RUKUS Nov/Dec 2015 by RUKUS MAGAZINE

Pamela Jean Noble Nov/Dec Cover Model 20 questions with Pamela

Photography by Andrew Gates Makeup & hair by Nicolette Melland

14 Pit Pass

Get In The Driver’s Seat Featured Event: SEMA 2015 Las Vegas, NV

32 All Access

The Latest Albums Reviewed Albums Reviewed: Sevendust Kill The Flaw

By Silas Valentino

Mac Miller GO:OD AM

By Silas Valentino

36 All Access Spotlight Artists/Bands Featured:

Joe Budden, Stick Figure, and Pusha T By Samuel Wendel

On The Cover

Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Nicolette Melland

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38 Coming Up

Models To Keep An Eye On Featured Models: Jocelin Albor Atascadero, CA

42 Game On

The Latest Games Reviewed Games Reviewed: Halo 5

By Jesse Seilhan

Just Cause 3

By Joshua David Anderson

46 Game On Spotlight Games Featured:

Street Fighter V, The Banner Saga, and XCOM 2 By Jesse Seilhan

This Page

Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Nicolette Melland

Nov/Dec 2015 • RUKUS

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 & Rupa Begum Game On Contributors

Jesse Seilhan & Joshua David Anderson Contributing Photographers

Andrew Gates & Rupa Begum 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! Nov/Dec 2015 issue, Volume 7, Number 10. ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377 (online) Visit http://www.RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.

Pamela

Jean Noble Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Nicolette Melland

amela Jean Noble comes to us from Fontana, California. She was actually acting before she was in to modeling which started when she appeared on the Carol Lawrence Show at age five. Years later at age twenty, Pamela had her first photo-shoot which was set up by a make-up artist she worked with. Her next modeling gig was for Surf Illustrated alongside Holly Madison, Hugh Hefner’s ex. This really set her career in motion and gained her a lot of notoriety. Since then, Pamela has modeling for a wide variety of companies and magazines, she can also be seen on Fuel TV’s, The Daily Habit. Lately, Pamela has been focusing her attention on the fitness world and even garnered the title of first runner up for Physique of the Year by Fitness Gurls magazine. Currently, Pamela is preparing herself for the International Hooters Swimsuit Pageant which she placed in the top ten for 2014. Her goal is to be the first California girl to win the competition. Keep an eye on this one as she bench presses her way to the top.

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20 QUESTIONS

to be scary as a parent sometimes but they’ve always believed in me.

2.What’s your zodiac sign? Cancer.

10.If you could change one thing in the world what would it be and why? It would be for people to be more selfless. If people had bigger hearts and cared more about others this world would be a much happier place.

3.Where are you from originally? Originally from Fontana, California.

11.What’s one of your personal goals? To be a fitness icon. [wink]

4.What did you like most about growing up in Fontana? I liked that it wasn’t a huge city, so with all the acting and modeling stuff I had a normal childhood.

12.What do guys compliment you on the most? I get a lot of compliments on my eyes and my butt.

1.What’s your Ethnicity? I am Native American.

5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? I was honestly a pretty good kid growing up. My parents gave me my first beer and took me to my first night club so there was never that urge to defy them. 6.If you could have a super power, what would it be and why? To be able to teleport myself, others, and objects. Then I could be anywhere, with anyone, with whatever I wanted. 7.What’s your favorite hobby and why? Working out right now, but I’m also taking up archery and I absolutely love it, it’s a whole new challenge and lets just say, I’m very competitive. 8.What’s your guilty pleasure? Sweets. I love white chocolate, and red velvet anything. [smile] 9.Who do you admire and why? I admire my parents, since they have supported with every choice I have ever made and they’ve been there by my side. I haven’t always taken the conventional route which I know had www.RUKUSmag.com

13.What’s your favorite body part on yourself? My abs and my butt. 14.What do you look for in a guy? Someone who’s romantic, ambitious, manly, and doesn’t play games. It doesn’t hurt if he can be goofy too. 15.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? Eyes and smile. 16.What’s your ideal first date? It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as the conversation flows and is easy to talk to, forced and awkward moments are the worst. 17.What turns you on? I like it when a guy can be romantic, and upfront. 18.What turns you off? A guy who’s cocky. 19.What’s your biggest pet peeve? When people don’t pick up after themselves. 20.Who’s your celebrity crush? Sam Hunt. Nov/Dec 2015 • RUKUS

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I like it when a guy can be romantic, and upfront.

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STATS: Birthday:

July 2

Height:

5’7”

Weight:

125lb

Measurements:

32DD-26-36

See more of Pamela at instagram.com/pamelajeannoble www.RUKUSmag.com

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SEMA 2015 Photos by Andrew Gates Written by Andrew Gates

The automotive industry is alive and well, but you would already know that, if you were a guest at SEMA in Las Vegas, Nevada November 3-6, 2015. If you didn’t get a chance to make it out, we’ve got you covered with photos of the event. For those not familiar with SEMA, Speed Equipment Manufacturing Association, it’s the largest collection of aftermarket car parts and industry leaders on the planet. The place was packed and the sights were amazing. Not only were the cars looking hot, but so were the countless booth babes. SEMA is the time to cruise the isles and find the next great product that will save you in a pinch or make your automobile the monster you’ve always dreamed it could become.

Walking toward the venue were clouds of smoke pouring from the parking lot where Ford had a show of trophy trucks, drift cars, and even some vintage Ford Cobras getting in the action. While walking through the isles and seeing the different builds and new products coming to market, you’ll wish you had a bigger bank account. It’s also a great time to meet a lot of interesting and enthusiastic people from the automotive industry. This year was an ultra special year since Formula Drift hosted the SEMA Ignite show featuring some of the best drift car racers in the industry. There’s always something to look forward to when going to SEMA, I’m already excited for the 2016 show.

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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.

All New 2014 Catalog Online At:

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PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS Find Your Dealer 800.54.WIRES

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Tech Line 800.423.9696

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Belting it Out! Written by Silas Valentino

Leading up to the release of Kill the Flaw, Sevendust’s tenth studio album, the Georgian metal band released a string of wepisodes online detailing the record’s creation and the band member’s continued fruitful collaborations. One scene during the premier episode shows the band’s rhythm guitarist John Connolly erasing from a whiteboard the potential song title “Darrell” in lieu of something more effective. He and drummer Morgan Rose then proceed to brainstorm other titles: ‘“Signs?’” poses Rose. “I don’t know,” responds Connolly. “Fucking Tesla had ‘Signs’ and they kind of ruined it for everybody.” Eighties Hair metal criticisms aside, what this moment depicts is Sevendust’s relentless song crafting and undying partnership. Ten albums have passed since their 1997 eponymous debut and Sevendust’s creative ink have yet to run dry. Following the release of their 2014 acoustic-centric album Time Travelers & Bonfires, Sevendust returns to their basics and produced an album worthy of their 2000s glory days. Kill the Flaw is a straight up whiskey shot with a Bud to wash it down: Eleven songs hitting 47 minutes about battling your struggles with a head bang. First single/first song is the explosive “Thank You” which begins with a calm, electro build before erupting into Sevendust’s signature sound: thrusting guitar riffs, heavy-meets-melodic songwriting and lead singer Lajon Witherspoon’s barreling vocals. Their take on metal is approachable and has proven its longevity as Sevendust nears their twenty-year anniversary as a band. Innovation might not be their strongest quality but why the hell would they tune a guitar string that doesn’t require tuning? Sevendust has their sound down and there’s no reason to stray too far from it. Though a couple of tracks dare to differ and are sprinkled throughout Kill the Flaw. “Cease and Desist” treads into ballad territory with its light instrumentation and it momentarily chooses harmony over cacophony. Witherspoon manages to get a silvery verse out where his robust vocals are funded by his mighty talent but the placid party doesn’t last long – there’s a cymbal-crashing chorus waiting up around the bend. For fans of 2014’s Bonfires, the acoustic riff that introduces “Chop” should compensate for Kill the Flaw’s general lack of unplugged instrumentation. Sevendust’s choice to repeatedly record with acoustic guitars is a clear method for observing their philosophy of keeping things melodious amongst all the fire-breathing metal. For the curious, wondering what the title “Darrell” was ultimately renamed to (“Signs” didn’t last very long), it’s the title of the record and the most realized compensation of the entire bunch. “Kill the Flaw” offers those pulsating palm-muted guitars that Dimebag Darrell of Pantera made so vibrant and boisterous. (There isn’t any confirmation if Darrell’s name was intended to be the song’s original title but the guitar parts sufficiently suggest the possibility.) The Pantera allusions continue with a “Cowboys From Hell”recalling descent into madness that begins “Kill the Flaw” and Witherspoon’s wailing vocals could earn him a nod of approval from Pantera’s singer Phil Anselmo. The remainder of Kill the Flaw succeeds for its consistency but fails to produce any more notoriety. Some songs could be sliced up and replaced with others and their echoes would easily melt into one. Harnessing and perfecting a sound is a double-edged sword: you have something that’s yours but the impending doom of drabness reappears with each new release. Sevendust have found a way to remain consistent with their accessible metal and the numbers cannot lie. Over 20,000 viewers hopped onto YouTube to watch the band’s first wepisode and behind-the-scene videos are inherently esoteric. Sevendust have their sound, each other and a dedicated fan base. Desiring anything else would just be greedy.

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Is it Good? Written by Silas Valentino

When contemporary saxophone icon Kamasi Washington played back-to-back nights at the revered Blue Note jazz joint in New York City this past summer, Mac Miller was spotted lingering by the club’s green room. Tatted and with his signature 4:20-o’clock shadow, Miller was an unexpected celebrity at a gig such as this – Washington, after all, is blazing new trails in his musical realm while Miller is thumbing through his Rolodex. Washington’s bassist Stephen Bruner (or Thundercat) pops up twice on Mac Miller’s newest and third hip-hop attempt, titled GO:OD AM, on the tracks “Brand Names” and “Break the Law.” And the list of commendable guests continues to snowball: Odd Future alums, Ab-Soul, Miguel and Little Dragon all contribute to this downbeat, 70-minute record. But a guest list as rich as this can’t provide Mac Miller the support needed to jolt this uninspired album out of its stupor. (The album’s cover art is a foreshadow with its depiction of a drowsy Mac Miller, mouth wide open, letting out a morning yawn.) Three albums and several mixtapes later, Mac Miller continues to sound like the kid in high school slinging his burnt CD demos to anyone who’ll stop and listen. Mumbling as he greets, Mac Miller introduces the album with the Tyler, The Creator-produced track “Doors.” The calm beat is reminiscent of those initial, whimsical Odd Future mixtapes where Tyler and Co. would dedicate tracks to “10 Ugly Girls” except “Doors” substitutes gags for ideas spawned by half-baked Zig-Zags. “One day you’ll go, right now you’re here/Don’t leave just yet, don’t disappear,” he croons, sounding as self-realized as ever. “Doors” bleeds into the following track “Brand Name” by way of a jarring and obnoxious morning alarm beeping off, kicking GO:OD AM into action. Is it metaphorical? Has Mac Miller found his hip-hop spiritual awakening and is trust about to be restored in the form of gifted MCing? “So this the music that made white people mad/Yeah, this the shit to blow your speakers out/This the shit you dream about,” Mac Miller mutters over a scrappy, lo-fi production during the mid-album cut “In the Bag.” Maybe that spiritual awakening was more of a pipe dream… Mac Miller appears to be on a mission to convince audiences of his maturity and potential. It’s been five years since his 2011 breakthrough single “Donald Trump” and he’s giving the impression that he wants to exchange his image of being a Friday-night-frat-house anthem roller for being a cognizant confessor of candor. Roots-conscience rappers dominated the game in 2015 (what up Kendrick, Vince Staples and more recently Anderson .Paak) and even as far as country music has bro culture seen its collective stagnation. Mac Miller, overall, sounds so desperately motivated to produce something grandeur and refreshing that he forgot to check himself before he – well, you know where that rhyme was going. And so would Mac Miller; simplistic writing appears to be his game. Redemption comes late but arrives nonetheless. “The Festival” is GO:OD AM’s finale and alongside Little Dragon, Mac Miller proves some mettle. He refers to God as “she” (progressive and potentially a nod to Kevin Smith’s Dogma) and the flow is as pleasant as a Benadryl-induced daydream. Little Dragon supplies their signature lucid, electro-pop instrumentation while singer Yukimi Nagano yields a soulful verse to wind us down for the night. With so much of GO:OD AM wrapped up in disappointment, “The Festival” is a celebration where Mac Miller articulates his drama with prose, rather than drilling it down the esophagus. Mac Miller is trying hard to reinvent himself and you can really hear it throughout GO:OD AM. His effort is detected but his hack tendencies prevail. The college kids that once blasted “Donald Trump” are currently grinding away in their 9-5s and hustling through their struggles. They don’t have time to linger and mooch off this year’s epic jazz guru or enlist their successful friends for assistance. They’re just trying to grow up without wearing it on their sleeves.

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facebook.com/OfficialJoeBudden

Written by Samuel Wendel

Joe Budden, All Love Lost

The fourth studio album from Joe Budden finds the rapper wallowing in nihilistic despair. The album is titled All Love Lost and the MC spends most of his time making sure that listeners don’t forget that. Fortunately, when delivered by Joe Budden, rejection and lost love isn’t a downer; instead, it’s engrossing and powerful. Budden’s confessional lyrics cover everything from drug relapses, depression and crumbling relationships, but the MC deftly navigates the treacherous thematic landscape. As a result of Budden’s crafty wordplay and rhyming expertise, the results are hypnotic — and occasionally cathartic. Featuring guest spots from the likes of Jadakiss, Marsha Ambrosius, Emanny and others, there are plenty of other voices to keep the album buoyant whenever the MC’s relentless existential skepticism threatens to sink things. At 78 minutes in length, All Love Lost is a bulky album and not for the faint of heart. But throughout its duration there are plenty of memorable moments and it provides the MC the chance exorcise demons (see “Only Human”), and, more importantly, it hints at the possibility of better things to come. Standout tracks are the lead singles “Broke” and “Slaughtermouse.”

Stick Figure, Set in Stone

facebook.com/StickFigureMusic

The basic rules for constructing a good reggae song are far from set in stone. But as Stick Figure shows on his latest album, the reggae sound has become a style that evokes a sense of timelessness with tried and true themes that transcend years — even generations. The sixth studio album from Stick Figure (the stage name of Scott Woodruff) is a collection of agreeable tracks that blend upbeat reggae with rootsy rock and dub. With a sound that’s instantly familiar and pleasantly jammy, Set in Stone delivers a light and breezy dose of modern reggae that easily establishes Stick Man as an integral musician in the genre’s Southern California scene. The notable guests who show up throughout the record — including appearance from the likes of Eric Rachmany of Rebelution, Kyle McDonald from Slightly Stoopid and others — further confirm Stick Figure’s universal appeal in the subgenre. Set in Stone is an album that should resonate well with all contemporary reggae fans and could effortlessly find its way into plenty of haze-filled college dorm rooms. Standout tracks include the lead single “Choice is Yours” and “Sentenced.”

facebook.com/PushaT

Pusha T, King Push Darkest Before Dawn The Prelude

Nearly 40-years old, Pusha T is a textbook example of a musician getting better with age. The second solo album from the hip-hop artist is entitled King Push Darkest Before Dawn The Prelude, and it’s far from a walk down memory lane. On the contrary, Darkest Before Dawn has Pusha T exploring new territory and frequently striking gold. Released by Kanye West’s label G.O.O.D Music and featuring songs like “M.P.A” (which Kanye might regret not keeping for himself), Pusha T sounds as cutting-edge and innovative as he ever has. Pusha T remains heavily indebted to the Nineties hip-hop style but it’s injected with A-list production from the likes of Puff Daddy, Timbaland and Kanye West, giving it a fresh but still classic sound. At only ten tracks, it may seem slight but that’s probably because — as the “Prelude” part of the title hints at — the album is only a precursor to Pusha T’s upcoming third studio effort, due to drop in April 2016. And if that album manages to be even a fraction as grandiose and furious as Darkest Before Dawn The Prelude, then listeners are in for a treat.

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Jocelin Albor

Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up by Alisha Baijounas

ocelin grew up in San Luis Obispo County and has lived in Los Angeles, California for 6 years. As a kid she participated in school plays and always had a desire to use her imagination in different ways through theatrical outlets. She landed her first major modeling campaign for Nike in 2010 while working with photographer Mark Hunter in Game Changers. After moving to Los Angeles she started working on small budget films while working on TV shows such as Melrose Place and 90210 in non speaking and background work getting experience and exposure to the industry. This last year she appeared on Ray Donovan, Shameless and the new show Dice, starring Andrew Dice Clay. She studies the Meisner technique and plans to continue her love of acting and pursue more projects that will expand her career and experience in the industry.

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THE STATS Birthday: January 4 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn Measurements: 32B-24-35 Height: 5’8” Weight: 120lb Ethnicity: I am Mexican and Italian, a lot of the time, I get confused for being Persian or Armenian. Hometown: Atascadero, California Turn Ons: Anyone that looks like Gerard Butler. Turn Offs: Ignorance. Ideal first date: Italian dinner and a Rebelution concert. Guilty Pleasure: Drinking alcohol or eating junk food, I don’t do either very often but when I do I just enjoy every moment. Pet Peeves: People who are always on their phones for no important reason, live in the real world. I understand if you are working, but come on people. Celebrity Pass: This is a hard one, but I would have to say Sam Worthington. See more of Jocelin at

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Nov/Dec 2015 • RUKUS

Chief Concern Written by Jesse Seilhan

Halo has become one of the most iconic franchises in modern video games, whose main protagonist, Master Chief, has somehow managed to stay on top without ever showing his face. Multiple comics, books, and other offshoots have built Halo’s lore for 15 years, culminating in Halo 5, Chief’s newest space adventure. It puts players in the space shoes of their beloved hero, but also Spartan Locke, another cog in the UNSC machine who is on the hunt for Chief. Halo’s famed A.I., Cortana, has gone rampant and is trying to unlock some secrets of the universe, Master Chief is attempting to track her down, and Locke is trying to figure out just what the hell is going on. And if you couldn’t care less about any of that, don’t worry, the multiplayer is still great. The competitive battles waged in days past will return again, with classic modes and new ways to destroy your friends. First up is Warzone, a brilliant game type that combines PvP and PvE combat seamlessly. Huge battlefields separate red and blue bases, with smaller capturable encampments littered throughout that provide tactical spawn points for the fallen. As the battle wages, enemies from the campaign join the fight and begin taking on all comers. The winning team is the first to achieve 1,000 points, and while kills against one another help move the needle, taking down huge bosses can be the difference between victory and failure. Outside of this new mode, Lockout brings a Gears of War-style “one and you’re done” mode to the multiplayer, where each team gets one life per round. This adds more strategy than the the standard Slayer game types, as teams have to work together in order to succeed. As for the campaign, 343 did a great job presenting the expanded universe of Halo. You travel to multiple planets, interact with various members of the Covenant and Human forces, and are told a fairly sprawling story. The game runs amazingly fast during the single-player portions, sticking to it’s blistering 60 frames during every single encounter, regardless of scope or explosiveness. The co-operative gameplay the franchise is known for is back, although you now need four separate consoles, as split-screen is gone. But you can tell that the game is still built with co-op in mind, as some of the battlegrounds are huge and allow for multiple ways to overcome enemy forces, still comprised of the Covenant and Prometheans. Sadly, playing alone can be quite frustrating, as your AI partners are pretty bad. And since there is another Gears of War rip-off in the “down but not out” mechanic, you will often die while waiting to be revived as your teammate runs into a corner and hides while you bleed out. Microsoft really needs Halo to be what it once was. And what it once was, was a franchise that almost bullied you into buying their consoles with its top-tier quality and unforgettable moments. While Halo 5 is indicative of past success, it fails to really achieve greatness on its own. Had this just been a new IP or non-Halo title, it would have lost its luster by the second time you fought the same cheap boss. But Halo’s multiplayer has a DNA all its own, and helps sustain a somewhat timid campaign and questionable micro-transaction strategy. The Forge still allows those looking for a little more blood than the normal Minecraft experience to build palaces of pain. But if this is supposed to kick off a new trilogy for the next generation of Halo fans, Halo 6 better be fantastic or else this thing might be doomed. Still, it’s ability to showcase the power of Xbox One is worth giving it a shot, even for a casual fan who maybe wants to see what Master Chief is up to in 2015.

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Just Alright

Written by Joshua David Anderson

Most of the time, video games are about building. Sometimes they are about building up a character, or building upon a story. Sometimes they are literally about building structures. But every now and then, you just want to tear it all down. When the desire to destroy everything is strong, the good folks at Avalanche Studios have the remedy in the form of the Just Cause series. With the newest entry, Just Cause 3, you are given all the destruction and explosions you could ever want. But is it enough to keep the game feeling fresh? Just Cause 3 stars Rico Rodriguez, the same hero as the previous games, as he travels back to his fictional home country of Medici to wrest control of it away from the evil General Di Ravello. Rico is sort of a “dictator removal expert” and is brought to his old stomping grounds to aid the burgeoning resistance movement. Along the way, you meet a cast of characters that don’t really elevate past the point of being caricatures. You have the awkward science lady, the goofy childhood friend, the rough mercenary, the slimy CIA operative, and the cartoonish bad guy. All of this is par for the course and not really important. The story in Just Cause 3 does just enough to give you context for what you are doing, and does very little to get in your way. If you want a deep, involved story, look elsewhere. Do you, however, want to blow things up? If so, then Just Cause 3 has your back! The game consists of story missions, one-off challenges, and taking over settlements and enemy bases. The story missions are standard “go here, blow up this, protect that.” The challenges will have you do some specific action in a set time for a score. These can include races, shooting galleries, or just general destruction. Taking over bases and settlements represent the majority of the game, and are the most open ended in terms of design. This is where Just Cause 3 can have its most insane, procedural experiences. There are a ton of these locations to discover and destroy, but you may find yourself being burnt out on the rinse and repeat nature of the gameplay before you are done with all of them. When you are destabilizing a dictatorship, you are only as good as your tools. Thankfully, Rico has exactly what you need to cause explosions en masse. Stocked with the standard affair of handguns, rifles, grenades, and rocket launchers, Rico has more than enough firepower to blow up anything. However, Just Cause 3 gives you some special tools to make the tearing down even more fun. The key tool is the grappling hook, which you can use to zip around the terrain and scale large buildings. You can also use it to fling yourself up into a passing helicopter, or attach yourself to that car down below you. Using the grappling hook along with a retractable parachute and a wingsuit allows you to be incredibly mobile in all three dimensions. The grappling hook can also be attached on both ends to anything you want, which allows you to pull structures down, pull enemies up, or just hang objects from anything else. Add in the final piece, infinite placeable explosive charges, and you will find that you have a myriad of options for taking down guard towers and other large structures. Since you are essentially constantly blowing stuff up in the game, it helps that the graphics look great, particularly the fire and explosion effects. There is a ton of destructibility as well, with full physics systems in place to handle all the things you are taking apart. Because of all of this, the game can suffer a bit on consoles, with the performance not quite able to keep up. The PC version is better, but only if you have a beefy system to handle it. Just Cause 3 feels a lot like the past game. That isn’t a bad thing if you love the free form destruction based gameplay from before. All of that is here, with almost everything ramped up. But it doesn’t really do anything different from the previous games, and plays it pretty safe. If you want more of Just Cause, then this entry is great. But if you were hoping for more evolution to go with your revolution, you may be a bit disappointed. Still, there is nothing quite like the freedom and destruction Just Cause 3 offers in video games, and for that it is worth an explosion-filled look.

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Nov/Dec 2015 • RUKUS

Written by Jesse Seilhan

Street Fighter V

Any video game fan won’t be fooled by that roman numeral, as SFV is way more than just the fifth game in the series. But putting that numerical stamp on this new title, due in February for both PS4 and PC, indicates an evolution of the franchise. A bunch of new fighters are joining Ryu, Ken, and the other world warriors fans have been pumping quarters into for decades. The graphics aren’t that much of an improvement from SFIV, but the animations are drastically improved and little touches like destructible environments and splashes of color & visual flair should help distinguish the two. There a couple new mechanics, including some that are specific to individual characters, but the tried and true Capcom gameplay is back and just as balanced as ever.

The Banner Saga

Dreary. Depressing. Brutal. These words describe The Banner Saga’s mood, one that takes place in a mythical Norse kingdom, filled with a dark enemy and large beasts. Not only is the setting fairly fresh, the gameplay is one that fans of strategy games will absolutely love. Grid-based combat is hard to perfect, but Banner Saga gets it right and is bringing it’s gorgeous art style and haunting soundtrack to consoles in February. The campaign is more than just battle/ cutscene/battle, and often asks you to make tough choices, like how to feed your caravan when you’re running out of food or what to do with a drunkard that has endangered your troops. See what all your PC friends are raving about and pick this up when it comes out.

XCOM 2

February continues to look great, as tactical gameplay is at its best when Firaxis is making it. The XCOM reboot of 2012 was a blast from the past, blending strategy gameplay with resource management, although the latter was a bit of a chore. The newest entry into the franchise introduces frightening new enemies, more varied environments, and a streamlined campaign that lets gamers enjoy more about what’s great in the series. All of the hardcore aspects remain, like losing a teammate for good when they die, or only being able to perform certain actions if the dice roll goes in your favor, but those looking for more of a thinking game and less of a twitch experience should be all over XCOM 2.

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