Not enough Grimlock. Not nearly enough Grimlock.
Category: review
Not a Review: XCOM: Enemy Unknown
I’m a huge fan of the X-Com franchise. The original game sits comfortably in my top five games of all time and is one I just can’t quit. Last year when Firaxis announced it would be making a new XCOM game, one that wasn’t going to be a first person shooter I got excited. Really excited. One of my favorite franchises being revitalized by one of, if not the best, publisher of strategy games? I didn’t know how they were going to bring the depth and complexity of the original game into the 21st century but I have confidence that they could. I got the game when it came out last month and finished up my first complete play through last week. And I have to say I was really happy with the game. It isn’t X-Com, but it never was going to be. X-Com is a 19 year old PC strategy game, burdened by everything that implies. The AI is wonky, the user-interface is opaque, game elements are disparate. As fun and addictive as the original game was it was never going to come back in that form, game design and gamers have moved on. And it’s probably a good thing that they have, if Firaxis had slavishly re-made the original the resulting game would have failed and that’d be the last we ever heard of XCOM.
Firaxis has succeeded in recapturing the mood and feeling of the original game and infused it with the “just one more turn” addictiveness that the company has perfected over the years. The sprawling mass that was game play in X-Com (base building, geoscape, economy, resource management, research,squad building, soldier experience, UFO tracking and combat, turn based combat strategy, and whatever else I’m forgetting) and streamlined all of it into a cohesive, enjoyable whole. While the original X-Com had the player dividing their efforts and focus among, at least, three distinct games, Firaxis has made clear that the focus of their game is the turn based strategy with resource management, research and base building being secondary and supportive. And it works. I found myself spending as little time as possible in the base screens, scanning and fast forwarding to the next combat mission. Speaking of the combat missions the tension and worry that the original produced as you explored a crash or landing site is still there as is the fear that your favorite soldier, or just your most experienced one, is going to take a hit to the chest and die.
This isn’t the XCOM you remember, but it never was going to be. And that really is okay…
Beer of the Week 51: Elemental Pilsner
From the bottle:
You are about to enjoy Lightning’s version of a fine German Pilsner. This is a pale smooth-drinking beer with hints of noble hop character. We use German Pilsnermalt, German hop varieties, and a selected Bohemian lager yeast to create this Lager Bier. Our traditional methods of cold filtering and natural carbonation produce a clean look and taste. Elemental Pilsner is brewed in keeping with the Reinheitsgebot, The Bavarian Beer Purity Law of 1516.
From my notes:
Clear, crisp, carbonated, this light amber colored beer has a big bubbled head that quickly dissipates to a thin 1/2 inch. Smells of grainy malts and some floral and grassy hints. On the tongue the beer is floral with honey like taste with more of that malt as well. The finish is all Noble hops and it’s one of the strongest finishes I’ve had in a Pilsner.
Another beer from a local brewery. Elemental is a good Pilsner, not as good as my favorite Pilsner but still really good. Pils are known for their bitter finish but Elemental goes up a notch or two more so be ready for that. If you’re looking for pairings this beer would go well with German or Japanese cuisine, or peppery cheeses.
Rating (out of five):
Beer of the Week 50: Chainbreaker
From the bottle:
What if wheat wasn’t the goal in itself? But a route to something awesomely new?
You pair wheat, hops and Belgian yeast and suddenly ‘bingo, a wheat like nobody else’s.’ With real depth, coriander and sweet orange peel, it’s citrus-packed and silky smooth going down.
From my notes:
Cloudy straw white color with thick, creamy looking white head that leaves a light lacing on the glass. Citrus, pine, and spices on the nose. Yeast and wheat when it first hits the tongue with hints of citrus, grapefruit specifically, and some spices, coriander I assume. This is quickly followed up by the crisp hop flavor as it goes down. Smooth and dry finish. Surprisingly juxtaposition of a Belgian and an IPA.
I’ve already reviewed a number of Deschutes Brewery’s beers, and they’ve become one of my favorite brewers, Chainbreaker cements my opinion further. The fact that it’s a Witbier and an Indian Pale Ale makes for some interesting questions. IPAs are generally paired with robustly flavored foods that can hold their own against the strengths of the beer. Witbiers are usually paired with lighter fare: seafood, salads, citrus dishes. Chainbreaker is both. So what would it go well with? I think both. Chainbreaker won’t overwhelm delicate, subtle foods but it will stand up to spicy, strong and bold flavored dishes. This beer was a real surprise and a real treat.
Rating (out of five):
