RUKUS November 2013 by RUKUS MAGAZINE

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Catherine Gontran

November Cover Model 20 questions with Catherine Photography by Andrew Gates

14 Pit Pass

Get In The Driver’s Seat Featured Event: Sema Show 2013, Las Vegas, NV By Andrew Gates

22 All Access

The Latest Albums Reviewed Albums Reviewed: Eminem The Marshall Mathers LP 2

26 All Access Spotlight Artist/Bands Featured:

Jake Miller, AFI and Stryper By Samuel Wendel

28 Live & Loud

Live Show Reviews Featured Artists/Shows: Deltron 3030 & Deftones

By Nicolas Bates and Dan Sinclair

32 Coming Up

Models To Keep An Eye On Featured Models: Melyssa Grace San Diego, CA

36 Game On

The Latest Games Reviewed Games Reviewed:

By Jeremy Weeden

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Pearl Jam Lightning

By Jesse Seilhan

Batman: Arkham Origins

On The Cover

This Page

By Silas Valentino

Photo by Andrew Gates

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By Josh Schilling

Photo by Andrew Gates

November 2013 • RUKUS

Shoot. The Messenger. A sleek, lightweight, street-smart satchel that hugs your body, moves with you, and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cramp your style. Carries a DSLR, 3-4 lenses, laptop and accessories. Removable photo insert lets you convert it quickly from a camera bag to a book bag, school bag, briefcase or general-purpose carryall. Available in small and large sizes to hold laptops up to 15 and 17 inches. Pack what you need. Shoot what you want . Tenba

Messenger.

Available at:

S e e i t f o r y o u r s e l f a t Te n b aT V. c o m www.samys.com

800.321.4726

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andrew Gates Live & Loud Editor

Nicolas Bates All Access Editor

Silas Valentino Games Editor

Jesse Seilhan Art Director

Andrew Gates All Access Contributors

Silas Valentino, Jeremy Weeden & Samuel Wendel Live & Loud Contributors

Nicolas Bates & Dan Sinclair Pit Pass Contributor

Andrew Gates Game On Contributors

Jesse Seilhan & Josh Schilling Contributing Photographers

Andrew Gates, Nicolas Bates Contributing Videographers

Nate Olson

Contributing Make-up Artists

Bioanca Robinson & Alisha Baijounas Contributing Hair Stylists

Bioanca Robinson & Alisha Baijounas Advertising

Andrew Gates

advertise@RUKUSmag.com Mailing Address

RUKUS MAGAZINE 11304 Chandler Blvd. #6131 North Hollywood, CA 91603

Copyright © 2008-2013 RUKUS MAGAZINE & RUKUSmag.com. All Rights Reserved! November 2013 issue, Volume 5, Number 11. ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377 (online) Visit http://www.RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.

Catherine Gontran Photography by Andrew Gates

atherine Gontran was born in Paris, France and raised in Houston, Texas. This is our second time featuring her and this time she’s the cover. If you don’t remember Catherine let us refresh your memory; She’s half French and half Vietnamese. Growing up, she always found different creative outlets to keep herself entertained; writing, playing the piano and drawing. As you can tell she loves most forms of art, including the art of moviemaking, she also likes what happens behind the scenes on a set or location. After Catherine graduated high school she packed her bags and headed to Los Angeles, California where she has been pursuing a career as a fitness model, and doing damn good at it too. Most recently she partnered up with a team to open a new restaurant and bar in Beverly Hills called Carson House. She has been very excited with this new venture and plans to continue to grow with it and plans on opening more spots and invest in more property as well.

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20 QUESTIONS 1.What’s your Ethnicity? French and Vietnamese. 2.What’s your zodiac sign? Libra 3.Where are you from originally? Paris, France, but raised in Houston, Texas. 4.What did you like most about growing up in Houston? I didn’t know this then, but I realize it now; the people. The southern hospitality. People who say, “Please” and “Thank you,” they even open doors for you. 5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? I was a pretty good kid growing up. I never did anything bad. Blasting Mariah Carey’s music so loud that it gave my family a headache is probably the extent of bad behavior. We also did do the occasional late night cow tipping. 6.What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? I climbed trees naked. It wasn’t as fun as I thought it would be nor is it pretty. 7.What’s your favorite hobby and why? I love going to the batting cages. I go at least once a week. I love working out and anything fitness related which is perfect because I also love to eat. If I could get paid to eat, I would make that my profession. You’d be amazed at how much I can eat. 8.What’s your guilty pleasure? Fries; crinkle fries, steak fries, curly fries, sweet potato fries, parmesan fries, garlic fries at Dodger Stadium, McDonald’s fries, any kind of fries. 9.Who do you admire and why? Mariah Carey. I’ve been obsessed with her since I was five. I honestly listen to her every day. I put her cds on repeat and I YouTube her all day, every day. I also have a 250GB external hardrive that’s full of Mariah Carey videos, that’s a lot of videos. I had to buy a new hardrive so I could download more and that’s just the beginning. I’m also probably the only one who proudly owns Glitter. I also admire my mom; she’s a singer and a pastry chef at the Four Seasons. She can www.RUKUSmag.com

cook anything and everything. When I think of her, I understand what hard work is. 10.If you could change one thing in the world what would it be and why? Abuse, whether it be sexual abuse, verbal abuse, child abuse or animal abuse. 11.What’s one of your personal goals? To make smart investment decisions. 12.What do guys compliment you on the most? When people see me at first, they always assume I’m stuck up. But once they get to know me, they find out I’m actually pretty nice and extremely dorky. People mistake my quietness for being a bitch. 13.What’s your favorite body part on yourself? My legs. Half is genetics the other half is from all the hours at the gym doing squats. 14.What do you look for in a guy? Sense of humor. Someone who makes me laugh. If you can do that, you’re a winner. I’ll do anything you want me to do. 15.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? The way he carries himself. 16.What’s your ideal first date? It would have to be something physical and fun like rock climbing, batting cages, maybe a gun range or miniature golf then grab food because again I love to eat. 17.What turns you on? Someone who takes charge and goes after what they want in life and is actually doing it, not just talking about it. 18.What turns you off? Men who are so self-involved, who only think about themselves and who want to always talk about what they’ve done and accomplished, the ones who don’t ask how you’re doing. 19.What’s your biggest pet peeve? People who stare. If you’re going to stare, don’t make it so obvious. I also can’t stand it when people cut you off when you’re talking. 20.Who’s your celebrity crush? Devon Sawa because when Casper turned into a boy, he was so hot. RM November 2013 • RUKUS

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...I'll do anything you want...

RUKUS â&#x20AC;˘ November 2013

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STATS: Birthday:

October 20

Height:

5’5”

Weight:

105lb

Measurements:

34C-24-34

See more of Catherine at instagram.com/_coryvegas www.RUKUSmag.com

November 2013 • RUKUS

SEMA 2013 Written by Andrew Gates Photos by Andrew Gates

SEMA, for those that don’t know, is an event held in Las Vegas every November and it is the Mecca of automotive goodness. Every year thousands of auto enthusiasts from around the world flock to this jewel in the desert, known as Las Vegas, to see what aftermarket parts can be expected for the upcoming year. This is also a time for people to see how the many hundreds of cars on display can be modified to gain the most horsepower, torque and aerodynamics. The owners/builders of these cars proudly display their labor-of-love to see the many reactions of people in attendance.

If you are an enthusiast and have yet to attend a Sema show, don’t hesitate, book early and save your dollars for this experience, it just might change your life, no joke. Last year when I attended I was just there to cover the event and instead I got sucked into the auto craze, Thanks to Miller Motorsports Park (they held drift car ridealongs last year). While getting a ride I quickly realized I wanted to build my own drift car. Over the last year I’ve been building a drift car that we will be using in some pro/AM competitions for 2014, so keep an eye out for that. This event is by far one of the best auto galleries and places to meet some of the best people in the industry, it’s also a great place to make some lifelong connections. If you come to Sema make sure to check out every hall and take your time, there are so many cars, girls and gadgets that will blow your mind. It might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but if you go in with a game plan as to what your must see items or booths are, you’ll have a great experience. If you were not one of the many thousands that attended, as always, here’s a little picture recap, enjoy.

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Slim Shady Returns Written by Jeremy Weeden

One of hip-hop’s living legends, Eminem, returns with his latest studio album The Marshall Mathers LP 2. The record is easily Eminem’s best album since his comeback in 2009. The Marshall Mathers LP 2 is executively produced by Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin and the two beatsmiths help Eminem to find his inner rap god. The album starts with a nod to Eminem’s past and one of his classic tunes, with a sequel to the classic song “Stan” from the original Marshall Mathers LP. “Bad Guy” picks up presumably 13 years later with Stan’s younger brother Matthew seeking revenge against Eminem for the pain he has caused him through his actions or inaction if you will. You can feel Matthew’s pain through lyrics like, “Oh, you thought it was over/You can just close the chapter and go about your life, like it was nothing/ You ruined mine but you seem to be doing fine/Well I never recovered but tonight I bet ya/ that what ya bout to go through is tougher than anything I ever have suffered.” “Rhyme or Reason” features a sample from The Zombies “Time of the Season” and finds Eminem rapping some about his lack of a relationship with his father. “Legacy” is about Eminem’s life growing up and how he came to realize he was special. He also raps about the fact that his aggressive violent rhyming style originated from him being picked on, and the rhymes were what he wanted to say and do to his bullies. One of the true jewels of the album is “Rap God”. On this six-minute-long track, Eminem shows why he is truly one of the best to ever pick up a microphone. He spews clever lyrics and bravado for a full 6 minutes—letting everyone know he thinks he is the best rapper in the game. Eminem shows that while he may be getting long in the tooth he has not lost a single step with lyrics like, “You don’t really wanna get into a pissing match with this rappidy rap/Packing a Mac in the back of the Ac/backpack rap crap, yep, yep, yakkity-yak/And at the exact same time I attempt these lyrical acrobat stunts while I’m practicing that/I’ll still be able to break a motherfuckin table over the back of a couple of faggots and crack it in half/Only realized it was ironic I was signed to Aftermath after the fact/How could I not blow, all I do is drop F-bombs feel my wrath of attack/Rappers are having a rough time period, here’s a Maxi Pad/It’s actually disastrously bad for the wack.” Later in the song he even borrows the flow from JJ Fad’s “Supersonic” and raps superfast for a minute. “The Monster” features Eminem teaming back up with Rihanna for the album’s recently released fourth single. This catchy tune is assured to take the airwaves by storm due to Rihanna’s soaring vocals and Eminem’s poignant lyrics about the monster that is fame. “The Monster” is in the same vein as “Love the Way You Lie” and is sure to be another huge hit. “Headlights” is one of the most personal songs Eminem has ever made, and that’s saying a lot for a man who routinely shares his personal struggles and demons. Any Eminem fan knows that his relationship with his mother is virtually nonexistent and he has rapped about it many times, most prominently on “Cleaning out My Closet.” “Headlights” has the opposite sentiment as Eminem expresses regret for having even recorded “Cleaning Out My Closet.” The song also shows Eminem wondering if maybe he should have done more to have a relationship with his mother as they both got older. He raps about the reason for the hatred he used to feel but also acknowledges that it was hard for his mother as well, and that he loves her and is appreciative of her being both mother and father to him. Overall, the Marshall Mathers LP 2 is a good Eminem album. While not as good as the best albums from the first half of Eminem’s career, it stands far and above anything he has put out since his comeback and is probably his best effort since The Eminem Show.

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Bringin’ the Grunge Written by Silas Valentino

Eddie Vedder has two daughters. Excluding bassist Jeff Ament, all the members of Pearl Jam have children. The classic creators of the “Seattle Sound” still sound tough and are full of fascinating things to say— it’s just that their version of the f-word is now fatherhood. Lightning Bolt is Pearl Jam’s 10th record and it’s 12 songs of robust dad rock. Pearl Jam worked with their longtime producer Brendon O’Brien who has a knack for making the music sound bulky but well produced. Lightning Bolt strikes with thunderous rockers (“Getaway” and “Mind Your Manors”) and, ever since 1993’s smash “Daughter,” Pearl Jam have never shied away from the ballads (“Sirens” and “Future Days”). Clocking in at 48 minutes, Lightning Bolt will serve both Pearl Jam and their fans well. A band that truly comes alive on stage, Pearl Jam will be able to nit-pick the golden nuggets of this record and ignite them while playing live and then leave behind the clunkers. Pearl Jam’s philosophy on track listing has stayed pretty much consistent since their debut back in 1991— they’re all about starting with a one-two punch. Lightning Bolt opens with “Getaway,” an album standout, and then propels the momentum forward with lead single “Mind Your Manners.” The members of Pearl Jam are getting older and with that (besides Eddie Vedder’s receding hairline) comes wisdom. “Getaway” is lyrically rich filled with versus about achieving mature contentment. “And if you want to have to pray, it’s all right/ We all be thinking with our different brain get this off my plate/ It’s all right, I got my own way to believe, it’s okay,” howls Vedder over a riff-heavy instrumentation. Matt Cameron’s drumming bounces and pounds— recalling a little surf rock vibe. The album’s first three tracks are upbeat and can blare loud enough to wake any sleeping infant but the record catches its breath on “Sirens.” A power ballad heavy on the voltage, “Sirens” is one of the more easily accessible songs on the album, but it has been sprinkled with Pink Floyd-esk fillers and breaks— and this was just what lead guitarist Mike McCready was aiming for. “I was at Roger Waters concert and was completely blown away by ‘The Wall,’” said McCready in an interview with Billboard. “I wanted to write something that would have a Pink Floyd type feel. We recorded a demo of it [but Vedder] didn’t put the lyrics on it until the second time we went back in…I heard them the night that he put them on there and they just brought me to tears. This is Ed at his best in my mind.” The Beatles had Rubber Soul and Revolver, two records that live as siblings, and Lightning Bolt and 2011’s Backspacer are Pearl Jam’s version. Title track “Lightning Bolt” would have fit well on Backspacer as well as “My Father’s Son.” Pearl Jam find themselves playing with a little sound experimentation on “Pendulum” with its fading guitar and downer atmosphere. If you listen to this record on Spotify, track “Sleeping with Myself” may trick you into thinking you’re about to hear a dumb ad for it sounds like an Albertson’s commercial. It’s poppy, catchy and has Vedder singing about sleeping alone at night. Wilco will have to step aside and prepare for an influx in dad rock. This past year showed many big name-artists adapting with new levels of maturity and it’s ubiquitous in all forms of music. Jay Z and Eminem’s last two records both dealt with what happens when an artist grows up and progresses with their music. Pearl Jam are no different but they can still rock and (depending on how tired they are from changing diapers) roll.

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Facebook.com/jakemillermusic

Written by Samuel Wendel

Jake Miller, Us Against Them

Call it what you want, but 20-year-old rapper Jake Miller is carving himself out a niche in the genre of ‘pop rap,’ filling a hole his peers are eschewing. His influences are on full display on his debut album Us Against Them, with various songs echoing everything from Eminem — but without the vulgarity — to Jack Johnson-like ballads. Miller’s songs are filled with sugarcoated— but catchy— lyrics about love and traversing hard times, and are perfectly suited for his target audience, which is presumably high-schoolers. His two lead singles, “Collide” and “A Million Lives,” are the understandably the disc’s standout tracks and are sure to be minor hits, but how long they will remain relevant is suspect. But for the time being Jake Miller and his mixture of singing and rapping should provide enough thrills to satisfy younger audiences that aren’t ready for the more edgy and mature content and stylizing of current hip hop and rap megastars like Kanye West or Drake.

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AFI, Burials

Alternative rockers AFI charge back into the spotlight and demand you remember them for all 49 minutes and 13 seconds of their new album Burials. The album is a rollercoaster of unending glam-rock hooks and choruses from start to finish and are sure to satisfy everyone who has been waiting for the follow-up to 2009’s underwhelming Crash Love. On Burials, standout tracks are “17 Crimes” “I Hope You Suffer,” and “Greater Than 84,” all of which sound like they will end up in various action movies and television programs in the next few years. Lead singer Davey Havok’s voice is the focal point once again, with his seething and angst filled lyrics cascading between plaintive moments and booming choruses. Whether you like AFI or not, this album has tenacious staying power; the songs seem to be produced to be infectious as possible, and at times the songs blend together into a wall of repetitive power chords. As a whole, this is another worthy entry into the AFI catalogue, and is a surefire bet to please old and new fans alike. It may not be cutting edge or overwhelming original, but Burials brings all the hooks and choruses to keep AFI fans entertained.

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Stryper, No More Hell to Pay

Christian glam-rockers Stryper go back to basics on No More Hell to Pay, an album that echoes their work from the 1980s. The album’s 12 tracks grab you from the beginning and take you on a screaming 51 minute ride at a pace that resembles an out of control machine gun. Front man Michael Sweet’s lyrics are god-centric as ever, and interspersed between manic guitar solos the vocal harmonies pull all the necessary punches to please their spiritually inclined listeners. Instrumentally, the album is tight, and, as mentioned before, seemingly influenced by a frantic need to for everything to be fast. The drums rattle at near impossible speeds, and the guitars, lead and rhythm, scream-by like out of control trains. Arguably the album’s strongest song is the opener, “Revelation.” Its vicious chord progression sets the tone for the rest of the album, and then Stryper never looks back. If there is one puzzling addition to the album, it’s a cover of the Doobie Brothers song “Jesus is Just Alright.” It was an admirable attempt, but the results fall flat. But overall, No More Hell to Pay should be suit the needs of all Christian glam-rock fans and keep them on the edge of their chairs waiting to see what Styper does next.

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Deftones Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Nicolas Bates

Any show at the Greek is amazing. When that show is Deftones… well, that makes it all the better. But before Deftones would take the stage, and with a slight chill in the air, the amazing Glassjaw attacked the stage and set the tone for what would be an amazing evening of music. A look around and one would notice the amphitheater to be completely full. ’Tis expected, however, for such an act as Deftones. There was a definite excitement in the air. Chino Moreno walked on stage to meet absolute roars from the crowd on that slightly chilly night. After the intro “Feiticeira,” Deftones burst into “Elite,” and it was all clear that the crowd would be in for one hell of a show. Chino and new bassist Sergio Vegas seemed to literally bounce off the walls, never staying stationary for more than a few seconds at a time. After “Elite,” the beginning of crowd favorite “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” began. And not but one second after the completion of that song, “My Own Summer (Shove It)” emanated throughout the Greek to the crowd’s delight. If you thought this song was heavy when you saw The Matrix in theaters, it’s about ten times heavier when it’s in your face being performed live. I’m even going to guess seeing this song performed live may be on some people’s bucket list. Chino appeared extremely grateful to be playing the show, even taking time to thank the crowd for making the show possible, and telling everyone that his father was present (that always seems to make the crowd feel a bit more cozy inside). Deftones would mix it up quite a bit, playing songs from Adrenaline all the way up through Koi No Yokan, and even playing the Maynard-assisted “Passenger” (sans Maynard). Some of the tracks they played included “Lhabia,” “Diamond Eyes,” “Teenager,” “Romantic Dreams,” “Digital Bath” and “Change (In the House of Flies).” Everybody in the house that night was witness to a beautiful show in the hills of Los Feliz that ranged from heavy, down-tuned madness to light and beautiful melodies. At any point in their set you could witness a substantial number of people singing along with Chino as he belted out and/or crooned his emotional lyrics. Clearly, anyone who walked away from this show upset is no fan of real music.

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Deltron 3030 Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Dan Sinclair

After an early set here at the lovely Fonda Theatre, Los Angeles’s own The Gaslamp Killer told us that we should expect “A hell of a show tonight.” Turns out Gaslamp was looking to buy tickets for this evening’s event when concert promoters asked him to open the show instead. Why didn’t they ask me? Oh, yeah—because I have no musical talent. But this tour in support of Event 2, the second album appearing now 13 years after its predecessor, Deltron 3030 will not be just a trio. Tonight they’re backed by a 16-piece orchestra featuring guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, a horn section, a string section and backup singers, who all take the stage first. Next up is the conductor and legendary hip-hop producer Dan the Automator, dressed in full composer attire. And shortly after DJ Kid Koala returns to his scratching post (initially playing a set after The Gaslamp Killer) and the voice of Deltron 3030, Del tha Funkeé Homosapien stands front and center, mic in hand and it’s time to get started. The introduction “State of the Nation” comes over the speakers as the tension mounts and then Del announces that it’s “3030,” and the epic collection of sound commences. Dan the Automator conducts the orchestra, all the instruments collide with DJ Kid Koala’s record scratching mastery and Del spits out his hypnotic lyrics: “I want y’all to meet Deltron Zero, hero, not no small feat/It’s all heat in this day and age/I’ll raid your grave, anything it takes to save the day.” Everybody in the crowd is moving and what a crowd it is. Very mixed, hard to get a median age on it really, but one thing does stand out and that’s all the couples. Yes, it seems Deltron 3030 at the Fonda is a hot date night. And there are also some very drunk people walking amongst us. One guy was so drunk that he had dropped his cell phone and when someone chased him down to return it, the drunk asshole spent a good five minutes staring at the good Samaritan before pulling him close for a grateful hug. But back to more important things, Del’s flow continues with “Things You Can Do.” It’s smooth and moving, always interesting with thought provoking lyrics. Del’s flow is still one of the best and he showcases it in “Positive Contact.” Dan says hello to the crowd and reminds them there’s a new Deltron album and that it’s time to play some songs off it. And to do that properly, they bring out none other than Don Jon himself, Mr. Joseph Gordon-Levitt. JGL remembers hanging out with his friends listening to the first Deltron record thinking, “This is just like a fucking movie!” He then yells a truly enthusiastic performance of “Stardate” before the band launches into “The Return” and “Nobody Can” off Event 2. From there, they bounce back and forth between new and old with “Mastermind,” “Melding of the Minds,” and “Agony,” before Kid Koala is given the stage all to himself to attack the turntables, displaying his fully non-headphone-wearing, no-iPad-using method of old school hip-hop deejaying by scratching records. He’s off-the-hook here, but his highlight of the night had to be during the opener where he performed a live version of his daughter’s favorite song, one he did for the children’s program Yo Gabba Gabba! Deltron returns to do one of my personal favorites, “Virus.” It’s a song I hear in my head when I get mad at some establishment: “I wanna devise a virus/To bring dire straights to your environment/Crush your corporations with a mild touch/Trash your whole computer system and revert you to papyrus.” I get mad at many establishments, so I hear it a lot. They finish the remarkable set with a new one in “My Only Love” and a classic in “Memory Loss.” And the crowd erupts and keeps cheering until they come back on stage for the encore. After the great performance of “Do You Remember,” Dan asks Del if they should do another. Del’s laughs and asks, “I don’t know. How many of you bought the new album?” The answer is plenty judging by the loud screams from the audience, and they’re rewarded with a cover of Gorillaz’ “Clint Eastwood.” You remember, the one where Del was a rapping cartoon? Trust me, it’s much better live and in person (and without Damon Albarn). Seeing Deltron 3030 live is an amazing experience no true music fan should ever pass up. Having them backed by a 16-piece orchestra? Well, that, my friends, is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

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Melyssa Grace Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Alisha Baijounas

elyssa Grace isn’t your average girl, she’s the epitome of a tomgirl. This Filipina and German beauty has a love for fast cars and fast motorcycles. When she’s not posing for the cameras you can find her laying her Nissan 240sx hatch sideways at either Buttonwillow Raceway or Adams Motorsports Park. Originally, Melyssa was born in Oakland, California, but spent her childhood in Hawaii before finally moving to Ventura, California where she attended middle school and high school. She had always dreamed of being a model and would often pose for her mother’s camera. Melyssa was a regular participant at beauty pageants as well. She has been featuring in numerous magazines. You can also find her at a variety of tradeshow and car show events. Hot Import Nights has hired her to show off her drifting skills at some of their events too, so keep an eye out for that.

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RUKUS • November 2013

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THE STATS Birthday: June 5 Zodiac Sign: Gemini Measurements: 36D-25-36 Height: 5’9” Weight: 125lb Ethnicity: Filipina and German Hometown: San Diego, CA See more of Melyssa at instagram.com/melyssagrace

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He Returns...Again Written by Josh Schilling

With over three movies and a dozen games in the past decade, Batman is oversaturating our entertainment world. Mix in a publisher that so eagerly wants to cash in on the craze that they go to a different developer to make yet another origin game in a year that has had quite a few origin games already. This is a recipe that had disaster as the main ingrediant. At least the developer, WB Montreal, got to try and build upon the momentum of the Batman Arkham series that consists of two of arguably the best superhero video games of all time. Big shoes to fill for sure. Arkham Origins puts you in the early years of Batman’s career, a few years before the events of Arkham Asylum. The villainous Black Mask has put a heavy bounty on the Dark Knight’s head and a group of super-assassins are eager to cash in. Along with that threat, you have the streets of Gotham City filled with thugs and dirty cops, and a bunch of other big time baddies doing what they do best. You have a long night ahead as you strap on your cape and enter the cold, Christmas Eve night, and there is heavy drama and a few surprises ready for you to uncover. As for this incarnation of Gotham City, the place is a bit of a dump! They have frickin’ Batman as its “protector” and yet it seems that this city is the worst example of humanity ever portrayed. Sure there was a prison breakout at the beginning of this game, but those criminals sure got armed and comfortable in a hurry. The best part of these Arkham games is the combat and you will get a boat load of chances to hone your skills. It’s a game within the game as you try to max your combo and vary your attacks while trying not to get nicked. Along with the 1 vs. 20 punch-fests, you get the chance to revisit the stealth approach as well. Using vents, shadows and rafters in order to whittle down the opposition is challenging in its own right and a lot of fun as well. None of the combat is straightforward or scripted, as you can really develop your own style to each and every encounter. With the solid game mechanics in place, the most challenging task laid out for Arkham Origins is the story. What I liked about it was that things remained familiar while still being somewhat fresh. There were a couple small plot points that crop up when you have the future foresight of an origin story, and there were a few truly uninteresting bad guys, but overall I was eager to discover the outcome. And hardcore comic fans MUST brave the yawningly long credits to get the Marvel-esque end-credits teaser. It aims this story-vessel in an interesting direction to be sure. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That seems to be the mantra that went in to Batman: Arkham Origins. There aren’t too many steps forward, but there aren’t too many steps back either. What you end up with is a lot of the same from the previous Arkham games, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing at all. The challenging fighting mechanics, the unique predator modes, and the gripping story with a plethora of villains are all present and accounted for. So while this game isn’t rich in originality “…hell, you spend a great deal of your time gliding around the same buildings from the previous Batman game…” Arkham Origins delivers a gritty, entertaining game that falls neatly in line with the overall series.

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Hollow Men Written by Jesse Seilhan

The Call of Duty franchise is one of the most popular in all of entertainment, not just gaming. Year after year, a new title hits the shelves just in time for the holidays and billions of dollars are spent by the hungry masses. Quality concerns have been raised as of late, as the once dubbed “B-Team” in charge of producing the Black Ops versions of the title are now the most popular and the originators of the Modern Warfare series, Infinity Ward, are left scrambling to catch up. They scrapped the Warfare name and have instead tried to start a new line of narrative in Ghosts, a near-future take on what happens when the enemy takes control of some massive technology and attacks the United States. If that sounds familiar, it is probably because Black Ops II did the exact same thing last year but went further with it in order to add cool robots and drones to the arsenal. Ghosts tries to cement its place in the shooter world by being the first COD to hit next-gen consoles, but with a muddled story and a few steps back in the multiplayer universe, Infinity Ward might have missed the target. For the majority of people, the single-player campaign is where the least amount of time will be spent. Those that desire to see what crazy story your military bro is caught up in this time will potentially be disappointed. Gone are the iconic characters like Soap and Captain Price and in their place are two brothers and a dog named Riley. The dog has a few playable sections where he treats enemy throats like a chew toy. You can take control over Riley and stealth your way through some passages before taking the owner back and shoot dudes until the mission is over. The much ballyhooed space mission is short, sweet, and real odd, something Call of Duty rarely capitulates. The standard jungle, snow, and water sections are back, as they seem to be legally binding this far into the franchise’s career. However, halfway through the campaign is when you get to control the Ghost characters and the really fun story missions begin. You rappel down buildings, infiltrate enemy bases, and race your way through giant iced expansions in some of the most thrilling moments of any Call of Duty game. As usual, the multiplayer is the real star of the show. Ghosts features some of the classic deathmatch and objective options , but does away with some fan favorites like Headquarters and other Black Ops modes like Gun Game and One in the Chamber. Instead, we have Crank and Search & Rescue, the former focusing on fast-action and the latter combining Kill Confirmed and Search and Destroy. The big addition is Extinction, a new mode that copies the Zombies phenomenon of the Black Ops series but instead pits players against giant space bugs. There are multiple enemy types that continuously attack a central location, ripe for your team of up to four to defend. The matches follow similar suit to the undead missions of Black Ops, opening up new paths and areas with each wave until you reach the final objective. This mode is surprisingly fun, however that enjoyment quickly declines if your team does not communicate or decides to leave halfway through. However, with the right group and a good strategy, this mode can be the best on the disc and offers some much needed variety in a game built around shooting dudes in the face. Every year, the choice to buy or not rests solely on what you want out of your first-person bulletfests. The single player is underwhelming, not just to prior entries, but also to most modern military shooters. The Extinction mode is pretty fun, but unless you have a consistent group of cohorts that will help you slay the aliens, you may find the randoms lacking in cohesion and cooperation. That leaves the competitive multiplayer modes, stuffed as much as they have ever been, with massive personalization options. If this is your main draw, welcome to another year of consistent competition and steep DLC.

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November 2013 • RUKUS

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