How to Pair Games and Cocktails

I didn't ask for this much vermouth.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution -- Manhattan

There is no question that Deus Ex is a noir game. And for a noir film, we need a noir drink, something that says cynicism and melodrama all at once. Enter the Manhattan: favored drink of washed-out private detectives and smoldering ingenues everywhere. (Of course, the game has several it's own cocktails, but I'm not about to sully good sake by mixing it with cough syrup.)

2 oz. whiskey
½ oz. sweet vermouth
a dash or two of Angostura bitters
maraschino cherry, to garnish

Combine the first three ingredients into a mixing glass and stir well. (Never, ever shake.) Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice (or better yet, whiskey stones), garnish with the cherry, and sip broodingly as you stare out the rain-slick window into the cold, uncaring night.

A classic drink dating back as far as the 1860s, the Manhattan is traditionally made with rye whiskey. But personally, I prefer bourbon above any other kind of whiskey, with Knob Creek as my current reigning fave. If you use Scotch call it a Rob Roy, or substitute tequila and call it an Anejo Manhattan. And feel free to substitute dry vermouth for the sweet, or use equal parts of both for a "perfect" Manhattan.

A note on vermouth: Keep in mind that vermouth is wine, and it will start to go downhill as soon as you open the bottle. Refrigerating it may help it last a little longer, but the older it gets the more stale it's going to taste, so replace your bottle if it's starting to look a little dusty. And as with any wine, different brands have different flavors, so experiment around until you find one you like.

Alternates: Gibson, Singapore Sling

 

More after the jump...

This Week in Games - 9/21

Ugh. Long week working a convention means that I didn't have much time to keep up with gaming news. A few interesting items this week, though.

FTL: Faster Than Light released this week to near universal applause. I may have to get this one soon. Or sooner than soon. I may be downloading it right now...

This, this here actually sounds like a great concept. I really hope the modding community latches onto it. Anyone remember playing CounterStrike and Day of Defeat in Dorchester?

There is a new Humble Indie Bundle out this week. If you're not familiar with this deal, it's basically a package of 5-6 well-regarded indie games available for a price of your choosing. You can even choose how much of the money goes to the developers and how much to charity. Hard to find a better bang for your buck.

This Week In Games - 9/14



Please drop what you're doing and play this right now.
NOW.

I finished up Driver: San Francisco. A short game, but fun all the way through. One of my favorites of the year. I also picked up the latest Mortal Kombat, which is a total hoot, and am still enjoying the lovely Sine Mora.

Slow news week this week. Although I will say, when Ben Kuchera tells you that Mark of the Ninja is not optional, he isn't kidding. Download that demo right now.

This is pretty hilarious. Is this a regular bit? I might actually start watching Conan now.

Your weekly dose of nostalgia. Makes me want to dust off my trusty Maverick.

Driver: San Francisco

I'm several hours into Driver: San Francisco, and it is a weird, wild, and off-beat little game. It's also an incredible amount of fun.

The original Driver was way ahead of its time, and was one of my absolute favorite games on the original PlayStation. Two years before Grand Theft Auto III revolutionized open-world gaming, Driver gave you a wide-open city (four, in fact) to just cruise around in as stuntman-turned-undercover officer John Tanner, picking up missions at will or just seeing how long you could evade the police. That seems old hat now, but in 1999 it was a revelation. It also had an incredible "Film Director" mode, that allowed you to record your car chases from different angles and even edit clips together. I don't remember seeing a feature like that on consoles again until Halo 3. Like I said, ahead of its time. Subsequent entries in the series didn't fare quite as well, aping the more complex GTA series with some ill-advised on-foot sequences, but the original still shines like a beacon in my memory.

This Week in Games - 9/7

Sine Mora

I wrapped up Transformers: Fall of Cybertron this week. I may or may not write about it. Bottom line: on a technical, graphical, gameplay level, it made big improvements...but the story left something to be desired. I am enjoying the multiplayer, though. Driver: San Francisco is my next game, and I have already started writing a post about it; expect that very soon. I also picked up Sine Mora on the Xbox Live Deal of the Week. It is a gorgeous game, in more ways than one, and you should get it while it's still on sale.

I was afraid to love again, but I find myself getting more and more excited for Halo 4. I especially have high hopes for the Spartan Ops episodic co-op mode. I mean, look at this trailer. GAZE UPON IT AND BE AMAZED. But for maximum enjoyment, I'm gonna need a regular crew to roll with. I know Joseph P. Buzzkillington will have my back. Anybody else interested, shoot me a message.

The ongoing DRM wars enter an interesting new chapter.

I really have to get my ass to PAX one of these days.

See below for AWESOME.

This Week in Games - 8/31

I kind of want this. How tight do you think security is at Nintendo World Store?

A hilarously educational Reddit thread on suspensions for offensive names and language in Guild Wars 2. Because watching the banhammer fall is always, always entertaining. Plus I love companies that emphasize transparency and communication with their customers.

This article is just great.

First, this harsh critique of ads on Xbox Live. Then, another body blow about their unasked for "political coverage" on the dashboard. Now, this blistering comparison to PlayStation Plus. I'm beginning to feel less and less pleased about giving Microsoft my money.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Even cyborgs love bourbon.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a game with amazing ideas, but some annoying design decisions hold it back from achieving true greatness. I'm maybe 10-12 hours into the game, past Detroit and maybe halfway through Shanghai. Not far enough yet for a final judgement yet, but certianly enough to get a good idea. (Unfortunately the rest is going to have to wait until I'm done with Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.) There's a lot here that I love, but a lot holding it back as well.

This Week in Games - 8/24

It is Transformers week, people. Fall of Cybertron dropped on Tuesday, and I have been all over it like an Allicon on energon goodies. As you may recall, I loved the first game, got pretty excited about the demo for this game, and have a general obsession with all things Cybertronian. I have been steeping myself in all things Transformers for weeks now-- reading the classic comics, grabbing the new FoC toys, and watching the surprisingly good Transformers: Prime. Point is, I finally get to play as Grimlock. My life is complete.

Video games in ukiyo-e style!

It's always interesting to watch big companies grapple with new business models. It's also frustrating to hear their constant complaints about piracy.

Please enjoy this blast of pure '90s.

This Week in Games - 8/17

I'm going to try something new. Clearly, I have trouble committing to anything like a regular schedule, probably because I can't resist making my posts into Tolstoy novels. But I should at least be able to post some links to articles that other, more talented, more organized people have written. Each Friday I will (try to) post a few of the most interesting articles I read that week.

Darksiders II (above) released this week. I played the first game not too long ago, and this sequel is one of the few new games I'm excited about this year.

Inside pictures of a GameStop refurbishment center. See inside the belly of the Beast!

I wasn't even aware of Sleeping Dogs until its release this week, and now suddenly, it dominates my waking thoughts. I did a study abroad in Hong Kong, and I still think of it as "my 'hood." While the game isn't exacly GPS-accurate, the idea if a meaty-but-focused open-world Hong Kong crime drama is pretty damn appealing. The money quote: "This is what Grand Theft Auto might feel like with a good editor."

EA is exploring a sale. That seems weird to me. Like saying the state of Delaware is for sale.

Do you know Extra Creditz? You should. The last two episodes were stellar.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Early Demo Impressions

I hadn't intended on pre-ordering Fall of Cybertron, even though it's one of the few games this year I'm really excited for. As you may recall, I enjoyed the first game quite a bit, but right now I am literally up to my ass in new games to play so I was intending to save this one for later in the year. But GameStop suckered me in with their Generation 1 Retro Pack preorder bonus. Just look at Optimus up there, in all his original cab-over glory! GameStop, you know far too well what brings me to the yard.

So I skipped into town yesterday to trade some stuff in for the preorder, and included with it was early access to the FoC demo. I had no idea about this until the clerk told me, but it was a pleasant surprise. Of course, the demo is live today for everyone, but that shall not dull my triumph! With the benefit of an entire half day of extra time with the demo, I have some early (and generally favorable) impressions to share. Hit the jump for more.

Arcade Shooters: Bulletstorm and Vanquish

Two more great shooters from the bargain bin, Bulletstorm and Vanquish offer an entertaining change of pace from your typical AAA fare. I call these "arcade shooters" because the focus is on fast, chaotic action and rewarding the player for creative and skillful kills. Indeed, each level wraps up with a score breakdown and provides leaderboards to compete with people on your friends list.

BioShock 2 is a bargain-bin gem

Hipster instinct would tell you that there is no way this game could possibly be any good. BioShock was a masterpiece, elevating the art of storytelling in games and becoming an instant classic. It did not beg for the franchise treatment. This, annecessary sequel, developed by a completely different studio without the involvement of Ken Levine or any of the original team, seems like a cynical cash-in on a beloved work of art. It’s The Phantom Menace. It’s those new Dune books. A wretched creature, shriveled and crying out for a merciful death.

But strip away all of those expectations, forget for a moment that this game is in any way connected to its beloved forerunner, and what you will find is an very competent shooter with its own voice and a fun bag of tricks.

Voiding Warranties: Modding the Tekken 6 Fightstick, Part 2

Ohhh what have I done...

Replacing the buttons was a wee bit trickier, as it involved a lot of circuit boards, solder, burnt flesh, and a minor demonic summoning.

Voiding Warranties: Modding the Tekken 6 Fightstick, Part 1

I picked up Super Street Fighter IV on sale at Kmart for $20. I was curious about the title, since it had ushered in something of a renaissance for the fighting game genre. Marvel vs. Capcom 3, a revamped Mortal Kombat, and SoulCalibur V all followed within a couple years, not to mention a slew 2D fighters both new and old. They're even making two separate Street Fighter/Tekken crossover games, just because they can.

Truth be told, I'm not much of a "fighting game guy." The last one I played with any regularity was Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance during my college days (on the GameCube, of all things), and before that it was Tekken 3 on the original PlayStation. This lack of practice was immediately apparent as soon as the disk hit the tray, as I proceeded to get my ass handed to me ten ways from Sunday. And I don't even mean by the 10-year-olds I usually face in Halo; I expect them to destroy me. No, here was the computer was kicking my ass. Even on normal difficulty, I couldn't even get past the third fight.

Bastion is beautiful

If you haven’t played Bastion yet, stop what you’re doing right now. Seriously. Drop it, and go play this beautiful downloadable game.

Mass Effect multiplayer: Surprisingly not awful!

I've been spending a lot, a lot, of time with the ME3 multiplayer demo. The title may sound like faint praise-- "It's not the complete shit-show that I expected"-- but the reality is that it's quite good, and I am super-psyched to play more when the full game drops this week. Psyched enough, in fact, to bring my blog out of hibernation so I can convince other people to play with me.