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Claudia Alan
September Cover Model 20 questions with Claudia
Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Bioanca Robinson
14 All Access
The Latest Albums Reviewed Albums Reviewed: Big Sean Hall of Fame
By Jeremy Weeden
Nine Inch Nails Hesitation Marks By Dan Sinclair
18 All Access Spotlight Artist/Bands Featured:
20 Live & Loud
Live Show Reviews Featured Artists/Shows: The Vaccines
By Nicolas Bates and Dan Sinclair
36 Coming Up
Models To Keep An Eye On Featured Models: Katelynn Ansari Orange County, CA Cassandra Starr Maplecrest, NY
44 Game On
The Latest Games Reviewed Games Reviewed: Splinter Cell: Blacklist By Jesse Seilhan
Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand and Maybach Music Group
Saints Row 4
On The Cover
This Page
By Silas Valentino
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Bioanca Robinson
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By Josh Schilling
Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Bioanca Robinson
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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, Dan Sinclair & Jeremy Weeden 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
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Contributing Make-up Artists
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Copyright © 2008-2013 RUKUS MAGAZINE & RUKUSmag.com. All Rights Reserved! September 2013 issue, Volume 5, Number 9. ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377 (online) Visit http://www.RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.
Claudia Alan Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Bioanca Robinson
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laudia Alan was born in Van Nuys, California and raised in Glendale, CA. Like a true California girl she aspired to be a star. While in high school, she began modeling for a few small companies at some local car shows. Her first modeling experience was at seventeen, when she was invited to a twenty-one and over club in Hollywood to take part in a bikini runway show. This was the defining moment when she realized she loved the spotlight and wanted more. Claudia has also earned a degree in Journalism from Cal State University Northridge. Currently, you can find her traveling around the country with Toyo Tires and ringside as a card girl for Corona boxing events. She can also be found in a variety of national magazines. This isn’t the last time you’ll hear the name Claudia Alan, this vivacious twenty-two year old is hoping to make it to your TV screens in the near future. Keep an eye on this one.
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20 QUESTIONS 1.What’s your Ethnicity? I’m Mexican-American. I am first generation in the U.S. 2.What’s your zodiac sign? I’m a Taurus. It may come as a surprise, but I am really into zodiac signs, astrology and horoscopes, something about all of that fascinates me. I absolutely love stars and astronomy. As far as zodiac signs and horoscopes; I think they are freakishly accurate. 3.Where are you from originally? I was born in Van Nuys, so I’m originally a valley girl, although I moved to Glendale when I was five years old so Glendale, CA is definitely my hometown. 4.What did you like most about growing up in the Glendale, CA? What didn’t I like about growing up in Glendale. I can honestly say, it was the best place to grow up. It had the perfect mix of a big city and a small town. I made my best friends in Glendale and I have the best memories; from causing trouble at local carnivals, meeting boys down the street from my house because I wasn’t allowed to date, to going on fast car rides in Angeles Crest. I had such a fun, crazy and exciting childhood. 5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? Gosh, if my parents only knew. I’ve always been adventurous and curious so I’ve always taken every opportunity to do something new and wild, if anything I always got my friends into trouble. I’d often convince my friends to sneak out, go to “the older kid” parties and meet boys then hang out until sunrise. There was never anything truly mischievous, it was all innocent fun, but I’m sure my friend’s parents weren’t too fond of me most of the time. 6.What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? The craziest thing I’ve ever done would have to be sneaking into a celebrity’s warehouse. I was driving by said warehouse on a Sunday afternoon with only plans to go home, when my friend and I saw a great opportunity. The celebrity was shooting a commercial and had people going in and out. I eventually stepped out of my friend’s car after a little planning and just casually strolled into the warehouse and made myself at home. I acted like I was supposed to be there, sat in on the shoot, ate some hors d’oeuvres and chatted up a storm with the other stars that were present. Sometimes being a little crazy pays off because I had a great time and a great story to tell afterwards. 7.What’s your favorite hobby and why? Is conversing with others a hobby? I love listening to people’s stories, asking questions and I love telling stories and giving people advice. It can be just a casual conversation on a car ride or it can be laying down looking up at the stars just talking about ideas and dreams. There’s something very romantic, special and priceless about storytelling. 8.What’s your guilty pleasure? My guilty pleasure would have to be thuggin’ out. And by that I mean sometimes I like to throw on a snapback, listen to some Tupac and pretend I’m a bad bitch. [laugh] 9.Who do you admire and why? I can’t just pick one person. I admire my grandma, mom and dad. I, of course, admire these three people for different reasons. In short, my grandma for her genuine
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heart, my mom for her unmistakable kindness and my dad for his undeniable strength. 10.If you could change one thing in the world what would it be and why? If I could change one thing in this world it would be people’s levels of tolerance and acceptance. I feel as though many people who I’ve met are close-minded to the ideas, thoughts and perspectives of those they do not know. If people were to start to see the similarities and not the differences I believe it would be a huge step for all mankind to live in harmony. 11.What’s one of your personal goals? One of my personal goals is to be more patient, like my mother. I am at times quick to discredit someone if they take too long to process an idea or question. I need to work on giving people time and giving them a fair chance. 12.What do guys compliment you on the most? Guys give me compliments most on my wit. I am able to keep up with “the guys.” I usually have the last word and don’t let anyone make me feel small. It can be a good and fun thing but sometimes it gets me in trouble. 13.What’s your favorite body part on yourself? My favorite body part would have to be my eyes. They are a unique shape and color. They also keep people guessing about my ethnicity. 14.What do you look for in a guy? I look for a guy who is genuine, kind-hearted, ambitious, smart and hard working. These are the important qualities. Good looks are great but they aren’t permanent. 15.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? The first thing I notice about a guy is his smile. It says a lot about a person. A smile can tell you if someone is warm and welcoming. 16.What’s your ideal first date? My ideal first date would be really simple and something that showed me that the guy was paying attention. I’m not hard to please and I make it pretty easy on guys as far as letting them know what I do and don’t like, I don’t like to play games. So anything involving animals, stars and the ocean would be perfect. 17.What turns you on? I love when guys have manners. Opening doors, pulling out chairs, etc. It shows me that this isn’t any guy, that this is a man. I’m a woman and I need a man, not a boy. 18.What turns you off? I hate when guys are rude, to anyone. Of course I’m offended if they are rude to me but if they disrespect others, for example, waiters, the valet or even their own family. It’s an instant ‘good-bye’ from me. 19.What’s your biggest pet peeve? My biggest pet peeve would have to be if someone is ignorant. Sometimes I just want to shake them and yell at them to “open their mind!.” Ignorance is not bliss and if anything people who don’t feel they need to be open to other people or ideas are slowing down any real progress. If you are open-minded and educated then form an opinion that’s different. We all don’t have to agree, but as long as you are taking the time to be informed and tolerate that there is more than one idea other than your own then we are okay. 20.Who’s your celebrity crush? My celebrity crush would be Eva Longoria.
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...I need a man, not a boy.
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STATS: Birthday:
May 15
Height:
5’5”
Weight:
105lb
Measurements:
34B-25-35
See more of Claudia at instagram.com/claudiaalan www.RUKUSmag.com
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Taking Control Written by Jeremy Weeden G.O.O.D. Music rapper Big Sean returns to the scene with Hall of Fame, the follow-up to his first album, Finally Famous. Big Sean has been in the news lately due to the fervor around Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s unreleased song “Control”, which could not be included on Hall of Fame due to licensing issues. Lost in all of the talk about Kendrick was how good Big Sean’s verse was as well. Beginning with his verse on the Good Music Posse cut “Mercy,” Big Sean has seemingly laid down a fire verse on most of his appearances. His verse on “Control” was a continuation of this and paves the way for Hall of Fame.
The album starts with the melodic autobiographical track “Nothing Is Stopping You.” This song highlights a little of what Big Sean went through while following his dreams to become a rapper. Produced by longtime collaborator Key Wane, “Nothing Is Stopping You” has a nice mellow vibe and is an excellent track to start the album off with. The next track on the album is the single “Fire” which is more known for the video starring Miley Cyrus than the actual song. The video features Miley dancing and, especially in light of her recent actions at the VMAs, she is all anyone will probably think of when hearing this song. The album gets back on track with the No I.D. produced “10 2 10” a tribute to all the hard work Big Sean puts in while constantly on his grind. The chorus goes, “I woke up working like I’m Mexican/That mean I work from 10 to 10/Then 10 to 10/Then 10 again/Nightmares of losing everything boost my adrenaline.” “You Don’t Know” features pop sensation Elle Goulding but does not come off as pop rap. This radio friendly track produced by No I.D. is a rock tinged song that one could easily see being played early and often on the airwaves. The next track is Big Sean’s current single “Beware” featuring the increasingly popular Jhene Aiko, who can also be found on Drake’s upcoming album. This likable tune also features Young Money boss Lil Wayne as he and Big Sean warn of the dangers of a girl with a broken heart. “First Chain” features hip-hop legend Nas and Kid Cudi as all three rap about the first chain they got from rap. Big Sean more than holds his own despite going up against a legend with lines like “Coming from a city where bullets turn bros into souls/Who knew from that concrete that a rose had arose/Good girls stopped being good when I turned em into hoes/Dreams stopped being dreams when I turned em into goals.” “MILF” features Nikki Minaj and she and Big Sean do a little role-playing. Big Sean raps from the perspective of a man dating an older woman with kids who hate him. Nikki Minaj raps like the older woman with the kids. Juicy J is also featured on the song and simply raps from the perspective of Juicy J: “High as a motherfucker/Fuckin everybody mama.” “All Figured Out” is one of the standout tracks on the album as Big Sean raps about not having it all figured out. The song features 2 excellent verses and then the last verse is spoken word from Big Sean. This song shows that there is depth to Big Sean as he recites lines like, “Today I woke up and realized every day gets shorter/Every minute turns into the longest second, yet never ending/Age is nothing but a reminder and it doesn’t tell you how old or young minded someone is/Cause we all start at the same starting point of a woman’s legs/But each have our own finish line.” Ultimately, Hall of Fame is a good album filled with catchy radio friendly songs. With an eclectic selection of beats and guest appearances from James Fauntleroy to 2 Chainz, Big Sean is certain to stay famous for a long time.
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Is He Just a Copy? Photo by Nicolas Bates Written by Dan Sinclair Dear readers, perhaps you recall last month’s issue where this writer discussed his journey to San Francisco’s Outside Lands to witness some pretty amazing live acts including the work of Nine Inch Nails, yes? Well, this writer has hit the Trent Reznor sweepstakes and will now review Hesitation Marks just for you! Said album is the eighth studio release from the industrial rock act originally started in Cleveland, Ohio way back in 1988 and the first one since The Slip came out a half decade ago. Reznor produced this one with his movie-scoring buddies Atticus Ross and Alan Moulder.
Hesitation Marks starts off with a very brief electronic intro called “The Eater of Dreams,” setting the mood to be one of tense, uneasiness as if you just wandered through some strange dark tunnel and were just to come out the other end. Shaking, you cry out with uncertainty and worry, “What the hell is happening to me?” And then it happens. A fast industrial beat starts pumping and the familiar raspy voice of Trent Reznor lets you know, “I am just a copy of a copy of a copy/everything I say has come before.” This is “Copy of A” and it is pretty fucking awesome. The idea that everything in this world is just something that’s been done before and therefore the people who inhabit this world are also just copies themselves should sound depressing, but it doesn’t here because “Copy of A” has a kick ass beat. Good way to start off the album. Next is “Come Back Haunted” also known as “my favorite song on Hesitation Marks.” This is the song that sounds like the Nine Inch Nails that we know and love. And you do love them… you may have just forgotten how much. I know I did until I saw them live. This will be the track that will let you admit that Nine Inch Nails wasn’t just a 90s fad and that it’s okay to still be a fan in 2013. “Find My Way” steps in to steer the album down a more moody and mysterious path. Though it’s not quite on the level of “Hurt” or “Something I Can Never Have,” it is nonetheless a memorable Nine Inch Nails slow groove. After all, we’re all just trying to find our way, aren’t we? Things get funky on “All Time Low” and you surely won’t be disappointed with “Disappointed,” but it’s “Everything” where things get really good, and well different. It is by far, the punkiest Nine Inch Nails track I have ever heard with its peppy guitar riff and steady drum beat, complete with something not usually associated with Trent Reznor and that’s harmonizing. It’s all very new and strange, but that’s what Nine Inch Nails does best. It’s a very welcomed track in the middle of the album. “Satellite” has a sort of dance beat, so I won’t judge you if you start getting down in your car when you blast it on the radio. I can’t. I already did it myself. Though “Various Methods of Escape” does remind this writer a little bit of “Dead Souls” from The Crow soundtrack, it’s also a strongly produced and composed track with a memorable chorus that does enough to not sound like a total “Copy of A,” uh, that song. “Running” is probably the most forgettable track on the… what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, “I Would for You” is another cool, scary slow groove that only Nine Inch Nails can do right. “In Two” gets angry and aggressive, though, just so Hesitation Marks doesn’t go out with a whimper. “While I’m Still Here” for all intents and purposes closes out Hesitation Marks since track 14 “Black Noise” is an instrumental continuation of the same beat. And since Reznor admits “Yesterday I found out the world was ending” seems like a good a place to stop. However, if you get the deluxe edition, you can enjoy a few remixes afterwards. Hooray! Nine Inch Nails may always be associated the 90s, but Hesitation Marks serves as a remarkable reminder of just how fucking great Trent Reznor can be when he gets his studio and creates as many sound arrangements as he can with all the instruments he can find regardless of the era in which he does it. Nine Inch Nails still stands apart from the others in this day and age whose electronic music is nothing more than mindless commercial jingles. Hesitation Marks lets music fans know it’s still all right for rock music to, you know, fucking rock.
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Facebook.com/maybachmusicgroup
Written by Silas Valentino
MMG, Self Made, Vol. 3
Rick Ross’ label Maybach Music Group is overflowing with material and Rozay wants to make sure you can hear all of it. “A lot of times you may get in the studio with your homey and collaborate on a record that may not necessarily fit with the body of work you may be putting together for a solo album but it’s something that you really want to give to your fans. It’s something, it’s really super dope but it’s only a way you can present it — in a form like this,” said Ross in an interview with MTV News. MMG is rising to the top of rap labels with the help of artists like Wale, Meek Mill and Gunplay and on Self Made, Vol. 3, you can hear what happens when they let loose and collaborate with each other. Kicking off the compilation is posthumous track “Lil Snupe,” where the recently murdered rapper spits out a rapid fire set before being honored by a graceful fade out to silence. The most notable song is Wale’s “Poor Decisions” where the D.C. rapper collaborates with Rozay and Lupe Fiasco to create smooth jam with a pinch of soul. Self Made, Vol. 3 is a Maybach Music Group potluck and each rapper brought a dessert.
Franz Ferdinand, Right Thoughts,...
Facebook.com/officialfranzferdinand
Franz Ferdinand were the Talking Heads of the mid-2000s post-punk revival. They played punk music but their angst came from not getting into art museums rather than CBGB’s. While The Strokes, Interpol and The White Stripes took themselves seriously, Franz Ferdinand hung in the back of the art studio and said, screw it, let’s dance. Post-punk revival has seeped into remission, with The White Stripes gone and both the Hives and the Vines a distant memory, and expectations were low for Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, but the British band’s fourth album is their most focused and tightest effort since they made us stop in our tracks with “Take Me Out” in 2004. There isn’t an instant kicker like “Do You Want To” on RT,RW,RA but that doesn’t limit the record’s potential. Singer Alex Kapranos takes command and does his best Tom Verlaine from Television impersonation on tracks “Right Action” and “Bullet.” The album highlight is “Fresh Strawberries” which begins like down tempo ballad before building into poppy ditty with a bang-along chorus. The bands who were once dubbed “the saviors of rock” a decade ago have moved onto the bigger (The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys) or the disappeared (Kaiser Chiefs, The Libertines). Though their association with past still lingers, Franz Ferdinand are showing teeth in the new decade.
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Arctic Monkeys, AM
After midnight is where AM comes alive. Arctic Monkeys have been growing farther and farther away from their snot-nosed debut and their fourth effort is a late night, gritty benchmark in their rock ‘n’ roll evolution. No longer singing about getting kicked out of the pub due to their age, Alex Turner and gang have opted for musical experimentation by combining elements of garage and psychedelic rock with hints of hip-hop. Or as Turner described to NME last July, “It sounds like a Dr Dre beat, but we’ve given it an Ike Turner bowl-cut and sent it galloping across the desert on a Stratocaster.” Arctic Monkeys spent their 2012 spring touring behind The Black Keys and the garage rock mammoth’s influence is a noticeable component on AM. Album opener “Do I Wanna Know,” has that sludgy guitar fuzz that reeks like a rag dowsed in the used oil siphoned from the Key’s tour buss. “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High” shines with a big, catchy chorus that’s just waiting to be unleashed in an epic arena setting. And “Arabella” is the best Black Sabbath song in 20 years. Arctic Monkeys sound like they don’t care about how good you look on the dancefloor because they’re too busy downstairs in the basement rattling the building.
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The Vaccines Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Dan Sinclair
11:00 p.m. on a Sunday and the weekend’s only just begun. Fuck Monday mornings. The Vaccines are here! Pete Robinson stands tall behind his drum set demanding crowd participation for this evening’s event via clapping hands. The loyal fans oblige as the rest of the band takes stage with the long-haired Árni Árnason on bass, Freddie Cowan donning a jean jacket and playing a guitar and frontman Justin Hayward-Young taking center stage wearing a blue New York Yankees jersey. Um, Justin, did you know where you are, dude? But even if there are local sports fans in the crowd, they quickly forgive the singer’s faux pas once the band starts playing the first song of the night, the Wreckless Eric-esque “Blow It Up.” Everyone sings along and before you know it the fast drum intro to “Teenage Icon” comes in. The fans can no longer stand by idly and are forced to jump up and down in excitement. The crowd recognizes the opening guitar riff to the peppy and poppy “Ghost Town,” screaming as loud as they can before Hayward-Young can even sing the first, “Oh, oh, oh!” The Vaccines seem to sincerely appreciate the crowd’s dedication judging by the smiles on their faces. Hayward-Young finally decides it’s time to introduce the band with a “Good evening, Los Angeles! We’re the Vaccines from London, France.” I honestly didn’t know that’s where London was. I love geography! Next song is “Tiger Blood,” and Charlie Sheen would’ve been proud of the shortest little ditty of the night. Hayward-Young is the first to put his guitar down to focus strictly on singing for “A Lack of Understanding.” Cowan follows suit to play the keyboards for an early crowd favorite in “Wetsuit.” They yell the words “Go easy on me” as hard as they can. Cowan picks his guitar back up and tosses his jean jacket offstage for “Under Your Thumb.” The writer picks up his pen but keeps his hoodie on because he’s pretty sure it will get stepped on if he tosses it on the floor. Robinson gets a nice introduction from his lead singer and responds by banging the fuck out of his drums for a few minutes. Then “Wolf Pack” nearly brings the house down. There is a brief moment where Hayward-Young and Cowan play their guitars in each other faces, practically crotch to crotch. Now, that’s a goddamn wolf pack! Hayward-Young tells the drunk assholes yelling out song requests that “Patience is a virtue.” Then he asks if everyone is ready to sing. Apparently they are and don’t miss a single word in “Post Breakup Sex.” During this one Cowan and Árnason jam together in front of the drums. Árnason continues alone and the crowd claps along to the bass line for “All in White.” It’s during this one where a wasted douche bag tries to hit on a young lady whose only crime was enjoying her favorite band play live. Douche Bag’s romantic moves include yelling slurred Vaccines lyrics in the woman’s ear while smacking his own chest like a gorilla and making a face that can best be described “I have to take a major shit,” and wearing a sweater around his waist like all cool dudes do. This continues through “Aftershave Ocean,” but eventually the girl and her friend escape, so Douche Bag puts his arm around his equally drunk and douchey friend and they head to the other side of the room in search of more women to harass. The Vaccines are in LA to record a new EP and Hayward-Young picks up an acoustic guitar to play “Melody Calling” off of it. Next is “No Hope,” which I can only assume is dedicated to Douche Bag, who is most likely vomiting or getting thrown out. Hayward-Young puts down his guitar again and demands more clapping. He gets it and then the band plays “Wreckin’ Bar” and “If You Wanna.” The crowd’s really into it now, as everyone leaps all over the place, enjoying every last note of “I Always Knew” and the last of the set “Family Friend.” The band then leaves the stage but the fans want more, chanting, “Encore, encore,” as if we’re in the 1930s or something. The Vaccines close out the night with a two-song encore under a giant, shiny disco ball that comes down over the stage. The tallest member of the group, Árnason, tries to jump and touch it, but falls short. Hayward-Young tells his grateful fans “You’re very fucking lovely!” before leaving them with “Bad Mood” and “Norgaard.” The Mayan’s packed house spends every last ounce of energy they possess screaming out the final lyrics while thrashing over one another in pure ecstasy, which I believe roughly translates to “No, The Vaccines, you are the ones who are fucking lovely. Thank you ever so kindly for rocking the shit out of my Sunday night.”
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Katelynn Ansari Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Bioanca Robinson
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atelynn Ansari was born and raised in Orange County, California. Growing up as a little beach bunny, she always had a love for the outdoors and tan lines. She’s definitely not one to stray away from having a good time, since she enjoys many outdoor activities. When Katelynn was a teen she wasn’t allowed to model and filled the void via beauty pageants. As she won awards, her modeling passion grew deeper. Once Katelynn turned eighteen, she switched gears and pursued a career in modeling, but she wasn’t familiar with the industry so she was faced with a lot of rejection. After four years of dedication, she was finally able to quit her job as a waitress and concentrate on modeling full time. Katelynn is currently modeling at different events around the country as well as being featured in different magazines. She also recently graduated from Cal State University Fullerton with a degree in Advertising, so you can bet she knows how to get her name out there.
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THE STATS Birthday: May 18 Zodiac Sign: Taurus Measurements: 34D-25-34 Height: 5’8” Weight: 115lb Ethnicity: Well, I was adopted so I’m not quite sure, all I know is my mixture is delicious. [wink] Hometown: Orange County, CA Turn Ons: I love massages and kisses on my neck. Turn Offs: Horrible kissers or bad breath. Ideal first date: My ideal first date would be something random, out of the ordinary and spontaneous. I don’t like the traditional “dinner and a movie,” boring. Guilty Pleasure: Shoes. I literally have an obsession, I don’t think I can ever have enough. I have some pairs I haven’t worn yet. [laugh] Pet Peeves: Needy people. I’m very independent so if you start bugging me with constantly wanting to hang out, it’s not romantic, it’s just annoying. Celebrity Pass: Is it too cliché to say Ryan Gosling? I would pounce on that in a heartbeat.
See more of Katelynn at instagram.com/katelynnansari
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Cassandra Starr Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Bioanca Robinson
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assandra Starr was born in Maplecrest, New York. As a youth she would spend her summers touring Europe with her grandmother’s American Youth Ballet group. They would tour around Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. After graduating high school Cassandra moved to New York City where she pursued a career in dance. After an accident left her bedridden for five months, she spent her time choreographing routines in her head. Once she was able to go back to work, she started her own dance company with some friends called Stand Up Hungry. The company toured all over NYC and produced music videos for Permanent Damage Records. Cassandra doesn’t just dance though, she also dabbles in acting and producing. She’s currently working on two productions; Misirlou, her first feature, and Kiki and Tristan: Last Two Hipsters on Earth, a series pilot written by her cousin. As Cassandra builds her fanbase, she wants to give back and help bring smiles to peoples faces in poverty stricken countries through the art of dance.
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THE STATS Birthday: May 31 Zodiac Sign: Gemini Measurements: 32DD-25-35 Height: 5’7” Weight: 125lb Ethnicity: I’m half German, a quarter British and the other quarter is a mix of Austrian, Hungarian and Brazilian. Hometown: Maplecrest, NY Turn Ons: Someone who knows themselves and isn’t controlling, but wants you to feel good about yourself and your choices. Someone who isn’t codependent, but acknowledges interdependence with respect and appreciation. Turn Offs: A man run by his ego. Someone who uses work and materials to define who they are. Ideal first date: It depends on my mood but I like being outside. I love sailing, hiking, paddle-boarding, tanning. I also like getting drinks and good food. Guilty Pleasure: I don’t know if I want to disclose that information via magazine. Use your imagination. I like the motto “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll,” how about you? Pet Peeves: When I get in my own way or allow doubt or fear to enter my mind. With others it’s when they’re dependent on me for their happiness or success. Celebrity Pass: James Franco.
See more of Cassandra at instagram.com/starrslife
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Spies Like Us
Written by Jesse Seilhan
Sam Fisher is back. Last time we left gaming’s most popular spy, he was taking down bad guys across the globe in the manliest of manners. Players gained the ability to tag enemies and dispatch them swiftly with the new “Mark and Execute” mechanic while Fisher’s grittier side was coming out during his intense and brutal interrogations. A few years later and Ubisoft is rolling out one final Splinter Cell game for the current generation of consoles in Blacklist, an all-new adventure that sees a few welcome changes to the series. The gap in time between Conviction and Blacklist alarmed many, as did the change in voice actors, but any fan of the Splinter Cell franchise should find something to like due to the game’s multi-tiered approach at gameplay. Early entries into the series focused solely on stealth, equipping Sam with little more than a silenced pistol to get himself out of trouble and often ending missions the moment he was spotted. Later titles loaded the player up with assault rifles, grenades, and all sorts of dubious toys to dispatch the increased amount of guards. Blacklight combines both sensibilities and rewards players for whatever play style they choose to try out. Those who remain in the shadows and create zero noise will end up gaining the most points, but those that distract and avoid will find plenty to enjoy, as will anyone that wants to just straight-up shoot people. You get less points for going that route, but nothing significant enough to detract from that method. The ability to pick and choose the type of mission you want to go on breaks the game up splendidly. The main missions are always moving the story forward and usually end with some dramatic climax, whereas the side-missions fill in little gaps in the story and give you a chance to play cooperatively with somebody else. There are even wave-based challenges that feel very anti-Splinter Cell from the onset, but end up playing out like the Predator Challenges from the Batman games and unleash a huge sense of accomplishment once completed. Some missions rely purely on avoiding everyone while others force Sam to take out a set number of enemies silently, as a dozen more will appear if he is spotted even a single time. The graphics are as sharp as ever, something Ubisoft obviously takes seriously when approaching one of their only non-annual franchises. My absolute favorite thing about Splinter Cell: Blacklist is the level design. From private yachts and mansions to lighthouses and diamond mines, there is a huge swath of global scenarios in which you must hunt your prey. Each one is stuffed with multiple paths toward success, built for multiple playthroughs and multiple styles. Sneaking through a populated village feels completely different than traversing through an abandoned mine. There are optional pickups along the way that help tell some of the narrative that can also be picked up later if missed on the first run. The level of customization is beyond what this series has allowed before and feels more akin to the Ghost Recon series, another Tom Clancy favorite. Sam has multiple suits that are all malleable to fit whatever play style you have in mind and can even be modified in the field if a situation gets a bit more violent than you were anticipating. You can hold up to three weapons at all times, some of which (like the Tactical Crossbow) can be fitted with multiple ammo types. Then there is the litany of gadgets: the standard cameras and noisemakers exist, sleeping gas and sticky shockers return, and a new remote-controlled helicopter adds another degree of craziness to the game. The variety in gameplay is complimented well by this variety of weaponry, and combined it makes for the most fulfilling Splinter Cell game of this generation. It is a must-play for any fan of stealth and action.
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Saints Go Marching Written by Josh Schilling
It is always fun to see how much imagination and creativity can be poured into an artistic endeavor, and from a “what-the-hell-did-I-just-see” perspective, Saints Row IV delivers in many different ways. Over-the-top is almost too tame a term to describe this game, and if you enjoyed its predecessors, particularly the third installment of the series, then you will probably be able to squeeze some enjoyment out of this one. Unfortunately, there are a great many flaws to this game that no amount of splash, color, pixilated nudity, or movie spoofing can cure. This is a game of extremes, and while there are definitely some memorable moments, the overall experience was disappointing. Saints Row IV is a third-person shooter that borrows heavily and liberally from the Grand Theft Auto-style of gameplay. It takes place in an open city, and you progress the story and your character by completing quests and performing well in a bunch of different types of challenges. The story takes place a few years after the events of Saints Row: The Third where the 3rd Street Saints, the protagonist gang of the series, emerge from chaotic craziness to become the famous, unquestioned heroes of the city of Steelport. From there, the antics continue in this newest game, and in the first half-hour you fight terrorists, ride a nuclear missile, and become the President of the United States. Then it all gets really nuts as the world is invaded by a hostile alien race, and you and your compatriots are thrown into a virtual world where you have superhuman abilities. That’s just the table-setter, folks, and from there you struggle to free your friends, build your abilities and eventually try to save the world. You spend the majority of your time in the virtual version of the previously mentioned city of Steelport. This is where the first problem lies, as this is the same location you spent the majority of your time in the previous game. To be fair, there are subtle differences to the now-alien-controlled city, but the similarities to Saints Row: The Third do not stop with the location. With a few minor tweaks, the character building is the same, the challenges are the same, the game mechanics are the same, and the overall outlandishness is the same. In all actuality this feels more like a good solid DLC addition rather than a full $60 title, which actually was what it was supposed to be. “Enter the Dominatrix” was the working title of the expansion to Saints Row: The Third, but when THQ folded, the game’s developer Volition was bought by Deep Silver, which I guess wanted a full title cash-grab rushed to the stores. The haste in production shows, as while the game’s story is truly interesting, it is choppy and sometimes incoherent. The load screens are plentiful and there were many times when I would wonder what just happened. The flaws in the flow of the story sap the humor from a lot of the situations and a little polish in the storytelling process could have overshadowed the similarities between The Third and IV. Timing is everything in comedy, and in this game, the timing is off. When I played Saints Row: The Third, I had a great time. The main thing I liked is that was unconventionally comical and completely original. While the humor and jaw-dropping moments are still there in IV, the originality is lacking. I feel that it was just a tad too soon to release this game on the heels of the success of the previous title. As DLC, it could have been the best addition ever, but as a full title it just feels forced and unfinished. It’s worth a play-through because there are some great moments, just make sure to tether your expectations.
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