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Iryna Rodionova
20 Coming Up
Photography by Andrew Gates Makeup & hair by Nuen Nguyen
Natasha Cynn San Jose, CA
14 All Access
26 Game On
Incubus 8
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Kendrick Lamar DAMN.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Mar/Apr Cover Model 20 questions with Iryna
The Latest Albums Reviewed Albums Reviewed:
By Silas Valentino
By Silas Valentino
18 All Access Spotlight Artists/Bands Featured:
Gorillaz, Murs, and White Reaper By Samuel Wendel
Models To Keep An Eye On Featured Models:
The Latest Games Reviewed Games Reviewed:
By Joshua David Anderson By Jesse Seilhan
30 Game On Spotlight Games Featured:
Injustice 2, Super Mario Odyssey, and Persona 5 By Jesse Seilhan
On The Cover
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Nuen Nguyen
This Page
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Nuen Nguyen
www.RUKUSmag.com
On the Back Cover
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Nuen Nguyen
Mar/Apr 2017 • RUKUS
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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 Contributors
Andrew Gates Game On Contributors
Jesse Seilhan & Joshua David Anderson Contributing Photographers
Andrew Gates Social Media Guru
Rupa Begum Contributing Make-up Artists
Nuen Nguyen
Contributing Hair Stylists
Nuen Nguyen Advertising
Andrew Gates
advertise@RUKUSmag.com Mailing Address
RUKUS MAGAZINE 3115 e. Olive st. #42153 Las Vegas, NV 89116
Copyright Š 2008-2017 RUKUS, LLC. All Rights Reserved! March/April 2017 issue, Volume 9, Number 2. ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377 (online) Visit http://www.RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.
Iryna Rodionova Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Nuen Nguyen
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ryna Rodionova (AKA: Iryna Miami) is originally from Ukraine, but now makes her home in Miami, FL. She has always loved being in front of the camera, and had her first professional modeling shoot when she was just fifteen years old. The shoot was for a spa and beauty center in her home town Donetsk, Ukraine. Iryna has been modeling in the USA for about three years, and has been published in numerous magazines including; ModelsVision, BADD, GEI, Vizuals Magazine, and Cars & Wheels. She also has been featured in several calendars such as; Exotic Girls and Cars 2016, Oceanettes 2016, and Girlz & Guns 2017. Iryna has also been featured in multiple music videos with acts including; Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and 2 Chainz, just name a few. Lately, she had been focused on expanding her modeling career, and plans to study psychology to become a life coach, and motivational trainer in the future. Iryna is also preparing for her acting debut this summer. This girl is steady rising, pay attention, World.
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20 QUESTIONS 1.What’s your Ethnicity? I’m Caucasian. 2.What’s your zodiac sign? The sexiest ever, Scorpio. 3.Where are you from originally? Originally I’m from Ukraine. 4.What did you like most about growing up in Ukraine? The thing I loved most growing up in my city was having my loving parents around, delicious Ukrainian food, and amazing nature. They used to call my city Donetsk, city of a million roses. 5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? I’ve been kind of a little angel as a kid, very nice and quite, however, I became a trouble maker when I turn 13. [laughs] 6.If you could have a super power, what would it be and why? If I had a choice of a superpower I would choose teleportation so I will be able to go anywhere in the blink of an eye. 7.What’s your favorite hobby and why? My favorite hobby, and lifestyle is a constant self improvement. I’m a spiritual being and I enjoy doing yoga, and meditations. I truly believe we are the creators of our lives and destiny. 8.What’s your guilty pleasure? My guilty pleasure is my love to bake food, and chocolate, but I don’t really feel guilty because my genetics, and work out routine give me the ability to enjoy any food I love. I’m so blessed and grateful for that. [smile] 9.Who do you admire and why? I admire people who are real, successful, and help other individuals in need. For instance, I really respect and admire George Michael. He didn’t hide his true colors, he was super talented, and successful. Right after his death everybody found out he was a secret philanthropist who had helped thousands of people, and donated millions to those in need. 10.If you could change one thing in the world what would it be and why? If I could change one thing in the world, it would be a change of human perspective on www.RUKUSmag.com
materialistic, and spiritual things. I would have open humans eyes on what really matters: your health, family, happiness, doing something you love, and not judging others for who they are, to help people understand that power, and money have no value when you are not happy from inside, and those things are not worth the fight. 11.What’s one of your personal goals? One of my personal goals would be to travel more than I do. 12.What do guys compliment you on the most? The guys usually complement me on my butt, and my smile. 13.What’s your favorite body part on yourself? I love my back, and booty. I’m so lucky to have a genetically strong physic. 14.What do you look for in a guy? I appreciate wise, mature, calm, and generous men who respects his woman, and trusts her because she has stronger intuition, and connection to the Universe. And of course powerful sexual chemistry is a must, I don’t settle for less. [smile] 15.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? The first thing I notice about a guy are his eyes, and his smile. And his hands must be warm. [smile] 16.What’s your ideal first date? My ideal first date is hiking, having a fun conversation, and stopping by for a picnic with some wine, and cheese. 17.What turns you on? What turns me on is a guy who appreciates not only my looks, but also my personality, acts mature, and confident, so, I’m the first one to take a step for more...I also like a guy who takes care of himself, likes working out and doesn’t eat junk food. 18.What turns you off? My turn offs are cry babies, cheap guys, bad breath, and dirty finger nails, and guys who are trying to get into my panties during the first dates. 19.What’s your biggest pet peeve? My pet peeve is shuffling of feet. 20.Who’s your celebrity crush? My celebrity crush is Daniel Craig, I think he is the best James Bond ever. [wink] RM Mar/Apr 2017 • RUKUS
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I love my back, and booty.
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STATS: Birthday:
November 17
Height:
5’3”
Weight:
113lb
Measurements:
32B-28-36
See more of Iryna at instagram.com/irynamiami www.RUKUSmag.com
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The Outsiders Written by Silas Valentino
Southern Californian art-thrash band Incubus are an anomaly amid the post-1990s rock realm and they’re well aware of their irregular fit. Speaking to Billboard earlier this year, guitarist Mike Einziger said: “We don’t fit anywhere and we never have. We were never punk rock enough for the Warped Tour, we were never metal enough for Ozzfest, we were never quite indie rock or cool enough for Lollapalooza.” So how have these square pegs continued to churn out records and dominate arenas? Simple: Einziger has proven to be an unsung guitar slinger who can up the amp without sacrificing any of his undeniable pop sensibilities (lest we forget he was the acoustic guitar strummer for that all-too popular 2013 smash single “Wake Me Up” by Avicii) and then there’s singer Brandon Boyd who’ll often pause the distracting sex appeal to reveal his commanding frontman spirit. Together these two have led Incubus through the long-gone 1990s, ill-fated 2000s where so many of their contemporaries missed the bus and now to their eighth LP, simply put: 8. “No Fun” wastes little time before erupting into a chord-heavy rock anthem featuring a singalong chorus that’s far from self-referential: “You’re no fun/You’re a song I never want to hear again” howls Boyd. The long-haired vocalist has mastered a tight control over the way he bends and shapes his lyrics; sometimes he’s traversing octaves through a passionate grunt while other moments have Boyd discovering new syllables hidden within the word “ignorance.” “No Fun” is straightforward and about as complicated as elementary math but when reacquainting ourselves with a band cherished from the past, blasting right out of the gate in the opening track can be much more welcoming as opposed to having us suffer through a misguided style makeover at the start. Speaking of potential missteps, EDM megastar Skrillex makes a surprise appearance on 8 as the producer and mixer for the entire record. And while the push for incorporating yesteryear bands with modern gimmicks sounds about as appealing as a toilet flush, the king of the womp-womps provides slick and robust guidance through the record that gives Incubus a refreshing edge. Skrillex reportedly heard the band’s original groundwork for the track “Familiar Faces” and then spent an hour reworking the track into the standout it is now. While there are twinges of electro-pop detours, “Familiar Faces” is the finest song the band has produced since 2006’s “Anna Molly.” Boyd matches the band’s jagged rhythm with a staccato-like delivery of his lyrics and Einziger rips a crunchy riff that morphs into a delightful chorus. “World has gone wild/ It’s time for us to come out of hibernation,” sings Boyd during the bridge and the call the arms resonates even louder during this unpredictable political upheaval that’s engulfed us all. And never afraid to sprinkle their albums with sophomoric humor (the opening song “You Will Be a Hot Dancer” on their debut album ends with a recording of a Santa Clause ruffing up a snotty brat) 8 continues the band’s streak of humor with the one-off, throwaway number “When I Became A Man” centered in the album and clocking in at under a minute. Unknown if it’s rooted in fact but Boyd details his premiere sexual encounter over a soulful, bossa nova jazz backing. It’s irregular fitting that works well, especially for a band that’s defined their career on such a characteristic.
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Choose Wisely Photo by Yuri Hasegawa Written by Silas Valentino
The story begins in Compton, sometime during the 1980s, inside a Kentucky Fried Chicken of all places. Two men meet–a thief known for pulling the trigger and an employee with a good sense of how to protect his neck. Their brief interaction causes a split into the space-time continuum: one path the wicked, while the other the weak. Aware of this customer’s reputation for robbery, the employee holds his pride and bows by offering free biscuits. The robber accepts and chooses not to stick up the joint. Both men live; one eventually starts a record label named after his alter-ego (Top Dawg Entertainment) while the other would go on to father a son. Three decades later that son would rehash this street tale and use it as the basis for his fourth studio album. Kendrick Lamar uses his latest LP Damn. to make a declarative statement on the duality of choice. His father chose against the wicked and a gunshot was sparred. Lamar will spend the next 55 minutes using carefullycrafted hip-hop to express the reflexive nature of decision. Damn. picks up nowhere near where Kendrick left off with his previous two releases, 2015’s To Pimp a Butterfly and last year’s Untitled Unmastered. Whereas those albums were expansive explorations of jazz fusion, hip-hop and social activism, Damn. is the result of the pendulum swinging hard to the other side. It’s abrasive and to the point–hence the single worded song titles which all end with a period. We’re immediately introduced to the wicked/weak dichotomy through opening track “Blood.” Backup singers ask: “Is it wickedness?/Is it weakness?/You decide/Are we gonna live or die?” and the listener begins the audio journey. Following a brief replay of two Fox News hosts dissing on Lamar’s track “Alright”, the conversation starts with the banger “DNA.” The beat is bold and the rhymes match its rigor with Kendrick proclaiming the loyalty and royalty that flow within his genetic makeup. In an album full of clever wordplays and biting narratives, the greatest moment arrives in the mid-album track “Pride.” The track is structured around a wirily guitar riff, calling to mind Kendrick’s earlier hit “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” but strummed with more intensity, and the greatest MC in the game proves his merit with a spellbinding vocal delivery where he manipulates his voice in real time to reflect his various octaves and tones. If charted on a graph, he does to his vocals what the Grand Tetons have done to the Rocky Mountains with epic peaks and smooth valleys connected in a cursive flow. It’s a mesmerizing display of vocal control that’s as impressive as it is utterly engaging. “Humble” was the album’s lead-up single and an early notice to fans that K.Dot was revved up. Using a trap beat created by none other than the genre’s guru Mike Will Made It, “Humble” is a raucous display of bravado with a piano-based beat that would have been suited for Gucci Mane (who was reportedly the man Mike Will Made It had in mind when crafting the beat but gave it to Kendrick instead). Damn. concludes with the song that started it all. “Duckworth” takes listeners back to that fateful K.F.C. and lets us hear how Top Dawg was on the verge of robbing the place and potential offing Kendrick’s father, leading to a likely fatal destiny for the hip-hop visionary. Kendrick ends with the chin scratcher: “Whoever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence?/Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin’ life/While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight.” Established as the top MC of his time, Kendrick Lamar uses his fourth album Damn. to illustrate the consequence of choice.
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facebook.com/Gorillaz
Written by Samuel Wendel
Gorillaz, Humanz
Blur frontman Damon Albarn has returned to his pet project-turned megaproject Gorillaz, creating another sprawling epic that packs together a lot of ideas and different genres to create a quirky yet oddly uplifting album. More disjointed than some of its predecessors (perhaps by design), Humanz drifts along, shifting between songs powered by gloomy synths and dystopian lyrics and those that burst into big feelgood beats and addictive hooks. The title Humanz may seem ironic for a band officially made up of cartoon characters, but at its cores Gorillaz’s latest is propelled by the real humans who show up for guest appearances. Albarn enlists a never-ending smorgasbord of artists to appear, such as Pusha T, Vince Staples, Popcaan, D.R.A.M., Grace Jones, Anthony Hamilton, De La Soul, Danny Brown, Kelela, Mavis Staples and Benjamin Clementine. Even Albarn’s longtime Britpop nemesis, Noel Gallagher of Oasis, shows up for a brief turn. Albarn doesn’t always smoothly navigate this varied array of guests, but as with all of Gorilaz’s most memorable songs, when it works, it works well. Standout tracks include “Ascension,” “Andromeda,” “Submission” and “Busted and Blue.”
Murs, Captain California
facebook.com/Murs
Veteran California rapper Murs has graced us with a 10th solo album, and it’s yet another example of how things can get better with age. Captain California is an absorbing album built atop a base of slick production and is elevated by Murs’ deft and intricate storytelling. Murs ably leads the listener on a journey that shifts skillfully between humor, nostalgia and socially conscious introspection. The humor comes through especially on opener “Lemon Water,” an exuberant track where Murs trades escalating disses with guest Curtiss King. Only two tracks later the tone shifts to somber and serious on “GBKW (God Bless Kanye West),” which vividly explores mental illness. It’s clearly in response to Kanye West’s highly publicized public meltdown late last year. Overall, some might call it a late career gem, but if Captain California is any indication, Murs is probably far from finished. After all, he is the guy who rapped for more than 24 hours straight last year. Standout track include “Lemon Juice” and “GBKW (God Bless Kanye West).”
facebook.com/WhiteReaperUSA
White Reaper, The World’s Best American Band
Let’s talk about that album title. Is it ballsy or sarcastic? Turns out it’s a mixture of both. It is, however, safe to say that the title is no cheap trick. The third album from Kentucky rockers White Reaper is powered by blistering twin lead guitars, frenetic drumming and shout along lyrics dripping with attitude. The opening track begins with piped-in stadium crowd noises and ends with the sound of a school bell ringing. In between is a gritty power pop song sure to raise your heart rate by a couple notches. The rest of the album doesn’t stray far from that formula. In short The World’s Best American Band is a welcome blast from the past the evokes everything from Thin Lizzy, to Van Halen, The Ramones, The Cars and a litany of others. Is it completely original? Not in the slightest. But the energy is real, and the hooks are big. Try as you may, The World’s Best American Band is pretty hard to resist. Standout songs include the title track, “Little Silver Cross,” “The Stack,” and “Another Day.”
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WINNING STARTS IN THE GARAGE All The Horsepower In The World Won’t Get You To The Finish Line If Your Electrical System Is Not Up To The Job. Stacey David Trusts Painless To Deliver Professional Quality And American Made Dependability Every Time.
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Natasha Cynn Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Nuen Nguyen
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atasha Cynn is a first generation Asian-American of Vietnamese and Filipino decent. She is a former fashion stylist who has worked with companies like; Macy’s, Ford Models, Wilhelmina Models, and Vanessa Curry. She decided to start modeling after often getting mistaken for the model while working as a stylist on various projects. Since then; she has done a variety of music videos, concerts, and photoshoots in exotic locations. When Natasha is not modeling, she can be found attending club events, and parties. Her future plans include continuing her love of traveling and modeling internationally while building her brand.
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THE STATS Birthday: July 25 Zodiac Sign: Leo. Move over cougars, the lion is here. [laughs] Measurements: 32C-26-38 Height: 5’4” Weight: 120lb Ethnicity: I’m a first generation Asian-American that is half Vietnamese and half Filipino. Hometown: San Jose, CA Turn Ons: A sexy voice, nice smile, and confidence. Turn Offs: Boys that feel entitled, are rude, or smell...stay away from me. [laughs] Ideal first date: Somewhere exotic or fun like the beach, and I love eating sushi. Guilty Pleasure: Being lazy, and doing nothing. Pet Peeves: When people think they’re too cool...[shakes head] bye felicia. Celebrity Pass: Rapper Booba, and model Godfrey Gao. See more of Natasha at
instagram.com/NatashaCynn
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Link From the Past
Written by Joshua David Anderson
Sometimes, the more celebrated a game franchise is, the harder it is to make a quality entry in that series. A developer has to contend with the history, the fanbase, and raised expectations. It can be risky to try something new. Considering there are few game franchises as venerated and as influential as The Legend of Zelda, Breath of the Wild is the riskiest take on the series to date. The Zelda series has always played fast and loose with the story of Hyrule. Some of the games are light on story, like the first few entries, giving you just the basic details you need. Others, like Skyward Sword, attempt to contextualize all the previous games with an origin story. Breath of the Wild tries something new. You play as Link, who wakes up after being asleep for a hundred years. During that time, the unthinkable has happened: series antagonist Ganon has won, Hyrule has largely been destroyed, and Zelda has been kept prisoner for a century. This gives the series a welcome change in scenery. Hyrule is free to explore, but it is an apocalyptic version of the land you’ve seen before. Everywhere you go, there are remnants and relics of the old world, one older players may recognize. The world feels lived in, but largely abandoned, which gives a plausible justification for the empty stretches of wilderness. There are a few villages, and the people of Hyrule are still trying to eek out their lives, but the game gives a brilliant sense of loss. Some characters are happy to see Link back, but some are upset and even angry at him for disappearing so long ago. It is a nice change from prior games where every NPC you meet simply loves Link for being the main character. If the story felt like a bit of a departure, the combat and gameplay will continue that feeling with abandon. There are so many staple conventions of the series that Breath of the Wild simply does away with. First and foremost, you are given all of the different unique tools and powers within the first several hours of the game. This not only allows the player to get very comfortable with these powers, but it ensures that every puzzle in the game can be solved at almost any time. The combat system is also all new, with dodges, timing-based special attacks, and even parries. This is in addition to a new weapon system that has your swords and shields breaking from use, forcing you to always try new items and come up with new strategies on the fly. All of this is modified by a stamina system that governs everything you can do, from swimming, swinging swords, paragliding, and climbing. That last one is huge in the game as well, with a climbing system that lets you scale just about any surface in the world, provided you have enough stamina to complete your ascent. With all of these new systems, Breath of the Wild requires a radically different design than previous games. This is where, in a long list of deviations, the game truly breaks out of the conventions of the series. Breath of the Wild is set in an open world, a large landmass that encourages exploration and discovery much more in line with The Elder Scrolls games rather than The Legend of Zelda. Dotted throughout this expansive land are countless things to find, solve, discover, and defeat. The game features 120 Shrines that are bite-sized puzzle dungeons that also act as fast travel points. Villages offer new equipment and mini-games to make money. Mysteries are everywhere, with NPCs giving riddles and clues to find treasures. There are 900 Korok seeds to find as well, if you are feeling incredibly obsessive. Breath of the Wild is a masterpiece, a fresh take on the Zelda series and a high point in a list of games that are all considered classics. It successfully makes you feel the way the first game did, back on the NES. There is a sense of wonder and awe in the game that you simply don’t get often from games, and it certainly does not feel like any other game Nintendo has ever made. Whether you play it on the older Wii U or on the new Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is worth all the time you can give it.
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The Future Is Bright
Written by Jesse Seilhan
Risks are something most big companies avoid. In the video game industry, if it is not a sequel or part of a beloved franchise, a new IP is almost always a risk. But Sony believed in what Guerrilla Games pitched to them, shifting away from their beleaguered Killzone series and into something wholly new for both them and the PS4. Horizon Zero Dawn is the product of that relationship and turned into the defining game of Sony’s newest console. While it definitely owes games like Tomb Raider, Uncharted, and Far Cry a lot, they put together well-known mechanics and storytelling in a way that hasn’t existed ever before. While not absolutely perfect, it’s the closest thing to a “must-buy” this generation has. The story kicks off as young Aloy, an outcast youth and adventurous soul, is on a journey with her guardian Rost. After falling into a cave and discovering some ancient technology, Aloy’s mind expands to what her civilization might actually be. As the story progresses, we learn that the world that we know is long gone, destroyed for reasons unknown and Aloy’s people are what came after. In what must be the first game set in the post-post-Apocalypse, we aren’t dealing with radiated lakes and desolate deserts. Vegetation has come back in a big way and taken over as the rightful ruler of the world. But technology has merged with some of the wild animals, leading to crazy enemies like ice-flinging horses and gigantic metal dinosaurs. It sounds a little ridiculous, but the pacing, acting, and writing completely pay off, keeping you wondering how the world of yesterday ended and what led to the wild technology transformation. The answers aren’t mind blowing, but riveting enough to keep you engaged. While Killzone was a divisive franchise with a few glaring issues, graphics were never one of them. With this new engine, the devs at Guerrilla Games have created the benchmark for next-gen graphics once again. During your 25-30 hour journey, you will be hard pressed to find a single visual blemish, as everything from the foliage to the character models are nearly immaculate. Animations for each enemy are as unique and personalized as the creature in question. You don’t need a PS4 Pro to get appreciate its beauty, but bumping it up to 4K should push your TV to its limits. The audio is also up to the task, with a sweeping score that quiets down during the many stealth sections but swells and roars during combat and story highlights. Controls feel snappy and fine tuned, giving you plenty of control while taking down giant beasts and raging madmen. But it’s the actual moment-to-moment gameplay that makes this game special. Taking on each enemy is a puzzle, something most games claim but never actually design. Horizon makes good on this promise, creating specific weak points in unique spots across the dozens of enemies. Furthermore, your trusty bow can be paired with ten or so special arrows, ranging from more powerful arrows to trip wires that help down an enemy. Elements matter, as fire type enemies freeze easier, but most enemies that are attuned one way or the other carry some sort of fire or ice supply on them can be destroyed for tons of damage. Throw in water, air, and land enemies as well as foes ranging from annoying to terrifying, no two battles are the same. As more of the world opens up, so do creatures that might take 30 minutes to take down, especially if you aren’t focusing on their weaknesses. Sadly, the human enemies you fight aren’t too smart, especially when stealthily taking them out. But the myriad of techo-monsters make up for the lack of human intelligence. It’s hard to say how good this game would be if it came before its predecessors. It definitely lifts qualities from some of the best action games of the past few decades. But Horizon Zero Dawn did something special with all of them and set the bar to which all future games of the genre will be compared. Unless they are as sharp, thrilling, polished, and gorgeous as Horizon, they will seem rote and old. Guerilla Games should be proud of this game, the world they created, and the characters that take you on a journey, because it sits amongst the very best in years.
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Written by Jesse Seilhan
Injustice 2
When NetherRealm isn’t making a new Mortal Kombat, they are making a new Injustice. The DC Comics fighting game is back with a huge roster, an epic story mode, and a few next-gen wrinkles to make the whole package awesome. But most important is the gear system, a loot-based loadout that each character equips before the fight. Boost your stats and activate new powers before battling other super heroes and villains online or on the couch. Balance will be important to getting this risky system right, but these developers have shown that they can pull it off. Invite a friend over and see if you can finally determine who would win in a fight - Superman or Batman?
Super Mario Odyssey
Nintendo’s new Switch console still needs some new toys, as Mario Kart and Zelda can’t sustain a system when so much good stuff is releasing on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. So how about a new Mario game? Not much is known about this new journey, other than the name and its setting, a semi-realistic world (for Mario’s standards) where our favorite plumber now has a sentient hat and some new platforming tricks up his sleeve. The Switch has been a surprise hit and will be in high demand when Mario launches this holiday, but adding the official mascot to the software library will certainly help boost the console’s profile a bit. We’ll learn more at E3, but hopefully it’s a return to the joy and exploration of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy.
Persona 5
For some people, this is their Game of the Year, sight unseen. For others, it is the next game in a beloved series of Japanese role playing games that can be impenetrable. The Eastern setting, the cast of high schoolage characters, and the wicked dungeon crawling is an acquired taste, but for those with the craving, no game offers a robust of an experience as Persona. Between battles, you spend time engaging party members in conversation and performing tasks to make them better friends, all of which influences and strengthens the combat. It’s one of the few games that focuses on side-content for all the right reasons, bridging the gap between downtime and turn-based action. This PS4-exclusive is continuing the trend of top Japanese games coming west to Sony’s console and looks to be another gem in the crown for the PlayStation brand.
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