Mafia: The Definitive Edition on PC: I played the original way back in 2002. The game captures the early 1930s and condones it into a nice little piece of city real estate called Lost Heaven. It’s nowhere near open world like Rockstar’s epic Grand Theft Auto games, but it has a neat way of making you think there is more to explore than really meets the eye, due to its snazzy visuals. You start out as a taxi driver, who unwittingly becomes a getaway driver for members of a mob family which then leads you to become a part of the Salieri crime family. It’s a classic rag to riches story, completely revamped in this 2020 remastered version. You control the game’s protagonist Tommy Angelo through his tasks and decisions. I’m about halfway through the game (it’s not terribly long) and the highpoint so far has been a car race at a county fair in which I flex my bad guy mafia skills by “handicapping” my opponent by doing an adjustment to his car pre-race. The snow white bleachers and the hanging pendants moving in the breeze, the women’s colorful dresses and parasols under the lemony sunshine make this one of the prettiest games I’ve played this year. The creators unabashedly admit they took elements from the movie, Goodfellas and The Godfather trilogy in the creation of this game. They deserve a pat on the back for their efforts.
Blade Runner on 4K Blu Ray: I’ve owned this movie in just about every iteration imaginable. I picked it up on VHS when it first came out, and I’ve since owned numerous DVD versions, not to mention specialty Blu Ray editions. I read a review about this one not so long ago in which the reviewer went on about how grandiose the opening scene was in 4K. I have to concur. When I watched Harrison Ford in the Jetson’s like hovercar gliding through the night skies of LA, surrounded by neon ads adorning the skyscrapers, I got goosebumps. And then I ended up watching the whole movie. This was an excellent 4K transfer. I’ve seen the movie probably ten times now, and I’m sure I’ll watch this edition more times to come.
Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard: Centering on the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, this book is part of a series created by famous TV talking face, Bill O’Reilly. Reading much like a thriller, this account goes into the back story of John Wilkes Booth and his murderous co-conspirators. I didn’t realize Booth was such a staunch supporter of state secession and slavery. He wanted to do away with Lincoln and Grant and install a whole Southern form of government. Being a charismatic young actor, his career beginning to take off, he paired up with another young thespian named Lucy Hale. Together, where ever they went heads turned. Booth was faced with a choice: either continue his career with a beautiful young wife, or kill Lincoln. I would have chosen the lady, but of course as history shows, we all know the outcome.
Elton John Madman Across the Water on 180-gram vinyl: Though coming out in 1971, I don’t have memories of this album until years later when I was in Radioman A school in the Navy. I was lying in my rack one night listening to my Sony Walkman and the song, “Tiny Dancer” played from a local San Diego radio station. The song haunted me ever after. Picking up this album was a delight. “Tiny Dancer” is great, and “Levon” is good. The rest of the album is not bad at all. Much like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road this was Elton John and Bernie Taupin at their A game.
Rainbow Six Siege on PC: I played this extensively back in 2017. I remember playing the single player tutorial missions so much that my eyes got bloodshot. When it got to the point to where I was playing with a wadded paper towel against one eye, it was time to stop playing. Well, here it is a few years later and I’m back at it. There have been some changes, not necessarily good changes. Ubisoft elected to put a trans character in the game. I understand inclusion, yes, I get it, but I play games to escape the judgements and pontifications of my Facebook friends. (Not all of them, mind you, but some.) All of this being said, the game still has some great mechanics, and the stealth preparedness and execution which doesn’t rely on fast twitch reflexes make this a game even I can be good at with my old man twitch responses.
Undaunted Normandy by Osprey games: I was in an almost local Game Preserve looking for an add on to my board game, Memoir ’44 but the proprietor informed me the cupboard was bare. He did have something similar, however. It was a card deck management game called Undaunted Normandy. The game consists of tiles with plots of land (shrubs, buildings, roads, etc.) depicted on them. The tiles are arranged in accordance to a scenario, and then you place military units on the tiles. Each unit is represented by a card you are dealt at the beginning of the game. Card draws dictate how/when you move your units and fight with them. It’s a two player game, but is playable as a solo game. It’s dangerously addictive. Each card portrays a soldier complete with his name, it’s a gimmick that really makes you care about the soldiers because they seem like real people. If you are a fan of simply type war games, especially those occurring in World War II, I strongly suggest you pick this one up.
Monaco Music for Pleasure on CD: If you’ll notice, New Order disappeared in the mid 90s. but they appeared in disguise through the band Monaco, a side project of New Order bassist Peter Hook and guitarist David Potts, himself, a carryover from another New Order side project. The album sounded oddly identical to anything New Order would have put out there at this point in time. Despite selling half a million copies, the album did spawn a hit, “What Do You Want From Me?” I don’t recollect what compelled me to buy this album some years back, but I’ve been putting it on repeat as of late and one can’t help but notice how much it sounds like New Order.
The Witcher Season One on Netflix: Being the second season is about to make its debut in December, I decided to rewatch the first season. It’s odd how, despite it not being all that long ago I watched this the first time, it seems better this time around. I’ve recently picked up the novel, The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski. This is the first book in The Witcher series, and pretty much what the Netflix’s first season episodes are based upon. The tone of the film is dark and brutal. There’s a certain grayness to the presentation that evokes cold weather and gloom. I’ve mentioned before I thought Henry Cavill was mis-cast. He seemed to be too young in my opinion. In the first episode I knew I was wrong. Cavill is perfectly cast in the role of Geralt of Rivia. The show is adult in nature and graphically intense. I’ve not seen such authentic medieval battle scenes done so well (to the point, I’m glad I didn’t live back then and participate in such battles!)
Ultimate General: The Civil War on Steam: I’ve had to restart this game three times now because of its degree of difficulty. I’m playing the Northern side, starting with an embarrassment of riches and numerous highly effective military officers. Yet, right before the Battle of Gettysburg I get overrun by the Southern armies. I suppose it’s what I get for being such a wastrel after mopping up in so many victories. So, like I said, I’ve restarted this fabulous recreation of America’s bloodiest war. The game itself is beautiful, resembling a lavish board game come to life. Unfortunately, there is no multiplay, a garishly obvious omission, but the single player campaign stands on its own.
