Blog Herding – The Best Blogs Of The Community (December 17, 2015)

In addition to reminding us just how many winter settings there are in video games, we have some timely blogs reacting to big news from Smash Bros. and Hideo Kojima, and a best-of-2015 list.

Community Blogs For December 10 – December 16:

52/52 Week 51 – Final Smash Direct Live Reaction
TheDarkestLink responds to the amazing announcement that Bayonetta is coming to Super Smash Bros. Oh, he actually puts pen to paper on a slew of other characters and expectations, but I'm most excited about the badass witch.

Kojima + PlayStation = Good News All Around
Rebekah Lang was quick to get a blog out about Hideo Kojima parting ways with Konami and joining Sony. What a coup. Konami seems to be losing the plot, and Sony has done well to usher in good talent and even better partnerships.

My Top Ten Games of 2015: #10
Eric Watson is two blogs deep into this feature, but I think Massive Chalice deserves some attention. What Watson likes about it is the angle it takes with warriors getting old, dying, and passing on their power to the next generation. I agree with Watson: This game deserves a heck of a lot of praise.

Every Game I'm Excited For In 2016
Will Watson, the Prince(ss) of Smash provides us with a long list of games to get excited about this upcoming year. There's a lot to get jazzed about, including Nier: Automata, a new Zelda game (don't hold your breath), and Finding Paradise. Really, there's something for everyone.

Moments: "It's All Your Fault!"
MightyMagikarp had to go and write about a moment from The Last of Us and throw my heart and soul into turmoil. You won't want to read this if spoilers aren't your thing, but for those who've played the game, this is a heart-wrenching walk down memory lane.

Writing Challenge Responses:

Winter Locales I Have Digitally Explored (And Loved)
Rebekah Lang likes the alluring sparkle snow gives off, which makes white powder in games a welcoming sight. I'm not surprised to see Borderlands make this list, but I was shocked to see – spoiler – Journey on it. I've never played it so I had no idea. One last thing: How good does Okami look? What a game.

Remo's Favorite Snowy Locales in Games
Blogger Remo Williams is also a fan of winter settings in games, so he handled this week's challenge with aplomb. I had completely forgotten about Icicle Inn, and also shared an emotional moment when revisiting the cold, barren Shadow Moses.

The Snow Locales/Levels and Video Games Which Gave Me That Unique Winter Feeling
GerardoExber continues to keep his community challenge combo alive by giving us his take on the best winter settings in games. I was waiting for Super Mario 64 to show up (you race a penguin, guys!). Metroid Prime's Phendrana Drifts also shows up and reminded me of what a beautiful game that was. What made me enjoy the responses to this challenge so much is the variety of games written about.

Community Writing Challenge:

What's shocked you the most in a video game? For me it's a certain scene in BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea. It involves a mirror, our hero's disturbing gaze, and a lot of blood. I was mesmerized for a long time as I gazed into that mirror. What about you? Was it a death in Final Fantasy VII, the fact that characters could permanently die in Final Fantasy Tactics, or the ol' switcheroo in Metal Gear Solid 2? Let me know via the almighty blog.

Community Playdate:

I'm currently rethinking how to best get the community gaming together, so expect this feature to come back soon in 2016 (holiday weekends travelling to Wisconsin also make this a bit tough to pull off).

I hope you enjoy the blogs! Please contact me via my Game Informer page or on Twitter at @LouisGarcia12 with any blog news or playdate suggestions.