"I don't want to be this kind of animal anymore" – How Disco Elysium caught the bottle in my hand

While studying for my degree I would not – could not – write an article or essay without a buzz on. My first published article was written sloppily around 1AM in my cheap student room with help from Fireball whiskey and Rockstar energy drinks. There's this sweet spot on the verge of drunk, with your heart pumping lava and knee subconciously bopping up and down, where your brain can work miracles. Where I took my first steps towards being the writer I wanted to be. It's an experience video games never quite captured for me. Until I played Disco Elysium.In that game, you jump into the shoes of Harry Du Bois. You soon learn that Harry is, when he can manage it, a damn good detective. He's turned down promotions, dedicated to solving cases with his boots on the ground. He is a tragic depiction of that romanticised investigator, representing the ugly side of alcohol and drug abuse. It's up to you to decide whether you give into Electrochemistry and become that superstar cop. You want to solve the murder and look cool doing it? Smoke a cigarette for some extra intellect, drink booze to get stronger.When you study for a journalism degree you're introduced to a variety of other inspirational figures. David Frost as a pillar of proffesionalism in the face of presidents, Paxman's persistence, Louis Theroux. You're also introduced to Hunter S. Thompson, the father of Gonzo journalism and legendary enjoyer of drink and drugs. Read more