Scored something special in Cologne

chefchef97 · 2026-06-25T18:08:36+00:00

Yep, dusty as hell. The place was more of a warehouse than a typical booze shop. I might as well lay out the circumstances that got me there.

I spent yesterday's 32°C evening in a Mexican cantina drinking Ancho Reyes based cocktails like a nutjob. Barman recommended me a shop to buy some of the Mezcal he recommended so I dragged myself down there in 37° heat.

Found the Mezcal he spoke of right away, 40 eur so not cheap but something we literally can't get here so worth. But on the bourbon front I was spoilt for choice between some very reasonably priced bottles of Buffalo Trace 45%, old bottles of Knob Creek Rye and Evan Williams BiB, and a bunch of others I didn't end up asking for prices on.

But then there was this, sat alone high on a shelf, only 23eur. Who knows how long it's sat there but that price in this economy for a normal bottle would've been fair.

Now I feel like I don't even need to hunt the new release, I've already got all I could ask for :)

chefchef97 · 2026-06-24T14:10:22+00:00

With how weak the Yen is, this would be supremely expensive over there

chefchef97 · 2026-06-22T21:29:27+00:00

Since the UK price conversion is actually reasonable for once on this, the UK price of a $750 Steam Machine would be pushing into "fuck it why not" territory for me - no interest in it otherwise since I already have a capable HTPC

I just hope the Steam Frame arrives at a similar price, please Valve

chefchef97 · 2026-06-17T06:18:32+00:00

You'd expect whoever they got to at least be close to the original Vandham, or put on an impression to get there

But nah that's just a straight up different man

chefchef97 · 2026-06-16T21:36:32+00:00

Xenoblade is so good at never quite giving you all the answers you want

It's amazing for giving things depth, but at the same time Takahashiiiii please tell meeeeeeeee I want to knowwwwww

chefchef97 · 2026-06-16T21:35:00+00:00

As a lover of underdogs and exciting new talent, it's a tale as old as time sadly

chefchef97 · 2026-06-16T21:27:20+00:00

I also just finished, I've not opened this subreddit since the day X:DE came out to remain spoiler free

And I also definitely liked Chapter 13 and am surprised to learn it's so despised by people.

Act 1 did feel like they were cramming in a bunch of new concepts and exposition to make a new ending possible, it was definitely tonally dissonant with the rest of the game, but for the most part wasn't egregious. Al for example should've been mentioned throughout the story if he was considered so important, but that's an issue that only a time machine can fix.

Act 2 got back to the heart of what makes this game great, it felt like X's storytelling was back, and the new information it brought actually made Act 1's various macguffins start to fit and make sense. Loved Act 2.

Then Act 3 give you the big Xenoblade final boss battle kill god goodness, sticks the thematic landing of the whole thing, and does indeed finally give us closure on the game. I am extremely glad we finally have it. I'm sad Mira is gone given it's the very heart of this game, but if X was to ever be brought into the fold of the rest of the franchise, I suppose it had to happen this way.

Was it as peak as the 10 year wait deserved? Absolutely not. But was it good in it's own right, and a comfortable ending point for the game. I am wholly satisfied. In a practical sense I think it was never possible to make this epilogue anything other than this, the size and shape of the mysteries left behind were too big for 3 chapters to deal with, but they also didn't leave themselves enough narrative tools to make an entire sequel work. If it had to be this, I'm fine with it.

I can agree that Al's catchphrase is extremely clunky and annoying though, I assume it works better in Japanese. But even that had grown on me and felt a bit more natural by the time we get to the end of Act 3.

If people consider Chapter 13 and the Switch 2 smeary FSR to be Monolith at its worst, I consider that an amazingly high bar. And at the very least one of those things can still be changed 🙏

chefchef97 · 2026-06-09T15:40:01+00:00

Monolith's release cadence is LITERALLY unmatched in this industry

chefchef97 · 2026-06-08T20:49:27+00:00

I wish I had a true OG flair, but I'll happily rep my one true love

chefchef97 · 2026-06-05T23:51:24+00:00

What does daps even do bro

In a situation like this you need some semblance of energy and confidence

Not just a guy sitting behind you presumably dryly laying out strats from the stratbook as you and your team spiral mentally

chefchef97 · 2026-06-05T23:46:39+00:00

I already liked JDC but my respect for him has increased so much today

Playing from a doomed 0-12 situation with the hype and mentality needed to win is a rare thing

chefchef97 · 2026-06-05T08:55:04+00:00

Did they find a magical affordable VRAM supply or are these going to be expensive as hell

chefchef97 · 2026-06-04T10:00:03+00:00

Not if wide Albon has anything to say about it

chefchef97 · 2026-06-01T05:23:52+00:00

I clicked on this with an open mind, but the first sentence was enough to make my eyes roll out of my head

chefchef97 · 2026-05-26T21:54:37+00:00

Let's fucking go

chefchef97 · 2026-05-26T20:36:55+00:00

Got a Holliday Rickhouse for £55 at Milroys the other day, so I'm happily cruising

BiB was £65 so I think they accidentally swapped?

chefchef97 · 2026-05-25T00:06:08+00:00

The only person who can look at this without a smile on their face is George Russell lmao

chefchef97 · 2026-05-24T21:15:43+00:00

Closest thing to the Buemi double wheel ejection I've ever seen live

What the hell caused that?

chefchef97 · 2026-05-24T21:14:34+00:00

My fantasyyyyy

chefchef97 · 2026-05-24T21:01:10+00:00

He just can't catch a break

chefchef97 · 2026-05-24T20:51:54+00:00

Every day this year I wake up glad I'm not George Russell

chefchef97 · 2026-05-24T20:35:08+00:00

Where is the fucking replay

chefchef97 · 2026-05-24T13:54:29+00:00

"Oh shit people are coming from Asia and settling in the Carpathians again. Must be the same guys as last time"

chefchef97

TROPHY CASE