Hello and welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight and I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to be your host this week as we look back on the best creative offerings from the Giant Bomb Community! This week, we have a record breaking number of community-made works of art! Likewise, there are still plenty of blogs and threads to read and discuss, but the real surprise this week were the number of user-created lists. We have a half-dozen interesting a hilarious lists worth examining, especially if you are in need of a good laugh. That said, let's jump into the site related housekeeping!
- Giant Bomb videos now have a new enlarge feature. The feature is meant to allow videos to enlarge to the width of the browser window and bumps down the episode info below it. A ticket has been filed for some aspect ratios and monitors having issues with the new option. If you experience issues, click the link provided in this note and detail your monitor/screen model and max aspect ratio.
- For those interested for an update on Drew's Bike MS campaign, he has raised over $31,000 and is currently ranked #1 of 1,416 registered participants on Bike MS's website. That said, Drew still needs help in reaching his NEW $35,000 goal!
Giant Bomb Galleria
The Jan & Ben Show(By: @jea_rum)
Goodness gracious! Over on Twitter, jea_rum was on a total bender in terms of outputting AWESOME Giant Bomb themed fan-art. They made so many works of cool art, I had to double check to make sure I didn't miss anything! As always, thank them for their hard work, and always support artists however you can!
Lose 5 Bananas Reaction Portrait (By: @beackupburner)
I don't know what it is about this picture that gets me every time. It has to be that stone-face reaction on a costumed up Abby. Nonetheless, this wonderful work of art from beackupburner on Twitter is yet another example of Burgle My Banana being the gift that keeps on giving.
Six Crazy Frights Poster (By: @AndrewGeorger)
Like many of you, Twitter user AndrewGeorger is looking forward to the return of Six Crazy Frights!
Community Activities
Community Extra-Life 2019 Master Thread (By: @matt)
Giant Bomb's community Extra Life charity event is all set to start on November 2nd! This marks the ninth year of Giant Bomb's participation in Extra Life and the team fundraising goal is currently at $250,000 USD! If you are able to join the team, that would be great, but don't forget to donate and spread the word!
Clips Of The Week
The GB Rap | Giant Bomb (By: @drew_type)
It goes without saying, Burgle My Banana sure has "gone places." Some, myself included, would call it one of the most entreating video nightmares available on the internet. Therefore, I hope you enjoy Twitter user 's video mashing up Vinny's attempt to sing the DK Rap to the game's version of the song.
Tweets Of The Week
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
— 🎃 Steve Kim 🎄 (@Fobwashed) September 26, 2019
🦍🤡💣 pic.twitter.com/OPyZ3qblO2
On this day in 2013, Vinny lost track of the garbageman. #DarkSouls pic.twitter.com/9RnO0tveQc
— Giant Bomb (@giantbomb) September 24, 2019
You're amazing, Internet. Your response has attracted news outlets around the world, giving us incredible reach!
— Drew Scanlon (@drewscanlon) September 23, 2019
Without you, we wouldn't have just hit TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!
Help support MS research at https://t.co/vf6ItTacgR (Donations stay open until November!) https://t.co/TM51BUCSU0
Best Of Blogs
Mario Kart Tour Is Out And I Am Not A Fan (By: @sweep)
As the title might suggest, moderator Sweep gave Mario Kart Tour a try and shares why they were thoroughly disgusted by how it blatantly grafts microtransactions to a popular, family-friendly, Nintendo property.
Alienation: Paratopic and The Journey (By: @gamer_152)
Paratopic is a grimy, disorienting thriller from developer Arbitrary Metric and moderator Gamer_152 uses their blog to examine how the game uses that as a segue to teach us all a thing or two about teach about narrative context.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered Is Actually A Port, And I'm Totally Okay With That! Seriously, It's FINE! (By: @zombiepie)
Giant Bomb's resident Final Fantasy expert, ZombiePie, gave Final Fantasy VIII Remastered a shot! Check out their blog and read why they think "port" is a better word to describe the game, and why that's not a bad thing.
I Just Beat Quantum Break In 2019 And It Was Alright (By: @humanity)
Humanity completed Quantum Break after enjoying Control, and read why they found it to be a totally serviceable game with some interesting Remedy trappings.
This (Borderlands 3) Is My Most Disappointing Game Of 2019 (By: @sombre)
Sombre feels pretty safe in calling Borderlands 3 as their "most disappointing game of 2019." Even if you disagree, give their blog on why they feel that way a shot.
Indie Game of the Week 139: Glass Masquerade 2: Illusions +
Yakuza 0: Zeroing In On the Old and New (By: @mento)
For the latest episode of their "Indie Game Of The Week" series, moderator Mento played Glass Masquerade 2: Illusions! Read why they enjoyed the game, but couldn't help to be mildly disappointed. Finally, Mento has been playing Yakuza games for the better part of a decade and they recently played Yakuza 0! Read all about their impressions and thoughts about how it changed the direction of the franchise!
Join The Discussion
New Map For Apex Legends Revealed, Launching With Season 3 (By: @nateandrews)
Are any of you excited about the new map announced for Apex Legends? What are your overall impressions of Apex Legends' third season from what we know so far?
New Last of Us II Trailer + Release Date (By: @bigboss1911)
A NEWThe Last of Us Part II trailer hit the internet earlier last week and you can give it a watch and discuss your impressions of what was shown using the link above! Do you think the game is shaping up to be as emotionally crushing as the previous game?
Is Gears 5 Making Anyone Else Physically Ill? (By: @haneybd87)
Some users are reporting Gears 5's use of head bob/camera sway is giving them motion sickness or vertigo. Have you had or heard of similar issues? Are you or a friend sensitive to such features?
Is There An "Uncanny Valley" For Game Mechanics? (By: @stantongrouse)
Here's an interesting discussion thread: Is there an "Uncanny Valley" for game mechanics? Have you ever played a game which tries to build a realistic world, only to break it to pieces with video game mechanics?
The Last (?) War Campaign Cutscenes Have Dropped (By: @rorie)
Calling all World of Warcraft fans! Have any of you seen the last War Campaign cutscenes? The general sentiment on the Giant Bomb boards is they are underwhelming, but you can share your thoughts about them using the link above!
Over the Alps Discussion Thread (By: @ravage484)
Have any of you checked out Over the Alps on iOS? How would you describe to game to someone who has never heard of it before? Is it a strong follow-up to 80 Days?
What Is The Best Batman Game? [Poll Included] (By: @scottyhawkeye)
There seems to be a lot of excitement swirling around the prospect of a new Batman video game, so here's a link to our poll and discussion thread about the "Best Batman game!" Vote and defend your pick against your fellow users!
Infinity: Battlescape Released! (By: @selbie)
The sci-fi space combat game, Infinity: Battlescape, is finally out! Have any of you given it a shot? If you have, here's a link to the Giant Bomb community discussion thread for the game!
What Do You Think About The Way Game Reviews Are Interpreted Differently To Other Mediums By Metacritic? (By: @brunothethird)
It might be a wordy title, but this discussion thread is still worth checking out. Do you think as game reviews shy away from scores and value-based assessments, sites like Metacritic hold as much value as they once did? How about the score rejiggering Metacritic does to some review scores? Is that a moral or ethical practice?
Lovable Lists
Best Dracula 2 (By: @ronindrummer200)
When you have the time, check out user ronindrummer200's list of the best video game "NOT Dracula but totally Dracula" characters! Here's an image to help you wrap your mind around the concept.
Best Games of the Early to Mid 1980's+
Best Games Before the 1980's (By: @rooktakespawn)
RookTakesPawn can't help but be a little bit nostalgic about the 1980s, as such, they made this list annotating their favorite video games from 1983 to 1985. Additionally, RookTakesPawn shows their love for video game "classics" by looking at their favorite games from before the 80s!
Favorite Star Wars Games (By: @psykhophear)
There's been a lot of recent talk about Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and the new trailer that dropped, Giant Bomb user psykhophear took the time to list their favorite Star Wars video games.
2019: Year of the Strand (By: @audiobusting)
audioBusting uses their latest list to point out humorously the existence of "Strand Games" before the release of Death Stranding! Here's a "taste" of what to expect in their list!
Jeff's Ranking of Completed Final Fantasy Games (By: @jeffrud)
Giant Bomb user jeffrud has played their fair share of Final Fantasy games and ranks the ones he has completed to their "natural" endpoints, from best to worst, on this list!
Useful User Reviews
- @depressedhippie's review of Persona 5 hares why they were disappointed with the end result of the hundred and seventy hours they put into the game.
- @eccentrix shares their thorough disappointment with Erica, the choose-your-own-adventure game for Sony's PlayLink series on PS4.