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Monique May
July Cover Model 20 questions with Monique Photography by Andrew Gates Makeup & hair by Alisha Baijounas
14 All Access
The Latest Albums Reviewed Albums Reviewed: Meek Mill Dreams Worth More Than Money By Silas Valentino
Muse Drones
By Silas Valentino
18 All Access Spotlight Artists/Bands Featured:
Lil Dicky, Sean Price, and Bullet For My Valentine By Samuel Wendel
On The Cover
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Alisha Baijounas
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22 Coming Up
Models To Keep An Eye On Featured Models: Ashley Doris West Hartford, CT
26 Game On
The Latest Games Reviewed Games Reviewed: Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings By Josh Schilling
Rocket League
By Jesse Seilhan
30 Game On Spotlight Games Featured:
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Super Mario Maker, and Destiny: The Taken King By Jesse Seilhan
This Page
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Andrew Gates All Access Editor
Silas Valentino Games Editor
Jesse Seilhan Art Director
Andrew Gates All Access Contributors
Silas Valentino & Samuel Wendel Pit Pass Contributor
Andrew Gates Game On Contributors
Jesse Seilhan & Josh Schilling Contributing Photographers
Andrew Gates
Contributing Videographers
Nate Olson
Contributing Make-up Artists
Alisha Baijounas & Nicolette Melland Contributing Hair Stylists
Alisha Baijounas & Nicolette Melland Advertising
Andrew Gates
advertise@RUKUSmag.com Mailing Address
RUKUS MAGAZINE 11304 Chandler Blvd. #6131 North Hollywood, CA 91603
Copyright © 2008-2015 RUKUS MAGAZINE & RUKUSmag.com. All Rights Reserved! July 2015 issue, Volume 7, Number 7. ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377 (online) Visit http://www.RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.
Monique
May Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Alisha Baijounas
M
onique May was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She was always surrounded by the entertainment industry. May became a part of the Screen Actors Guild at the age of eight while shooting a variety of commercials and TV shows. As a college student, Monique discovered gogo dancing and fell in love with it at first dance. Her dancing talent allowed her to quickly climb up the ladder, dancing for events around the world. Monique was approached and asked to do some import modeling, to which she agreed. She began working at the Spocom and Hot Import Nights events regularly. Monique also made a few magazine appearances along the way. Currently, you can find her serving bottles at Marquee Nightclub in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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20 QUESTIONS 1.What’s your Ethnicity? I’m half Bolivian, a quarter Thai, and a quarter Chinese. 2.What’s your zodiac sign? May 31 makes me a Gemini, and boy am I a Gemini. I definitely have two sides to me. Becoming a gogo dancer while receiving my Bachelor’s degree in engineering is just one example. 3.Where are you from originally? I am originally from Pacoima, CA and I’ll always be a California girl at heart. 4.What did you like most about growing up in Pacoima? When I was growing up, Pacoima was one of the most dangerous places in the valley. That being said, my family was not as financially stable as others might have been. Growing up in those conditions really allowed me to appreciate everything my family and I have achieved. I’m glad I came from humble beginnings because it has added that much more value to my life, I wouldn’t want it any other way. 5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? When I was in elementary school, I was a huge flirt. However, part of my flirting was “kneeing” guys in the nuts...not really sure how I even thought of doing that. That got me in a lot of trouble in school, but somehow it worked with the boys...I distinctly remember having three valentines in second grade. 6.If you could have a super power, what would it be and why? Having the power to teleport would be super awesome. Then I would be able to travel while avoiding the worst part of traveling...the long flights. 7.What’s your favorite hobby and why? My favorite hobby has got to be working out, I love trying out new workout activities too. I’ve tried everything from crossfit to hot yoga. My current obsession is Parkour.
no reason why anyone should go hungry. We have enough food and resources on this planet to provide for all living beings. There are so many factors that play a part in this issue, and if a single person attempts to help, it makes a difference. 11.What’s one of your personal goals? Although it’s been stated that there’s no cure for diabetes, I am determined to reverse its effects on my dad as much as possible. He is a very stubborn person but I have managed to change parts of his eating habits. He has lost seven pounds in the past two weeks and he will continue to make changes towards a healthier lifestyle with me by his side... this is a promise. 12.What do guys compliment you on the most? The compliment depends on what I’m wearing. If I’m wearing close to nothing, I get complimented on my gluteus maximus. If I’m clothed, I get complimented on my smile. [smile] 13.What’s your favorite body part on yourself? This might sound strange, but I’ve always been proud of my nails. [laugh] I’ve never had acrylics and I always get complimented on how strong they are when I go to the nail salon. Ok, my booty’s not too bad either. [wink] 14.What do you look for in a guy? I mostly look for a guy that has a big heart. Seems like a generic thing to say, but you can usually tell when someone is being fake because they want you or when the person is genuine and treats everyone in their life with the utmost care and respect. 15.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? I usually notice right away if we have the same sense of humor. If it’s there, then it’s a go. I definitely need a guy with a great sense of humor. 16.What’s your ideal first date? I’m a simple girl so a nice dinner is good for me. Just don’t try to eat anything on my plate and make sure you offer me what’s on your plate. Just kidding...not really. 17.What turns you on? Nothing turns me on more than a guy who knows how to dance. Guys that can really move are so sexy. Have you seen Doknock from Super Cr3w?
8.What’s your guilty pleasure? Adult Swim is my guilty pleasure. I don’t really watch much TV, but if I do, I’m usually watching cartoons on Adult Swim. My current favorite show is Bob’s Burgers...it is hilarious.
18.What turns you off? The biggest turn off for me is cockiness. So often I meet guys that like to brag about themselves, especially when it comes to money. I don’t care how much money you have, I make my own money.
9.Who do you admire and why? Since I was twelve, I’ve always admired Gwen Stefani. With every passing year, she accomplishes more and more and my admiration grows stronger. She’s the ultimate go getter. She knows what she wants and then strives to achieve it until it’s hers. Gwen is a classy, talented, business woman... what’s not to admire.
19.What’s your biggest pet peeve? Cigarettes are my pet peeve. Sorry if I offend any smokers out there. I just think they are pointless and stinky, and I’ve been burned on several occasions. If you try to talk to me while smoking a cigarette, you will not be welcomed.
10.If you could change one thing in the world what would it be and why? I would change world hunger. Honestly, there is
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20.Who’s your celebrity crush? Paul Rudd is my ultimate celebrity crush. He was extremely charming in Clueless, and every movie he’s been in since then has been hilarious. I can’t resist a sweetheart with a good sense of humor. RM
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Guys that can really move are so sexy.
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STATS: Birthday:
May 31
Height:
5’3”
Weight:
115lb
Measurements:
34B-25-37
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Makin’ Waves Written by Silas Valentino
The song that made for this past summer’s most flaming beef is the centerpiece on Meek Mill’s sophomore LP Dreams Worth More Than Money. “R.I.C.O.” has the Philly rapper passing versus back and forth with Drake but it was in the song’s aftermath, when Meek Mill called out Drake for ghostwritten lyrics, that lit this duet in flames. Diss tracks were made and sides were taken, but the spark of all this diatribe and controversy was a little album that took Meek Mill from hip-hop riser to contender. Meek Mill is signed to Rick Ross’ Maybach Music Group, so it’s only fitting that the Dreams Worth More Than Money album opener features a sampling of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Lacrimosa.” Mill begins his currency ambition theme with the flow: “Uh, Lord knows I’m filthy rich/All this ice is like 50 bricks/Rap niggas throwing hissy fits” and the line regarding feuds takes a new meaning after this heated summer. The beat smacks with the occasional gun shot samples and Meek Mill displays his determination with a sneering bite. The always-exciting Future hops in on “Jump Out The Face” and the Southern trap rapper turns his feature into a hijacking, yanking the attention from Meek Mill. Future’s now-iconic flow leaves Meek Mill behind and “Jump Out The Face” proves to be one of Dreams Worth More Than Money hardest slappers. The premiere single was “All Eyes On You” (no, not a Tupac remix) and Meek Mill enlists Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj for the album’s sparkly pop moment. This is the sixth collaboration between Mill and Minaj and it’s for a reason: The two complement each other well while boasting about their shared credibility. Arguably, The Weeknd’s “I Can’t Feel My Face” was the biggest single of the summer and Meek Mill was wise to get him on the track “Pullin Up.” The Weeknd’s R&B falsetto drives this song and the crooner commands the hook and chorus. While The Weeknd shines in the spotlight, Meek Mill holds his own even though lyrics: “Broke boys don’t deserve pussy/ Therefore, you ain’t fucking with her” are a pretty basic way in celebrating your affluence. As the album begins to descend, Meek Mill calls in help from the boss himself: Rick Ross. “Been That” has the duo confirming their legitimacy. Even though they can afford mansions and fancy cars, their humbled beginnings are not lost. “Been That” harbors a notable resemblance to the previous collaboration between Mill and Ross, “Off The Corner.” The song was a hit, so you can’t really blame them for replicating a few ingredients. Even though the final track, “Cold Hearted,” begins with Meek Mill claiming, “I never had a role model,” he enlists the godfather Diddy himself for an interlude. Much of Dreams Worth More Than Money deals with Meek Mill’s acceptance of fame and riches and he turns to Diddy for advice. The OG MC uses his verse as a monologue, advising the young Meek Mill of potential falling outs with family and friends now that he’s famous. And in remaining persistent with the theme of heartbreakingly failed relationships, Diddy ends his contribution with an homage to the 2002 film Paid In Full with his closing remarks: “Everybody eats, B/Everybody eats.” Although Dreams Worth More Than Money will forever be marked by its Meek Mill/Drake controversy, it doesn’t outshine the album. Meek Mill has been a quick-rising stud and with this hyper-conscience record – full of songs lamenting a fear of success – he sets out to prove his head is placed firmly on his shoulders.
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Roots Return Written by Silas Valentino
Contemporary progressive rock’s most ambitious trio return with their seventh offering on the paranoid concept album Drones. The album’s twelve tracks come tailored for the arena stage with crushing choruses and Queen-recalling drum fills. Muse’s last record, 2012’s The 2nd Law, had the English lads exploring the electronic aspect of their ensemble but they appear to have abandoned that with Drones, returning to their guitar riff-rocking roots. Muse are already one of the biggest names in rock and they’re not easing off the gas pedal. “Dead Inside” opens Drones and immediately welcomes listeners to the twisted world Muse creates in order to tell their story of the classic hero’s journey from lost hope to an inevitable rise up. Over a boom-clap, drum-heavy lead and singer Matt Bellamy’s falsetto pipes, “Dead Inside” is a quintessential Muse moment that rocks as much as it is provokes with its lyrics as Bellamy howls: “I see magic in your eyes/On the outside you’re ablaze and alive, but you’re dead inside.” Is this a song about love or the turmoil brooding inside? Regardless, it’s a relentless bash. The most incendiary riffing comes in on the following number, “Psycho,” with a crunchy lick that could go toe-to-toe with some of Metallica’s earliest hits. The track opens with a frightening monologue from a drill sergeant beating away any humanity left in the album’s nameless protagonist. While Bellamy lays down his catchy lead guitar, Muse sacrifices their pop music elements for full-throttled, teeth-barring wreckage. One of the shortest tracks on Drones is the piano-led “Mercy.” If this album was performed with actors in a theatre, “Mercy” would be the monologue moment where the protagonist pines for redemption from the hysteria-riddled world that swallows him. While “Psycho” gave away any catchy pop feelings, “Mercy” picks it right up and could land smoothly on the rock radio circuit – as it has in the promotional soundtrack to the popular Batman video game Batman: Arkham Knights. “Reapers” is a clean, six-minute livewire featuring Bellamy’s fast-paced guitar tapping, calling to mind a Van Halen eruption. He throws his vocals through some manipulated reconfigurations, turning his smooth delivery into a scorched display. The final minute and half turns to doom where the distorted arrangement falls like bombs while an alarm is (literally) raised. Muse are detailing the apocalypse and the result is vivid. The penultimate song is the ten-minute epic “The Globalist.” Like a cowboy riding into uncertain fate, the track begins with a gentle, whistling melody that sets a calm scene, almost tranquil, before bleeding into whelping slide guitar transfixion. Muse spin a few depressing versus (“You were never truly loved/You have only been betrayed/You were never truly nurtured/By churches of the state”) until a countdown from ten blasts “The Globalist” into a frenzy. We imagine our protagonist battling the demons – inside and out – before fading out with the album’s closer, the title track “Drones,” marked by its layering of angelic voices that elevate this album into the light. 53 minutes later the songs are over and the story is silenced, and it’s up to you to decide if this is a tragedy or success. Muse have perfected their take on epic rock music and it’s glorified throughout Drones. There’s no need for a folk album from Muse or any sort of unexpected music left turn – Muse sound delighted with their arrested arena assaults. It’s almost as if Muse have barged into a movie house to present their theatric Drones with its imagery and narrative arc. Few bands can tell spin fiction with a rock ‘n’ roll sword but then again, few bands have the severe clout like Muse.
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Facebook.com/LilDickyRap
Written by Samuel Wendel
Lil Dicky, Professional Rapper
For a musician whose music has been labeled as “comedy rap”, Lil Dicky is certainly turning heads. Having your debut album hit number one on the Billboard charts will do that. On the heels of Lil Dicky’s 2013 EP So Hard, which catapulted him to relative fame with the viral hit “Ex-boyfriend”, the rapper has returned with his first full length album. And so far, he’s showing that he’s not a fluke. Professional Rapper, which was crowdfunded into existence and released independently, picks up where Lil Dicky left off and manages to be one of the rare hip-hop efforts that manages to balance humor with quality production and technical skill. For someone who could easily be disregarded as a “joke” rapper who is more funny than actually musically talented, Lil Dicky largely combines wit with ambition and serves it with a side of surprisingly solid rapping ability. The album opens on a high note with the title track — featuring the ubiquitous Snoop Dog — over a pounding beat. It’s a creative and energetic opener that sets the tone for a light, but overall enjoyable album. There are few hard edges and little grit, but Lil Dicky gets ahead by featuring just the right amount of satisfying guest spots from stars like Hannibal Buress and T-Pain. Crucially, he’s generally amusing without stooping to complete buffoonery.
Sean Price, Songs In the Key of Price
With many East Coast hip-hop fans still reeling from Sean Price’s sudden passing on August 8 at the too-young age of 43, this posthumous release Songs in the Key of Price is a bittersweet reminder of what the regrettably underrated rapper offered the hip-hop community. As a member of the notable hip-hip duo Heltah Skeltah and rap collective Boot Camp Clik, Sean Price was an under-the-radar, 90’s East Coast heavyweight who never really broke into the limelight. And Songs in the Key of Price, which would have been his fourth solo album if truly completed, reflects his career arc. It’s a breezy collection of rapid-fire songs that feature his enviable rhyming ability and flow, but it never really reaches the full potential it hints at. The songs are slight and seemingly end before they can truly take off. Compared to his third studio album, 2012’s Mic Tyson, the mixtape is rough and less cohesive, but Price’s unique, gravelly vocal delivery hits just as hard as ever. The highlight of the mixtape is “Go Rambo,” a track that can stand alongside any song Price ever produced, with a dazzling flow that illustrates perfectly what made him such an enviable 90’s hip-hop lyricist.
Facebook.com/BulletForMyValentine
Bullet For My Valentine, Venom
After receiving lukewarm reception from their 4th studio album, 2013’s slightly experimental Temper Temper, UK heavy metal act Bullet For My Valentine has returned with a “back-to-basics” album on their latest LP. Entitled Venom, the group’s fifth studio album attempts to evoke the sound and style of their propulsive debut, 2006’s The Poison, which launched them into mainstream metal stardom. Despite the similarity in album names and overall sound, Venom doesn’t quite recapture the meaty, aggressive fist-pump inducing rage of their early work – but there are appeasing echoes. The album is full of dueling guitars, bruising breakdowns and shout along choruses for casual metal fans to get sweaty to. On several tracks, Bullet For My Valentine nail their target, like “You Want A Battle? (Here’s A War).” The track unleashes all the pent-up rage the rockers must have been storing over recent years and should be a concert staple for the lads as they move forward. But in the end, while a decent throwback to their early sound, Venom doesn’t bring anything new to the table. Repetition permeates through the album, leaving the listener with a sense that you’ve heard this all before. But for long time fans, that should be more than enough.
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Ashley
A
Doris Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up by Nicolette Melland
shley Doris in and American born actress and model living in Los Angeles, California. Ashley came to LA from West Hartford, Connecticut. Her modeling career actually started in Boston at the age of nineteen. While appearing in ads for Reebok, CVS, and Hasbro, she discovered her love of acting and decided to move to California. After moving to Los Angeles, she studied at the Margie Habor studio, as well as Anthony Mindl’s Actor Workshop. Ashley rapidly rose to popularity after being discovered by Playboy and was featured as Miss March 2013. Since her relocation to Hollywood, Ashley has been featured in several major projects including commercials, movies, and music videos.
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THE STATS Birthday: November 1 Zodiac Sign: Scorpio Measurements: 32C-24-34 Height: 5’5” Weight: 110lb Ethnicity: Black and white. Hometown: West Hartford, CT Turn Ons: Chipotle. Turn Offs: Not having Chipotle. Ideal first date: I love food, so a good dinner at a nice restaurant is enough for me. Guilty Pleasure: My guilty pleasure is basically any time I eat food because I probably eat way too much of it to me an actual model. Pet Peeves: When people want to sing along to a song but don’t know the lyrics. Celebrity Pass: Margot Robbie. See more of Ashley at
instagram.com/MissAshleyDoris
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Hitting it Balls Deep Written by Josh Schilling
Super Mega Baseball: Extra Innings is an enhanced version now available on the Xbox One and PC through Steam of a game that was released on the Playstation consoles last year. Now to set the record straight, I am a baseball connoisseur of sorts. Of course, one man’s connoisseur is another man’s snob, right? Well, being that I also play a lot of video games, it is a natural assumption to say that I have played a hell of a lot of baseball video games in my day, in fact if I had to play only one game for the rest of my life, it would probably be the graphically challenged, 1987 DOS based Earl Weaver Baseball. Super Mega Baseball is pretty far away from that classic in just about every way, but it still manages to be really fun despite departing from some of the intricacies that could make or break any sports game. So how exactly can you make a good baseball game without a major league license that allows the developer to use real players, team names and stadiums? Super Mega Baseball answers that question by not taking those aspects too seriously. The player models are cartoonish, resembling something out of Backyard Baseball with oversized heads and bats, along with the addition of outlandish names like Hurley Bender, Splash Cashman, Johnson Swanson, and Billy LeBoink. The comedy of the game is not meant to be the defining factor, however, and it serves as a nice side note to the actual gameplay itself, which is remarkably outstanding. The fielding is not difficult, but is made challenging with the timing of jumps and dives, and the base running is simplified into the pressing of only a few buttons. What makes this game great is the essential battle between the pitcher and the hitter, and Super Mega Baseball creates a simple yet fulfilling mechanic that ends up being supremely satisfying. This game uses anticipation, timing, and accuracy to define the hitting and pitching aspects, and when you succeed or fail, you can understand why you did so. If you miss your spot as a pitcher or fall into a predictable pattern, the ball is going to get hit hard, but it will not always a homer. As a hitter you need to look for pitches in a certain zone and work the count, and shockingly you can even draw your fair share of walks. These seemingly small things are essential aspects to the real game of baseball that few video games have succeeded in making right, but Super Mega Baseball makes sure that when you get a hit or strike someone out, you deserve it. You earn points for getting hits, outs and other baseball activities during a game, and you can level up your team during a season or compare your score against your friends. In addition, this game adds a difficulty meter (your ego) that adds a multiplier to your score, and it serves to challenge you to play a more difficult opponent. Sure you can spend a season hitting fifteen homers a night, but this game is far more rewarding when you win a low scoring game at a higher difficulty level, and it’s even satisfying when you lose a close one as the game plays fairly. You can play Super Mega Baseball with up to four players on the same console, but there are some things that this game could improve. There is no online multiplayer which is somewhat limiting, and the different pitchers are all fairly similar, with all of them able to throw the same types of pitches. You can customize your players by changing their names and appearance, but this game tries to maintain a leaderboard balance by not allowing you to change a players abilities. Regardless, this is an extremely simplified, yet challenging baseball game that is sprinkled with a goofy sense of humor. It is fast, fun, and easily one of the best baseball video games I have ever played.
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Turn On & Burn Out
Written by Jesse Seilhan
With over 3 billion fans, soccer/football has dominated the sports landscape for decades. And while games like FIFA and Pro Evolution have become some of the most popular and revered games in the land, something about the pace and rule set can keep the average gamer from joining in on the fun. So what if the field was in a giant see-through dome, the ball was gigantic, and each athlete was replaced by a super powered rocket car? Developer Psyonix answered that question in the form of Rocket League, and it just might be the best damn game of 2015. Rocket League is as simple as “soccer meets cars,” but its execution and selection of customizable car parts is what makes the whole package work. Beyond the normal car stuff like bodies, wheels, and paint jobs, you can add a weird hat, funny antennae, and colorful exhaust to set your car apart from the others. Matches range from one on one solo duels up to four vs four chaotic explosions. Each battle lasts five minutes, which turns out to be just brief enough to both feel satisfied by the end and still give you the urge to play another 10 matches or so before calling it a night. Ranked and unranked matches give you control over your level of competition, with the ranked modes actually giving you a quality score to better matchmake for you. You can join up in the main menu and create a sort of private lobby with your friends before battling it out around the world, giving you a chance to see how cool your buddy’s snowman antennae and sombrero combo looks. The gameplay is the real star, as Psyonix really figured out the perfect blend of speed, control, and destruction. The speed is already blazing, but turbo boosts placed around the field let you go even faster, which can be stored and used only when the time is right. Timing is the name of the game, as the difference between a huge goal and an embarrassing whiff is so close, often dictated by how much boost you have and how you judge the movement of the ball. The best players know their role and play it well, just like any athlete. Chasing the ball often results in madness, as teams that properly defend, pass, and shoot will find themselves more successful than a team full of ball-chasers, all going for the shot at every chance. For a game that is super silly and unrealistic, it still embodies the same basic principles of team sports with fewer restrictions than a “real” sports game. Maybe the craziest thing about Rocket League is how deep the gameplay is. From the onset, you’ll find yourself learning the basics of soccer, from dribbling and ball control to passing and shooting. From there, you might begin to grasp how different angles and points of contact have a different effect on the ball, or how backspin might change its rotation. All of these are standard soccer concepts, and are handled well in the game’s brilliant tutorial section. But then you go and add rockets, and the whole thing gets turned on its head. With a little practice, you can drive up the side of the wall, jump into midfield, and strike the ball in the net from mid-air. Or make an epic save by double jumping in the air, rotating your car to create a wide blockade, and boosting the oncoming goal out of danger. Get a few players with this level of skill and you’ll witness some of the craziest and most enjoyable moments in video games this year. The graphics won’t win any awards, the concepts aren’t “out of the box,” but Rocket League proves that you can take a familiar idea, strap rockets to it, and it can be a ton of fun.
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Written by Jesse Seilhan
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
Don’t let the six fool you, this is about the dozenth or so game in Tom Clancy’s long line of tactical shooters. What once was a strategic military exercise has become an arcade shooter with a touch of realism, but Siege is looking to return to a bit of its PC roots with a new team-focused squad-based shooter built for online play and marathon sessions. It’s been nearly a decade since terrorists took over Las Vegas and you’re instead tasked with taking down smaller operations, mostly involving kidnapped victims locked in an enclosed area. The bad guys have a bunch of defensive tools at their disposal, like fortifications and trip mines, but it’s up to the Rainbow Six squad to take each situation carefully and extract the target. Details on the single-player are mum, but the multiplayer looks awesome. A slight delay until December shouldn’t worry you too much, as there will be plenty to play until then.
Super Mario Maker
Have you ever wanted to make your own Mario levels? Nintendo is banking on that being a reality, as their newest game in the Mario series is half platformer, half level creator. Taking the assets from four Mario games spanning all of Nintendo’s history, you will be able to build, edit, modify, and go nuts with just about every item and enemy you can think of from the world of Super Mario. For those lacking the creative touch, the game ships with dozens of levels already, but the online functionality means you can download some of the coolest and craziest designs people have made while you’ve been away. Within just a few weeks, the level of insanity will be quite high, as pre-release footage of the game has already shown some bonkers designs that are built for the brave of heart. Dust off your WiiU and give this game a shot come mid-September!
Destiny: The Taken King
While we don’t normally focus on expansions, this one is huge. Destiny has been out for a year now, and although millions of people have put in hundreds of hours, the biggest complaints involved both lack of content and short-sightedness when it came to narrative, loot, and just about everything. This newest chunk of gameplay is hoping to remedy that, with new Crucible maps, hundreds of new pieces of gear, and a huge new story path that includes a new raid, new enemies, and the chance to reach level 40. Gone are the confusing light levels and in their place is a streamlined leveling system. Peter Dinklage is also being removed from the game, and veteran voice actor Nolan North will now be doing all of Ghost’s lines. Bungie is promising dozens of hours of end-game content in the new Dreadnought area, including a gauntlet of bosses that should give experienced players a run for their money. Year two is shaping up to be a nice improvement for one of the best selling games of the last 12 months.
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