Ethan Thomas | Condemned 2: Bloodshot

Contrary to what our parents, doctors and fellow AA members have taught us, drinking can actually be helpful in certain situations. Like, for instance, finding yourself trapped in an evil doll-infested factory or a remote cabin with a grizzly resident who’s more homicidal than your average bear. And what helps Ethan Thomas steady his nerves and actually improve his aim in these situations? His good friend, Mr. Whisky Flask.

Looking at the clean-cut, fresh-faced Agent Thomas of the original Condemned and the bearded, unemployed, hobo-esque shell of man we see in Bloodshot, it’s safe to say the evils of alcohol might have played their part in his downfall. Oh, and all those murderers and monsters might have taken their toll, too. We’ve seen drinking handled in mostly juvenile ways in games – hello GTA drunk driving – but Condemned 2 is one of the few titles to actually show a human being in pain, who seeks solace in the bottle… and by breaking tramps’ necks.

Alco-reading:

Shun Di | The Virtua Fighter series

Now this is what we’re talking about. A drunk so attached to the sauce he can barely get his limbs to function without it. A near cripple when sober, get a few swigs into Shun and he’s transformed into the ultimate ass-kicking herb doctor of Drunken Kung Fu. The only way players can get Shun to succeed is by taking swigs from his bottle to keep the courage up and the Kung Fu flowing.

In a series famed for its split-second timing, masterful blocking and considered combat, it’s nice to see such a realistic portrayal of an elderly Chinese gent who likes to wet his whistle during fights. We love Sega’s attitude towards drinking in brutal battles. Forget it compromising your reach, concentration or speed. In Shun Di’s hands it’s a magical, bout-deciding power up. And, when a character develops an immune system that can not only withstand the amount of liqueur Shun puts away, but actually requires it to move, he simply has to take top spot. Mr Di, we salute your liver-baiting ways.

Alco-reading:

Jan 5, 2009

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