The Video Game Librarian Pick of the Week is Overwatch, Blizzard’s “Hero Shooter” for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Rather than populate its game with generic character types, Blizzard chose to create dozens of unique “Heroes” for Overwatch, and they gave each one their own personality and fighting style. Overwatch is very similar to the recently-released Battleborn, and I’m sure the two games will be compared and contrasted for many years to come. Fans of online shooters, and the game’s well-received art style, will love it.

Also of note this week is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, a Platinum Games-developed beat ’em up for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Mutants in Manhattan isn’t a simple movie adaptation, and instead features a comics-inspired art style and an original storyline not tied to any previous incarnation of the Ninja Turtles. Platinum created a similar game based on the Transformers last year, and fans of that 80s franchise went crazy for it. The same is probably true for Mutants in Manhattan, though the reviews aren’t as strong.

All Links in “This Week’s New Releases + Game News” are Provided by Warp Zoned.

New Release Round-Up

• Retail Releases: Overwatch, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, more
• Nintendo Download: StarTropics, Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II, Dragon Fantasy: The Black Tome of Ice, more
• PlayStation Store: Overwatch, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, Downwell, more
• Xbox Games Store (Wednesday): Overwatch, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, OlliOlli 2, Not A Hero

Warp Zoned’s Weekly Warp-Up
The end of May is near, and Memorial Day is tomorrow, so game publishers mostly took this past week off. But be sure to take a look back at what the Warp Zoned staff was up to the last seven days, including Chris Cobb’s detailed look at what he wants from Resident Evil 7 in Warp Zoned Wish List: What We Want From Resident Evil 7.

Also this week, Andrew Rainnie filed another entry in his Kickstart This! series, this time focusing on Islands of Nyne: Battle Royale, an online shooter.

New Game Announcements

• Square Enix will release the Minecraft-like Dragon Quest Builders in North America this October.
• Codemasters announced F1 2016 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
• Theatrical “swamp noir” Knee Deep will be released for PS4 and Xbox One this Summer.
• Pac-Man 256 will have co-op multiplayer when it comes to the PC, PS4, and Xbox One next month.
• Neon Deity’s Bruis’n Cruisers channeled Bump N Jump in its first trailer.

Pre-Launch Updates and Release Date Announcements

• The release date for No Man’s Sky was officially delayed to August 9.
• SteamWorld Heist will be released for the PS4 and Vita on June 7.
• Hitman Episode 3: Marrakesh will be available on May 31.
• WB Games revealed the Season Pass for Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
• Capcom unveiled two Raccoon City maps and an Upgrade Pack for next month’s Umbrella Corps.
• Skylanders BattleCast is now available for mobile devices.
• Carl Edwards will be the cover athlete for NASCAR Heat: Evolution.

Other Game News

• Minecraft’s Console Edition is getting a PvP arena mode in June with Battle Mini Game update.
• Spider-Man joined Lego Avengers as part of free Spider-Man Character Pack.
• “The Indie Collection” of hats and heads is now available for Dino Run DX.
• More than 2.7 million copies of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End were sold during its first week of availability.

New Videos

• Mighty No. 9 – “Masterclass Trailer”
• Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens – “Character Trailer: Finn”
• Overwatch – “Animated Short: Hero”

Etcetera

• Conan O’Brien welcomed Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey to “Clueless Gamer” to play Overwatch.