Several years ago, stories were told as drinks were poured in VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action. Good times were had by both its developer, those who picked up a copy and experienced a slice of post-dystopian bartending, as well as of course, denizens of said bar. Like that of its precursor, N1RV ANN-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action aims to serve up equal amounts of booze and narrative, although in a shiny new locale with even more varied drinks and new customers, this time around.
That said, seeing how N1RV ANN-A also takes place in a post-dystopian setting, chances are you won’t be serving patrons in a cosy, well-lit place (ie. some futuristic version of Cheers). I could be wrong though, as the game’s locale is described as “an upscale bar” on an artificial island that is apparently “an idyllic paradise”. Neat. But you know as well as I that most people don’t get drunk and spill the beans to bartenders because they’re in a good place, so much as the exact opposite.
Oh, and on top of that, Sam – bartender/protagonist – her relationship with Leon, who moonlights as a Yakuza is on the rocks… and she has to work hard to care for their 8-year-old son. Wow. Someone’s badly in need of a break, and who knows, maybe if you mix the right drinks, something positive will come her way. I mean, that is how you change the narrative, often rewriting entire lives in the process, in this game. Kinda makes me wonder just what kind of stuff they serve at this place, and where I can get my hands on some.
Become acquainted with customers who frequent the bar, including erotic comic creator Parka and Sam’s gun-toting boss Iris, and serve up delicious real-life recipes with ingredients like vodka and tropical juices. Drink orders are as volatile as emotions in N1RV ANN-A – experiment with different drinks and see what happens!
But seriously, it’s all about branching dialogue options, secret missions, tough choices and similar groovy things for this particular bartender. The better you deal with a customer, the more tips you make, which in turn just might see you through those tough times, so be sure to pay close attention and take lots of mental notes. Being a good bartender is as much about what goes into each glass as what comes out of the mouth of the person draining its contents, after all. Now, how about a round on the house for N1RV ANN-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action‘s planned 2020 release?
N1RV ANN-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action will be available on Steam, Switch and PlayStation 4, come 2020.
