Blog Bunker

After the long break, GameSpot returns with the weekly edition of the Blog Bunker, a news announcement for the community, written by the community and provided by community.

Club Soap
New Localization Group: Operation Starfall By: Spinnerweb
Attention Job Seekers: Interviews By: pokecharm
The Squandered Potential of Kingdom Hearts By: emtilt

Games and Gaming
Sonic Generations HD Sonictrainer Edition By: sonictrainer
Did 300 Workers at an Xbox 360 Factory Threaten Mass Suicide? By: jediknight52501
Now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! By: Sandpiper121PP
Genre shift, innovation or a game losing its identity? By: gamingqueen
The Eye in the Sky Sees All By: NeonNinja
You Win Microsoft By: yeah_write

Unplugged
Rapture: A Bioshock Novel Review By: ShootumUP26
The Descendants - Film Review By: biggest_loser

Staff Fingerprints
The role of a critic: to be a portal, not a mirror. By: Kevin-V

Announcements

The festive lights have been taken down, wrapping paper carefully recycled, and eyes are sunken and dark after pouring hours of time into the recently obtained games over the holidays. Time to get back to work.

Field Trip - Kicking things off right, we see Jody Robinson report on some nifty things that are going on in the gaming community in this week's GameSpot Field Trip. We line up single file with permission slips signed to check out and see what is up with Capcom, Blizzard, NCsoft and more.

Capcom Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City Tournament (Recap) - Before the holidays, GameSpot played host to Capcom's Resident Evil event at our home office in San Francisco, CA. To check out how things went down, simply click on this link here.

Member Spotlight

This week's Member Spotlight shines on Baconbits2004 for finding a nifty little way to ignore users who might be causing you issues on GameSpot. Simply follow the steps he has provided in his recent blog and consider the offending user blocked!

Blog Bunkers

Club Soap
"Zelda the Conformist" By: Hirasugi
"Time for Some Thrilling Heroics" By: Uesugi-dono
"Franchises That Need To Live Again" By: Rottenwood

Bloggers
"Some of the Best JRPGs" By: DS-man
"Games That Have Changed My Life: My Identity As A Gamer" By: aerobie
"Final thought on FF13 and the series as a whole" By: archvile_78
"Skyrim's Arrow in the Knee Translated" By: perkinsj26

Staff Fingerprints
"My Top 10 Games of 2011" By: shaunmc
"What I Played Over My Winter Break" By: carolynmichelle
"My Top Ten Gaming Experiences of 2011" By: Chris_Watters
"The Top Ten of 2011: Maxwell McGee" By: Maxwell

Reader Reviews

Xbox 360: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
manishpab - [9.5 - Superb] If you only play one game this year, this is it.

PC: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Megotaku77 - [9.5 Superb] A review by a beta player and decade long veteran of MMOs for a game that's going to revolutionize the industry.

Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
AK_the_Twilight - [9.5 - Superb] Zelda: Skyward Sword is an immensely triumphant evolution of the beloved adventure series.

PS3: Dark Souls
Kasheall - [9.5 - Superb] You'll either love it or hate it. I for one, enjoy it and here's why.

3DS: Mario Kart 7
Pierst179 - 8.5 - Great] A Mario Kart For The Ages

Tip of the Week

View your profile to see if it looks out of date. We have a checklist for you to start the new year!
1) When was the last time you posted a blog? Make a new blog.
2) When was the last time you posted a user review? Write a review!
3) When did you add your avatar or profile banner? If it was more than three years ago, swap it out!
4) How old is your forum signature? If you're talking about something that happened from the days of yore, replace it.
5) Track other people's tracked users! Spend some time to see who your friends are tracking and track that user if you enjoy his or her blogs.

Activity

Today is "Cuddle Up Day," which gives us the excuse to spend the day wrapped in our snuggies in our favorite gamer perch, perhaps with some shiny new game. What games will you be cuddling up with tonight? Mention it in the comments below and receive a boost to your user profile.

GameSpot Community wishes you all a happy and safe holiday.

Tips for the Holidays

Check out Kevin VanOrd's Star Wars: The Old Republic Stream.
Test your luck and take part in Loot Drop.
Be on the lookout for our GameSpot staff Mario Kart Tournament.
Vote for your 2011 Game of the Year.
Don't forget to enter the My First E3 video contest.
Avoid arrows to the knee because they may hamper any future desire to adventure.

Howdy GameSpotters!

Origin sent along a Battlefield 3 music video worth checking out. This video is a riff on the Discovery Channel music video.

Speaking of Battlefield 3, GameSpot challenged EA's Origin team to some down-and-dirty deathmatch! We also gave away codes for Battlefield 3 and the Back to Karkand DLC. To enter, share a Battlefield 3 story in the video comments.

PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 fans get ready for a funhouse full of impostors! Starting tomorrow, December 15, GameSpot will hand out 30,000 Gotham City Impostors beta keys. The beta key offer is set to expire on December 22.

In Gotham City Impostors, 12 players battle for control of an unhinged Gotham City overrun by impostors. Players can create their very own version of the Bats or the Jokerz characters using unprecedented customization options, including insane costumes, homemade gadgets, and a wide range of traditional and inventive weapons.

The beta offer will be available for a limited time. Gotham City Impostors is set for download-only release on the PC, Xbox 360, and the PlayStation Network in 2012.

Get your beta key NOW!

The Announcements

New TOU Announcement
Times are changing here at GameSpot. No longer will reading the TOU cause a user to cry out "Too long, did not read…" Rather, a user will be more receptive to the changes due to its easy to understand nature. Full details about the update to the Terms of Use can be seen in the official report.

Win a Trip to E3 2012
Want to go to the Electronic Entertainment Expo for 2012? Want to bring your best friend with you? Of course you do, and there is no better time like the present to state your case to GameSpot about why we should bring you along for this awesome ride. For more details about the event, questions, comments, or freak outs, check the competitions page.

Celebrating 25 Years of Zelda's Adventure
Be a part of GameSpot's celebration of 25 years of epic adventures with The Legend of Zelda. We are looking for some of you artistic folk to help contribute to this amazing site's feature photo gallery. For more details, check out this page here.

The Controller Leaderboard
The Controller has finally reached its final episode. Who would have thought something like that would happen! Are we going to reveal more details? Heck, no. But you can check and see who the winner is by watching the episode here. For those who participated in the leaderboard feature for The Controller, we would like to say congrats! We will be pulling the names of those with the highest scores. They will then be pitted against one another for a chance to win some Battlefield 3 swag and perhaps something signed by Mrs. Violence herself.

Capcom Event at GameSpot's Home Office
Be sure to save the date: Next Wednesday (December 14) from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PT. We will be inviting Bay Area locals to join us for some Capcom action. More details to be announced.

===Top 100===

-Rocksmith By: AK_the_Twilight
[9 - Superb] Rocksmith doesn't make learning guitar any easier, but it makes it a whole lot more fun.
-The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword By: Asagea_888
[9.5 - Superb] A fitting entry in a franchise spanning 25 years, Skyward Sword isn't perfect, but it is one flight worth taking.
-Assassin's Creed: Revelations By: AzelKosMos
[7.5 - Good] A satisfying conclusion to Ezio's story arc but the short release schedule is really starting to show.
- By: dark_being
[4 - Poor] X-Men: Destiny is such a disappointing game that even fans of the Marvel comics won't find any reasons to try it.
-Cars 2: The Video Game By: Domstercool
[7 - Good] Avalanche Software have done another decent attempt at a Disney licensed video game. My DarkZero review.
-Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 By: DraugenCP
[7 - Good] While a competent shooter, Road to Hill 30 doesn't have the impact it could have had.
-Homeworld 2 By: Gelugon_baat
[8.5 - Great] Homeworld 2 continues the series' tradition of captivating tales and stellar gameplay.
-Super Mario 3D Land By: JustPlainLucas
[8.5 - Great] Mario and Co. make their debut on the 3DS with an excellent blend of old and new school platforming.
-Mass Effect By: monco59
[8 - Great] Mass Effect crafts an exciting world for you to play in, but forgets to craft a compelling game to go with it.
-Rayman Origins By: Pierst179
[5 - Superb] Slide to the side, Mario; Rayman just got a piece of your throne
-Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 By: PSFreak1
[8.5 - Great] Modern Warfare 3 is exactly what we expected, and depending on your stance on the series that's either good or bad.
-Xenoblade Chronicles By: ShadowLaguna
[9 - Superb] Xenoblade is a brilliant RPG that is very well developed.

===Top 500===

-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim By: Bamul
[9.5 - Superb] One of the biggest, fully-featured and most addictive RPGs ever made… with some of the most ridiculous bugs to offer.
-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim By: bowlingotter
[9.5 - Superb] Likely to go down in history not only as one of the best RPGs of all time, but as one of the best games, period.
-Catherine By: gamefreak197
[9 - Superb] Mind-bending gameplay and an engaging story help to make Catherine one of the most unique games ever devised.
-Contract Killer: Zombies By: GeekyDad
[6 - Fair] Awesome Until They Do the Bait and Switch on You
-The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword By: kjhg53
[9.5 - Superb] Yet another top notch Zelda experience.
-Retro Game Challenge By: julianozuca
[8 - Great] An interesting take on retro gaming for new players, Retro Game Challenge can even be an emotional ride for old timers.
-Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland By: ZanarkandTidus
[8 - Great] It's a nice JRPG experience.
-Assassin's Creed: Revelations By: TristanH12
[7.5 - Good] The epic conclusion to the Assassin's Creed 2 trilogy is worth playing.
-The Witcher: Enhanced Edition By: NeonNinja
[9 - Superb] Do we hunt the monster in the man or find the man in the monster?

===Top 1,000===

-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim By: ShadowMoses900
[9.5 - Superb] An amazing massive open world RPG that improves on it's predecessors in every single way imaginable!
-Batman: Arkham City By: pokecharm
[9 - Superb] The Dark Knight is Back and in Better Form
-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim By: bugbag
[9.5 - Superb] A revolutionary journey to a unforgettable world which is only held back by a few noticeable technical issues.
-Revolution X By: AQWBlaZer91
[3 - Bad] This game comes a little close to the Arcade Version but this concert with Aerosmith still lacks Light Gun support……
-Rayman Origins By: adam1808
[9 - Superb] Rayman's return to two-dimensions embraces its roots for better and for worse, happily the end result is still sublime

===Honorable Mentions===

-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim By: Harrydapro
[8.5 - Great] Great visuals, engaging gameplay and a wide variety of weapons. Though it doesn't have the charm of Fallout 3…
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword By: widdowson91
[9.5 - Superb] The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the new benchmark for the Zelda franchise.
-Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 By: NightmareP3
[6 - Fair] Another year, another COD.
-Dark Souls By: Xirmi
[9.5 - Superb] Worth every death.
-Mario Kart 7 By: qualbert
[9 - Superb] Is the new installment of Nintendo's flagship racing series the best yet? Read more to find out!
-Battlefield 3 By: DarthLefein
[8.5 - Great] Battlefield 3

===Top Games of the Week===

-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim By: Harrydapro
[8.5 - Great] Great visuals, engaging gameplay and a wide variety of weapons. Though it doesn't have the charm of Fallout 3…
-The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword By: widdowson91
[9.5 - Superb] The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is the new benchmark for the Zelda franchise.
-Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 By: NightmareP3
[6 - Fair] Another year, another COD.
-Dark Souls By: Xirmi
[9.5 - Superb] Worth every death.
-Mario Kart 7 By: qualbert
[9 - Superb] Is the new installment of Nintendo's flagship racing series the best yet? Read more to find out!
-Battlefield 3 By: DarthLefein
[8.5 - Great] Battlefield 3
-Saints Row: The Third By: pycho22solid
[9.5 - Superb] Saints Row: The Third is not only the best game in the series, but the best open-world game in years
-Batman: Arkham City By: Bad_Gamers83
[9 - Superb] A great Batman game with a few gameplay hitches that keep it from being the perfect Batman game.
-League of Legends By: Doubledime
[9 - Superb] The one game, that no matter how frustrated I get at it, No matter how badly I play, I keep coming back for more.
-Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 By: timehn36k9voc
[7.5 - Good] Excellent game, but needed more features

Announcements

Time for Some Loot Drop!
Forget the partridge in a pear tree. This year GameSpot is having a 30-day Loot Drop giveaway bonanza. Loot Drop is GameSpot's chance to show our appreciation to our fans by giving you tons of free games and exclusive gaming merchandise. GameSpotters will enter for their chance to win fabulous prizes ranging from consoles, to games, to exclusive schwag, and more. Click here for the full details.

Gearbox Casting Call for a Live-Action Look-Alike for Beloved Borderlands Character
Have you ever wanted to be immortalized as a game icon?
Are you in or have transportation to Dallas, Texas?
Are you a total gaming siren?
Well, then do we have some good news for you, Gearbox Software is looking for someone to become the living, breathing representation of Lilith from Borderlands. This is your chance to appear in Borderlands 2 as the live-action version of the character. For more information about this fantastic opportunity, check this link here.
Disclaimer: The ability to phase walk is not required.

The Controller Episode 7 and Ask Mrs Violence
It has been quite an exciting few weeks on The Controller, and with the wrap of episode seven, we have only one episode remaining before the winner is crowned and walks off into the sunset with 50K. Mrs Violence has been a force to reckon with since the beginning (well maybe not in the first physical challenge).

Member Spotlight

This week's member Spotlight shines on the artistic talent of GameSpotter bbkkristian for an amazing Skyward Sword painting. Click here to take a look at this amazing piece of art work.

Union of the Week

This week's featured union is the First Minecraft Union. Established in March of this year, this union is the premier place to go to discuss Minecraft. They have videos of some of their fantastic creations, and they are clearly excited about the release of 1.9. Drop by to see what they have going on.

Tip of the Week - Terms of Service: Understanding Updates

Did you know that things were changing on GameSpot? No? Well, after asking for your opinion on things around the site, there are a few major changes coming to the way things work around the site. However, it is important to make note that the changes have not taken effect, and the TOU is still the same. When can you expect to see the changes? Soon, very soon. But it's important to remember that until those changes happen, make sure you still follow the current TOU.

Shadowgun User Review

This week we take a look at Shadowgun for the iOS.

"Madfinger Games, with the help Unity, have created a really great third-person shooter that focuses on cover mechanics and set-piece battles. Though most of these battles will take place in corridors or internal areas, they're never restrictive and there is usually more than one way to approach the situation. It is a treat to see such excellent level design on a game made for mobile devices.

Shadowgun's greatest strengths are its control scheme and striking good looks. The developers managed to nail button-less cover, a brave design decision when creating a game where cover is as important as in other similar shooters such as Gears of War. Simply by approaching cover, the on-screen character will slide into place and be firmly cemented until the player pulls straight back on the floating virtual stick.

I never experienced any real pains or frustrations with the scheme. If I had to nitpick about anything, it would be that not all objects you find will be objects your character can use to take cover. However, before you make it half way through the first of the eight levels, you'll have a good understanding of what constitutes potential cover and what doesn't.

Shadowgun looks so good on the iPhone's screen that you may find yourself stopping to take in the scenery on more than one occasion. The lack of jagged edges would be enough to make even the high-end PC gamer jealous, lest they be equipped with the latest in graphical hardware. Textures appear detailed, edges are round and smooth, and the effects, while a bit unorthodox, are enough to make you feel the intensity of the battle.

For all its beauty, one of Shadowgun's greatest failing is in the utter lack of variety. It's a shame that the graphical fidelity isn't highlighted further by the addition of more outdoor scenarios, a larger cast of enemy combatants, or more than one basic location. I'm sad to report that I began feeling a sense of deja vu through a few sections, as if I'd already been there and fought through this corridor before. Every time I thought we were going to have a real change of scenery, the game pulls you back to a place all too familiar.

The other problem, while not as critical as the former, is the story. Not only is it disjointed, but it borrows heavily from other games (something that becomes quite clear after defeating the final boss). While the concept of borrowing heavily from some of the more successful console and PC titles isn't new, it's still a little disappointing. Mobile gaming is a new frontier, so developers should be doing what they can to treat it as such.

Without a doubt Shadowgun's strengths greatly outweigh its weaknesses. The controls are tight and appropriate, it looks simply fantastic, and what it lacks in variety it makes up for in gameplay and excellent pacing. Even though the negatives may appear to some to be deal breakers, it is without question that the game is truly a good time. That's what is most important." - musicalmac

The Video

The Summery

Score: 8.5 - Great
Difficulty: Hard
Time Spent: 10 Hours or Less
The Bottom Line: "Just plain fun"
To date, this is as good as mobile graphics get.

Want to be a Mobile Wonder?

Send a PM to Synthia and include your review as well as a video and an image for your review of a mobile or social game.