The Community Spotlight 2022.02.05

If you want the HARD NUMBERS on the staff's GOTY lists and the many guest lists on the site, check out @marino's Data Dump: GOTY 2021 Staff & Guests Breakdown. If you want to know what would be the site's 2021 GOTY if it relied on HARD SCIENCE, then this is the post for you! Additionally, remember to check out Superkenon's Giant Bomb GOTY MEGATHREAD where they annotate and compile all of Giant Bomb's GOTY content into a single post!

Speaking of the site's GOTY content, if you tined into it and a the Bombcasts after it, you might have noticed a new version of the Giant Bomb theme song! This music is spectacularly brought to you by Vektroid/Macintosh Plus. Oh, and the Community 2021 GOTY voting results are up for you to marvel over! Read which game the community thinks should have been the site's 2021 GOTY!

Finally, here's a friendly reminder to the community to check out Rorie's "Giant Fire Bomb Side Chat" post on the forums! If you want to learn about the plans for NEXT week or when merch will be restocked, this is the post for you.

Outside of the normal scope of Giant Bomb, RedVentures a Mobile Gaming Editor for GameSpot! If you feel qualified to review and cover mobile games, check it out! Also, Danny posted a video on their Patreon that is available to everyone, even those that are not subscribers that explains what they have been doing and why they took a break from Giant Bomb.

Tweets

Videos/Clips

Is Jan Excited Or Disturbed? (By: @kone)

Kone is back at it mixing music and tight editing with a funny one-off moment from the Bombcast! This time, they ask if Jan is excited or "Disturbed."

Galleria

Jess x Possum (By: @kunsypt)

Over on Twitter, kunsypt decided to make some cut art featuring Jess crossed with an opossum! Check out their other works, and remember, support artists however you can!

Run For The Hills Fanart (By: @RobLopatto)

Over on Twitter, SlimeKing decided to make some AMAZING fanart of their new favorite video series on Giant Bomb! Here you go, and I think we can all agree it has merch potential.

LEGO: QuadBurger (By: @kone)

For those of you that follow Jess on Twitter, you might have noticed that she changed her Twitter profile picture. Here's the full-sized version of the new art that she's decked out her Twitter with, and don't forget to thank Kone for making this wonderful work of art!

Community-Created GOTY Content!

Author's Note: Okay, FINE! I LIED! After going on a one week break, I just couldn't justify not giving the user-created GOTY section one last hurrah before closing things up. For those that end up publishing their GOTY blogs and lists after this week, don't worry, I will still include them in the normal blog and list sections of the Spotlight!

GOTY Lists

• Yours Truly's 2021 Game of the Year Awards (By: @genessee)
• A Somewhat Ordered List of Very Good Games I Played in 2021 (By: @colonelsanders21)
• GOTY 2021 (By: @nia)
• GOTY 2021 (By: @brownsfantb)
• GOTY 2021 (By: @mento)
• A Somewhat Ordered List of Very Good Games I Played in 2021 (By: @colonelsanders21)
• Best Of 2021 (By: @rjayb89)
• Game Of The Year 2021 (By: @posh)
• Best of 2021 (By: @meatsim)
• Game Of The Year 2021 (By: @sinkjaer)
• Top 10 Games Played In 2021 (By: @makinbacon)

GOTY Blogs

2021 Game of the Year (By: @ronindrummer200)

ronindrummer200 reviews the five best old games and 2021 releases they played last year on their latest blog on Giant Bomb! Give it a read and see which games kept them entertained during the hellscape that was 2021.

The Game Of The Year Thing You've Clearly All Been Waiting To See! (By: @jeffrud)

jeffrud finally got around to writing a 2021 GOTY blog on Giant Bomb! However, as someone who primarily plays classic games, they decided to discuss the best and worst games they played last year, regardless of their release!

The Oh Shit I Have a Blog, Whoops GOTY Awards (By: @ford_dent)

Ford_Dent forgot to publish their 2021 GOTY blog on Giant Bomb until a few days ago! Give it a read and if you still haven't published yours, don't worry! You still have time!

Clagnaught's Game of the Year, 2021 Edition (By: @clagnaught)

clagnaught buckled down and got around to publishing their 2021 GOTY blog on Giant Bomb! Read all about the games they loved playing last year as well as their special "superlatives."

Activities

Deedlit In Wonder Labyrinth Is The 3rd UUGPGC Selection! Finish By 2/14/2022 And Join The Discussion! Mark All Spoilers! +

The Pedestrian Is The Second Unsanctioned Unofficial Game Pass Game Club Game. Spoilers Open! (By: BIGSOCARTES)

ATTENTION! The third edition of Giant Bomb's Unofficial Game Pass Game Club is all about Record of Lodoss War-Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth-! Get the details on when you will need to finish the game by clicking the first link. Also, if you missed the last roundtable discussion for The Pedestrian, the link is provided below that.

Blogs

Comparing History’s Greatest Video Game Enemies To The Shy Guy (By: @purpleshyguy)

PurpleShyGuy is a fan of the Mario Bros. Shy Guy enemy, hence, their username. In light of that, they decided to "judge" other game franchises and their canon fodder with the Shy Guy being their "Gold Standard."

Mobile Game of the Week: Dota Underlords (By: @daavpuke)

Daavpuke has a new episode of their "Mobile Game of the Week" series on the site and this one is all about Dota Underlords! Even if you have zero interest in Dota, it's definitely worth a read!

Indie Game of the Week 254: A Robot Named Fight! +

Go! Go! GOTY! 2021: Game 8: Tiny Lands + (By: @mento)

Mento has TWO episodes of their "Indie Game of the Week!" The first is about A Robot Named Fight!! Read why they enjoyed its Super Metroid-lite gameplay despite butting against its repetition. The second blog is for Children of Zodiarcs, and you can read why they think there's a lot to like about the game other than its impressive art.

Age of Discovery II: The Heart of the Multiplayer +

Age of Discovery III: Modes and Peripheral Systems (By: @gamer_152)

Moderator Gamer_152 continues their retrospective on Halo Infinite with a post about the game's multiplayer and another post about Halo Infinite's multiplayer. Read why they think Halo Infinite's multiplayer is inventive, forward-thinking, and liberating but also plagued by problematic incentive structures and technical failures.

What's the Greatest Video Game: Goof Troop +

What's the Greatest Video Game: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call (By: @imunbeatable80)

imunbeatable80 discusses Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call and Goof Troop, with their latest "What's the Greatest Video Game" posts on Giant Bomb! Between the two games, see if they recommend you check out either in the year of our Lord, 2022!

Hook Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Directly Into My Veins! +

Fighting Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Episode 1: This Is One Of The Most Unfairly Overhated Games Ever (By: @zombiepie)

Moderator ZombiePie can't wait to play Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and they write on Giant Bomb why they have their fingers crossed that the game is a complete clusterfuck. Learn more about why by clicking the link. Also, ZombiePie is starting a two-part retrospective on Final Fantasy XIII-2! Catch the first episode on why they think it cleverly refines XIII and considers it one of the most "unfairly overhated" games in video game history.

The Simple Genius of Super Mario Bros 3 Maps (By: @vookatos)

Vookatos takes to the forums to discuss Super Mario Bros. 3 and why there's a "simple genius" to its level design and why the game's maps are a friendly reminder that sometimes less is more.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order: A Franchise Flashpoint (By: @jeremyf)

With the most recent news surrounding respawn, jeremyf talks about their time with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and if they think they want the prestigious studio making Star Wars games for the next decade.

The Wheel of Dubious FPSes Episode 15-18: The Hits of 1998 +

The Wheel of Dubious RPGs 49-50: Off-Season Spiders (By: @arbitrarywater)

Clive Barker's Undying, Shogo: Mobile Armor Division, AND SiN are all the subject of ArbitraryWater's latest "Wheel of Dubious FPSes" blog feature! Catch some of the "best hits" of 1998! They also have an AMAZING episode that examines TWO recent games from Spiders, a frequent point of discussion by Dave Snider whenever the topic of "Eurojank" came up!

Welp. I Finished Inversion And I Have Nothing Of Interest To Say About It. +

Game Pass Gambols 5: Pupperazzi. Matt Rorie Thinks This Is A Pac-Man Game +

The First Templar Is An Awful Game. I Knew That And I Played It Anyway. To Completion. I Need To Make Better Choices. (By: @bigsocrates)

Don't ask why, but bigsocrates decided to play and complete their five-year-old copy of Saber Interactive's Inversion! Read what inspired them to explore the obscure title and why they regret doing so! bigsocrates continues to look at some of the more obscure indie games behind Game Pass with a blog about Pupperazzi! Use the link to read why they have mixed feelings about the dog photography game. Finally, some users might recall a hilarious Quick Look for The First Templar starring Ryan and Rorie. User bigsocrates decided to give it a shot and shares why it is one of the worst games they have played to completion.

The Other Mystery House: Japan's First Graphical Adventure Game (By: @bowl-of-lentils)

Bowl-of-Lentils recently posted an educational video about Mystery House, the first Japanese developed graphical adventure game, and is taking questions from the community! You can ask them ANYTHING and they will answer!

Dancing To A Different Beat (By: @pauljeremiah)

pauljeremiah pontificates on why Takeshi no Chōsenjō (aka Takeshi no Chousenjou/Takeshi's Challenge) still to this day makes them think about what drives us play video games, especially those that are not fun to play.

Discussion Threads

Sony Is Buying Bungie (By: @bigsocrates)

So... Sony is buying Bungie. In light of this news, the community continues to discuss what this means for the future. Can you imagine even more studio purchases from console manufacturers? Share your thoughts here!

Pokémon Legends: Arceus Discussion Thread (By: @tp0p)

Are there any Giant Bomb users out there that bought Pokémon Legends: Arceus Day One? For those that did, have you enjoyed what you have played? Joined the community discussion about the game.

Horizon Forbidden West Hype/Discussion Thread (By: @mellotronrules)

It is crazy to think but Horizon Forbidden West is right around the corner! How many Giant Bomb users can't wait to play the game? What do you make of what they have shown of the game thus far? Join the conversation now!

Game Acquisition Wars Heat Up Even Further With The New York Times Buying Wordle (By: @bigsocrates)

Are there any Giant Bomb users with thoughts about The New York Times buying Wordle? Do you think the purchase makes sense? How do you think the publication will monetize the puzzler?

Star Citizen Abandons Its Feature Roadmap Entirely (By: @rorie)

In a surprising turn of events, Star Citizen has abandoned its public roadmap for development! PEOPLE SURE SEEM PISSED! However, you can share your two cents' worth to the Giant Bomb community right now!

What Feature About A Game Makes You Think The Long Dev Time Wasn't Worth It? (By: @finaldasa)

With Dying Light 2: Stay Human serving as the impetus, a lot of Giant Bomb users are discussing when a game's long development "wasn't worth it?" Can you think of games or game franchises that showed off too little across too long a time?

The Next Need For Speed Is Coming By Before April 2023 (By: @gtxforza)

The next Need for Speed game has an expected release date of "before April 2023." Is that enough time to make a solid Need for Speed game? What do you think the franchise needs to do to reinvent itself?

Fan-Made HD Remaster Of Resident Evil 4 Now Completed After Eight Years (By: @atheistpreacher)

The Fan-made HD remaster of Resident Evil 4 is now complete! What do YOU make of the eight-year-long fan project? Does it motivate you to check out RE4 again?

Community Best Moment Or Sequence 2021 (Spoilers!) (By: @nuttism)

For those in the Giant Bomb community that feel like they can nominate a 2021 video game for "best moment or sequence!" If you lamenting the award being cut from Giant Bomb's GOTY cycle, join this discussion!

Reports Are Out That Google Stadia Is Focusing More On Licensing Technology And Less On The Stadia Service Itself (By: @bigsocrates)

How does everyone feel about the news related to Google Stadia? Are there any users out there that own a Stadia? If so, how do you feel about the state of the device and Google's new direction with Stadia?

Here's A Live-Action Trailer For Sifu (By: @rorie)

Sifu just got a live action trailer today and you can join the community discussion on if it is enough to keep you interested! Is there anyone out there that can't wait to get their hands on this martial-arts brawling game?

Potential TV / Movie Adaptation Of It Takes Two (By: @ironlink)

Variety is reporting that It Takes Two might see a TV or movie adaptation. Do you think the story in the game would lend itself to a non-game adaptation? Do you think the game has any room for expansion outside of the game?

What Is A Relatively Harmless Popular Social Media Convention That You Refuse To Engage In? (By: @sethmode)

Here's a discussion thread on the forums that has a lot of users talking: what popular social media conventions do you avoid? Are there any platforms that you tend to avoid or have skipped using entirely?

Stranger Of Paradise Looks Insane (By: @humanity)

The community is still BUZZING about the Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin trailer! Join the conversation using the link and share how you feel about the insanity. For example, how did you feel about "the song?"

Bloody Spell Is Out Out! (By: @imhungry)

Hey! Remember when Giant Bomb played Bloody Spell? Well the game has OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED! In honor of Ben, join the discussion about how the "release build" of the game looks like and if it's worth playing!

What Would You Change To Make A Divisive Ending Liked By Most People? (By: @topcyclist)

Here's something on the forums bound to get people passionate: how would you change your least favorite video game ending? Share the conclusion that still leaves a bitter taste in your mouth and how you would improve it!

Folding Ideas (Dan Olsen) NFT Video (By: @notsosneakyguy)

Are there any Giant Bomb users out there that have seen Dan Olsen's video essay rebuke against NFTs? Did you feel like the video missed anything? Can you think of any companion pieces that are better? Join the conversation now!

I Want As Many Games Where You Can Knock Enemies Into Holes/Pits And Defeat Them As Possible. (By: @the_thrower)

Here's a fun thought experiment! We have a forum thread where users are trying to think of every video games that allows you to "knock enemies into holes/pits and defeat them!" If you can think of examples, post them!

Lists

Games Starring Leaders of the Former Soviet Union (By: @jeffrud)

With most on Giant Bomb still in the GOTY spirit, Jeffrud decided to get weird with their latest list on the site! Here's a list of "Games Starring Leaders of the Former Soviet Union!"

No... really!

Far Cry Ranked (By: @splitterguy)

Splitterguy decided to break away from GOTY content and lists with a "HIGHLY SCIENTIFIC" ranking of every single Far Cry game! See how the science judged the many games in the series!

Playable Elves (By: @captainofthestars)

captainofthestars saw someone on the forums ask if there are enough fantasy video games that allow you to plays as elves instead of humans. As such, they made a list of games that allow just that!

User Reviews

• @bc2113's Shin Megami Tensei IVreview discusses why fans of Shin Megami Tensei V shouldn't forget about this game and why it is a great treatise on what makes a mainline Shin Megami Tensei game, a Shin Megami Tensei game.
• @bantha_fodder-5 had a decent time with Nobody Saves the World but they share in their review that the game's "sameness" brings down the entire experience.
• @retrogimp revisited the original N64 version of Perfect Dark and they review why no FPS game, even the XBLA port, scratches the same itch that OG Perfect Dark scratches.
• @tvonchair missed Stonefly when it first released and shares in their review why they think more people should play it after it released with little fanfare.
• @vookatos' Silent Hill 3 review shares why they think the game represents the beginning of the end of the series, and why they think it does not hold up as well as 2.
• @bantha_fodder-5 had a decent time with Nobody Saves the World but they share in their review that the game's "sameness" brings down the entire experience.
• @yyninja finally finished Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and articulates in their review why they think the game is both ambitious and bloated at the same time.

Prepare To Die (Hard Mode)