Halo 4: The Haloiest Halo Yet

It's no surprise that I'm something of a Halo fanboy. So when the news came that not only would there be a Halo 4, but that it would be made by a brand new studio, I was (justifiably) suspicious. Fortunately the new studio, 343 Industries, made up largely of ex-Bungie employees and industry veterans, did a fine job in moving the series forward.

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.