (with a very serious cover of Seal’s “Crazy”) for Skull and Bones. Developed by Ubisoft Singapore, players will go on a quest for booty in Skull and Bones, as well as engage in naval combat with other pirate ships during the “Golden Age of Piracy”:
It is the Golden Age of Piracy. Renegade captains command the most powerful weapons on Earth: warships. You are a pirate captain who has refused the king’s pardon and sailed from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, an untamed frontier full of lavish riches. However, these waters are also a battleground where far-reaching colonial empires, powerful trading corporations, and ruthless pirate gangs clash. In order to survive, you will have to build a lethal fleet, prey upon lucrative trade routes, and ally with other pirates in your endless struggle for supremacy.
Skull and Bones Features
- Dominate a Dangerous Open Ocean: A shared open world that reacts as you plunder rich trade routes
- Customize Your Pirate Experience: Choose your captain, recruit your crew and build deadly ships
- Naval Combat Redefined: Use your weapons, spyglass and even the wind to stalk and destroy your prey
- Play Solo or Co-Op: Raid the Hunting Grounds alone or group with other players to hunt larger prey
- Explosive Multiplayer: Enter the Disputed Waters and fight for supremacy in a variety of game modes
Skull and Bones will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One in Fall 2018, but Ubisoft is currently accepting applications for an upcoming Closed Beta at the game’s official website. Also, be sure to check out an additional Gameplay Trailer after the break. (more…)
Just Dance 2018 will launch for all current consoles (and the Wii) on October 24
I can’t believe it… someone is still producing Wii games in 2017. Ubisoft has announced that Just Dance 2018 will be available on October 24 for all current consoles (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii U), as well as the original Wii.
The Just Dance 2018 soundtrack will include more than 40 songs, and Ubisoft delivered a sneak peek at the first 11 as part of the game’s first trailer:
Just Dance 2018 Tracklist… So Far
- Ariana Grande (featuring Nicki Minaj) – “Side To Side”
- Bebe Rexha (featuring Lil Wayne) – “The Way I Are (Dance With Somebody)”
- Beyonce – “Naughty Girl”
- Big Freedia – “Make it Jingle”
- Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
- Clean Bandit (featuring Sean Paul & Anne-Marie) – “Rockabye”
- Groove Century – “Daddy Cool”
- Hatsune Miku – “Love Ward”
- HyunA – Bubble Pop!”
- Jamiroquai – Automaton”
- Shakira (featuring Maluma) – “Chantaje”
Ubisoft also announced plans for an exclusive addition to Just Dance 2018 on the Switch that makes use of the console’s HD Rumble feature. Players will be able to grab two Joy-Con controllers and load up Double Rumble Mode to create “new Double Rumble choreographies that are tied to the game’s vibration system.”
But don’t worry, six players will still be able to bust a move in Just Dance 2018 with the mobile-friendly Just Dance Controller App on the PS4, Switch, Wii U, and Xbox One.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 makes a surprise appearance at E3 2017 with a new trailer
Nicely played, Ubisoft.
Though they previously said that Beyond Good and Evil 2 wouldn’t make an appearance at the 2017 E3 Expo, the publisher shocked their fans with a brand new trailer for the long-in-development title.
As expected, Beyond Good and Evil 2 is a prequel that takes place many years before the original game. So don’t expect to run into Jade as you dash and jump through the game’s futuristic locales. But here’s what fans can expect to see in Beyond Good and Evil 2:
Journey to System 3, for the prequel to one of Ubisoft’s most beloved games! Fight alongside unforgettable characters in a stunning new solar system, as you struggle for freedom and the right to determine your own fate among the stars. Play the adventure by yourself or with friends in a vast and seamless online playground.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 is the spiritual successor to the cult classic, a prequel that will transport players into a profoundly multicultural world, capturing the spirit of the original with grandiose decors and intense dramas that play out across a vast universe.
System 3 has become the center of interstellar trade and colonization in the Milky Way of the 24th century, thanks to the creation of Hybrid slaves. While private enterprises fight over resources and power, the first colonists weave together the rich and diverse spiritual and cultural heritages of Old Earth to give meaning to their existence. In this new era of piracy, we will rise from lowly pirate to legendary captain at the helm of massive star-faring vessels, adventuring alongside crews of colorful characters to fight for freedom and the right to determine our own fate among the stars!
If this sounds like a world you’d like to live in, then you’re in luck. Ubisoft is inviting fans to participate in the development process for Beyond Good and Evil 2 with the Space Monkey Program. Sign up at the website to participate, and learn more about the game’s backstory with a series of articles from the developers.
But if your head is still spinning from the new trailer and all this information, don’t worry, Director Michel Ancel is here to help. After Ubisoft’s Press Conference ended, the publisher uploaded a “Trailer Breakdown” video where the developer explains just what the heck is going on.
Beyond Good and Evil 2 has no release date, and we still don’t know which platforms it’ll appear on, but you can find the “Trailer Breakdown” with Michel Ancel after the break. (more…)
The alternate history of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus heads to America on October 27
MachineGames shook the world with the release of Wolfenstein: The New Order back in 2014. And it looks like they’re poised to do it again as Bethesda unveiled Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus during their E3 Press Conference late last night.
This time, the story shifts to America as BJ Blazkowicz works to defy the Nazis and start a second American Revolution in Roswell, New Orleans, and a post-nuclear Manhattan. You can see just where the story is headed in the trailer embedded above, or you can take a look at Blazkowicz’s anti-Nazi battle plan (courtesy of the developer) right here:
Story
America, 1961. Your assassination of Nazi General Deathshead was a short-lived victory. Despite the setback, the Nazis maintain their stranglehold on the world. You are BJ Blazkowicz, AKA “Terror-Billy,” member of the Resistance, scourge of the Nazi empire, and humanity’s last hope for liberty. Only you have the guts, guns, and gumption to return stateside, kill every Nazi in sight, and spark the second American Revolution.The Mission: Liberate America from the Nazis
Strap in for a heart-pounding journey as you fight the Nazi war machine on American soil. As BJ Blazkowicz, protect your family and friends, forge new alliances and face the demons of your troubled past as you rally pockets of resistance to overthrow the Nazi occupation.The People: Rally the Resistance
Immerse yourself in a world brought to life by unforgettable characters who bring a new level of personality to the franchise. Reunite with your friends and fellow freedom fighters such as Anya, Caroline, Bombate, Set, Max Hass, Fergus or Wyatt, and befriend new characters such as Horton and Grace as you take on the evil Frau Engel and her Nazi army.The Arsenal: Wield Devastating Guns and Future Tech
Blast Nazis to bits with high-tech weaponry such as the Laserkraftwerk, a multi-purpose, high-intensity laser weapon that can disintegrate enemies, or the Dieselkraftwerk, a rapid-fire, gas-powered grenade launcher that can devastate groups of enemies, or get up close and personal with advanced pistols, submachine guns, and hatchets. When you need a little more versatility, upgrade and dual-wield your favorite guns!The Plan: Kill Every Nazi in Your Way
Everyone’s favorite pastime! Unleash your inner war hero as you annihilate Nazis in new and hyper-violent ways. Lock and load futuristic guns and discover BJ’s new set of abilities as you fight to free America. Regardless of your playstyle, invent all-new ways of stabbing, shooting, and killing Nazis.
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on October 27.
New Kingdom Hearts III trailer brings back Hercules and Mount Olympus
We still don’t have any idea when Kingdom Hearts III will be released, but Square Enix has released a brand new trailer for the action RPG ahead of this year’s E3 Expo. The Gameplay Trailer brings back the world of Hercules, as Sora battles the Heartless on Mount Olympus:
In this action-packed trailer, Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy help Hercules battle various forms of Heartless on Mount Olympus through gorgeous visuals and gameplay. Fans will see Sora in a new form, which allows him to perform special powerful solo and joint attacks on his enemies. A new glimpse into the game’s storyline reveals a reunion with Disney villains Hades, Maleficent, and Pete as they discuss the location of a mysterious item while Sora is faced with a dilemma in an effort to bring back an old friend.
Kingdom Hearts III is currently in development for the PS4 and Xbox One, and Square Enix also promised that another new trailer for the game would be unveiled at the D23 Expo on July 15.
Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged E3 2017, Kingdom Hearts III
Bethesda’s Doom VFR puts the [censored] in virtual reality sometime this year
Bethesda and id Software are delivering another dose of Doom later this year, but not in the way you’d expect. Doom VFR will launch sometime before the end of the year exclusively as a virtual reality experience for the HTC Vive and PS4’s PlayStation VR:
Available for PlayStation VR and Vive platforms, this Doom adventure will bathe you in virtual carnage. Developed by id Software, the studio that pioneered the first-person shooter genre and modern VR, Doom VFR brings the fast-paced, brutal gameplay fans of the series love to virtual reality. Immerse yourself in the UAC facility on Mars and the depths of Hell, as your skills are put to the test through intense combat and challenging puzzle-solving. Play as a cybernetic survivor who is activated by the UAC to fight the demon invasion, maintain order, and prevent catastrophic failure at the Mars facility. Lay waste to an army of demonic foes as you explore and interact with the outlandish world of Doom from an entirely new perspective.
Set shortly after the demonic invasion on the UAC’s Martian research facility, you are the last known human survivor – until your death. Under a top-secret UAC operational contingency protocol, your consciousness is transferred to an artificial brain matrix. Your designated purpose: restore operational stability and use any means necessary to stop the onslaught of demons.
Even if they’re not ready to make the virtual reality leap yet, I’m sure longtime Doom fans appreciate the addition of the “F” in Doom VFR.
Skyrim on the Switch will include Link’s Breath of the Wild costume and motion controls
Bethesda has brought The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to several new platforms since its launch in 2011, including a Remastered re-release on the PS4 and Xbox One last year, and an upcoming release this Fall on the Nintendo Switch. So what can the publisher to make it appeal to adventurers who may have played it before? Just add Link!
OK, Skyrim players on the Switch won’t be playing as Link, but they’ll be able to outfit their hero with the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and Champion’s Tunic from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild by tapping an Amiibo to the controller. And that’s not all, other Amiibo figures will provide chests with additional loot. Bethesda will also add motion controls to Skyrim, and it can be played on the go as well:
Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – the epic fantasy masterpiece from Bethesda Game Studios – arrives for the Nintendo Switch. The legendary open-world adventure where you can be anyone and do anything, now can go anywhere – at home on your TV or on the go.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the Nintendo Switch includes all-new gameplay features like motion controls for combat and lockpicking, outfits and gear from The Legend of Zelda. Take down enemies with the Master Sword, protect yourself with the Hylian Shield or look heroic in the Champion’s Tunic. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for the Nintendo Switch also includes all official add-ons: Dawnguard, Hearthfire, and Dragonborn.
Plus tap other compatible Amiibo to gain additional loot including those from “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” series, “The Legend of Zelda 30th Anniversary” series, “Super Smash Bros. “series, and “The Legend of Zelda” series.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim still doesn’t have an official release date on the Switch, but it should be available sometime this Fall.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged E3 2017, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim