The Community Spotlight 2021.05.01

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the latest edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight. I, @zombiepie, am once again honored to your host as we look at another wonderful edition of the Giant Bomb Community Spotlight! It's hard to think, but we have officially started a new month! Video games are starting to come out even though we are slowly but surely transitioning into the season of Summer. People seem to be enjoying Returnal and New Pokémon Snap, and if you are one of them don't forget to share how you feel about the games on the site! Otherwise, it was another quiet week on the site with most people still enamored by Jeff perusing the many items in his garage. With that in mind, let's jump into the site-related housekeeping.

• Episode 310 first published without the audio-only versions available. The problem should be fixed now, but if you still cannot find those versions of the podcast, let Rorie know in the comments with an @reply.
• The Lost Turntable podcasthas started and if you missed it on the Beastcast, this is a movie and film podcast where Alex is a guest. This episode is all about Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia!
• Can we find a way to send one of these Nicholas Cage t-shirts to Alex or Vinny?

Tweets

Galleria

Unofficial Giant Bomb Community Monster Hunter Discord Group Banner (By: @jearum)

Giant Bomb's unofficial Monster Hunter Facebook and DIscord recently commissioned artwork from jearum. Below you can find what the artist created and here's a link for anyone still interested in joining the group!

Gallery

Blogs

The Tyrant Changes The Game So Much That I Don't Think I'm Enjoying It As Much Anymore (By: @sombre)

sombre finally got around to playing Resident Evil 2 (2019) and shares why the new design and programming of the Tyrant rubs them the wrong way and hurts the horror thriller mood of the original.

Spring 2021 Anime: This Season is Actually Good? (By: @dochaus)

DocHaus wrote a paragraph each of various animes I've watched from this season. They're all great for different reasons and if you are in the mood for anime recommendations, use the link above!

The Gardens Between Is A Cozy Little Puzzle Game Whose Slow Pace Can Make It A Little Frustrating At Times +

Shakedown Hawaii Is A 2D GTA Clone Follow Up To Retro City Rampage With Great Aesthetics But A Half-baked Game Structure(By: @bigsocrates)

bigsocrates started things off with a blog about The Gardens Between and its cozy mix of puzzle game design with touching relatable characters. Next, they closed out the work week by expressing their disappointment with Shakedown: Hawaii and why they think it does not live up to the legacy of Retro City Rampage.

Indie Game of the Week 217: Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story+

The Dredge of Seventeen: April (By: @mento)

Moderator Mento has a new episode of their "Indie Game of the Week" series and this one is all about Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story! Give it a read and discover why they felt underwhelmed by the execution of its premise. Additionally, 2017 is widely regarded as a hallmark year for the video game industry with heavy-hitter after heavy-hitter. However, April is not one of the years' stronger outings and Mento talks about that on their 2017 month-by-month retrospective!

What's the Greatest Video Game: Mirror's Edge Catalyst +

What's the Greatest Video Game: River City Ransom (By: @imunbeatable80)

imunbeatable80 has two blogs for you to enjoy this week. First, they finally got around to playing Mirror's Edge Catalyst and uses their latest blog on Giant Bomb to talk about why they enjoyed it, but far less than the first game. Second, imunbeatable80 is going back to the clammy clam classics today with a look at River City Ransom! Read what they think is the game's secret sauce in being one of the few old school brawlers that are still fun to play today.

Bloopers: Four Mario Maker Mistakes (By: @gamer_152)

Last week moderator Gamer_152 ran through of their favorite levels they created in Super Mario Maker. This week, they review the top four mistakes they and other Mario Maker level designers make in their first handful of levels.

Weekly Update #26 - April 25, 2021 (By: @qreedence)

qreedence's weekly update on Giant Bomb this time around share their experiences with The Room 4: Old Sins, The Old Boy, and It Takes Two! Use the link below to find out if they recommend any of them!

Discussion Threads

Mortal Kombat Movie (2021) Discussion Thread (By: @glots)

How many Giant Bomb users out there have seen the Mortal Kombat movie? Did you like or hate it? Share your thoughts and impressions of the film with the rest of the community using the link above!

Returnal - Reviews & Impressions (By: @glots)

Do the reviews for Returnal have you excited to pick up the game? Join the rest of the Giant Bomb community in discussing what you've noticed about all of the assessments of the game and if it has impacted your excitement.

Nier Replicant Ending E Discussion Thread [SPOILER WARNING!] (By: @pnutz83)

Alright Nier Replicant fans! You asked for it, but here's the community discussion thread all about Ending E! Share how you feel about the ending and how the game concludes using the link!

What Should Konami Do In Their Near Future? (By: @gtxforza)

I feel this thread pops up on the forums every year, but what do you think is in store for Konami's future? Are you hoping for a revival of a "classic" game? Or, do you think it will be nothing but pachislot and gacha games?

xCloud Xbox Gaming In Your Browser Is In Beta (By: @humanity)

Are there any of you out there that have tried the new xCloud service on Game Pass? Have your experiences been positive or negative? What do you make of Epic blocking Fortnite?

What Game, Movie, TV Show Do You Know By Cultural Zeitgeist Or Popularity But Have Never Personally Engaged In? (By: @topcyclist)

Are there any games, movies, or TV shows you feel like you missed out on and know enough about that you don't feel like you need to experience it for yourself? Share your media "white whales" with the rest of the community.

Are External Drives On PS5 Still A Problem? (By: @knurrunkulus)

Have any of you tried using an external drive on a PS5? What do you recommend? Do you have any tips and tricks for finding sales on drives? Join the discussion and help out some users in need.

Toys For Bob Suffers Layoffs, Rest Work On Supporting Call Of Duty: Warzone (By: @glots)

News broke that Toys for Boys is getting hit with layoffs and the studio is working on supporting Call of Duty: Warzone moving forward. What's your reaction to the news and are there any games in their catalog you remember fondly?

What Are The Best/Worst Stealth Segments In A Game Where Stealth Is Not A Core Mechanic? (By: @bigsocrates)

As the title suggests, what is the worst stealth sequence in a non-stealth game you have ever played? Is it a modern title or a classic? Share and discuss your pick using the link above!

Name A Series You Love Or Think Is Fine; Yet, General Consensus Or Everyone Else Seems To Have Grown To Hate (By: @topcyclist)

Can you think of a game franchise or series where popular opinion has turned on it in recent times that you still enjoy or like? Popular community picks include Kingdom Hearts, Little Big Planet, and Arkham Origins.

User Reviews

• @yyninja's Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition review on Giant Bomb shares why they think it is a GTA clone done right and the last truly great kung fu action game.

Lists

Best Soulslike Games (By: @theseyekocorpse)

TheSeyekoCorpse is a HUGE fan of Dark Souls and many of its clones. Use the link below to check out which "Soulslike" games they think are the best and which ones compare unfavorably.

3D On Gameboy Advance (By: @plamzdoom)

User PlamzDooM is working on a list of every GBA game that featured 3D rendered environments or 3D/pseudo 3D graphics! Here's what they have so far and if you notice any missing games, drop a comment!

Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves (By: @kablammo)

Speaking of list projects, kablammo is working on a list that compiles every video game that features miniaturized characters running around in houses or backyards. Here's a hint of what they have so far, and feel free to share any omissions!

Wikis

Grinding

Here's something I recently noticed: the old default image for our Grinding concept page seems to have disappeared. If any of you have suggestions for a new default wiki image, I am all ears.